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Gigis Playhouse Inc

EIN 20-0058563 · Hoffman Est, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CHANGE LIVES AND PROVIDE HOPE THROUGH CONSISTENT DELIVERY OF FREE EDUCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH A REPLICABLE PLAYHOUSE MODEL.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
60
Volunteers
439
Highest pay
$200,673, chief belief officer

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 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

    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 (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. NATIONAL MISSION SUPPORT - PROVIDE DIRECT CONSULTING, TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE (FUNDRAISING, MARKETING, PROGRAMMING, GOVERNANCE, ETC) TO NETWORK OF 59 PLAYHOUSES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, TO ENSURE THAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DELIVERED EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY NATIONWIDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MISSION AND GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION. PROVIDING A UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING, SHARED TECHNOLOGIES, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES ACCROSS ALL BUSINESS FUNCTIONS, AND A NATIONAL CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS ANNUALLY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. ON-SITE PROGRAMMING - GIGI'S OFFERS FREE ON-SITE PROGRAMMING FOR INDIVUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME OF ALL AGES, AND THEIR FAMILIES. FROM INFANCY THROUGH ADULTHOOD, GIGI'S OFFERS A VARIETY OF GROUP CLASSES SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOUNDATIONAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL SKILLS. INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE SPEECH, LITERACY, AND MATH. GIGI PREP, GIGI UNIVERSITY, GIGI'S KITCHEN, AND GIGI FIT ARE PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG ADULTS FOCUSING ON CURRICULUM IN SELF CONFIDENCE, FITNESS, NUTRITION AND CAREER SKILLS. AFTER GRADUATING FROM GIGI PREP & GIGI UNIVERSITY AND RECEIVING 12 WEEKS OF INDIVIDUALIZED HANDS-ON CAREER TRAINING, GIGI'S PROVIDES AN IN-HOUSE CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM AT HUGS & MUGS, A SPECIALTY CAFE AND RETAIL STORE RUN BY ADULT INTERNS WITH DOWN SYNDROME.
  3. $1.4 million spent. AWARENESS - GIGI'S PROMOTES THE CELEBRATION, AWARENESS, AND ACCEPTANCE OF DOWN SYNDROME NATION-WIDE THROUGH ALL MEDIUMS VIA THE GENERATION G CAMPAIGN, NEWS SEGMENTS, VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON EVENTS, PRINTED PUBLICATIONS, AN ANNUAL CALENDAR, BRANDED ACCESSORIES & APPAREL, MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS, AND THE "A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA" PODCAST.
  4. $255,058 spent. GIGI'S OFFERS VARIOUS IN-PERSON EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND COUNSELING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. GIGI'S ALSO OFFERS VIRTUAL PLAYHOUSE ACCESS, PROVIDING CRITICAL PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT ONLINE. THE VIRTUAL PLAYHOUSE INCLUDES VIDEOS AND LIVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS, INSTRUCTORS, AND GIGI'S STAFF. ALL PROGRAMS OFFERED ON-SITE BY GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE (SUCH AS LITERACY, MATH, SPEECH, GIGI PREP, GIGI UNIVERSITY, GIGI FIT, LMNOP, ETC) ARE MADE AVAILABLE IN A VIRTUAL FORMAT. GIGI'S OFFERS SUPPORT TO RESEARCH, THE DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNITY, AND FAMILIES IN NEED. ADDITIONALLY, GIGI'S PROVIDES STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.

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.