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Family Focus

EIN 36-2166998 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAMILY FOCUS INVESTS IN STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN CHICAGO AND NE ILLINOIS THROUGH INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY BASED EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS.

Income
$32.5 million
Spending
$34.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
533
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$370,286, president & ceo

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 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 (4)
  1. $19.5 million spent. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DIVISION SERVES CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. THE DIVISION OPERATES IN 11 CENTERS IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA WITH TOTAL CAPACITY TO SERVE 2,158 CHILDREN IN EITHER CENTER BASED AND/OR HOME VISITING CAPACITY. THE CENTER-BASED PROGRAM HAS THE CAPACITY TO SERVE 224 EHS/HS CHILDREN. THE HOME-BASED PROGRAMS WORK TO SUPPORT THE PARENT-CHILDINTERACTION THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES FACILITATED BY HOME VISITORS/FAMILY ADVOCATES. HOME-BASED SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE CHICAGOLAND AREA. IN FY2025, HOME VISITNG SERVED 2,182 CHILDREN AND 1,830 FAMILIES. HOME VISITORS COMPLETED 29,283 HOME VISITS. (Expenses $ 269,157 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 434,983) Other Program Service
  2. $6.4 million spent. THE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PARENTS OF ALL AGES AND STAGES, INCLUDING IMMIGRATION SERVICES SUPPORT AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. WE PROVIDE MULTIPLE LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO HELP FAMILIES STAY INTACT AND THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FOR FY25, OVER 3000 IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS. THE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH DCFS INCLUDED 1,573 FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, FORMERLY CALLLED THE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES, AND 328 FAMILIES SERVED THROUGH THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTERS. ADDITIONALLY, COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 65 FAMILIES THROUGH OUR HEALING CARE AND PRACTICES PROGRAM.
  3. $1.6 million spent. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DIVISION PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS K-12 PRIMARILY THROUGH OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING, PROVIDING THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS. IN FY25 FAMILY FOCUS ENROLLED 1,354 YOUTH IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS 15 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING SITES. OF THOSE STUDENTS, 6.3% HAD LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, 90.1% WERE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND 18.4% HAD INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (Expenses $ 269,157 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 434,983) Other Program Service
  4. $269,157 spent. Other Program Service

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 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 June 2025.

    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 January 1951.

    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.