Forward Service Corporation

Tax-deductible

Madison, WI501(c)(3)Since 1979EmploymentEIN 39-1342890

Helping individuals realize a larger sense of possibility about the person they can become.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 11 volunteers and 383 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $338K a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 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
$1.3M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 75% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $2.8M
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4.4M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$34.4M
+13% vs prior year
Spent
$35.7M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$12.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$34.4M
FY2025▲ +13%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$27.5M
FY2021$25.2M
FY2022$27.8M
FY2023$27.9M
FY2024$30.5M
FY2025$34.4M
Expenses
$35.7M
FY2025▲ +15%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$24.9M
FY2021$24.3M
FY2022$25.7M
FY2023$29.7M
FY2024$31.1M
FY2025$35.7M
Net assets
$12.1M
FY2025▼ -12%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$11.6M
FY2021$15.7M
FY2022$17.7M
FY2023$14.5M
FY2024$13.8M
FY2025$12.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1980.

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% · $30.9M Management & general 12% · $4.4M Fundraising 1% · $319K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $1.3M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$326,000Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operations Officer
$274,892Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer
$204,861Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Human Resources Officer
$158,619Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Operations
$124,079Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Operations
$121,832Pt VII · Sec A
$80,360Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Szabrowicz’s $326K as CEO is at the 75th percentile of top reported officer pay among 414 $10–100M 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Marcia Christiansen——$326,674$334,407$308,380$301,319
Michelle Szabrowicz$326,000$252,700$216,555$205,476$206,602$171,008
Lisa Omen$274,892$241,585$217,249$212,778$210,775$199,950
Sara Jackson$204,861$178,136$130,793$109,424——
Patty Haggerty$158,619$133,042$109,066———
Anthony Dziedzic$124,079$117,363$116,333$114,256$117,015$114,236
Brian Covey$121,832$110,000$109,395$107,113$105,284—
Amy Gallagher—$82,896————

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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires people to discover their full potential and become their best selves.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Forward Service Corporation claims this page.

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2 program services account for $30.9M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Employment and Training

Forward service corporation offers a wide range of services to help adults develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to fulfill their educational and employment goals and succeed in today's world of work.

$25.8Mprogram expense
02

Youth

Forward service corporation offers a wide range of services to help young people develop the skills, attitudes and commitment necessary to fulfill their educational goals and succeed in today's world of work.

$5.1Mprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 14 grants · $28.4M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$5,888,751
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,108,860
Dane County Department of Human ServicesFY2024$300,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$4,615,531
Unitemized GrantFY2023$579,129
Dane County Department of Human ServicesFY2023$395,500
Unitemized GrantFY2022$4,155,671
Unitemized GrantFY2022$556,644
Unitemized GrantFY2021$2,908,705
Unitemized GrantFY2021$564,492
Unitemized GrantFY2020$2,566,930
Unitemized GrantFY2020$414,823
Unitemized GrantFY2019$3,827,109
Unitemized GrantFY2019$519,541

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$34.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$32.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$291K
Money outPt IX
$35.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$30.9M
Managementcol C$4.4M
Fundraisingcol D$319K
Owns and owesPt X
$12.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$16.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$32.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$32.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$291K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1.6M
Gains on assetsLn 7$23K
Total revenueLn 12$34.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.5M
SavingsLn 2$61K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23K
Other assetsLn 15$4.8M
Total assetsLn 16$16.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.4M
Net assetsLn 32$12.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5383
VolunteersI 611
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.6M$3.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.4M$3.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$66K$23K
Total assetsLn 16$16.9M$16.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$4.4M
Net assetsLn 32$13.8M$12.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$300K$300K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$7.0M$7.0M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$601K$511K$84K$6K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$18.2M$15.5M$2.5M$143K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$780K$665K$109K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.7M$3.2M$521K$29K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.3M$1.1M$185K$10K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$20$2K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$47K$90$30K$17K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$43K$148$15K$28K
Investment management feesLn 11f$23K$23K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$19K$66$7K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$962K$610K$306K$46K
OccupancyLn 16$1.5M$1.1M$359K$16K
TravelLn 17$364K$354K$10K$347
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$330K$147K$182K$472
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$55K$34K$21K$205
InsuranceLn 23$104K$104K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$266K$249K$17K$176
Total functional expensesLn 25$35.7M$30.9M$4.4M$319K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $34.4M$35.7M−$1.2M$12.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $30.5M$31.1M−$612K$13.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $27.9M$29.7M−$1.8M$14.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $27.8M$25.7M$2.1M$17.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $25.2M$24.3M$894K$15.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $27.5M$24.9M$2.6M$11.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $34,423,347 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$32,499,433
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$73,989
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$32,573,422
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $114,883 · Excluded from tax $152,883$267,766
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $23,472$23,472
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $1,554,082 · Excluded from tax $4,605$1,558,687
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $1,668,965 · Excluded from tax $180,960$34,423,347
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $35,652,519 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $300,000$300,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $6,997,611$6,997,611
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $511,106 · Management $84,182 · Fundraising $6,013$601,301
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $15,518,732 · Management $2,541,968 · Fundraising $142,837$18,203,537
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $665,305 · Management $108,980 · Fundraising $6,131$780,416
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,181,128 · Management $521,109 · Fundraising $29,392$3,731,629
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,126,638 · Management $184,572 · Fundraising $10,451$1,321,661
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $20 · Management $2,113 · Fundraising $3,822$5,955
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $90 · Management $29,728 · Fundraising $16,847$46,665
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $148 · Management $15,345 · Fundraising $27,760$43,253
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $23,157$23,157
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $66 · Management $6,849 · Fundraising $12,392$19,307
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $610,067 · Management $305,795 · Fundraising $46,201$962,063
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,122,589 · Management $358,544 · Fundraising $15,680$1,496,813
IX-17 TravelPrograms $353,893 · Management $9,614 · Fundraising $347$363,854
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $147,441 · Management $181,927 · Fundraising $472$329,840
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $33,733 · Management $21,456 · Fundraising $205$55,394
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $103,794$103,794
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $249,346 · Management $16,747 · Fundraising $176$266,269
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $30,921,707 · Management $4,412,086 · Fundraising $318,726$35,652,519
Part X · Balance sheet $16,447,858 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,373,673$3,511,412
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $191,221$60,727
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,958,967$4,339,891
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,889$1,863
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $390,471$509,625
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $65,834$22,585
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,912,774$3,346,031
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $503,884−$181,030
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,480,980$4,836,754
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,883,693$16,447,858
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,276,095$1,384,020
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $99,176$45,244
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,725,824$2,937,996
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,101,095$4,367,260
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $13,782,598$12,080,598
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,782,598$12,080,598
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,883,693$16,447,858
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $12,080,598 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$34,423,347
XI-2 Total expenses$35,652,519
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,229,172
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,782,598
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$212,084
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$684,912
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$12,080,598

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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