Mission: Autism specific programs - ages 18 and over - providing daily living skills pre-vocational training utilizing academics and various modes to teach communication skil ... (More)
Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2013, and donations are tax-deductible.
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Encompass Rating System by Charity Navigator
Overall Score
80
out of 100
This charity's score is a passing score.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 80% Impact & Results, 10% Leadership & Adaptability, and 10% Culture & Community
Learn about the Encompass Rating System: Overview | FAQ | Release Notes
Finance & Accountability
This score provides an assessment of a nonprofit's financial health (stability, efficiency and sustainability) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Finance & Accountability Score
Not currently scored
This organization cannot be evaluated by our Encompass Rating methodology due to only having 2 years of electronically-filed IRS Form 990 data.
To ensure year-to-year consistency the Encompass Rating System’s Finance & Accountability beacon analyzes the three-year average of some data provided through the IRS 990.
Charity Navigator currently only has 2 years of consecutive e-filed Forms 990 from the IRS for Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. under the EIN: 45-4309128.
Before Charity Navigator can evaluate this organization, Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. will need to e-file for additional fiscal years.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated this organization.
Additional Information
Unscored
This beta feature is currently viewable only on desktop or tablet screens. Check back later for updates.
Total Revenue and Expenses
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
LINDA SUMWALT, PRESIDENT
$0
PAM JOY, VICE PRESIDENT
$0
ANN VOGEL, TREASURER
$0
KATHY WEIDENMAN, DIRECTOR
$0
TOD FRISKE, DIRECTOR
$0
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2019
Business Master File Data
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
School 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) (BMF foundation code: 11)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources: IRS Forms 990
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to view this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available).
Pandemic Response
Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Staffing
Administrative Capacity
Balance Sheet
Cost of time off for Covid testing, vaccinations/boosters, and extended employee health benefits and unemployment.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Donations/fundraising declined 65% during 2020 from the previous year. We applied for and received Federal Government PPP funding both in April 2020 and Feb. 2021 for round 2 PPP. We applied for and received 1/10 private grants. Received an EIDL federal $10,000 loan through EIDL which we began paying back in Sept of 2020. We shut down completely for a total of 10 weeks in 2020 and also started online student activities through Zoom Pro for 20% of our students 8/2020 to 4/2021 to provide educational services remotely. Staff were also allowed options to to work remotely. We provided extensive emote staff development for technology updates, Cultural Diversity/Inclusion training, Person Centered Planning, Autism and Adv. Psychology courses, online teaching, First Aid/CPR/AED training using PPP funds In later fall 2020 we added additional staff with challenges whereas in previous years never had staff hiring issues.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Due to COvid 19 we were not able to hold our most successful annual fundraiser in fall of 2020. We saw a huge reduction in grant funds because of increased organizations also applying. We were able to manage to change the date of our event for 2021 but now are in fear of having to either greatly reduce the number of guests or cancel due to the Delta Variant impact. We have Zoom Pro for live interactive meetings and instruction to our homebound autistic students aged 18-30 due to their health risks. We did have a letter and direct reachout campaign that brought in needed funds.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
WILC adapted the operation using PPP funds to rehire all staff fulltime to access remote work or in person when possible. Providing for extensive staff development in late spring 2020 to present including technology training for teaching online, trauma and resilience counseling/training, Cultural Diversity/Inclusion in the workplace and community, and Person Centered Planning for Disabled autistics.. We did a 50% in person opening with our autistic students who could return May 2020 after procuring Covid 19 sanitation/masks/barriers/ cleaning service, and installing a new more efficient cleaner HVAC furnace with innovative UV Lighting Sanitation for all air returns. The incorporation of online learning is now part of our everyday offerings for any of our students/staff remote needs. We have allowed more flexible work schedules for staff and increased staff development which continues to this day.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
The WILC First Responder Autism Training for Fire/Police/EMT virtually or in person as to departments individual needs /locations statewide. In addition, we provide virtual Zoom education for our autistic students if COVID restrictions prohibit them to attend in person and all Board meetings virtually. We have implemented a weekly professional cleaning service with building maintenance/cleaning, and new furnaces/air with HVAC- UV Sanitation Light System throughout the building. We have updated our health check Ins for all students and will continue this procedure forward. We have expanded community donations through Good360 corporate partnerships including a local Walmart Partnership allowing our organization to receive/sort and distribute over $100, 000 of retail goods and food products to dozens of community nonprofit agencies for homeless, disabled, low income, veterans, charter schools and individuals/families in need from 2021-2022. We are continuing these programs.
Previous: Finance & Accountability / Next: Leadership & Adaptability
Impact & Results
This score estimates the actual impact a nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Impact & Results Score
75
out of 100
Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. is cost-effective, earning a passing score.
Impact
$30 provides a bundle of goods to someone in need.
Do you work at Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc.? Join the waitlist for an updated Impact & Results score.
Impact & Results Report
75
of 100 points
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Rated Program
Program
Good360 Partnership Program
Activities
The program directly distributes goods that fulfill the basic needs of its beneficiaries.
Program Type
Goods Provision
Beneficiaries Served
Program Geography
Time Period of Data
1/1/20 to 2/5/21
Outcomes and Cost
Outcomes: Changes in the lives of those served by a nonprofit. They can be caused by the nonprofit.
Costs: The money spent by a nonprofit and its partners and beneficiaries.
Impact: Outcome caused by a nonprofit relative to its cost.
Cost-effectiveness: A judgment as to whether the cost was a good use of resources to cause the outcome.
Outcome Metric
Bundles of goods distributed
Outcome Data Source
Ratings are based on data the nonprofit itself collects on its work. We use the most recent year with sufficient data. Typically, this data allows us to calculate direct changes in participants' lives, such as increased income.
The nonprofit submitted data on the composition and market value of the goods it distributed.
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We don't know if the observed changes were caused by the nonprofit's program or something else happening at the same time (e.g., a participant got a raise). To determine causation, we take the outcomes we observe and subtract an estimate of the outcomes that would have happened even without the program (i.e., counterfactual outcomes).
We assume that the distribution of goods from one nonprofit's goods distribution program does not diminish the amount of goods distributed by any other (neighboring) goods distribution program. This “counterfactual” assumption about the amount of goods distributed in the absence of the nonprofit’s goods distribution program implies that the benefit of goods to a beneficiary in need constitutes a net gain; the gain is not offset by reductions in good provided to other beneficiaries in need. We therefore set the counterfactual to zero.
Cost Data Source
After estimating the program's outcomes, we need to determine how much it cost to achieve those outcomes. All monetary costs are counted, whether they are borne by a nonprofit service deliverer or by the nonprofit’s public and private partners.
Program cost data reported by the nonprofit. Partner and beneficiary costs reported by the nonprofit or estimated by Charity Navigator.
Cost Calculation
$5,375 program costs + $38 partner costs + $0 beneficiary costs = $5,413 total costs
Impact and Determination
We calculate impact, defined as the change in outcomes attributable to a program divided by the cost to achieve those outcomes.
Impact Calculation
$5,413 total costs / 192 bundles distributed = roughly $30 provides a bundle of goods to someone in need.
Benchmark for Rating
Impact & Results scores of goods provision programs are based on comparing the cost to distribute a bundle of goods against its value. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if the cost to distribute a bundle is less than 75% the value of that bundle and a score of 75 if they are less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 50.
Determination
Cost-effective
Analysis Details
Analysis conducted in 2022 by Charity Navigator using data submitted by the nonprofit, theory and evidence from scientific research studies, and public datasets.
Additional Information
Unscored
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Largest Programs
Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. reported its largest program on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
$492,465
Spent in most recent FY
100%
Percent of program expenses
Autism specific programs - ages 18 and over - providing daily living skills pre-vocational training utilizing academics and various modes to teach communication skills. Approximately 13 students benef ... (More)
Previous: Impact & Results / Next: Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
This score provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Leadership & Adaptability Score
100
out of 100
The score earned by Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. is a passing score.
Encompass Rating V4 provides an evaluation of the organization's Leadership & Adaptability through the nonprofit organization submitting a survey response directly to Charity Navigator.
Leadership & Adaptability Report
100
of 100 points
Mission
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s mission
WILC was created to fill the autism young adult gap after public education including High School Graduation and or High School Transition 18-21 age Programs for Special Education individuals, specifically Autistic individuals and adulthood aged 18-30. Autism specific programs - ages 18 to 30 young autistic women and men, who may be verbal or non-verbal benefit from WILC's autism specific daily living skills, pre-vocational, and vocational WI DVR Supported and Customized Job Training /Job Coaching and Job hires. WILC is know for utilizing sensory specific approaches to individual to small group instruction, and use augmented communication practices. Approximately 50 students and their families, multiple school districts have benefitted from WILC programming, and multiple First Responder Training have and will continue to be offered for southeastern WI area.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Vision
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
WI Independent Learning College, Inc, also known as WILC, is a private nonprofit post secondary training program serving older teens and young adults with verbal and nonverbal autism who desire continued learning; assisting them in reaching their goals for independence. We believe that people with Autism Spectrum Disorders are intelligent and valuable members of society. It is our mission to provide each student with the necessary supports so that he/she may not only have a successful individualized daily living to vocational training experience, but also become inspired to achieve their purpose in life. WILC provides open opportunities for fair prevailing wages for our students aged 18-30 in jobs of their choice of field, days and hours of work, and job support and accommodations that will allow them to be functioning adults in their home communities. They should be able to live in a home setting of their choice with access to employment, community, transportation and community.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Strategic Goals
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: WILC continues to offer individualized to small group instruction to autistics for daily living to pre-vocational skills at WILC, in the community, their homes and places of employment.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: WILC offers autism training/facility to area First Responders (FIre/EMTS/Police) and other nonprofit service organizations who work with or support individuals on the autism spectrum in Wisconsin.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: WILC will continue to provide our staff and families autism educational training including innovative proven strategies, materials/curriculum, and other information for informed decision making.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
WILC has invested in extensive staff development and technologies for all employees. Multiple staff members have or are presenting participating in a variety of leadership programs: the Waukesha County Business Alliance Leadership 2021-2022 program , the 2020-2021 Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management Year long Leadership - Executive Director and Waukesha County Technical College for Nonprofit / Business program, Business Manager and Executive Director. Throughout 2020 to present our Executive Director has participated in interactive virtual meetings for the Small Business Association, Community Resource Network, The MRA, HR Employment Association, and through our Cincinnati Commercial Insurance programs. Our staff participates in multiple annual trainings. We also provide annual conference attendance to our staff for their specific job roles. We are also providing staff training in WI DHS, Person Centered Planning for our disabled autistic young adults.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Mobilizing for Mission
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
WILC works with Goods360.org in partnership and fundraising for shipping of various goods such as Amazon and Walmart, etc. then receive, sort, categorize and contact organizations as to specific items received and what their need is presently with other nonprofit community organizations in Waukesha County and all over Southeastern WI. The nonprofits we have worked with in 2021 are Easter Seals Daycare and Safe Babies/Healthy Families, The Hope Center, The Hebron House, Family Closet, La Casa de Esperanza Organization, eAchieve Academy, Badger Health Center, Project Strive in Elmbrook/Brookfield, WI, public education teachers, and individuals and families in need in the community.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Story of Adaptability
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Although the past 18 months with Covid have been filled with challenges and WILC met those needs during many changes and important administrative, board, and employee professional development. Starting in 4/2021 while staff was furloughed due to WI State Mandates to close businesses, our Executive DIrector and Board worked together in decision making that led us to partner with our local bank, insurance company, and Small Business Administration seeking their expertise for how to survive the shutdown and continue to move forward to reopen with program updates and growth in students. The Executive Director participated in many webinars to learn about Covid19 throughout 202., New HR approaches along with the Cares Act Federal Payroll Protection Program. WILC qualified for this funding in April 2021 and rehired our staff to work remotely on intensive staff development and online education planning. We were able to reopen 5/18/21 at 50% capacity and on 6/4/21 at 90% autistic student capacity in house and 10% virtual learning, and full time with 100% of our staff. We applied for multiple Federal and Family foundation grants and received additional funding that has allowed us to continue to expand this year. In January 2021 we applied for the second round of PPP and also received that funding and were able to begin to increase our student population beginning in Spring with rolling enrollment and DVR Customized and Supported Employment, to job hires. We also decided to begin prevocational training with WI Explore Work individually to all of our students. We now have a waiting list for future students again for 2021-2022. We have continued to challenge our staff with Person Centered Planning, updating our Student and Employee Handbooks, and moving forward with multiple school district partnerships for 18-21 Post Secondary Transition Programs in southeastern WI.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Previous: Leadership & Adaptability
Culture & Community
This score provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves. Learn more about how and why we rate Culture & Community.
Culture & Community Score
100
out of 100
Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc. has earned a passing score. The organization provided data about how it listens to constituents (Constituent Feedback) and its Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) practices (see report below).
The Culture & Community Beacon is comprised of the following metrics:
Constituent Feedback: 100/100 (30% of beacon score)
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: 100/100 (70% of beacon score)
Culture & Community Report
100
of 100 points
This beta feature is currently viewable only on desktop or tablet screens. Check back later for updates.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
100/100 points
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective DEI policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
View this organization's DEI Strategies
Methodology
We are utilizing data collected by Candid to document and assess the DEI practices implemented by the organization. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to fill out the Equity Strategies section of their Candid profiles to receive a rating.
Learn more about the methodology.
Constituent Feedback
100/100 points
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
View this organization's Constituent Feedback Practices
Methodology
We've partnered with Candid to survey organizations about their feedback practices. Nonprofit organizations can fill out the How We Listen section of their Candid profile to receive a rating.
Learn more about the methodology.
Analysis and Research
Like the overall Encompass Rating System, the Culture & Community Beacon is designed to evolve as metrics are developed and ready for integration. Below you can find more information about the metrics we currently evaluate in this beacon and their relevance to nonprofit performance.
