Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Raised the Floor Alliance

EIN 20-8823323 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE THAT LOW-WAGE WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY JOBS AND ARE EMPOWERED TO UPHOLD AND IMPROVE WORKPLACE STANDARDS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
15
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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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. $2.7 million spent. LEGAL SERVICES:WORKING HANDS LEGAL CLINIC HAS TRANSITIONED INTO THE RAISE THE FLOOR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. LEGAL SERVICES HAVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN BRINGING MEMBERS TO WORKER CENTERS. THESE WORKERS ARE DEVELOPED INTO WORKER-LEADERS THROUGH SKILLS TRAININGS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, AND PARTICIPATION IN POLICY CAMPAIGNS. BEYOND LITIGATION, RAISE THE FLOOR ATTORNEYS PROVIDE LEGAL EXPERTISE WHICH INFORM AND ADVANCE POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND CAMPAIGNS. IN ADDITION, RAISE THE FLOOR LEGAL UNDERTAKES STRATEGIC CASES TO TEST THE GAPS IN CURRENT LAW AND ENFORCEMENT. IN DOING SO, RAISE THE FLOOR LEGAL WORKS TO DEVELOP STRONG CASE LAW AND DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR STRONGER, COMPREHENSIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS WHICH ARE BUILT INTO BROADER POLICY CAMPAIGNS.RESEARCH:SUCCESSFUL POLICY ADVOCACY REQUIRES STRONG RESEARCH. THE RAISE THE FLOOR INVESTIGATES BROAD LABOR MARKET TRENDS AFFECTING WAGES, WORK, AND ECONOMIC TRENDS IMPACTING LOW-WAGE INDUSTRIES. RAISE THE FLOOR RESEARCH BUILDS OFF OF COMMUNITY EXPERTISE BY COLLECTING DATA AND TRACKING ISSUES TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR POLICY CHANGES.COMMUNICATIONS:THE RAISE THE FLOOR COMMUNICATIONS HELPS POSITION WORKER CENTERS AS THE EXPERTS ON LOW-WAGE WORKER ISSUES. WE DO THIS BY CONTINUALLY SHAPING THE LOW-WAGE WORKER NARRATIVE AND EMPOWERING LOW-WAGE WORKERS TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MOST DEEPLY IMPACT THEIR LIVES. RAISE THE FLOOR COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPS STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR POLICIES THAT CREATE PERMANENT, FULL-TIME LIVING WAGE JOBS, AND CRAFTS APPROPRIATE MESSAGING ABOUT WORKFORCE NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS THAT CAN REACH WORKER AUDIENCES AND DECISION-MAKERS ALIKE.IMPACT LITIGATION:PLANNING, PREPARING, AND FILING AND DEFENDING LAW SUITS FROM LOW-WAGE WORKERS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON CHALLENGING THE LAW. WHEN THERE IS A QUESTION OR GRAY AREA ABOUT THE LAW, OUR ATTORNEYS CAN IDENTIFY AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS A NUMBER OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION. ONE EXAMPLE TO ILLUSTRATE IMPACT LITIGATION IS LOOKING AT THE MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE, WHICH ONLY APPLIES TO EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOCATED IN CHICAGO. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CASES WHERE AN EMPLOYER IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, BUT HAS WORKERS IN CHICAGO. IMPACT LITIGATION ALLOWS OUR ATTORNEYS TO SEE THAT THE LAW ISN'T CLEAR ABOUT WHO AN EMPLOYER IS.IDENTIFYING GAPS:OUR ATTORNEYS IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE LAW BY IDENTIFYING WEAKNESSES, INCONSISTENCIES AND HOLES IN THE LAW WHERE ONE ASSUMES ARE COVERED BUT ARE NOT.INFORMS POLICY: THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION AND IDENTIFYING GAPS IN THE LAW, THIS INFORMS OUR POLICY WORK. IF OUR ATTORNEYS IDENTIFY A CERTAIN GAP IN THE LAW, OR IF THE COURTS ARE NOT UPHOLDING THE LAW, OR IF THE LAW ISN'T CLEAR, WE TAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAP OR MISAPPLICATION OF THE LAW TO PRESSURE OUR LEGISLATORS TO CHANGE THE LAW TO BENEFIT LOW-WAGE WORKERS. MONITOR: AFTER THERE ARE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW, OUR ATTORNEYS CAN FILE A LAWSUIT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS BEING UPHELD THE WAY IT SHOULD. THEN THE CYCLE CONTINUES.

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 January 2008.

    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.