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Smart Love Parenting Center

EIN 32-0025293 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN THE CHICAGO AREA TO HELP CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND ADULTS ACHIEVE GREATER INNER WELL-BEING, SUSTAIN CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS, AND HAVE MORE PLEASURABLE FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND WORK LIVES.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
49
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$169,535, president

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 59% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 49 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 (3)
  1. $2.1 million spent. COACHING AND COUNSELING: OFFERS COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES AND COACHING. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE PLAY AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, PARENT COUNSELING, COUPLES THERAPY, AND A RANGE OF ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION SERVICES. WE ALSO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $654,928 spent. PRESCHOOL: SMART LOVE PRESCHOOL IS A FULLY-LICENSED, NOT-FOR-PROFIT SCHOOL PROVIDING CHILD CARE TO CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 6 YEARS OLD. WE OFFER A PLAY-BASED CURRICULUM, FOCUSED ON CREATING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH LEARNING IN A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. AT SMART LOVE, WE FOSTER CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS THE PORTAL FOR THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH AND SUCCESS. ALL LEARNING FROM HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS TO FINDING JOY IN LEARNING NEW THINGS FLOWS FROM THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD. WIDELY CONSIDERED BY CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD AS KEY TO SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATES INTO HAVING CONFIDENCE: A WILLINGNESS TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN NEEDED BUT NOT BECAUSE OF FEELING INCOMPETENT. CURIOSITY: A LONG-LASTING DESIRE TO LEARN THAT DOESN'T DEPEND SOLELY ON SUBJECT MATTER. LOVE OF LEARNING: AN ABILITY TO ENJOY THE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND NOT JUST THE GRADE. RESILIENCY: A CAPACITY TO STICK TO THE LEARNING GOAL DESPITE DIFFICULTY LEVEL, SETBACKS AND CONFUSION. FOCUS: AN ABILITY TO STUDY DESPITE FEELING TIRED OR BEING DISTRACTED. OUR STUDENTS MOVE ON TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A DESIRE TO LEARN, A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CLASSROOM AND A RESILIENCY THAT KEEPS THEM ENGAGED IN LEARNING.
  3. $76,745 spent. LEARNING & PARENTING: THERAPEUTIC TUTORING COMBINES THE BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL TUTORING WITH THE THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF HELPING SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND TEENS UNDERSTAND THEIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS AROUND THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING AND RECEIVE HELP TO IMPROVE ENJOYMENT OF SCHOOL AND LEARNING. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LEARNING EVALUATIONS ASSESS GENERAL INTELLECT, MEMORY, LEARNING STYLE, ACADEMIC SKILLS, ATTENTION/CONCENTRATION, LANGUAGE, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING AND THE LIKE. EVALUATIONS ARE THE FIRST STEP IN ESTABLISHING AN IEP (INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN). PARENTS OF STRUGGLING CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED BY THERAPEUTIC STAFF VIA ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS, WEBINARS, GROUPS AND PUBLICATIONS.

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 January 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.

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.