Wisdom works with congregation-based community organizations to create understanding and build relationships across boundaries, to train leaders, and to organize people to advocate for social change that is in accord with their values.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 550 volunteers and 51 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $173K a year · 6% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$87K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $283K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.5 months of spending in cash, plus $283K in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
14
named funders · $2.3M
Looks good: 14 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$401K
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.2M
+69% vs prior year
Spent
$3.8M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.2M
FY2024▲ +69%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.6M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$4.2M
Expenses
$3.8M
FY2024▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$3.8M
Net assets
$1.1M
FY2024▲ +58%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$918K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$699K
FY2024$1.1M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2005.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $2.8M Management & general 19% · $708K Fundraising 8% · $305K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $87K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$87,042Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

David Liners’s $87K as Executive Director is at the 21st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
David Liners$87,042$77,665$72,448$67,166$63,206

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.

See Wisdom INC executive salaries →

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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

Builds understanding and leaders in faith communities to advocate for social change.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Wisdom and its affiliate organizations retooled quickly in response to the covid 19 pandemic. Intentional voter engagement campaign projects around the state changed the get out the vote outreach to virtual formats and phonebank projects.

$2.8Mprogram expense

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
Windward FundFY2024$125K
State Power FundFY2024$125K
Tides FoundationFY2024$100K
Total grants receivedfrom 14 funders$2.3M
See all 14 funders →
Grants paid · 44 grants · $1.3M · 2020–2024
MenikanaehkemFY2024$65,000
JoshuaWI · FY2024$40,000
JonahWI · FY2024$27,000
MicahWI · FY2024$25,000
MosesWI · FY2024$20,000
Esther INCWI · FY2024$20,000
CushWI · FY2024$20,000
Free Movement INCWI · FY2024$15,681
MenikanaehkemFY2023$88,000
JonahWI · FY2023$34,300
Esther INCWI · FY2023$22,000
CushWI · FY2023$12,125
Expo of Wisconsin INCWI · FY2022$27,332
JonahWI · FY2022$21,000
See all 44 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Money outPt IX
$3.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.8M
Managementcol C$708K
Fundraisingcol D$305K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$159K
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$401K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$4.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$159K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$159K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$283K
Other assetsLn 15$36K
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$401K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 551
VolunteersI 6550
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$180K$159K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$283K$283K
Total assetsLn 16$1.0M$1.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$315K$401K
Net assetsLn 32$699K$1.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$380K$380K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$91K$63K$18K$9K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.0M$1.4M$407K$204K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$255K$178K$51K$25K
Payroll taxesLn 10$237K$166K$47K$24K
Legal feesLn 11b$70$70
Accounting feesLn 11c$48K$48K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$77K$8K$70K
Office expensesLn 13$102K$60K$25K$17K
Information technologyLn 14$16K$5K$5K$5K
OccupancyLn 16$48K$34K$10K$5K
TravelLn 17$151K$121K$15K$15K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$23K$23K
InterestLn 20$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$7K$2K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$334K$334K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.8M$2.8M$708K$305K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $4.2M$3.8M$408K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.5M$3.0M−$511K$699K 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.2M$2.9M$288K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.7M$2.2M−$461K$918K 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.6M$2.4M$1.1M$1.4M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,225,637 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,103,970$2,221,861
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,396,717$1,997,093
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$2,564
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,076$4,119
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,506,763$4,225,637
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $176,575$379,606
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,027,411$2,618,488
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $814,268$819,647
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,018,254$3,817,741
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$511,491$407,896
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,225,637 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,221,861
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,221,861
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,997,093$1,997,093
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,564$2,564
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $4,119$4,119
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,001,212 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,564$4,225,637
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,817,741 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $379,606$379,606
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $63,468 · Management $18,134 · Fundraising $9,067$90,669
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,425,583 · Management $407,310 · Fundraising $203,655$2,036,548
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $178,159 · Management $50,904 · Fundraising $25,450$254,513
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $165,731 · Management $47,351 · Fundraising $23,676$236,758
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $70$70
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $48,148$48,148
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $7,765 · Management $69,604$77,369
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $60,494 · Management $25,366 · Fundraising $16,531$102,391
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,397 · Management $5,396 · Fundraising $5,399$16,192
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $33,536 · Management $9,581 · Fundraising $4,792$47,909
IX-17 TravelPrograms $120,569 · Management $15,074 · Fundraising $15,070$150,713
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $22,862$22,862
IX-20 InterestManagement $2,328$2,328
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,186 · Management $2,053 · Fundraising $1,026$10,265
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $334,453$334,453
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $6,947$6,947
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,804,809 · Management $708,266 · Fundraising $304,666$3,817,741
Part X · Balance sheet $1,507,924 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $180,499$159,259
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $48,703$28,858
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $429,488$934,804
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $25,736$66,020
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $282,501$282,501
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $47,116$36,482
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,014,043$1,507,924
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $130,172$220,851
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $184,824$180,130
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $314,996$400,981
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $555,639$963,535
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $143,408$143,408
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $699,047$1,106,943
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,014,043$1,507,924
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,106,943 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,225,637
XI-2 Total expenses$3,817,741
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$407,896
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$699,047
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,106,943

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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