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Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center

EIN 20-8411320 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceWeak11 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CENTER PROMOTES AND GROWS CHICAGOS ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-23.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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

Weak: 11 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 52 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $3.7 million spent. THE CHICAGOLAND ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER THE CENTER SEEKS TO MAKE A PERCEPTIBLE AND LASTING ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CHICAGO REGION BY HELPING ENTREPRENEURS AND HIGH GROWTH BUSINESSES BUILD VIABLE SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE ENTERPRISES THROUGH ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM 1871. THE 1871 PROGRAM STARTED IN APRIL 2012 WITH THE OPENING OF ITS NOW 150,000 SQUARE FOOT STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: 1 PROVIDE AFFORDABLE FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR EARLY-STAGE STARTUP COMPANIES AND ENTREPRENEURS MEMBERS WHO ARE BUILDING DIGITAL BUSINESS; 2 PROVIDE EVENTS MENTORSHIP CLASSES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO ENTREPRENEURS BUILDING DIGITAL BUSINESS; AND 3 PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL BUSINESSES AND THE CHICAGO STARTUP COMMUNITY.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.