WISDOM INC

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

PO BOX 7031, MADISON, WI 53707-7031

In care of

% ERIC HOWLAND

Mailing address (990-N for 2014)

PO Box 7031, Madison WI 53707

Principal officer (990-N for 2014)

Joan Duerst, PO Box 7031, Madison WI 53707

Signed the 990-EZ

PHILIP W CARLSON, TREASURER

Phone

(805) 844-4469

Website

www.mosesmadison.org

Return prepared by

RITZ HOLMAN LLP

Mission

MOSES IS A COALITION OF FAITH COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SHARING A PASSION FOR JUSTICE, A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY, AND A PRACTICE OF HOPE. IT EXISTS TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AND AMONG FAITH COMMUNITIES; AND TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO ACT TOGETHER FOR JUSTICE IN PURSUIT OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE VALUES. MOSES, AS A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE STATE ORGANIZATION WISDOM, INC., IS ORGANIZED TO FURTHER ITS PURPOSE BY: 1. INCREASING THE CAPACITY FOR GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP TO BRING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE THROUGH ONGOING TRAINING, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND FUNDRAISING. 2. EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF INFLUENCE OF EACH MEMBER THROUGH CREATION OF A LOCAL FAITH-LED ORGANIZATION. 3. IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL LEADERS AMONG MEMBERS FOR TRAINING ON LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE ISSUE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED ACTION STRATEGIES. 4. ENGAGING MEMBERS IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATEWIDE ISSUES CAMPAIGNS.

Program accomplishments

• JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM INITIATIVE (JSRI) 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: 1) THE COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE EMERGENCY SERVICES (CARES), A NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE PROGRAM, HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED IN MADISON AND WAS EXPANDED TO SUN PRAIRIE IN 2025; 2) DANE COUNTY HAS MULTIPLE JAIL- AND PRISON DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THE LARGEST IS THE DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM (DPP). THE DEFERRED FINAL BUDGET RETAINED ONE POSITION THAT HAD BEEN SLATED TO BE CUT FROM THE DPP. THE BUDGET ALSO ADDED TWO SUPERVISOR POSITIONS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES (CCS) PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES CASE-MANAGED SERVICES AND SELF-SELECTED TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL-HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES; 3) JAIL CONSOLIDATION PROJECT: THE CURRENT JAIL IS OUT-OF-DATE AND INHUMANE. THE CONSOLIDATION PROJECT HAS COME WITH MANY COMMITMENTS REGARDING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, TRAINING, REENTRY, MENTAL HEALTH, FAMILY VISITATION, DATA, AND OTHER ISSUES. CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW, MORE HUMANE JAIL IS VISIBLY UNDER WAY; AND 4) FREEZING LONG-VACANT POSITIONS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND REINVESTING THE SAVINGS IN CRIMINAL-LEGAL SYSTEM REFORM. THIS ISSUE WAS FIERCELY ARGUED, BUT IT ENDED UP WIDELY SUPPORTED SUPPORTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARD. MOSES ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR THIS RESULT.
  Expenses $156,094
• JUSTICE AND POLICING TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTS: 1, THE JUSTICE AND POLICING TASK FORCE (JPTF) WAS APPROVED IN JULY 2025 BY THE MOSES LEADERSHIP BOARD. WE STARTED WITH EIGHT ACTIVE MEMBERS AND HAD NINE AT OUR DECEMBER MEETING; 2) THE JPTF HAS BEEN CONCENTRATING ON CHANGES THAT THE POLICE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD (PCOB) HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING. THIS BOARD WAS DEFINED AT THE OUTSET AS A MAJOR INTEREST FOR THE TASK FORCE. AN INTERIM INDEPENDENT MONITOR (IM) HAS BEEN HIRED; THE IM HEADS THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR AND REPORTS TO THE PCOB AND ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; 3) WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT PCOB CHAIR PEARSON HAD ATTENDED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ANNUAL MEETING IN 2025 AND THAT, AS A RESULT OF OUR MEETING WITH HER, SHE CHOSE TO SHARE A TROVE OF DOCUMENTS FROM THAT ORGANIZATION. THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE PCOB AND THE IM; 4) OUR TASK FORCE CRAFTED A LETTER FOR MOSES PRESIDENT SAUNDRA BROWN TO SEND TO THE MAYOR, SUPPORTING INCLUSION OF BOTH THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR IN THE 2026 EXECUTIVE OPERATING BUDGET. THE MOSES LEADERSHIP BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AN URGENT ISSUE PROPOSAL IN SUPPORT OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR. WHEN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET WAS PUBLISHED ON OCT. 7, WE WERE GLAD TO LEARN THAT IT INCLUDED FULL FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR. THE BUDGET FOR THAT OFFICE WAS EVEN SLIGHTLY INCREASED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
• RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL CHILDREN (RJAC) TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTS: 1) THE MISSION OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL CHILDREN (RJAC) TASK FORCE IS TO ERADICATE THE CHILDHOOD-TO-SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE. WE SEEK TO FURTHER MOSES'S MISSION TO DISMANTLE THE SYSTEMS OF MASS INCARCERATION AND MASS SUPERVISION AND TO ERADICATE THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THEM. WE CARRY OUT OUR MISSION THROUGH OUR THREE WORKING GROUPS: EDUCATION ADVOCACY (EAG), THE HOUSING GROUP (HG), AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND SCHOOL WELLNESS (RJ/SW): 1) EAG: ILLITERACY IS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH JUVENILE AND ADULT CRIMINAL-LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. THE ABILITY TO READ IS A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESS IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. FORTHESE REASONS, IMPLEMENTATION OF WI 2023 ACT 20, THE RIGHT TO READ BILL, HAS CONTINUED TO BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE EAG'S ADVOCACY. RJAC CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT HOW PARENTS ARE INFORMED ABOUT THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND RIGHTS UNDER ACT 20. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEINFORMATION SENT TO PARENTS ABOUT STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE PERSONALIZED READING PLANS MAY BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND. WE WERE PLEASED TO HEAR THAT MMSD PLANS TO RETAIN SMALLER CLASS SIZES AT THE K1 LEVELS. IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2025, THE EAG FOCUSED ON FORMING THE WISCONSIN LITERACY JUSTICE COALITION (WLJC). IN JULY, WE CONVENED AN ONLINE MEETING TO KICK OFF THE WLJC. ABOUT 15 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED BY SHARING THEIR PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDE CONTINUED ADVOCACY AROUND ACT 20 AND PROMOTING TUTORING FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTRA SUPPORT THAT TEACHERS DO NOT HAVE TIME TO PROVIDE; 2) HG: THE HOUSING ISSUE PAPER APPROVED BY MOSES THIS YEAR WAS QUITE CLEAR: HOUSING JUSTICE IS RACIAL JUSTICE FORCHILDREN. HOUSING JUSTICE REMOVES ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND MOST DEVASTATING BARRIERS TO EDUCATION ACCESS, EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY BELONGING FOR BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH. THE ISSUE PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THREE MAIN AREAS OF ADVOCACY: A) SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE YOUTH ACTION BOARD (YAB), OUTREACH, AND URBAN TRIAGE TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY; B) JOINING OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES ADVOCATING THAT MADISON AND DANE COUNTY CREATE ADDITIONAL INCOME-BASED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES; AND C) ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS THAT PROVIDE "AFFORDABLE" UNITS.
• RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND SCHOOL WELLNESS GROUP (RJ/SW) HIGHLIGHTS: MOSES ALSO APPROVED A NEW ISSUE PAPER ON RJ/SW. THE ISSUE PAPER NOTES THAT: THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE IS FED BY EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE AND CRIMINALIZATION OF YOUTH IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE NEED TO CREATE A SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE THAT REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEHAVIORS THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY LED TO EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE AND CRIMINALIZATION. THE ISSUE PAPER SUPPORTS ADVOCACY WITH THE MMSD, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP. THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED REFLECT, TO A LARGE DEGREE, THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED AT A JANUARY 2024 MOSES LISTENING SESSION ON SCHOOL SAFETY. WE HOPE THAT OUR CONVERSATIONS IN THE WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP WILL CLARIFY HOW THE DISTRICT ENVISIONS ITS WORK IN THESE AREAS AND WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO PUSH IT TO DO MORE. RJ/SW MEMBERS MET WITH THE CO-DIRECTOR OF MMSD'S OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY. THE DISTRICT DOES NOT KEEP INFORMATION ON STUDENTS' IMMIGRATION STATUS AND SO HAS NOTHING TO SHARE WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE). THE DISCUSSION ALSO FOCUSED ON OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT POLICE CALLS AT SCHOOLS. MMSD WILL BE PROVIDING US WITH INFORMATION. IN DECEMBER, RJ/SW MEMBERS MET WITH A NUMBER OF MMSD ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF TO REVIEW CONCERNS ABOUT SUSPENSIONS, THE USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, AND MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS. PRIOR TO THE MEETING, WE DID AN EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF MMSD'S SUSPENSION DATA, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN SUSPENSIONS AS WELL AS THE EXTREMELY HIGH SUSPENSION RATES IN SOME OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS DATA AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EFFORTS.

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

46-2055495

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Exempt since

2005

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Group exemption

5251: WISDOM INC

Assets (IRS master file)

$216,207

Income (IRS master file)

$99,073

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 46-2055495).

Questions about WISDOM INC

What is the EIN of WISDOM INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of WISDOM INC is 46-2055495.

Is WISDOM INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2005.

Which annual return does WISDOM INC file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of WISDOM INC due?

The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did WISDOM INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.

Who is the principal officer of WISDOM INC?

The 990-N for 2014 names Joan Duerst.

Who are the officers and directors of WISDOM INC?

The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.

How much revenue does WISDOM INC have?

On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $85,356, expenses of $178,169 and total assets of $216,207 at year end.

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