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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: December 2025 Expires: December 2027

Easterseals Wisconsin

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
19
(800) 422-2324
1468 North High Point Road, Suite 202
Madison, WI, 53717
https://eastersealswisconsin.com/
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Easterseals Wisconsin does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 19 (Cause Related Marketing)
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

Easterseals Wisconsin does not meet this Standard because, in the past year the organization participated in promotions for the sale of consumer goods or services that indicate that the organization will benefit from these purchases. The promotions, however, did not specify:

  • The actual or anticipated amount of the purchase price that will benefit the organization.
  • The applicable maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution that could/will result from such sales.

Easterseals Wisconsin meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to increase independence, maximize opportunities, minimize barriers, and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities."

Year, State Incorporated:
1926, WI

Easterseals Wisconsin reports that it works to help people with disabilities live independently, and become more self-sufficient. Services provided by the organization include vocational rehabilitation, respite services, camping and recreation, information and referral, and public education. In 2023-2024, the organization reported that over 1,700 children and adults with disabilities received assistance through their Disability HelpLine of Outagamie County.

For the year ended August 31, 2024, Easterseals Wisconsin's program expenses were:

Camp Wawbeek $1,330,012
Respite camp $1,076,786
Farm Assessment and Rehabilitation Methods (FARM) $361,985
Public health education $222,868
Self-employment services $118,178
Client assistance services and Helpline $98,247
Total Program Expenses $3,208,076

Chief Executive
Paul Leverenz, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$187,472

Chair of the Board
Pat LeMire

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Insurance Executive, M3 Insurance

Board Size
18

Paid Staff Size
150

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals

Fundraising costs were 34% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,139,216, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Easterseals Wisconsin's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Program service fees $1,383,023
Contributions $641,362
Government grants and support $516,351
Realized and unrealized loss on investments, net $351,657
Special events, net $215,740
Interest and dividends, net $189,026
In-kind contributions $170,308
Bequests $109,676
Donation center royalties $55,944
Federated fundraising $2,130
Total Income $3,635,217

Programs: 86% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $3,635,217
Total expenses: $3,748,893
  Program expenses $3,208,076
  Fundraising expenses $392,535
  Administrative expenses $103,282
  Other expenses $45,000
Income in Excess of Expenses $-113,676
Beginning Net Assets $9,231,093
Other Changes In Net Assets $219,628
Ending Net Assets $9,337,045
Total Liabilities $362,609
Total Assets $9,699,654

Note 1: In the above section, other expenses include support for national programs ($45,000).

Note 2: Other changes in net assets refer to the change in value of beneficial interest in perpetual trust ($219,628).

Note 3: According to Easterseals Wisconsin's audited financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2024, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $170,308, in other services ($100,024), program services ($38,688), marketing ($20,994), property and equipment ($5,592), and supplies ($5,010).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Wisconsin