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Great Lakes Cities Initiative

EIN 20-1628958 · New Lenox, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HAVE THE MAYORS WHOSE POPULATION AND TOWNS (AND ECONOMY) THAT RELY ON THE GREAT LAKES WATER TO FORM A BI-NATIONAL COALITION AND WILL ACTIVELY WORK WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADVANCE THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM THROUGH DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE GREAT LAKES PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PLAN. MAYORS WILL BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN GREAT LAKES ISSUES RELATING TO GOVERNANCE, ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
7
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$197,979, president/ceo

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    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. $1.2 million spent. VARIOUS PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION INCLUDING: 1) ESTABLISH A GREAT LAKES CITIES INITIATIVE, UNDER WHICH MAYORS WILL WORK JOINTLY TO ADVANCE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM; 2) RESILIENT COASTAL PROJECT INITIATIVE, PROVIDED CONSULTING ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES IN ILLINOIS, MINNESOTA, OHIO, PENSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN; 3) SEEK PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, VARIOUS COMMISSIONS AND PANELS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN GREAT LAKES ISSUES; 4) IMPLEMENT AND ADVANCE EXISTING MAYORAL INITIATIVES CONCERNING THE GREAT LAKES; 5) CALL UPON THE U.S. CONGRESS AND CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, BY AN INDEPENDENT PANEL OF SCIENCE AND POLICY EXPERTS WHICH INCLUDES THE MEMBER MAYORS, AND DELIVER A DETAILED PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE GREAT LAKES. THIS PLAN WILL BE UPDATED AS VARIOUS ISSUES ARISE AND WILL SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT TO GUIDE AGREED-UPON FUTURE LEGISLATIVE AND APPROPRIATIONS ACTIVITIES THAT RESTORE AND PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM; 6) IDENTIFY, EVALUATE. HIGHLIGHT AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT SUCCESSFUL LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT PROTECT AND RESTORE THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM WHILE ENCOURAGING THE VITALITY OF GREAT LAKES COMMUNITIES; 7) CONTINUE TO MEET, COMMUNICATE AND SHARE IDEAS ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES THE MEMBER CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE MUCH NEEDED KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SOLUTIONS OF SAID ISSUES, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS.8) COLLABORATE CLOSELY TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE GREAT LAKES AND ST. LAWRENCE BASIN INTO A THRIVING BLUE-GREEN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR. THE BASIN FORMS THE LARGEST FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM IN THE WORLD, PROVIDING DRINKING WATER TO MORE THAN 40 MILLIONPEOPLE AND SERVING AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES' ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THE MAYORS COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION WILL LAUNCH AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE REGION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2025. THIS ROADMAP FOR THE BASIN COMMUNITIES WILL HELP TRANSFORM OUR REGION, ADD GOOD PAYING JOBS, IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BRING ABOUT PROSPERITY OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS.

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 June 2006.

    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.