Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: January 2026 Expires: January 2028

Women and Children's Horizons

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
6 11 16 18
(262) 656-3500
2525 63rd Street
Kenosha, WI, 53143
https://wchkenosha.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

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

Women and Children's Horizons does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

WCH does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least Every 2 Years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

Standard 11 (Financial Statements)
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

WCH does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization's 2024 consolidated audited financial statements were not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

In the opinion letter from the organization’s 2024 consolidated audited financial statements, the auditor stated, “We did not obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about reported amount of inventory because we did not observe the physical count of the inventory. In addition, the Organization did not have inventory recorded on its books at the beginning of the year, as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.”

Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

WCH does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization states it does not have an annual report covering activities conducted in 2024.

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

WCH does not meet this Standard because:

Women and Children's Horizons meets the remaining 16 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to provide support, shelter, education, training, and healing services to victims of sexual and domestic violence/abuse, their families, and the community."

Year, State Incorporated:
1976, WI

Women and Children’s Horizons (WCH) reports that it serves victims of sexual and domestic violence and child witnesses. The organization conducts survivor-centered, trauma-informed work through strategic partnerships and collaboration. WCH’s Legal Advocacy program provides support to victims throughout the court process, including restraining orders, divorces, legal separations, and child custody or placement matters. The organization runs a 24/7 emergency safety shelter which can accommodate 25-35 individuals; victims and their children can stay for up to 30 days. WCH’s Circle of Change is a 28-week program for men and women who have used violence in their relationships and wish to change. The organization's Nifty Thrifty Resale shop sells donated furniture, home goods, jewelry, and clothing for women, men, and children, The organization also runs a 24/7 helpline.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, Women and Children's Horizons's program expenses were:

Thrift store $663,208
Domestic violence $489,605
Shelter $337,136
Sexual assault $72,513
Prevention $54,212
Donor restricted $53,516
Legal $37,723
Total Program Expenses $1,707,913

Chief Executive
Susan Sippel, Executive Director

Compensation*
$106,212

Chair of the Board
Sandra Riese

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
20

*2024 compensation, as reported by the charity, includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Workplace Giving

Fundraising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,754,535, 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 Women and Children's Horizons's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Government grants $752,921
Pledges and contributions $461,639
In-kind contributions $432,736
Program revenue $363,894
Foundations and other grants $77,328
Miscellaneous income $32,938
United Way $16,789
Special events, net $12,232
Investment income $6,283
Total Income $2,156,760

Programs: 78% Fundraising: 4% Administrative: 18%

Total Income $2,156,760
Total expenses: $2,184,910
  Program expenses $1,707,913
  Fundraising expenses $80,646
  Administrative expenses $396,351
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-28,150
Beginning Net Assets $1,086,836
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $1,057,686
Total Liabilities $123,446
Total Assets $1,181,132

Note: According to the organization's 2024 consolidated audited financial statements, WCH received in-kind contributions totaling $432,736 in the form of Nifty Thrifty items ($416,489), shelter items ($13,747), and office products ($2,500).

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