PLATINUM2022

Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF)

Investing in Justice for All

Madison, WI   |  https://wistaf.org

Mission

The Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation works with civil legal aid organizations in Wisconsin to increase access to justice. We oversee funds and invest in services and projects to help people resolve legal problems.

Ruling year info

1987

Principal Officer

Rebecca L. Murray

Main address

4600 American Pkwy

Madison, WI 53718 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

39-1555465

NTEE code info

Legal Services (I80)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What good are laws if you can’t afford a lawyer? There’s no constitutional guarantee to an attorney in most civil cases—cases outside of criminal law. And yet, we rely on civil law to assure our safety, security, and independence. In a complex system like ours, without an attorney it can be hard to know when the law is on your side, let alone how to argue your case or follow procedures necessary to trigger legal protections. All too often, people of limited means in Wisconsin (as elsewhere) are shut out of meaningful participation in the legal system. This "hole in the justice system" compounds costs and hardships not only for vulnerable members of society, but for all community members and taxpayers--who shoulder the burdens (monetary and otherwise) associated with escalating problems next door.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Direct Legal Services

WisTAF’s largest and longest-standing grant program helps low-income people solve major problems in their lives.

Thousands upon thousands of clients each year address life-altering challenges and obtain justice they’re promised under the law—thanks to legal counsel, advice, and information funded by WisTAF's direct legal services program. All over Wisconsin, people avoid wrongful loss of housing or employment; secure personal safety through restraining orders; succeed in protecting and accessing health, veterans’, or other earned benefits; and—one person at a time—strengthen their communities.

Viewed monetarily, a conservative estimate shows providers in this program bring back tens of millions of dollars annually for clients in the form of rightful insurance coverage, child support, unemployment compensation, and more. Communities also benefit through saved public costs and an economic multiplier effect.

Population(s) Served
Immigrants
Incarcerated people

WisTAF administers this publicly funded grant program to provide legal services to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual abuse (DVSA). Legal aid groups and domestic violence shelters around Wisconsin receive grants, allowing hundreds of clients to address critical civil legal problems related to domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Population(s) Served
Victims and oppressed people
Victims and oppressed people

This program adds to the civil legal aid model a transformative focus on the community.

FP/CRLA catalyzes exciting new practices that help low-income individuals and families stay in their homes and become economically self-sufficient, while simultaneously working at the community level to stabilize and revitalize groups facing disadvantage. Grants in this program support strategies such as partnering with job centers in northern Wisconsin, building legal aid collaborations with neighborhood groups in Milwaukee, and providing mediation options in housing cases.

Grantee organizations report the program has allowed transformational change in the way they do their work and the trust they can earn in disadvantaged communities, while also paving the way for organizations to build expertise and experience in new areas of law.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Economically disadvantaged people
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total dollar amount of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Immigrants, Victims of crime and abuse

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Although WisTAF cannot completely control how much funding is available to distribute as grants, this metric does provide a reasonable measurement of our impact toward our mission.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We are continuing to pursue strategic goals in the following categories:

1) Engage in strategic grantmaking to address unmet needs;

2) Diversify & expand funding sources;

3) Educate the public & key stakeholders about WisTAF mission and results; and

4) Increase collaboration/coordination among providers & stakeholders in the civil justice system.

Financials

Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF)
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF)

Board of directors
as of 06/30/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Atty. April Rockstead Barker

Schott, Bublitz & Engel, s.c.

Term: 2020 - 2023

Eric L. Andrews

Dunk Law Firm, PLL

Glenn Dahl

U.S. Bank Private Wealth Managemen

Thomas Hruz

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III

Anne Hlavacka

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Joshua J. Kindkeppel

Pines Bach

Michelle Knutson

Wipfli LLP

Deanne M. Koll

Bakke Norman, S.C.

JoAnne Kloppenburg

Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV

DeAngela Luna

Northwestern Mutual

Timothy J. Radelet

Jamie Schaefer

Ruder Ware

Carolina Maria Stark

Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Chuck M. Stertz

Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office

Jerry Vang

Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/7/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data