Willows Way INC

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Willows Way provides personalized support to people who have developmental disabilities and their families: promoting dignity while fostering independence, growth and life choices within the community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 281 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.3M a year · 20% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
91% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$501K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
2.1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $14.2M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
2.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $8K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.8M
7% of total assets
Liabilities are 7% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
14 of 14 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$22.5M
+9% vs prior year
Spent
$18.0M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$22.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$22.5M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.0M
FY2021$9.2M
FY2023$21.1M
FY2024$20.6M
FY2025$22.5M
Expenses
$18.0M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.5M
FY2021$7.7M
FY2023$15.4M
FY2024$16.4M
FY2025$18.0M
Net assets
$22.9M
FY2025▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.1M
FY2021$6.7M
FY2023$13.4M
FY2024$18.0M
FY2025$22.9M

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

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1995.

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% · $16.4M Management & general 9% · $1.7M

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

17 people listed on the 990; $501K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer
$214,675Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Finance & Operatio
$152,141Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Human Resources Offi
$134,477Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joy Steele’s $215K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 51st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2021FY2020
Joy Steele$214,675$189,950$164,882$116,692$108,241
Neil Cassmeyer$152,141$139,322$130,765——
Rebecca Yarbrough$134,477$118,176———

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 Willows Way INC executive salaries →

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

Supports people with developmental disabilities and their families, fostering independence and life choices.

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3 programs · $16.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Individualized Support Living

Support provided for consumers with a developmental disability, including training, home management skills and community access. Also includes home health care, medication administration, nurse visits and medical case management. Usually 24 hours per day.

$13.3Mprogram expense
02

Day Habilitation

Participants are matched with 1 or 2 others in the program to share age-appropriate activities, gain independence, and foster a greater sense of belonging through being part of a group. As an active participant, individuals are given the opportunity to experience the many benefits that recreation, socialization and volunteerism have to…

$1.9Mprogram expense
03

Independent Living Assistance

Support provided for consumers with a developmental disability requiring less than 15 hours weekly, including training, home management skills and community access.

$1.0Mprogram 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$8K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$22.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$22.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$276K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36K
Money outPt IX
$18.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$16.4M
Managementcol C$1.7M
Owns and owesPt X
$22.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$24.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$22.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$276K
Gains on assetsLn 7$65K
Total revenueLn 12$22.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.2M
Accounts receivableLn 4$2.7M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$65K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$14.2M
Intangible assetsLn 14$501K
Other assetsLn 15$4K
Total assetsLn 16$24.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$22.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5281
VolunteersI 612
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$5.0M$3.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.4M$14.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.8M$4.0M
Total assetsLn 16$19.8M$24.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$18.0M$22.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$387K$362K$25K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$13.4M$12.5M$862K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$164K$148K$16K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$937K$846K$91K
Payroll taxesLn 10$975K$913K$63K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$183K$10K$173K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$33K$20K$13K
Office expensesLn 13$53K$27K$26K
Information technologyLn 14$138K$96K$43K
OccupancyLn 16$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$237K$225K$12K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$77K$18K$59K
InterestLn 20$471$471
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$325K$164K$161K
InsuranceLn 23$279K$247K$32K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$710K$657K$53K
All other expensesLn 24e$151K$115K$36K
Total functional expensesLn 25$18.0M$16.4M$1.7M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Dec 16, 2025 $22.5M$18.0M$4.4M$22.9M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Dec 4, 2024 $20.6M$16.4M$4.2M$18.0M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 30, 2023 $21.1M$15.4M$5.7M$13.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 19, 2021 $9.2M$7.7M$1.5M$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 29, 2021 $7.0M$6.5M$557K$5.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $22,451,302 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $77,512$35,702
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $20,648,743$22,139,817
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$96,467$275,783
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $20,629,788$22,451,302
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 $14,243,162$15,839,457
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,153,816$2,189,987
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $16,396,978$18,029,444
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,232,810$4,421,858
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $22,451,302 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$35,702
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$35,702
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $22,139,817$22,139,817
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $210,984$210,984
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $64,799$64,799
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $22,139,817 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $275,783$22,451,302
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $18,029,444 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $362,056 · Management $24,940$386,996
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $12,514,428 · Management $862,057$13,376,485
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $147,716 · Management $15,912$163,628
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $845,837 · Management $91,116$936,953
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $912,535 · Management $62,860$975,395
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $9,878 · Management $173,062$182,940
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $20,291 · Management $13,060$33,351
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $26,841 · Management $26,455$53,296
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $95,576 · Management $42,854$138,430
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $2,340$2,340
IX-17 TravelPrograms $224,936 · Management $12,081$237,017
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $18,236 · Management $59,047$77,283
IX-20 InterestManagement $471$471
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $163,559 · Management $160,995$324,554
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $247,136 · Management $32,052$279,188
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $657,052 · Management $52,590$709,642
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $115,230 · Management $36,245$151,475
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $16,361,307 · Management $1,668,137 · Fundraising $0$18,029,444
Part X · Balance sheet $24,664,414 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,021,640$3,173,520
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,962,372$2,709,997
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $35,521$65,465
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,780,587$3,990,856
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $7,400,719$14,218,706
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $613,833$501,424
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $17,713$4,446
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $19,832,385$24,664,414
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,845,328$1,768,526
X-19 Deferred revenue$10,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $17,713$4,396
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,863,041$1,782,922
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $17,519,344$22,431,492
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $450,000$450,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $17,969,344$22,881,492
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $19,832,385$24,664,414
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $22,881,492 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$22,451,302
XI-2 Total expenses$18,029,444
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,421,858
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$17,969,344
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$508,861
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$18,571
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$22,881,492

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

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