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39 Chicago charities, checked against their filings

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39

charities, each checked against its IRS filings and Charity Navigator record

$1.29B

spent a year between them, from a food bank to a single neighborhood pantry

0%

taken by GiveChi. Every Donate button goes straight to the charity

Map of Chicago’s 77 community areas. Shaded areas are named by at least one charity here.Rogers ParkWest RidgeUptownLincoln SquareNorth CenterLake ViewLincoln ParkNear North SideEdison ParkNorwood ParkJefferson ParkForest GlenNorth ParkAlbany ParkPortage ParkIrving ParkDunningMontclareBelmont CraginHermosaAvondaleLogan SquareHumboldt ParkWest TownAustinWest Garfield ParkEast Garfield ParkNear West SideNorth LawndaleSouth LawndaleLower West SideLoopNear South SideArmour SquareDouglasOaklandFuller ParkGrand BoulevardKenwoodWashington ParkHyde ParkWoodlawnSouth ShoreChathamAvalon ParkSouth ChicagoBurnsideCalumet HeightsRoselandPullmanSouth DeeringEast SideWest PullmanRiverdaleHegewischGarfield RidgeArcher HeightsBrighton ParkMcKinley ParkBridgeportNew CityWest ElsdonGage ParkClearingWest LawnChicago LawnWest EnglewoodEnglewoodGreater Grand CrossingAshburnAuburn GreshamBeverlyWashington HeightsMount GreenwoodMorgan ParkO’HareEdgewater

Shaded: a charity here names the area. Boundaries: City of Chicago.

Your side of town.

Tap your community area, or choose it here, to see who works there by name, and who works across the whole city.

Show up in person.

Walks, cleanups, plantings and volunteer shifts run by charities on this list. Dates are from each charity’s own site, checked September 25, 2026; confirm before you go.

  1. Sep26

    Plant trees at Wentworth Gardens

    Openlands

    8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. · 3770 S. Wentworth Ave., Armour Square · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Plant trees at Wentworth Gardens, opens in a new tab

  2. Sep26

    Stewardship workday at Canal Origins Park

    Friends of the Chicago River

    10 a.m.–noon · 2701 S. Ashland Ave., McKinley Park

    Details: Stewardship workday at Canal Origins Park, opens in a new tab

  3. Sep26

    Mulch the trails at Palmisano Park

    Openlands

    10 a.m.–1 p.m. · Palmisano Park, Bridgeport · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Mulch the trails at Palmisano Park, opens in a new tab

  4. Sep28

    Prune and haul brush in Humboldt Park

    Openlands

    9 a.m.–noon · Humboldt Park, north of Augusta and east of Kedzie · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Prune and haul brush in Humboldt Park, opens in a new tab

  5. Sep29

    Community tree care day in North Lawndale

    Openlands

    10 a.m.–1 p.m. · 16th Street, North Lawndale · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Community tree care day in North Lawndale, opens in a new tab

  6. Oct1

    Plant trees at Abraxas Youth & Family Services

    Openlands

    8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. · 5701 S. Wood St., West Englewood · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Plant trees at Abraxas Youth & Family Services, opens in a new tab

  7. Oct7

    Community tree care day on California Boulevard

    Openlands

    9 a.m.–noon · California Blvd., Little Village · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Community tree care day on California Boulevard, opens in a new tab

  8. Oct7

    Prune street trees at Hollywood Park

    Openlands

    9 a.m.–noon · Thorndale and Jersey, North Park · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Prune street trees at Hollywood Park, opens in a new tab

  9. Oct10

    March and Rally to End Domestic Violence

    Connections for Abused Women and their Children

    10 a.m. · 2510 N. California Ave., Logan Square · Sign-up required

    Sign up: March and Rally to End Domestic Violence, opens in a new tab

  10. Oct10

    Harvest Fest at the South Chicago farm

    Urban Growers Collective

    11 a.m.–3 p.m., free · 9000 S. Mackinaw Ave., South Chicago · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Harvest Fest at the South Chicago farm, opens in a new tab

  11. Oct11

    Prune trees at Mozart Park

    Openlands

    10 a.m.–1 p.m. · Mozart Park, 2036 N. Avers Ave. · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Prune trees at Mozart Park, opens in a new tab

  12. Oct13

    Coach students at Interview Labs

    Chicago Scholars

    5:30–7:30 p.m., also Oct. 15 · 141 W. Jackson Blvd., the Loop · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Coach students at Interview Labs, opens in a new tab

  13. Oct13

    Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials

    Cradles to Crayons

    6–7:30 p.m. · 2500 W. Bradley Pl. · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials, opens in a new tab

  14. Oct17

    Prune trees at Ravenswood Manor Park

    Openlands

    9 a.m.–noon · 4643 N. Manor Ave., Albany Park · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Prune trees at Ravenswood Manor Park, opens in a new tab

  15. Oct30

    Volunteer at the College & Leadership Forum

    Chicago Scholars

    Shifts from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. · Marriott Magnificent Mile, 540 N. Michigan Ave. · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Volunteer at the College & Leadership Forum, opens in a new tab

  16. Oct31

    Plant trees in Irving Park

    Openlands

    8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. · 3807 N. Avers Ave., Irving Park · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Plant trees in Irving Park, opens in a new tab

  17. Nov7

    Family Volunteer Day

    Breakthrough

    9:30–11 a.m., $25 per family · FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll Ave., East Garfield Park · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Family Volunteer Day, opens in a new tab

  18. Nov10

    Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials

    Cradles to Crayons

    6–7:30 p.m. · 2500 W. Bradley Pl. · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials, opens in a new tab

  19. Nov11

    Community tree care day at Chicago State University

    Openlands

    9 a.m.–noon · Chicago State University, Roseland · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Community tree care day at Chicago State University, opens in a new tab

  20. Dec8

    Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials

    Cradles to Crayons

    6–7:30 p.m. · 2500 W. Bradley Pl. · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Giving Factory @ Night: pack kids’ essentials, opens in a new tab

  21. Dec10

    Volunteer Impact Day

    La Casa Norte

    10 a.m.–2 p.m. · Location shared when you sign up · Sign-up required

    Sign up: Volunteer Impact Day, opens in a new tab

  22. May8

    Chicago-Calumet River Day cleanup

    Friends of the Chicago River

    Sign-up opens closer to the day · Dozens of sites along the rivers

    Details: Chicago-Calumet River Day cleanup, opens in a new tab

Any week

All 39 charities.

Every charity here was checked on September 25, 2026. Open one for why it matters, its numbers and every caution.

Food and basic needs 6

  • Beyond Hunger

    Food pantry and home delivery in 13 ZIP codes

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Beyond Hunger spent, about 86 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    85.7%
    spent a year
    $5.0M
    Donate to Beyond Hunger, opens gobeyondhunger.org in a new tab

  • Care for Real

    Food pantries, clothing and home delivery

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Care for Real spent, about 93 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    93.3%
    spent a year
    $7.1M
    Donate to Care for Real, opens careforreal.org in a new tab

  • Common Pantry

    Client-choice food pantry with hot meals

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Common Pantry spent, about 87 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    87.1%
    spent a year
    $2.5M
    Donate to Common Pantry, opens commonpantry.org in a new tab

  • Cradles to Crayons

    Clothing and essentials for children, through social services

    • Finances

      Two consecutive deficits: $0.99M in FY2024 and $1.61M in FY2025.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Cradles to Crayons spent, about 89 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    89.3%
    spent a year
    $50.5M
    Donate to Cradles to Crayons, opens cradlestocrayons.org in a new tab

  • Greater Chicago Food Depository

    Supplies food to 850+ pantries, kitchens and shelters

    • Finances

      Small operating deficits in FY2022, FY2023 and FY2025, against $216M in assets.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Greater Chicago Food Depository spent, about 92 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    91.8%
    spent a year
    $243M
    Donate to Greater Chicago Food Depository, opens chicagosfoodbank.org in a new tab

  • Nourishing Hope

    Food pantries and grocery delivery, plus counseling

    • Finances

      FY2025 deficit of $390,000 on a $20M budget.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Nourishing Hope spent, about 86 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    85.8%
    spent a year
    $20.0M
    Donate to Nourishing Hope, opens nourishinghopechi.org in a new tab

Literacy and education 7

  • After School Matters

    Paid after-school apprenticeships for high school teens

    • Funding risk

      Heavily dependent on City of Chicago and CPS funding, both under 2026 budget strain. No cut specific to this organization was found.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar After School Matters spent, about 83 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    83.2%
    spent a year
    $40.9M
    Donate to After School Matters, opens afterschoolmatters.org in a new tab

  • Bernie’s Book Bank

    Free books for kids, birth to sixth grade

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Bernie’s Book Bank spent, about 77 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    76.9%
    spent a year
    $6.0M
    Donate to Bernie’s Book Bank, opens berniesbookbank.org in a new tab

  • Chicago Public Library Foundation

    Funds library programs taxes do not cover

    • Finances

      FY2024 deficit of $1.36M, absorbed by $38.5M in net assets. Four consecutive deficits from FY2016 through FY2019.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Chicago Public Library Foundation spent, about 62 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    62.3%
    spent a year
    $5.9M
    Donate to Chicago Public Library Foundation, opens secure3.convio.net in a new tab

  • Chicago Scholars

    Mentors first-generation students to college and career

    • Finances

      Three consecutive deficits: $987,000 in FY2023, $1.06M in FY2024 and $2.58M in FY2025, about $4.62M combined; net assets fell to $8.15M. Also consecutive in FY2019 and FY2020. No adverse news coverage was found; this comes from Form 990 data.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Chicago Scholars spent, about 72 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    71.8%
    spent a year
    $7.6M
    Donate to Chicago Scholars, opens chicagoscholars.donorsupport.co in a new tab

  • Literacy Chicago

    Free adult literacy, ESL and GED classes

    • Funding risk

      90% of revenue is government grants ($805,772 of $897,204).

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Literacy Chicago spent, about 77 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022, FY2024, FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    76.7%
    spent a year
    $706K
    Donate to Literacy Chicago, opens givebutter.com in a new tab

  • One Million Degrees

    Coaching and money for community college students

    • Finances

      Deficits of $1.39M in FY2024 and $1.67M in FY2025, following a FY2023 surplus of $19.2M — consistent with a planned spend-down during scale-up, with $22.9M in net assets. In April 2026 City Colleges announced a five-year expansion with more than $20M initial funding.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar One Million Degrees spent, about 63 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    63.1%
    spent a year
    $10.1M
    Donate to One Million Degrees, opens onemilliondegrees.org in a new tab

  • Open Books

    Bookstores that fund K–12 literacy programs

    • Finances

      A $402,000 deficit in FY2025 as revenue fell about 22%, to $3.05M; net assets dropped from $2.54M to $2.14M. It then closed its Logan Square store on 1 March 2026, citing financial challenges.

    • Labor record

      Former Logan Square employees publicly criticized management over sudden terminations in March 2026.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Open Books spent, about 82 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    82.0%
    spent a year
    $3.5M
    Donate to Open Books, opens openbooks.app.neoncrm.com in a new tab

Housing and homelessness 7

  • All Chicago Making Homelessness History

    Coordinates the homelessness response and emergency aid

    • Finances

      FY2023 deficit of $1.3M, back to a small surplus in FY2024. Revenue swings between $54.9M and $115.5M year to year because government rental assistance passes through the books.

    • Funding risk

      As the Continuum of Care lead agency it is the pass-through for federal homelessness funding, and HUD is weighing more than $60M in cuts that put an estimated 3,247 Chicagoans at risk. The FY2026 funding rules have since gone back and forth in court.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar All Chicago Making Homelessness History spent, about 97 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    96.8%
    spent a year
    $54.6M
    Donate to All Chicago Making Homelessness History, opens allchicago.org in a new tab

  • Breakthrough

    Shelter, housing and services in one neighborhood

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Breakthrough spent, about 89 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    89.3%
    spent a year
    $14.0M
    Donate to Breakthrough, opens breakthrough.org in a new tab

  • Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness

    Homelessness policy, organizing and legal aid

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness spent, about 86 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    86.2%
    spent a year
    $6.7M
    Donate to Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, opens act.chicagohomeless.org in a new tab

  • Deborah’s Place

    Supportive housing for women who are homeless

    • Funding risk

      Its CEO has said on the record that a proposed federal 30% cap on HUD permanent-housing funds would force evictions at two of its buildings, including The Conservatory Apartments, home to 34 women.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Deborah’s Place spent, about 77 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    77.0%
    spent a year
    $6.8M
    Donate to Deborah’s Place, opens deborahsplace.org in a new tab

  • Franciscan Outreach

    Interim shelters, meals and case management

    • Audit finding

      Its federal single audits for FY2024 and FY2025 both report a material weakness in internal controls.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Franciscan Outreach spent, about 79 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    79.2%
    spent a year
    $6.7M
    Donate to Franciscan Outreach, opens wl.donorperfect.net in a new tab

  • La Casa Norte

    Shelter and housing for homeless youth and families

    • Finances

      Its FY2024 Form 990 shows a $10.47M deficit and negative net assets of $789,000. The audited consolidated statements explain it as the unwinding of a New Markets Tax Credit financing, in which $12.5M of notes were forgiven: consolidated results were a $5.27M surplus in 2024 and a $403,000 deficit in 2025, with $15.3M in net assets and a clean audit. Earlier deficits were small: $263,000 in FY2022 and $33,000 in FY2023.

    • Funding risk

      66% of 2025 revenue ($6.07M of $9.23M) came from government grants.

    What “to programs” means

    The share of a charity’s spending that goes to its programs, rather than to management and fundraising. La Casa Norte has no published figure.

    not published
    spent a year
    $21.0M
    Donate to La Casa Norte, opens lacasanorte.org in a new tab

  • The Night Ministry

    Overnight outreach, street medicine and youth shelter

    • Finances

      A $237,000 deficit in FY2025, as revenue fell from $12.06M in FY2023 to $10.61M.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar The Night Ministry spent, about 71 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    71.0%
    spent a year
    $10.8M
    Donate to The Night Ministry, opens thenightministry.org in a new tab

Violence prevention and youth 5

  • Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

    One place where abused children get help

    • Finances

      Five consecutive deficits from FY2020 through FY2024, about $2.27M cumulative on a roughly $8M budget, then a sharp reversal to a $1.88M surplus in FY2025 on a revenue jump. The cause of the reversal is not public, so do not assume it recurs.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center spent, about 77 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    77.1%
    spent a year
    $10.5M
    Donate to Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, opens chicagocac.org in a new tab

  • Chicago CRED

    Outreach, therapy and jobs for those at highest risk

    • Finances

      FY2024 deficit of $10.24M, on record-high expenses against sharply lower revenue. Consecutive deficits in FY2021 and FY2022, then a large FY2023 surplus.

    What “to programs” means

    The share of a charity’s spending that goes to its programs, rather than to management and fundraising. Chicago CRED has no published figure.

    not published
    spent a year
    $36.3M
    Donate to Chicago CRED, opens secure.givelively.org in a new tab

  • Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

    Street outreach and violence interruption

    • Finances

      Three consecutive deficits FY2022 through FY2024, all small, returning to surplus in FY2025.

    • Funding risk

      Contributions are 99.7% of revenue, which is severe funder concentration.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Institute for Nonviolence Chicago spent, about 93 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    92.9%
    spent a year
    $15.7M
    Donate to Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, opens nonviolencechicago.org in a new tab

  • Metropolitan Family Services

    Family services and violence intervention region-wide

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Metropolitan Family Services spent, about 88 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    87.7%
    spent a year
    $178M
    Donate to Metropolitan Family Services, opens metrofamily.org in a new tab

  • Youth Guidance

    School counseling programs, including Becoming A Man

    • Finances

      Three consecutive and worsening deficits — $655,000 in FY2023, $6.61M in FY2024 and $10.46M in FY2025, roughly $17.7M cumulative. Revenue fell from $58.99M in FY2022 to $44.26M in FY2025 while expenses peaked at $56.1M in FY2024. No reporting of layoffs or leadership change was found and the cause is not public.

    • Funding risk

      In November 2025 the city cut mentoring funding from $9.5M to $4.6M and made school-based group counseling such as Becoming A Man and Working on Womanhood ineligible for city funds, affecting about 1,400 students at 33 schools from January 2026.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Youth Guidance spent, about 82 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    82.0%
    spent a year
    $54.7M
    Donate to Youth Guidance, opens give.youth-guidance.org in a new tab

Jobs and job training 1

  • Cara Collective

    Job training and placement for people facing barriers

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Cara Collective spent, about 75 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    75.1%
    spent a year
    $16.6M
    Donate to Cara Collective, opens caracollective.org in a new tab

Health 2

  • Erie Family Health Centers

    Community health centers, regardless of ability to pay

    • Incident

      A breach of its network from 10 December 2025 to 27 January 2026 exposed patient data including Social Security numbers and medical records. Notices went to up to 570,000 people from May 2026.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Erie Family Health Centers spent, about 86 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    86.2%
    spent a year
    $122M
    Donate to Erie Family Health Centers, opens eriefamilyhealth.org in a new tab

  • Howard Brown Health

    Health center focused on LGBTQ+ patients

    • Finances

      FY2024 deficit of about $4.9M after three to four years of management-described operating shortfalls, then an $11.2M surplus in FY2025, with $130.6M in net assets. No going-concern warning. Down from 11 locations in 2019 to seven.

    • Labor record

      December 2022: 65 positions cut, citing a $12M shortfall. January 2023: roughly 440 employees struck for three days. July 2023: the National Labor Relations Board found unfair labor practices. May 2024: a contract was ratified after the CEO resigned, and two clinics closed. July 2024: 43 more layoffs, about 7% of staff, which the interim CEO described as the third consecutive year of an operating shortfall. November 2024: a $1.108M NLRB settlement covering 55 laid-off workers. A new CEO was named in February 2025 and no labor actions have been found since.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Howard Brown Health spent, about 88 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    87.9%
    spent a year
    $206M
    Donate to Howard Brown Health, opens donate.howardbrown.org in a new tab

Women and survivors 3

  • Apna Ghar

    Crisis support for immigrant survivors of violence

    • Funding risk

      52.3% of revenue is government funding, a concentration risk their own auditor flags.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Apna Ghar spent, about 79 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    78.9%
    spent a year
    $5.1M
    Donate to Apna Ghar, opens apnaghar.networkforgood.com in a new tab

  • Chicago Foundation for Women

    Grants to groups serving women and girls

    • Finances

      A $3.25M deficit in FY2025 as revenue fell 52%, to $3.27M. Net assets held at about $24.1M, so it can absorb this, but it is a large gap.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Chicago Foundation for Women spent, about 85 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    85.2%
    spent a year
    $6.5M
    Donate to Chicago Foundation for Women, opens cfw.org in a new tab

  • Connections for Abused Women and their Children

    Hotline, shelter and advocacy for domestic violence survivors

    • Finances

      A $1.05M deficit in FY2025 as revenue fell to $4.22M from $5.38M the year before.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Connections for Abused Women and their Children spent, about 73 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    72.5%
    spent a year
    $5.3M
    Donate to Connections for Abused Women and their Children, opens cawc.org in a new tab

Environment and land 3

  • Friends of the Chicago River

    Cleanups and restoration for the Chicago River

    • Finances

      Four consecutive deficit years, FY2021 through FY2024 — $24,000, $306,000, $41,000 and $348,000 — before recovering to a $21,964 surplus in FY2025. The smallest financial cushion in this guide.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Friends of the Chicago River spent, about 81 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2023–FY2025) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    80.5%
    spent a year
    $2.5M
    Donate to Friends of the Chicago River, opens wl.donorperfect.net in a new tab

  • Openlands

    Protects open space and plants urban trees

    • Finances

      The apparent FY2023 deficit of $2.82M reflects the deliberate donation of the 71.55-acre Openlands Lakeshore Preserve plus about $1.36M to the Lake County Forest Preserves, completed 30 August 2023.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Openlands spent, about 83 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    82.9%
    spent a year
    $7.7M
    Donate to Openlands, opens form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io in a new tab

  • Urban Growers Collective

    Urban farms, youth jobs and a mobile market

    • Finances

      A $1.12M deficit in FY2023 after revenue fell 36% from a pandemic-relief peak of $4.43M in FY2021, recovered to a $377,000 surplus in FY2024.

    What “to programs” means

    Of every dollar Urban Growers Collective spent, about 73 cents went to its programs: the services themselves. The rest paid for management and fundraising.

    This is a three-year average (FY2022–FY2024) from its IRS filings. The median here is 82.0%.

    Higher is not automatically better: staff, audits and data are what make programs work. This shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.

    72.6%
    spent a year
    $4.3M
    Donate to Urban Growers Collective, opens urbangrowerscollective.org in a new tab

Looking for a charity that is not here? Check any charity yourself in three public records.

How we check.

Each charity was checked on September 25, 2026 against its IRS Form 990, its Charity Navigator record and its own reports, and every donation link was opened to confirm it works. Nothing here is paid for, and nothing is ranked on a single score.

How it’s made

GiveChi is generated with AI and overseen by Cody Heart. Claude, an AI model made by Anthropic, gathered the records, wrote the summaries and built the site. Cody Heart sets its direction and reviews the work.

AI can get things wrong. Each charity’s details link to the filings and sources behind its figures, so check the ones that matter to you before a large gift.

What the numbers mean

To programs
The share of spending that goes to programs, averaged over three years. The median here is 82.0%. It shows how spending is classified; the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.
Charity Navigator score
A Charity Navigator score is built from up to four separate assessments, called beacons. Almost every organization here has completed only one of them — Accountability & Finance, which measures financial disclosure and governance. It says nothing about whether the programs work. A 100/100 means the books are clean and public, and no more than that.
Spent a year
Total expenses from the latest readable filing. Size measures reach.
Result
Revenue minus expenses in that year. A deficit is shown in red and explained under Worth knowing.

Evidence

  • Randomized trial

    Tested against a control group. The strongest evidence available for social programs.

  • Independent study

    Evaluated by an outside researcher. Includes studies the organization commissioned itself.

  • Self-reported

    Counted by the organization itself. No outside evaluation of the program’s effect is on file here.

Cautions

Every note on the record stays in. The ones that bear most on a gift (finances, funding risk, labor record, audit finding, incident) show on the cards; the rest wait in each charity’s details.

Making a small gift count

Ask if your employer matches it
Many employers match their staff’s gifts, often dollar for dollar. Check your benefits portal or ask HR before you give, then send the receipt in.
Deduct it without itemizing
From the 2026 tax year, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts to charities like these, or $2,000 for a married couple filing jointly, even if you take the standard deduction. If you itemize, gifts count above 0.5% of your income. Gifts through donor-advised funds do not qualify for the new deduction.
Give a little every month
Ten dollars a month is $120 a year, and a steady gift lets a charity plan staff and programs ahead. Each charity’s details say whether its form offers recurring gifts, and your saved list can add a reminder to your calendar.
Give time
Where a charity takes volunteers, its details link to how to sign up.

Tax rules: Fidelity Charitable, on the 2026 changes, opens in a new tab. Check your own situation with a tax professional.

Giving safely

Every Donate button here goes to the charity’s own site or the payment platform it uses, each checked by hand. Anywhere else, these are the signs the Federal Trade Commission says to watch for.

Pressure to give right now
A real charity will still take your gift tomorrow. Scammers push for an answer on the spot.
Cash, gift cards, wire transfers or crypto
Only scammers ask to be paid this way. A credit card or a check leaves a record you can dispute.
A name that is almost right
Lookalike names borrow a known charity’s trust. Match the EIN to the one listed here, or look the charity up in the Illinois Attorney General’s registry.

To check a charity that is not listed here, look up its Form 990 on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, opens in a new tab, its Illinois registration in the Attorney General’s charity registry, opens in a new tab and its rating, if it has one, on Charity Navigator, opens in a new tab.

Warning signs: Federal Trade Commission, on charity scams, opens in a new tab.

Questions

How were these organizations checked?
Each one was checked on September 25, 2026 against its IRS Form 990, its Charity Navigator record and its own reports, and every donation link was opened to confirm it works. A Chicago charity missing from this list has not been judged.
What do the evidence tags mean?
Randomized trial: the program was tested against a control group, the strongest proof that it works. Independent study: an outside researcher evaluated it. Self-reported: the organization counts its own results.
How much of my donation reaches programs?
Between 62 and 98 percent here, shown for every charity as a three-year average. It shows how spending is classified, and the evidence tag shows whether the programs work.
Are donations tax deductible?
For 37 of the 39, yes. From the 2026 tax year that includes up to $1,000 in cash gifts ($2,000 for a married couple filing jointly) even if you take the standard deduction; itemizers deduct gifts above 0.5% of income. Chicago CRED is a private operating foundation with different deduction rules, and gifts to Chicago Votes are deductible only through its Education Fund, which this page links. Each entry lists its EIN.
Why is there no overall ranking?
Financial ratios, ratings and program evidence measure different things, and one combined score would invent precision. The picker ranks by one priority at a time, and you choose which.
How current is this information?
Checked on September 25, 2026. Financial figures come from each organization’s latest readable filing: FY2025 for 29 and FY2024 for ten.

Sources

If a link is dead or a figure is wrong, it gets fixed.

Photographs and logos

Each photograph shows a charity’s own work and is from Wikimedia Commons under a free license. Each is cropped for this site and shared under its original license.

Each charity’s logo is its own, taken from its own website and shown only to identify it. Logos belong to their organizations, and no charity listed here endorses or sponsors GiveChi.