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Waukesha WI | IRS ruling year: 2013 | EIN: 45-4309128
Organization 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)
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 benefited. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 90%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 33% Accountability & Finance, 50% Impact & Results, 8% Leadership & Adaptability, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Results. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 6 independent members10 out of 10 points Independent Board Size - 6 independent members10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed3 out of 3 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed7 out of 7 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed7 out of 7 points Whistleblower Policy - Listed7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed7 out of 7 points Document Retention and Destruction - Listed7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes3 out of 3 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed3 out of 3 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed3 out of 3 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 6.77%15 out of 15 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 6.77%15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 100.00%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 100.00%25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
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
Compensation not entered
Julie Reiels, Member
Compensation not entered
Michael Previte, Vice Preside
Compensation not entered
Kathy Weidenman, Secretary
Compensation not entered
Terri Lynn Johnson, Executive Di
Compensation not entered
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2022
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
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)
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 search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Wisconsin Independent Learning College Inc.) or EIN (454309128) in the 'Search Term' field.
Score
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
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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: 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
market value 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 + $13 partner costs + $0 beneficiary costs = $5,388 total costs
We calculate impact, defined as the change in outcomes attributable to a program divided by the cost to achieve those outcomes.
Impact Calculation
$5,388 total costs / $5,000 worth of goods distributed = roughly $1 provides a dollar's worth of essential goods to someone in need.
Benchmark for Rating
Impact & Results scores of goods provision programs are based on comparing the cost to distribute a goods against the market value of those goods. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if the cost to distribute goods is less than 75% the value of those goods and a score of 80 if it is less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65.
Determination
Cost-effective
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditConstituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points Constituent Feedback - Data Available100/100 points
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. The methodology leveraged for Constituent Feedback is based on The Core Principles of Constituent Feedback, which describes listening and responding well to feedback. Charity Navigator participates in a consortium with other feedback experts and leading nonprofit infrastructure platforms to drive Constituent Feedback's advancement, promotion, and data collection.
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Equity Practices - Data Available100/100 points Equity Practices - Data Available100/100 points
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 14 Equity Practices.
This assessment demonstrates the importance of implementing practices that contribute positively to an organization's overall culture, both internally and with respect to community engagement. Furthermore, equity centered frameworks and similar approaches have drawn much attention from donors, experts, and sector leaders who underscore its value to the nonprofit's overall health and capacity for mission success. Currently, the Equity Strategies Checklist assessment consists of practices and policies that promote racial equity in their operations and programs (per the Equity Strategies checklist administered by Candid). As we refine our DEI assessment, Charity Navigator partners with DEI consultants and field experts to broaden and deepen this work.
| Equity Practices (7/7) | |
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
| Equity Policies and Procedures (7/7) | |
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Score
This beacon 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.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditMission 10/10 points Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
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 benefited.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
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 trai
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points Goals 20/20 points
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.
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
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.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
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.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points Adaptability Story 30/30 points
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.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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