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Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Inc

EIN 23-7443009 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

NHS' MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN AFFORDABLE HOMES, IMPROVE THEIR LIVES, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. NHS DEPLOYS A SUITE OF PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND STRATEGIES TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, PRIMARILY INCLUDING:(I) EDUCATING AND PREPARING NEW HOMEOWNERS FOR SUCCESS, AND SUSTAINING HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION SERVICES, FINANCIAL COACHING, AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS.(II) CONNECTING RESIDENTS TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES, SUCH AS HOME PURCHASE AND IMPROVEMENT LOANS, AND PUBLIC GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, TO ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION, REPAIR, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUPPLY OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING.(III) DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING RESIDENT LEADERS IN TARGETED GEOGRAPHIES.(IV) BUILDING POWERFUL AND ENDURING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AND BETWEEN COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, GOVERNMENT, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS.

Income
$8.9 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
-3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 41%
Employees
89
Volunteers
260
Highest pay
$238,561, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 110% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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

    15 of 15 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 March 31, 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. $3.5 million spent. NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF CHICAGO, INC. (NHS) OFFERS ITS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES CITYWIDE IN CHICAGO, WITH NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED OFFICES IN AUBURN GRESHAM AND ENGLEWOOD; CHICAGO LAWN AND GAGE PARK; NORTH LAWNDALE; ROSELAND; AND WEST HUMBOLDT PARK. NHS ALSO OPERATES THREE PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS FOCUSED ON SPECIAL PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF NHS' CLIENTS ARE LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME. NHS' COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES PROVIDED CLASSROOM EDUCATION TO POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS AND IN PERSON PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING. THESE PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED TO POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS THROUGH NHS FREE 8-HOUR HOMEBUYER CURRICULUM (OFFERED BOTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH WEEKLY) AND ONLINE VIA EHOME AMERICA; PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND INTERVENTION SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF FORECLOSURE. NHS' EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THE INNOVATION, EVALUATION AND PUBLIC POLICY DEPARTMENT WORK ACROSS NHS' BUSINESS LINES TO CRAFT NEW SOLUTIONS TO THE EVER-CHANGING ISSUES FACING UNDERINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE CHICAGO REGION. NHS PARTNERS AND STAFF ARE PIONEERING EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO NEIGHBORHOOD AND REGIONAL ISSUES AND TO ANTICIPATE FUTURE NEEDS FOR NHS' TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS AND CUSTOMERS. NHS CONVERTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH ITS DAILY WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO NEW PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES THAT CAN DIRECTLY BENEFIT THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THE CHICAGO REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 March 1975.

    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.