Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago's purpose is to partner with mission-driven people and organizations across Cook and Lake counties and to witness a message of mercy and hope to a world in need through service.
- Income
- $174.7 million
- Spending
- $169.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 9.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 67%
- Employees
- 1,270
- Volunteers
- 2,056
- Highest pay
- $382,829, 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
Good: 79 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (5)
- $69.1 million spent. Immediate Needs provides immediate wraparound services for people in crisis, address basic needs and connect to longer-term supports. Total clients served: 168,858
- $55.7 million spent. Mothers and Families provide holistic and transformational services that promotes physical and psychological safety, wellbeing, and healing. Total Clients served: 60,174
- $17.2 million spent. Seniors and Housing provides at-home and community-based services for low-income seniors that foster both independence and connection as well as subsidized housing for older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. Total Clients served: 42,115
- $6.2 million spent. Rapid Response includes services that can be readily deployed and scaled to respond to crisis in innovative ways. Total clients served: 5,218.
- $958,450 spent. Mission Engagement efforts and initiatives enable external individuals, groups, organizations, and churches to partner with Catholic Charities as volunteers, project collaborators, and mission ambassadors. Community Engagement includes outreach, strategic engagement, and partnership with Catholic Parishes in Cook and Lake Counties as well as management of over 2,056 volunteers. Parishes and volunteers support food pantries, community meals, senior meal delivery, emergency diaper distribution, domestic violence transitional housing, and migrant welcoming, resettlement, and accompaniment. Total number of Church Partners: 137 Total Number of Volunteers: 2,056
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 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as 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 June 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 March 1946.
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 November 4, 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.