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Shorefront

EIN 01-0550386 · Evanston, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Shorefronts mission is to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Black individuals who have lived, sometimes invisibly, throughout Chicagos suburban north shore.

Income
$999,684
Spending
$288,605
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
1
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$89,744, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 276% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $96,040 spent. Reparations:Initially described as the Evanston Reparations Legacy Project: Stories of the countrys first reparations recipients, Shorefronts Intergenerational Interview Project is an inspiring 8-week program in Evanston, Illinois. Supported by the Field Foundations Media and Storytelling grant, the project brought together two cohorts of local students and recipients of Evanstons historic reparations initiative to share, document, and preserve their stories. At its heart, this program fostered meaningful relationships across generations. Participants learned interviewing techniques and oral history practices while connecting through shared experiences and histories.Shorefront Legacy Center published an inaugural publication summarizing the 2024 Intergenerational Interview Project activities and outcomes, and a second publication is being planned.
  2. $62,288 spent. Archive & Collection:Shorefront Legacy Center promotes understanding of Black history on Chicagos suburban North Shore. It is an Evanston-based community archive, library, educational resource, and research center. The archival and library collections capture some of the history of African American activists, artists, leaders, politicians, and others who lived dynamic, rich lives in the North Shore. The material highlights the African American presence, experience, and impact.Shorefront Legacy Center collects and preserves the history through its living, community archive. Artifacts are collected in many forms, including personal items, articles, photographs, oral histories, digital media, and more. Shorefront Legacy Center is open to all researchers and the general public. Staff welcome inquiries regarding the archive's collections and information related to Black life in Evanston and Chicago's North Shore. For researchers who need assistance finding relevant materials on a particular research topic or to meet a specific information need, research consultation appointments are available.
  3. $22,749 spent. Young Learners:The goal of the Young Learners is to link young people, ages 10-14 with individuals in the community who have a wealth of knowledge about the history and culture of Evanstons African American community. During a six-month program, 4-8 students, meeting once a week are mentored on how to research, document, collect, preserve, and display their communitys history.The curriculum includes field trips to local historical societies and cultural museums, and presentations from local historians, genealogists, storytellers, sociologist, and documentary photographers. The project culminates with a Legacy Fair in which community residents brought personal photographs depicting life in Evanston in different decades. In this event, Shorefront assistants copy the photographs, conduct oral histories, and then take professional photographs to provide a contemporary component for future exhibitions.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.