Child Link Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 172 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Child Link provides foster care, family counseling, and therapy services to Chicago area adolescents who are at risk of homelessness. Child Link also refers adolescents to other agencies that are able to provide additional resources and services.
- Income
- $13.4 million
- Spending
- $12.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 116
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $303,875, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 172 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (4)
- $9.2 million spent. Foster Care Services - This program provides a healthy and safe living environment for children who are wards of the state, provides case management, parent-child counseling, and referrals. When relatives are not available, we place children in traditional foster care homes.
- $1.6 million spent. Professional Foster Care Services - This program provides a more closely monitored healthy, stable, and safe living environment for high-risk children who are wards of the state, provides case management, parent-child counseling and referrals. (Otherwise, same as the above program.)
- $1.8 million spent. Transitional Living Program - This program provides supportive housing, life skills training and support services to young people who are transitioning out of foster care. The program is designed to promote self-sufficiency and help young people to identify their own personal goals and receive help in reaching them.
- $43,088 spent. Counseling Program - This program provides counseling to all children, families, and individuals in need of support for trouble at home and school. Downstate Performance Program - This program provides a healthy and safe living environment for children who are wards of the state, provides case management, parent-child counseling, and referrals. When relatives are not available, we place children in traditional foster care homes. Independent Living Operations - This program provides our clients with the opportunity to live independently within a community of their choice. The program is designed to monitor self-sufficiency and provide additional support to clients prior to closure with DCFS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 June 2005.
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.