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.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$175K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2023 · 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
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$175K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 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
$805K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.9M
+5% vs prior year
Spent
$4.7M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$6.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.9M
FY2023▲ +5%
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
$4.7M
FY2023▲ +9%
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
$6.1M
FY2023▲ +2%
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 FY2023 Form 990 (year ending September 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $4.3M Management & general 6% · $262K Fundraising 3% · $150K

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

16 people listed on the 990; $175K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$100,767Pt VII · Sec A
Finance Mgr Thru Feb 23
$74,068Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary Thru Jan 23
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director Thru Jan 23
$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 · $4.3M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Drive to Succeed

The drive to succeed program offers mentoring to support young adults with past or current involvement in the justice system. Through partnerships with the dept. Of corrections and metro high school (located within the dane county jail), ofs supports young people in navigating the criminal justice process, satisfying fines to obtain…

$4.1Mprogram expense
02

The Academies

The academies are ofs programs for those young people who show real promise and interest in the trades or conservatgion work. Build academy is full-time, hire-for-service crews which work on residential and commercial construction projects throughout the community.

$246Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$34K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13K
Money outPt IX
$4.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.3M
Managementcol C$262K
Fundraisingcol D$150K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$553K
Total assetsLn 16$6.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$805K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.8M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$9K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Other incomeLn 4–11$34K
Total revenueLn 12$4.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$553K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$553K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$191K
Other assetsLn 15$3.9M
Total assetsLn 16$6.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$805K
Net assetsLn 32$6.1M
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$544K$553K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$111K$191K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M$6.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$433K$805K
Net assetsLn 32$6.0M$6.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$151K$133K$18K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.8M$90K$126K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$32K$31K$972$547
Other employee benefitsLn 9$431K$430K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$181K$165K$12K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$435$24K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$165K$165K
Office expensesLn 13$89K$87K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$17K$17K
OccupancyLn 16$104K$104K
TravelLn 17$72K$72K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$4K
InterestLn 20$1K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$76K$76K
InsuranceLn 23$77K$77K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$1.2M
All other expensesLn 24e$76K$76K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.7M$4.3M$262K$150K

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 Viewing $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 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,887,055 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,122,680$4,832,510
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $493,007$12,752
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,366$7,944
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $20,894$33,849
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,637,947$4,887,055
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 $2,512,240$2,845,492
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,822,511$1,894,839
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,334,751$4,740,331
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $303,196$146,724
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $4,887,055 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $800 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$40,000
VIII-1c Fundraising events$8,636
VIII-1e Government grants$2,784,607
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,999,267
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,832,510
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $12,752$12,752
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,944$7,944
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $33,049$33,049
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $12,752 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $41,793$4,887,055
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,740,331 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $132,728 · Fundraising $18,005$150,733
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,833,888 · Management $89,882 · Fundraising $126,262$2,050,032
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $30,575 · Management $972 · Fundraising $547$32,094
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $430,148 · Fundraising $1,319$431,467
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $165,265 · Management $12,134 · Fundraising $3,767$181,166
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $435 · Management $24,100$24,535
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $165,202$165,202
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $86,787 · Management $2,052$88,839
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $16,918$16,918
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $104,228$104,228
IX-17 TravelPrograms $72,082$72,082
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,321$4,321
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,184$1,184
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $75,532$75,532
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $77,111$77,111
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,188,985$1,188,985
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $75,902$75,902
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,328,563 · Management $261,868 · Fundraising $149,900$4,740,331
Part X · Balance sheet $6,925,964 assets, 17 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $32,087; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $100,193$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $444,086$552,529
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,271,154$1,196,726
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $239,664$354,537
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $322,883$676,363
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,910$37,336
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $110,870$190,843
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,883,877$3,885,543
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,406,790$6,925,964
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $366,277$566,068
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $29,882$161,700
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$59,205
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $432,778$805,228
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,935,392$6,084,601
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $38,620$36,135
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,974,012$6,120,736
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,406,790$6,925,964
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,120,736 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,887,055
XI-2 Total expenses$4,740,331
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$146,724
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,974,012
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,120,736

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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