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Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation

EIN 27-0810455 · Lake Forest, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CHARLES TILLMAN CORNERSTONE FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO CHILDREN OR THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED. SINCE 2005, CHARLES TILLMAN'S CHARITABLE EFFORTS HAVE IMPACTED THE LIVES OF NUMEROUS CHICAGO-AREA CHILDREN.

Income
$83,947
Spending
$27,627
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
38.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. THE FOUNDATION WILL ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHRONICALLY AND CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN BY PROVIDING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS, DVD PLAYERS, PORTABLE PLAY STATION GAME SYSTEMS, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC HANDHELD GAMES, WHILE UNDERGOING RECOVERY AND TREATMENT. IN DECEMBER OF 2009 TWO CHARLES' LOCKERS WERE LAUNCHED AT CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THIS LOCKERS IMPACT THE LIVES OF NEARLY 130,000 ILL CHILDREN EACH YEAR. IN THE SUMMER OF 2011, CHARLES LAUNCHED HIS FOURTH LOCKER AT ADVOCATE HOPE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHICH TOUCHES THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 20,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR.
  2. $13,828 spent. THE TIANA FUND PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ECONOMICALLY AT-RISK PERSONS OR FAMILIES IN NEED THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, ENHANCE THEIR STABILITY AND SECURITY, AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE OR THEIR ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.
  3. CHARLES LOCKER

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 2010.

    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.