Using the voice and expertise of 'credible messengers' we empower, inspire and enrich the lives of justice-impacted individuals by bringing together customized community resources, supportive service providers, and second-chance employers. By reducing recidivism, building strong communities through peer networks, and keeping families together, we will help bring hope and prosperity to marginalized communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 3 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 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $160K a year · 32% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$124K
to officers and key staff · 29% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 29% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $285K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$17K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% 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
$838K
+110% vs prior year
Spent
$426K
To programs
62%
Net assets
$565K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$838K
FY2025▲ +110%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$152K
FY2023$272K
FY2024$399K
FY2025$838K
Expenses
$426K
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022Not on file
FY2023$207K
FY2024$394K
FY2025$426K
Net assets
$565K
FY2025▲ +267%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$84K
FY2023$149K
FY2024$154K
FY2025$565K

From the FY2025 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2021.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $266K Management & general 28% · $121K Fundraising 9% · $39K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $124K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$83,000Pt VII · Sec A
President & Treasurer
$39,000Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Programs
$1,923Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Operations
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ruben Gaona’s $83K as Executive Director is at the 63rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1404 $100K–1M crime & legal 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022
Ruben Gaona$83,000$83,248$78,000$32,000
Karen Coy-Romano$39,000$37,500$27,000—
Sarwat Sharif$1,923———

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 My Way Out 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

Empowering justice-impacted individuals with resources, support, and jobs to reduce recidivism and build stronger communities.

Questions for My Way Out INC

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $266K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Reaching In-Helping Out

Personalized pre- and post-release reentry planning for justice-impacted individuals in wis. Correctional INSTITUTIONS.ONBOARDING justice-impacted individuals post-release to my way out's CRM technology platform to provide 24/7 access to an assigned supportive service provider for up to 3 years post release and access to multi-faceted…

$266Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$838K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$838K
Money outPt IX
$426K
Ln 25
Programscol B$266K
Managementcol C$121K
Fundraisingcol D$39K
Owns and owesPt X
$565K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$264K
Total assetsLn 16$582K
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$838K
Government grantsLn 1e$109K
Total revenueLn 12$838K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$264K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$264K
Total assetsLn 16$582K
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
Net assetsLn 32$565K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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$87K$264K
Total assetsLn 16$165K$582K
LiabilitiesLn 26$11K$17K
Net assetsLn 32$154K$565K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$128K$50K$47K$31K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$135K$81K$47K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$19K$11K$7K$948
Accounting feesLn 11c$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$60K$53K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$3K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$607$160$447
OccupancyLn 16$3K$2K$898$128
TravelLn 17$13K$11K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$2K$1K$174
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$58K$56K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$426K$266K$121K$39K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $838K$426K$412K$565K 990 PDF
FY2024 $399K$394K$5K$154K 990 PDF
FY2023 $272K$207K$65K$149K 990 PDF
FY2022 $152K$84K 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $838,005 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $396,141$838,005
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,900$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $399,041$838,005
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 $208,491$281,771
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $185,837$144,704
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $394,328$426,475
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,713$411,530
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $838,005 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$160,000
VIII-1e Government grants$108,692
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$569,313
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$838,005
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$838,005
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $426,475 across 11 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $49,800 · Management $46,968 · Fundraising $31,028$127,796
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $81,007 · Management $47,254 · Fundraising $6,751$135,012
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $11,378 · Management $6,637 · Fundraising $948$18,963
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $4,136$4,136
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $52,944 · Management $7,043$59,987
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $2,635$2,635
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $160 · Management $447$607
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,540 · Management $898 · Fundraising $128$2,566
IX-17 TravelPrograms $11,430 · Management $1,900$13,330
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,082 · Management $1,215 · Fundraising $174$3,471
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $55,752 · Management $2,220$57,972
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $266,093 · Management $121,353 · Fundraising $39,029$426,475
Part X · Balance sheet $582,122 assets, 10 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $87,454$264,350
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $77,500$286,206
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $315$31,566
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $165,269$582,122
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $11,356$16,679
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $11,356$16,679
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $73,241$468,641
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $80,672$96,802
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $153,913$565,443
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $165,269$582,122
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $565,443 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$838,005
XI-2 Total expenses$426,475
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$411,530
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$153,913
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$565,443

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

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