Shorewood Hugs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide aid to children,families, individuals and programs in our community and the surrounding communities.
- Income
- $82,673
- Spending
- $98,676
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (2)
- $85,329 spent. HUGS-Helping You Get Started is an organization designedto help anyone in the community within a 20 mile radius who is in need. When a family tragedy, illness, hard times, accident
- or disability strikes, HUGS steps in to help through our Hugs and Wishes program. For the fiscal year 2024-2025 we granted approximately 60 wishes. Our wishes are sponsored through our many fundraisers throughout the year, the largest being our annual Chocolate Ball, which was held February 2025. We were also supported the community and local humane society with our Hugs for Hounds Doggie Easter Egg Hunt to support the Will County Humane Society, making a generous $2,000 donation. We participated in and supported a number of Joliet Chamber and Plainfield/Shorewood Chamber events, participated in and raised over $2,000 for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, supported the Troy Public Library Summer Reading Program, supported the Council of Working Women, Team Make a Difference, Kindness Gala Foundation, to name a few. Members volunteered for Northern Illinois Food Bank food distribution. We also provided Christmas meals and gifts to the families at Lambs Fold, as well as providing gifts and lunch favors to the Troy Seniors at their annual Christmas party and supported the Shorewood shop with a Cop program. We supported Morningstar Mission with our annual food drive and monetary donation. We continue to work throughout the year to spread our message and to add a HUG to the many people who find themselves at the most difficult moments of their lives.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.