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Forward Community Investments Inc at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Forward Community Investments Inc

We invest in people, projects, and organizations that create lasting impact, addressing community needs in innovative and effective ways.

$55k
Granted FY2023
2
Grants FY2023
1
States reached
$40k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2023.

Health$400kEducation$350kCommunity Improvement$226kHuman Services$102kHousing & Shelter$90kYouth Development$45kFood & Nutrition$20kPublic Safety & Disaster$8k
02FY2023 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$40,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$35M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LAYTON BOULEVARD WEST NEIGHBORS INC$40,000
MADISON READING PROJECT INC$15,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–22, $532k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 14% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INC: $8k → 9%CAP SERVICES INC: $54k → 10%EMBRACE SERVICES INC: $25k → 13%MENTORING POSITIVES: $5k → 10%NIA IMANI FAMILY INC: $25k → 17%KIDS FORWARD: $10k → 10%ONE CITY SCHOOLS INC: $285k → 10%METCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES INC: $25k → 17%ONE CITY SCHOOLS: $50k → 10%CENTRO HISPANO INC: $45k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

36%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$447k · 3 repeat orgs$794k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +272% since the first grant, against +36% for those funded once.

3 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2023, 3 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

3
26

Total granted

$447k
$739k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+272%
+36%

Still filing today

100%
85%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $55k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Human ServicesCommunity ImprovementHealthYouth DevelopmentHousing & ShelterArts & CultureOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • OC
    ONE CITY SCHOOLS INC
    2× · 2018–2022 · $335k · revenue ×14
  • CF
    CENTER FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
    2× · 2021–2022 · $58k · revenue +9%
  • FA
    FIRST AMERICAN CAPITAL CORPORATION INC
    2× · 2017–2018 · $54k · revenue +272%

Funded once

  • WW
    WISCONSIN WOMEN'S BUSINESS INITIATIVE CORPORATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $120k · revenue +43%
  • CS
    CAP SERVICES INC
    one grant, 2018 · $54k · revenue +14%
  • CH
    CENTRO HISPANO INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $45k · revenue +238%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Wisconsin Progress Inc

Wisconsin progress recruits, trains, elects, and develops progressive candidates and leaders at the local and state legislative levels.

Civil Rights
2
Wisconsin Progress Institute Inc

Wisconsin progress institute exists to empower wisconsin's locally elected leaders with the tools, training, and support they need to be effective, values-driven public servants.

Education
3
Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership

To develop services and training programs for area employers to expand employment opportunities. wrtp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to connecting people to family-sustaining jobs. our mission is to enhance the…

Philanthropy
4
Groundwork Milwaukee Inc

Bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships that empower people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social…

Environment
5
Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board Inc

The northwest wisconsin workforce investment board (nwwib) will create, and continue to improve, an innovative and quality strategic direction for the regional workforce development system.

Public Benefit
6
Innovative Services Inc

Innovative services, inc. (isi) cares for those with disabilities, helping them lead fulfilling lives with maximum independence. innovative's vision is to be the most trusted care provider for people with disabilities in wisconsin.

Human Services
7
Neighborhood Housing Services of Southeast Wisconsin Inc

The purpose of neighborhood housing services of southeast wisconsin, inc. is to renew pride, restore confidence,promote reinvestment, and revitalize the nhs neighborhoods through the efforts of local residents acting in concert with…

Housing & Shelter
8
Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program Inc

Our mission at northwest cep is to create connections that will empower individuals and groups to drive workforce and community growth.

Employment
9
Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity

The wcmp will grow and nurture the mep's impact in the state of wisconsin by engaging and aligning the best possible resources to help small and medium-sized manufacturers reach their potential.

Education
10
East Side Business Improvement Dist

Building a coalition to create Milwaukee most dynamic neighborhood.

Community Improvement
11
Central Wisconsin Community Action Council Inc

The mission of central wisconsin community action council, inc. (cwcac) is to provide opportunities for services which help low-income individuals and families within our service area achieve self-sufficiency and independence.

Human Services
12
Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin Inc

Goodwill of south central wisconsin's mission is to help people in our community to live, work and thrive through housing, employment and supportive services. see schedule o for continuationsupported employment and job skills training are…

Employment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program Inc; the most unlike its peers is Allied Wellness Center Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

27 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 27 of the 31 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
27/27
Grantees still filing
22/27
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ONE CITY SCHOOLS INC: $335,177 · Human ServicesONE CITY SCHOOLS INCCAP SERVICES INC: $54,000 · Human ServicesCAP SERVICES INCCENTRO HISPANO INC: $45,000 · Human ServicesCENTRO HISPANO INCMETCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesNIA IMANI FAMILY INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesEMBRACE SERVICES INC: $25,000 · Human Services+3 more: $22,930 · Human ServicesWISCONSIN WOMEN'S BUSINESS INITIATIVE CORPORATION: $119,710 · OtherWISCONSIN WOMEN'S BUSINES…LAYTON BOULEVARD WEST NEIGHBORS INC DBA VIA CDC: $40,000 · OtherLAYTON BOULEVARD WEST NEI…FENNIMORE MEDICAL PDC INC: $25,000 · OtherFENNIMORE MEDICAL PDC INCBRIDGES UNITED INC: $25,000 · OtherBRIDGES UNITED INCSTEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY INC: $25,000 · OtherSTEPPING STONES OF DUNN C…Healing Our Hearts Foundation Inc: $25,000 · OtherHealing Our Hearts Founda…TANDEM RESTAURANT LLC: $20,000 · OtherTANDEM RESTAURANT LLCCENTER FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP: $57,500 · Community ImprovementCENTER FOR COMMUN…FIRST AMERICAN CAPITAL CORPORATION INC: $54,000 · Community ImprovementFIRST AMERICAN CA…WOODLAND FINANCIAL PARTNERS: $27,500 · Community ImprovementWOODLAND FINANCIA…COMMUNITY ACTION INC OF ROCK & WALWORTH COUNTIES: $25,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY ACTION …NORTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: $25,000 · Community ImprovementNORTHWEST SIDE CO…Allied Wellness Center Inc: $25,000 · HealthAllied We…GRANT REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER INC: $25,000 · HealthGRANT REG…FRIENDS OF WOMEN IN RECOVERY INC: $25,000 · HealthFRIENDS O…Mercy Dental Missions Inc: $25,000 · HealthMercy Den…PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INC: $25,000 · Housing & ShelterTAYLOR COUNTY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $25,000 · Housing & ShelterFuture Urban Leaders: $25,000 · Youth DevelopmentMADISON READING PROJECT INC: $15,000 · Youth DevelopmentPeople of Progression Inc: $25,000 · Arts & CultureWAVE EDUCATIONAL FUND INC: $25,000 · Crime & Legal
Human Services$532,107Other$279,710Community Improvement$189,000Health$100,000Housing & Shelter$50,000Youth Development$40,000Arts & Culture$25,000Crime & Legal$25,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetONE CITY SCHOOLS INC: $335,177 over 2y, 5.3% of budgetWISCONSIN WOMEN'S BUSINESS INITIATIVE CORPORATION: $119,710 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetCENTER FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP: $57,500 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetCAP SERVICES INC: $54,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetFIRST AMERICAN CAPITAL CORPORATION INC: $54,000 over 2y, 3.8% of budgetCENTRO HISPANO INC: $45,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetLAYTON BOULEVARD WEST NEIGHBORS INC DBA VIA CDC: $40,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetWOODLAND FINANCIAL PARTNERS: $27,500 over 1y, 7.9% of budgetCOMMUNITY ACTION INC OF ROCK & WALWORTH COUNTIES: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMETCALFE PARK COMMUNITY BRIDGES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetPARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPeople of Progression Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetAllied Wellness Center Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetGRANT REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNIA IMANI FAMILY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetSTEPPING STONES OF DUNN COUNTY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetNORTHWEST SIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetFuture Urban Leaders: $25,000 over 1y, 8.4% of budgetEMBRACE SERVICES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetFRIENDS OF WOMEN IN RECOVERY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetTAYLOR COUNTY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $25,000 over 1y, 8.9% of budgetMercy Dental Missions Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetWAVE EDUCATIONAL FUND INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetMADISON READING PROJECT INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetKIDS FORWARD INC: $9,700 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Otto Bremer TrustHerbert H Kohl Charit…Alliant Energy Founda…Greater Green Bay Com…The Roots and Wings F…Madison Gas and Elect…Green Bay Packers Fou…The Evjue Foundation …Madison Community Fou…Greater Milwaukee Fou…Wheda Foundation IncAbc Foundation Charit…
Otto Bremer TrustMN27.3× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Otto Bremer Trust · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Inc · The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc · Madison Gas and Electric Foundation Inc · Green Bay Packers Foundation · The Evjue Foundation Inc · Madison Community Foundation · Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc · Wheda Foundation Inc · Abc Foundation Charitable Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Forward Community Investments Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Forward Community Investments Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–24
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 31 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2023, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Forward Community Investments’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home