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Communities in Schools of East Chicago Incorporated

EIN 30-0110893 · East Chicago, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak13 out of 100GovernanceFair61 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

THE MISSION OF COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF EAST CHICAGO IS TO SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT ENABLING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE.

Income
$578,341
Spending
$731,963
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
29
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$61,779, executive di

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

Weak: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 102% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (5)
  1. $82,351 spent. TUTORING/ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT - CIS INTEGRATED STUDENT SERVICES MODEL- THE CIS MODEL IS A DIFFERENTIATED APPROACH TO SERVICE PROVISION. FOR THE BROADER SCHOOL POPULATION, CIS PROVIDES SCHOOL-WIDE SERVICES GEARED TOWARDS SPECIFIC SCHOOL NEEDS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CIS STAFF WORKS WITH SCHOOL LEADERS TO IDENTIFY A SUBSET OF THE MOST AT-RISK STUDENTS, WHO THEN RECEIVE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS.
  2. $51,866 spent. COLLEGE READINESS - YOUTH PLUS (PLAN, LEARN, UNDERSTAND, SUCCEED)- THE MISSION OF YOUTH PLUS IS TO PROVIDE TARGETED AND SUSTAINED ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST INCREASE THE GRADUATION RATE FOR THE SCHOOL CITY OF EAST CHICAGO.
  3. $111,964 spent. MENTORING - S.T.A.R.S.(SUCCESSFUL TEENS ACHIEVING RIGHT SOLUTIONS) MENTORING PROGRAM- TO DEVELOP STRUCTURED TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULT MENTORS WHO ACT AS GRADUATION COACHES PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH ONGOING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND INTO THE STUDENTS' CHOSEN PATH OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
  4. $221,706 spent. INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORT - PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAFF MEMBERS ON LOCATION AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS WHO PROVIDE ACADEMIC AID TO STUDENTS. PPE MATERIALS - PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAFF MEMBERS ON LOCATION AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MATERIALS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE WEARER FROM INJURY OR THE SPREAD OF INFECTION OR ILLNESS.
  5. INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORT - PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAFF MEMBERS ON LOCATION AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS WHO PROVIDE ACADEMIC AID TO STUDENTS. PPE MATERIALS - PROVIDE FUNDING TO STAFF MEMBERS ON LOCATION AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MATERIALS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE WEARER FROM INJURY OR THE SPREAD OF INFECTION OR ILLNESS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2003.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Communities in Schools Inc (Arlington, VA), EIN 58-1289174. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.