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The Roots Initiative

EIN 32-0659999 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO NBSP;ACTIVATE NBSP;BLACK NBSP;YOUTH NBSP;AS NBSP;THE NBSP;ARCHITECTS NBSP;AND NBSP;LEADERS NBSP;OF NBSP;TRANSFORMATIVE NBSP;CIVIC NBSP;AND NBSP;SOCIAL NBSP;CHANGE NBSP;IN NBSP;THEIR NBSP;COMMUNITIES NBSP;AND NBSP;BEYOND NBSP;WE NBSP;BELEIVE NBSP;THT NBSP;WHEN NBSP;YOUTH NBSP;ARE NBSP;PROVIDED NBSP;THE NBSP;SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL NBSP;SUPPORTS NBSP;EDUCATION NBSP;AND NBSP;RESOURCES NBSP;TO NBSP;UNDERSTAND NBSP;THEIR NBSP;POWER NBSP;IDENTITY NBSP;CULTURE NBSP;AND NBSP;INHERENT NBSP;GENIUS NBSP;THEN NBSP;THEY NBSP;WILL NBSP;HAVE NBSP;A NBSP;GREATER NBSP;SENSE NBSP;OF NBSP;RESPONSIBILITY NBSP;AS NBSP;WELL NBSP;AS NBSP;CONFIDENCE NBSP;AND NBSP;KNOWLEDGE NBSP;TO NBSP;ENGAGE NBSP;CIVICALLY NBSP;RESULTING NBSP;IN NBSP;POSITIVE NBSP;ECONOMIC NBSP;CIVIC NBSP;AND NBSP;SOCIAL NBSP;CHANGE NBSP;IN NBSP;THEIR NBSP;COMMUNITIES NBSP;AND NBSP;CITY

Income
$166,488
Spending
$199,159
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$67,223, ceo

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $93,877 spent. WE IMMERSE BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH IN DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OUR YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING. WE HOST HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY PROJECTS OUR PROGRAMS CULTIVATE ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOSTER STRONG CONNECTIONS AND EMPOWER YOUNG LEADERS TO DRIVE IMPACTFUL SOCIAL CHANGE.

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 November 2021.

    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.