Common Ground Inc
Common Ground Inc. operates with no reported officer compensation, experiencing fluctuating revenues and expenses.
EIN: 201545635 · Milwaukee, WI · NTEE: S20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.3M |
| Total Expenses | $369K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $415K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Common Ground Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Common Ground Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Common Ground Inc
Common Ground Inc (EIN: 201545635) is a nonprofit organization based in Milwaukee, WI, classified under NTEE code S20. The organization reported total revenue of $1.3M and total assets of $1.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Common Ground Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Common Ground Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $335K |
| Total Expenses | $369K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-34,274 |
| Total Assets | $415K |
| Net Assets | $415K |
| Operating Margin | -10.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 13.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Common Ground Inc reported a deficit of $34K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 13.5 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Common Ground Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +7.3% | -7.9% | +7.5% |
| 2022 | -33.7% | +73.8% | -40.0% |
| 2021 | -22.4% | -32.6% | +59.8% |
| 2020 | +92.2% | -22.5% | +51.6% |
| 2019 | -8.8% | +6.3% | -48.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Common Ground Inc with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Common Ground Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $34K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Common Ground Inc. consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating a volunteer-led executive team or that executive salaries are covered by other means not reported as officer compensation, which is highly efficient for a nonprofit of its size.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Common Ground Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeded revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023 and 2022), indicating potential reliance on reserves or other funding sources.
- Significant fluctuations in assets over the past decade, suggesting varying financial reserves.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Common Ground Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating high administrative efficiency at the executive level.
- Multiple years with $0 reported liabilities, including the latest filing (2023), demonstrating strong financial management.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 periods), indicating consistent transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Common Ground Inc
Is Common Ground Inc a legitimate charity?
Common Ground Inc (EIN: 201545635) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Wisconsin. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.3M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Common Ground Inc spend its money?
Common Ground Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Common Ground Inc tax-deductible?
Common Ground Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201545635). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Common Ground Inc's spending goes to programs?
Common Ground Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Common Ground Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Common Ground Inc is above average for NTEE category S20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Common Ground Inc located?
Common Ground Inc is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and files with the IRS under EIN 201545635. It is classified under NTEE code S20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Common Ground Inc have?
Common Ground Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $1.3M in total revenue.
Is Common Ground Inc. a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, Common Ground Inc. appears to be a good charity, particularly due to its consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission rather than executive salaries. Its financial stability has fluctuated, but recent filings show $0 liabilities, which is positive.
How has Common Ground Inc.'s financial health changed over time?
Common Ground Inc.'s financial health has seen fluctuations. While assets peaked at over $1 million in 2016, they have since decreased to $414,641 in 2023. Revenue and expenses have also varied, with some years showing expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 2023 and 2022), indicating periods of deficit spending.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization's approach to executive compensation is highly conservative, with all 13 available IRS 990 filings reporting 0% officer compensation. This suggests that executive leadership is either entirely volunteer-based or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation on the 990, which is a strong indicator of efficiency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Common Ground Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Common Ground Inc's revenue has grown by 8.6%, moving from $309K to $335K. Total assets increased by 319.3% over the same period, from $99K to $415K. Total functional expenses rose by 33.7%, from $276K to $369K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Common Ground Inc reported a deficit of $34K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $335K | $369K | $415K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $312K | $401K | $386K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $471K | $231K | $642K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $608K | $342K | $402K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $316K | $441K | $265K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $347K | $415K | $515K | $275K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $376K | $385K | $952K | $315K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $655K | $417K | $1.0M | $379K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $390K | $425K | $915K | $530K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $416K | $531K | $710K | $290K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $340K | $367K | $196K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $356K | $343K | $109K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $309K | $276K | $99K | $3K | — | — |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $335K, expenses of $369K, and assets of $415K (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $312K, expenses of $401K, and assets of $386K (revenue -33.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $471K, expenses of $231K, and assets of $642K (revenue -22.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $608K, expenses of $342K, and assets of $402K (revenue +92.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $316K, expenses of $441K, and assets of $265K (revenue -8.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $347K, expenses of $415K, and assets of $515K (revenue -7.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $376K, expenses of $385K, and assets of $952K (revenue -42.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $655K, expenses of $417K, and assets of $1.0M (revenue +67.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $390K, expenses of $425K, and assets of $915K (revenue -6.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $416K, expenses of $531K, and assets of $710K (revenue +22.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $340K, expenses of $367K, and assets of $196K (revenue -4.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $356K, expenses of $343K, and assets of $109K (revenue +15.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $309K, expenses of $276K, and assets of $99K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Common Ground Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Common Ground Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.