Impact & transparency
Accountability you can check
Information and documents that funders, partners and the public commonly request.
Legal status, governance & documents
Organization record
| Item | Details | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Tax-exempt status | 501(c)(3) public charity recognized by the IRS. EIN 41-3347272. Listed in IRS Publication 78 with deductibility code PC (public charity). | Verify with IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search · Determination letter available on request |
| Legal name | The Foundation for American Service, Inc. | — |
| Entity type & incorporation | Wisconsin nonstock corporation, incorporated January 2, 2026 (Wisconsin DFI entity ID T118224) | Verify with Wisconsin DFI |
| Leadership | Chris Weber, President · Mainhia Ly, Executive Director & Director of Operations | About FAS |
| Board of Directors | Governing board providing fiduciary oversight of the charitable mission, finances, policies and executive leadership. | Roster available on request |
| IRS Form 990 | FAS received IRS recognition in 2026. Annual returns will be posted here once filed. | Posted when filed |
| Nondiscrimination policy | Equal access to programs, services and employment. | View policy |
| Privacy policy | How we collect, use and protect information. | View policy |
| Terms of service | Terms for using this website and the client portal. | View terms |
| IRS Form W-9 | For funders and partners that require it. | Available on request |
| Funder brief | Two-page summary of mission, programs, theory of change, funding priorities and measurement plan (September 2026). | Download PDF |
| Annual report | Will be published after our first full program year. | Posted when available |
| Other organizational documents | Financial and governance documents for funders and partners. | Request below |
Organizational milestones
Our timeline
Documented milestones only. FAS is a new public charity, and we will add milestones as they occur.
- January 2, 2026Incorporated as a Wisconsin nonstock corporation
- March 2026Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity
- September 2026Afford Today four-course curriculum and financial calculators launched on supportfas.com
- September 2026Online hardship-assistance application with document upload launched
Mission & charitable purpose
What FAS does
The Foundation for American Service is a 501(c)(3) public charity advancing financial capability, workforce stability and economic resilience for veterans, military families, first responders, healthcare workers, educators, public-service professionals and other eligible essential workers. Through education, resource navigation, workforce-development initiatives and targeted supportive assistance, FAS helps working households prepare for financial challenges, navigate periods of hardship and build pathways toward greater long-term stability.
Program descriptions · Statement of need · Assistance eligibility framework
Service area
Where we serve
- Headquarters
- Wisconsin
- Online courses & tools
- Available nationwide
- Hardship assistance
- Available to eligible applicants in approved service areas, subject to program requirements and available funds
Program model
Theory of change
Outcomes are what our programs are designed to achieve. We report results only after we have measured them.
Inputs
- Funding
- Staff
- Volunteers
- Community partnerships
- Technology and client portal
- Curriculum
- Referral relationships
- SEI alliance outreach
Activities
- Financial education
- Workforce-development programming
- Benefits and resource navigation
- Financial-readiness tools
- Participant screening
- Hardship-assistance review
- Community referrals
Outputs
- Participants enrolled
- Courses completed
- Certificates earned
- Individuals screened
- Applications reviewed
- Referrals completed
- Assistance awards issued
- Partners engaged
Short-term outcomes
- Improved financial knowledge
- Improved budgeting confidence
- Improved emergency preparedness
- Increased resource awareness
- Increased benefits-navigation capability
Intermediate outcomes
- Improved financial stability
- Reduced vulnerability to financial shocks
- Improved employment continuity
- Improved access to supportive resources
Long-term impact
- Economic mobility
- Workforce stability
- Household resilience
- Stronger public-service and essential-worker communities
Organizational capacity
How our programs are administered
These are the systems in place today.
Written eligibility and structured review
Published eligibility requirements, an online application that collects required documents, and a minimum 15-business-day review by the FAS team with email updates at each stage.
One standardized curriculum
Four courses (Budget Fundamentals; Debt & Credit Mastery; Workforce & Benefits Navigation; Financial Independence Planning), 16 lessons, and a scored quiz for each course with an 80% passing standard.
Built-in outcome measures
Every course asks learners to rate their confidence before starting and again after the final quiz, alongside quiz scores that measure knowledge. These ratings and scores are currently saved only in each learner’s browser, so FAS can report them only once centralized course records are in place.
Published policies
Privacy, nondiscrimination and terms-of-use policies are published below. Applicants are asked to black out Social Security and bank account numbers before uploading documents.
Impact measurement
What we will report
We will publish these measures by reporting period once data are available. We do not publish estimates. Course progress is currently saved only in each learner’s browser; course measures will be reported once centralized course records are in place.
| Measure | Type | Planned data source |
|---|---|---|
| Unduplicated participants | Output | Course and application records |
| Courses completed and certificates earned | Output | Course completion records and certificates submitted |
| Applications screened and reviewed | Output | Application records |
| Assistance awards and dollars distributed | Output | Award log reconciled to financial records |
| Participants by population (veterans and military families, first responders, public-service and essential workers) | Output | Application records |
| Participants by state and county | Output | Application records |
| Change in financial confidence | Short-term outcome | Before-and-after course ratings |
| Financial knowledge | Short-term outcome | Course quiz scores |
Financial stewardship
How funds are used
FAS received IRS recognition in 2026. We will publish the breakdown of program, management and fundraising expenses from our first filed Form 990, and will not publish allocation percentages before then.
Hardship awards are paid only from available charitable funds, and FAS makes every award decision.
Partnerships
Clearly defined relationships
FAS collaborates with State Employees, Inc. (SEI) on outreach to public-service communities. FAS and SEI are separate organizations. FAS retains responsibility for charitable program criteria, applicant eligibility, funding decisions, grant administration, financial controls and program outcomes. See all partners.
Participant privacy: we report results in aggregate and never publish information that identifies a participant.
For funders & partners
Request organizational documents
Tell us what you need and the opportunity it relates to. We share documents directly with funders and partners.