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Operation Fresh Start INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Madison, WI501(c)(3)Since 1970EmploymentEIN 23-7108090Revenue $2.9M in FY2020

On file with the IRSoperationfreshstart.org2670 Milwaukee St, 53704-5120 · Madison, WITax-exempt since May 1971Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of Operation Fresh Start, INC. Is to empower emerging adults on a path to self-sufficiency through education, mentoring, and employment training. Operation Fresh Start (ofs) serves disconnected youth ages 16-24 in dane county and guiding them on their path to self-sufficiency. Ofs has helped over 8,000 young people on their path to education, employment and a better life!ofs programs are designed to transform lives at a critical time in a young person's life. Our programs provide a path forward for disconnected youth through mentoring, education, and employment training. Ofs graduates earn their high school diploma and driver's license, then go on to continue their education and/or find self-sustaining employment.Operation Fresh Start is working to ensure successful outcomes for current and future generations of low-income and people of color in our community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$125K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $728K a year · 14% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$125K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$281K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.9M
Spent
$2.5M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$5.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.6M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2023$4.9M
FY2024$6.3M
FY2025$9.0M
Expenses
$2.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$4.3M
FY2023$4.7M
FY2024$5.8M
FY2025$6.7M
Net assets
$5.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.0M
FY2021$5.7M
FY2022$6.0M
FY2023$6.1M
FY2024$6.6M
FY2025$8.9M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending September 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1971.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $2.2M Management & general 9% · $219K Fundraising 4% · $95K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $125K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Gregory Markle
Executive Director
$74,128Pt VII · Sec A
Nina Dehaven
Finance Director (thru Nov)
$51,087Pt VII · Sec A
Charlynn Wood
Finance Director (beg Jan)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Bea Christensen
Co-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Lau Christensen
Co-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Laura Jaggi
Vice-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Erica Nelson
Secretary (thru Dec)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Brian McMahon’s $124K as Executive Director is at the 47th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1245 $1–10M employment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Brian McMahon$124,424—————
Gregory Markle—$96,967$100,767$84,045$74,128$74,128
Karen Pritchard$77,026$49,651————
Charlynn Wood——$74,068$65,801$50,052—
Nina Dehaven—————$51,087

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps disconnected youth gain skills for independent living.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Job Training and Counseling

Operation fresh start's primary mission is providing a 'second chance' to youth and adults who have not succeeded in mainstream institutions. Members of our target population lack a high school credential, are unemployed, and lack skills needed for living-wage employment.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

Housing Rehabilitation

By building or renovating affordable housing, operation fresh start participants make an invaluable contribution to the community. In the process, they build self-confidence, learn team-work, acquire job skills, and grow personally.

$101Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Alm Charities INCFY2025$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$16K
Money outPt IX
$2.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$219K
Fundraisingcol D$95K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$365K
Total assetsLn 16$5.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$281K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$16K
Total revenueLn 12$2.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$365K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$365K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$73K
Other assetsLn 15$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$5.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$281K
Net assetsLn 32$5.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5237
VolunteersI 660
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$625K$365K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K$73K
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M$5.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$258K$281K
Net assetsLn 32$4.6M$5.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$137K$27K$97K$14K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$1.1M$68K$74K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$438K$408K$25K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$186K$173K$10K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$20K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$21K$21K
Office expensesLn 13$33K$33K
Information technologyLn 14$24K$24K
OccupancyLn 16$40K$40K
TravelLn 17$38K$38K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$4K
InterestLn 20$14K$14K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$9K$9K
InsuranceLn 23$42K$42K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$208K$208K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.5M$2.2M$219K$95K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.0M$6.7M$2.3M$8.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.3M$5.8M$447K$6.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.9M$4.7M$147K$6.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.6M$4.3M$303K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.6M$2.9M$713K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.9M$2.5M$441K$5.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,905,967 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,438,784$2,890,213
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $352,672$15,754
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $886,096$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,677,552$2,905,967
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,198,840$2,008,891
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $744,945$456,208
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,943,785$2,465,099
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $733,767$440,868
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,905,967 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$102,596
VIII-1e Government grants$1,526,228
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,261,389
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,890,213
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $15,754$15,754
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $15,754 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,905,967
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,465,099 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $26,763 · Management $96,710 · Fundraising $13,897$137,370
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,105,417 · Management $67,925 · Fundraising $73,623$1,246,965
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $408,476 · Management $24,522 · Fundraising $5,391$438,389
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $173,464 · Management $10,414 · Fundraising $2,289$186,167
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,500$19,500
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $21,147$21,147
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $32,769$32,769
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24,457$24,457
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $39,621$39,621
IX-17 TravelPrograms $38,029$38,029
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,891$3,891
IX-20 InterestPrograms $14,342$14,342
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,416$9,416
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $42,458$42,458
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $207,761$207,761
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,817$2,817
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,150,828 · Management $219,071 · Fundraising $95,200$2,465,099
Part X · Balance sheet $5,239,245 assets, 15 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $29,365; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $625,029$364,630
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $748,999$653,314
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $81,457$65,843
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $28,818$174,302
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $546$7,843
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $15,063$73,049
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,370,899$3,870,899
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,899,320$5,239,245
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $166,845$225,238
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $91,136$28,929
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $257,981$281,082
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,612,830$4,877,929
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $28,509$80,234
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,641,339$4,958,163
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,899,320$5,239,245
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,958,163 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,905,967
XI-2 Total expenses$2,465,099
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$440,868
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,641,339
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$124,044
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,958,163

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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