Link Unlimited
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To connect Black students with resources and opportunities that strengthen the necessary skills to succeed as they advance to, through, and beyond college.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 12.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $267,356, 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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)
- $783,885 spent. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT: Scholars build a strong foundation and support SYSTEM THAT HELPS THEM THRIVE IN ACADEMIC SETTINGS. DURING THE SUMMER, we offer our students a four-to-six-week intensive series which includes a standardized test preparation course for rising juniors.Offerings during the school year include tutoring as needed and scholarship support. Since 1966, we have served over 5,000 low to moderate-income students.
- $425,807 spent. COLLEGE ACCESS: Students find information and receive mentorship-based guidance to gain college access, make informed, economically sound selections, and earn degrees. For more than 20 years, 100% of LINK Scholars were accepted into selective or highly selective colleges and universities, institutions with high graduation rates and robust support systems. To date, our college matriculation rate stands strong at 91%. Our Scholars are outpacing their peers and graduating college at rates higher than the national average (55% vs. 48%), nearly twice the national average for Black students (55% vs. 28%) and more than three times the average for Black students in Chicago (55% vs. 17%).
- $424,059 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & CAREER EXPOSURE: STUDENTS CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WHICH REINFORCES A STRONG SENSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY, CONFIDENCE IN SOCIAL RELATIONS, AND VALUES. WE OFFER SEVERAL SATURDAY ACADEMIES/WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND RETREATS THAT FOCUS ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, MENTAL HEALTH, SELF-ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP STYLES AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
- $48,498 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:Carrer exposure: Real-world application & career pathways scholarsgain real-world application towards the development of workplace skillbuilding and access to various career pathways.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.