Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Chicago Council on Global Affairs

EIN 36-2181969 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 45% 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

THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES INSIGHT ON CRITICAL GLOBAL ISSUES, ADVANCES POLICY SOLUTIONS, AND FOSTERS DIALOGUE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND WHY IT MATTERS TO PEOPLE IN CHICAGO, THE (SEE SCHEDULE O) UNITED STATES, AND AROUND THE GLOBE.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
45%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
53
Volunteers
72
Highest pay
$514,922, president

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

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    45% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    72 of 73 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND ENGAGEMENT: ENGAGING THE INFORMED AND INTERESTED PUBLIC IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS BY CURATING RELEVANT, TIMELY CONTENT ON CRITICAL ISSUES AND PROVIDING A BALANCED FORUM FOR CHALLENGING, THOUGHTFUL DIALOGUES WITH GLOBAL LEADERS, INFLUENCERS, AND EXPERTS.
  2. $284,583 spent. EMERGING LEADER'S PROGRAM - GLOBALLY MINDED CHICAGO AREA PROFESSIONALS, AGES 35 TO 45 ARE INVITED TO EHANCE THEIR NETWORK BY JOINING THE COUNCIL'S PREMIER COMMUNIY OF VISIONARY LEADERS FROM DIVERSE SECTORS ACROSS CHICAGO, UNITED BY THEIR GLOBAL OUTLOOK ON COMMITMNET TO LOCAL ACTION.
  3. $156,128 spent. LESTER CROWN CENTER ON US FOREIGN POLICY: INFLUENCING DISCOURSE AND DECISIONS ON IMPORTANT US FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES BY RESEARCHING PUBLIC OPINION AND PRODUCING ORIGINAL POLICY ANALYSIS.
  4. $3.9 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS - INCLUDING CENTER ON GLOBAL CITIES, AND CONFERENCES

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 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1938.

    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.