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Shelter Inc Suite 203

EIN 23-7399596 · Arlington Hts, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SHELTER'S MISSION IS TO END THE CYCLE OF CHILD ABUSE BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SUPPORT TO CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY TO CREATE SAFE, HEALTH, AND NURTURING HOMES.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
65
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$157,614, chief executive officer

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. FOSTER CARE SERVICES: SHELTER, INC PROVIDES FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGES BIRTH-21 ENROLLED IN ILLINOIS DCFS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY HOUSING: SHELTER PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY HOUSING TO ADOLESCENTS AGES 11-17, AND YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AGES 17-21, WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, NEGLECTED, DEPENDENT, OR IN NEED OF SUPERVISION. WE ALSO PROVIDED HOUSING FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE NON-DCFS INVOLVED BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14-24.
  3. $597,824 spent. TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM: SHELTER, INC PROVIDES A HEALTHY FAMILIES, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM TO FAMILIES WHO ARE AT RISK OF ENTERING THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING PARENTING SUPPORT FOR FIRST TIME MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5. WE ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION TO PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP INCREASE CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS.
  4. $844,922 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS CONSISTS OF BASIC CENTER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, STRONGER TOGETHER, CSEC, HEALTHY FAMILIES, AND YEH.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 October 1974.

    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.