Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS FOSTER A MARKETPLACE OF TRUST. FROM OUR HOME BASE IN CHICAGO, WE WORK TO SERVE YOU IN AN AREA THAT SPANS FROM NORTHWEST ILLINOIS ACROSS THE STATE TO KANKAKEE AND ALL AREAS IN BETWEEN. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WE ARE ON THE ROAD VISITNG COMMUNITIES, COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, EDUCATING CONSUMERS AND PROMOTING RELATIONSHIPS BUILD ON TRUST. WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY, ASSISTING OUR SENIORS, EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH AND HOLDING BUSINESSES TO A HIGHER STANDARD SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT MEANS MORE PUBLIC OUTREACH, MORE INVESTIGATIONS INTO SUBSTANDARD BUSINESS BEHAVIORS, MORE EDUCATION ON SCAM AWARENESS, AND MORE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES TO REMAIN DEVOTED TO HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A POWERFUL IMPACT ON THE PLACES WE CALL HOME.
- Income
- $9.3 million
- Spending
- $8.2 million
- Employees
- 75
- Volunteers
- 111
- Highest pay
- $402,677, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- PROMOTE FAIR BUSINESS WITH RESPECT TO TRADE AND CONSUMERS THROUGH MEDIA INTERVIEWS, COVERAGE OF MARKETPLACE TRENDS AND SCAMS, MEDIA RELEASES, SELF HELP BOOKS, CHARITY REVIEW, HOME AND AUTO SHOWS, SPEAKERS BUREAU FOR NAVY, UNIVERSITIES AND A VARIETY OF SCHOOLS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRINTING OF REPORTS. DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIFIC BUSINESS RELIABILITY REPORTS ON 100,000 BUSINESSES. AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS REPORTS IS THE ORGANIZATION'S INVESTIGATION DIVISION THAT REVIEWS INFORMATION AND WORKS WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES TO PROMOTE INTEGRITY IN THE MARKETPLACE, ETHICS AWARDS RECOGNIZING BEST PRACTICES, AND ASSISTANCE IN SETTLING COMPLAINTS WITH BUSINESSES.
- PROMOTE FAIR ADVERTISING - OPERATION OF ADVERTISING REVIEW PROGRAMS WHICH ARE CONCERNED WITH DEVELOPING, MONITORING AND FOSTERING ADHERENCE TO ETHICAL GUIDELINES WITHIN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY THROUGH VOLUNTARY SELF REGULATION.
- PROMOTE FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY - OPERATION OF A DISPUTE RESOLUTION MECHANISM THAT INCLUDES MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES BETWEEN BUYERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED AUTOMOBILES, LIGHT TRUCKS AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE A FAIR AND EFFICIENT MEANS TO SETTLE CONSUMER DISPUTES WITH AUTO MANUFACTURERS, THEREBY BENEFITTING THE PUBLIC AND THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 August 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 January 1928.
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.