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Preservation Chicago NFP

EIN 01-0674228 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF CHICAGO, PRESERVATION CHICAGO IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING THE VIBRANCY OF CHICAGO'S ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE BY CHAMPIONING OUR HISTORIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT. PRESERVATION CHICAGO PROTECTS AND REVITALIZES CHICAGO'S IRREPLACEABLE ARCHITECTURE, NEIGHBORHOODS AND URBAN GREEN SPACES. WE INFLUENCE STAKEHOLDERS TOWARD CREATIVE REUSE AND PRESERVATION THROUGH ADVOCACY, OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND PARTNERSHIP.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$636,100
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
5
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$122,357, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $440,593 spent. 2024 PROVED TO BE REMARKABLE. MANY LONG-ENDANGERED BUILDINGS FINALLY EMERGED AS PRESERVATION 'WINS' THROUGH LANDMARKING. PRESERVATION CHICAGO HAS BEEN DEEPLY ENGAGED WITH MANY OF THESE LONG-TERM EFFORTS AND OUR LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THESE ADVOCACY EFFORTS PROVED DECISIVE. AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF EFFORT, TO FINALLY SEE THESE BUILDINGS IN A SAFE PLACE IS BOTH WONDERFULLY EXHILARATING AND PROVIDES AS PROFOUND SENSE OF RELIEF. A FEW HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: CENTURY & THE CONSUMERS BUILDING, THOMPSON CENTER, ST. ADALBERT PARISH COMPLEX, RECTOR BUILDING, WAX TRAX! RECORDS, 161 E. ERIE, HARRIS TRUST & SAVINGS BANK, KINGDOM BAPTIST CHURCH, HYDE PARK UNION CHURCH, WERNER BROTHERS STORAGE, RAMOVA THEATER, MARSHALL SQUARE THEATER, CONGRESS THEATER. MARS CHOCOLATE FACTORY, CRITTENTON ANCHORAGE, STOCK YARDS BANK, HUMBOLDT PARK RECEPTORY BUILDING AND STABLE, LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH COMPANY, AND MANY MORE.OUR INNOVATIVE LEVERAGED IMPACT ADVOCACY MODEL USES AMPLIFICATION AND PROTECTION TO CATALYZE THE TARGETED STRATEGIC INVESTMENT ESSENTIAL TO ALLOW OUR COMMUNITIES TO BEGIN TO HEAL. THIS DYNAMIC ADVOCACY MODEL HAS SUCCESSFULLY HARNESSED THE POWER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND CATALYZED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT, PRIMARILY IN COMMUNITIES OF DISINVESTMENT. EVERYTHING WE DO IS PRO BONO.BY MOBILIZING WIDESPREAD GOODWILL THROUGH EXTENSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE, AND DEPLOYING ROBUST LANDMARK PROTECTIONS AGAINST DEMOLITION, WE CREATE THE STABILITY NECESSARY TO SECURE THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING ESSENTIAL FOR CONVERTING LONG-NEGLECTED HISTORIC ASSETS INTO DYNAMIC NEIGHBORHOOD ANCHORS.STEP 1 - AMPLIFICATION: WE INFORMALLY PARTNER WITH THE PRESS. IN 2024, THERE WERE 428 NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS WE ADVOCATED FOR AND WE WERE QUOTED OR MENTIONED IN 223 OF THESE STORIES.STEP 2 - PROTECTION: IN 2024, WE TESTIFIED OVER 106 TIMES AT CITY HALL MEETINGS TO HELP GENERATE 11 NEW CHICAGO LANDMARKS, TO SUPPORT ADOPT-A-LANDMARK AWARDS, AND TO SUPPORT CLASS L DESIGNATIONS.STEP 3 - INVESTMENT: WITHOUT GRANTMAKING CAPACITY OURSELVES, WE HARNESS MASSIVE MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT. IN 2024, CHICAGO ANNOUNCED AN $2.4M INVESTMENT THROUGH ADOPT-A-LANDMARK FUNDS. WE WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH ALL 3 OF THE SITES SELECTED.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.