Jewish Child and Family Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
JCFS Chicago services and programs support wellbeing for children, teens, adults and families regardless of race, culture, religion, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or any other classification protected by law.
- Income
- $42.4 million
- Spending
- $38.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 17.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 538
- Volunteers
- 186
- Highest pay
- $489,108, 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 2533 of 33 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (6)
- $10.6 million spent. Emotional Wellbeing - JCFS masters and doctorate level clinicians offer therapy and case management services for children, teens, adults, couples and families in an emotionally safe setting where they can develop positive strategies and strengthen connections within their families and community. JCFS staff promote personal growth for individuals in response to a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, illness and loss, mental health, family conflict, life transitions and more. In addition, we provide integrative counseling and psychological testing to understand learning differences, cognitive, emotional and other mental health disorders.Response for Teens supports young people, their families and systems of support by providing counseling, leadership development, and inclusive sexual health and healthy relationship education. Through community centered services, JCFS provides culturally sensitive education, and support that address issues impacting Jewish adults, children, couples, families, and the community, such as support groups, abuse prevention, addiction resources, adoption and infertility support, spiritual supports, chaplaincy services and community education.Virginia Frank Child Development Center offers preventive and therapeutic services for families with children from birth to six years old, including individual, group and family counseling, and training and consultation for early childhood professionals. Kaufman Wolf Center for Trauma and Resilience supports the ability of individuals, organizations, and communities to build resilience, recover, adapt, and grow in the face of adversity, big or small.Child Welfare services deliver clinical supports for children and teens in the child welfare system, by providing individual and family therapy, life skills classes, connections to respite care and case management services.HIAS Immigration & Citizenship provides comprehensive immigration, citizenship, and refugee services to ensure that individuals and families are provided with the resources and assistance necessary for a safe and successful transition to the United States.
- $7.3 million spent. Employment Services - JVS Career & Employment empowers and supports people of all ages who are unemployed and may be experiencing challenges with their job search. Individuals work with a career counselor to develop a plan focused on career exploration, resum building, interviewing skills, and creating a social media profile. Contracted Employment Services assist adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment obtain and maintain jobs in janitorial or administrative support services.
- $7.1 million spent. Special Education - The Knapp School & Yeshiva offers an adaptive learning environment for students (K-12+) with varying needs, such as emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges to those facing difficulties with attention, executive functioning, and impulse control. Collaboration between school staff, parents and mental health professionals allows for an individualized education. Our Yeshiva offers religiously observant children a therapeutic school program while also fulfilling the mitzvah of learning Torah and tefillah.
- $6.3 million spent. JCFS Chicago is committed to empowering children and adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families to maximize independence, increase self-determination, build a quality life and become integral members of their communities. Our Integrated Pediatric Therapies offer individualized services for infants and children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families, such as speech-language and occupational therapy.Services for people with disabilities and their families include social opportunities, inclusive community-based group living, home-based waiver for children and adults with I/DD, respite support, Sibshops, assistance and training for independent living, and educational and support groups covering a variety of topics.Duman Opportunity Center helps people with disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment through high-quality, customized services, such as job readiness training, placement assistance, retention strategies, and job coaching. For employers looking to build an inclusive workplace, we offer support and training to help businesses embrace disability inclusion in their hiring practices.
- $1.3 million spent. Child Welfare - Clinical Child Welfare Services provide intensive support to high-risk children in foster care to stabilize placements and prevent entry into higher levels of care. For families formed through adoption or subsidized guardianship whose children are experiencing emotional, education, medical or behavioral issues, our clinicians provide services in Spanish and English that include home-based individual and family therapy, grief counseling, crisis intervention and serve as a court, school or community advocates.
- All Other Programs
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1944.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.