Chicago Cultural Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Chicago Cultural Alliances mission is to connect, promote, and support centers of cultural heritage for a more inclusive Chicago. We are an active consortium of 50 cultural heritage museums, centers, and historical societies that represent over 30 different cultures. Our vision is a city where all communities have a voice, and cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration are an integral part of Chicagos civic fabric.
- Income
- $374,863
- Spending
- $543,103
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $80,927, 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
Weak: 27 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 93% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $408,152 spent. The Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) increases the visibility and impact of Chicagos ethnic assets by leveraging partnerships between member organizations and major institutions. The CCA assures the long-term efficacy of its public education, marketing, preservation, and social service programs by providing organizational development assistance to its core members. The CCA serves centers of cultural heritage in total. These organizations support communities from 30 different cultures in 23 Chicago neighborhoods and 11 suburbs. 33% of our membership is based in Chicagos underserved South and West sides. 67% of the cultural communities served by the CCA are ALAANA (African, Latino/e/x, Asian, Arab, and Native American). 30 of 49 of these member organizations have budgets below $500,000.The CCA served this mission though the following programs and services in 2024:03/12/2024 | Activating Heritage ConferenceThe 2024 conference featured 12 panels with 36 panelists representing 25 different institutions. The days schedule included a networking breakfast, lunch, and a keynote address. Over 150 attendees participated in the conference.09/21/2024 | World Dumpling FestAround 8,000 festivalgoers from 136 distinct zip codes attended this festival. 15 cultural organizations of the CCA were spotlighted through on-stage cultural performances as well as in the festival booths. The festival promotions reached +400,000 through social media. Attendees were invited to meet their local cultural center as well experience Chicago's cultural communities through the different culinary traditions represented by the restaurants as well as through live cultural performances on the main stage.10/15/2024 Leadership CouncilThe CCA invited leadership to meet in-person to discuss what services have been helpful and explore what changes would better serve our membership. Members discussed current challenges, made new connections, and requested the CCA begin offering shared services. Monthly | Virtual Town Halls (Zoom)Core and Partner member organizations of the CCA participated in a 1-hour virtual town hall each month. Each meeting began with a presentation from a subject matter expert. The meetings were an opportunity for cultural leaders to connect and strengthen their network while advancing their professional development. NewslettersThe CCA publishes the Culture Around the City newsletter twice per month and reaches around 7,000 subscribers. The newsletter is a means to share the cultural events or calls for support from the cultural partners of the CCA. This is a powerful audience engagement tool that fosters higher attendance at cultural events and creates deeper cross-cultural understanding. The CCA also publishes the Memberwire newsletter twice per month. This reaches a smaller audience of +400 comprised of staff members of CCA organizations, funders, and board members. This is a tool for strengthening our alliance by sharing member announcement, issuing calls for support, sharing resources, and sharing grant opportunities with members.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.