Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Jewish Council for Youth Services

EIN 36-2193616 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GUIDED BY JEWISH VALUES AND CULTURE, JEWISH COUNCIL FOR YOUTH SERVICES PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHICAGOLAND'S CHILDREN AND THROUGH BOARD SERVICE, DEVELOPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF JEWISH CIVIC LEADERS.

Income
$13.5 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
303
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$216,414, chief operating officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 May 31, 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 (3)
  1. $10.3 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (CHILDCARE, PRESCHOOL, ENRICHMENTS AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS) 583 CHILDREN WERE SERVED. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND HELPS STUDENTS DEVELOP EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND CULTURALLY. CHILDREN ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO INDULGE IN THEIR NATURAL INCLINATIONS TO EXPLORE, INVESTIGATE AND EXPERIMENT THROUGH PLAY. THEY ACQUIRE THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS AND CAPACITIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO EFFECTIVELY ABSORB FROM AND ADAPT TO THE EVER-CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. AFTER-SCHOOL CARE PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS TO SPEND THE HOURS BETWEEN THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY AND THE END OF THE WORK DAY, AS WELL AS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS.
  2. $689,440 spent. PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (CAMPING AND RECREATION PROGRAMS)213 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THE AGENCY'S PHYSICAL & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. JEWISH COUNCIL FOR YOUTH SERVICES OFFERS A VARIETY OF CAMP EXPERIENCES THAT CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS TO TRY NEW ACTIVITIES AND EXPLORE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. CAMP PROGRAMMING ALSO HELPS CHILDREN GAIN NEW SOCIAL SKILLS, DEVELOP GROSS MOTOR AND FITNESS SKILLS, AND CULTIVATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS.
  3. THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT BOOT CAMP ("BOOT CAMP") IS AN ANNUAL ONE-DAY INTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (KELLOGG). KELLOGG CUSTOMIZES THE CURRICULUM WITH THE JCYS CEO, RESULTING IN FOUR PERSONALIZED SESSIONS LED BY KELLOGG FACULTY THAT PROVIDE BOARD MEMBERS AND DESIGNATES WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO EFFECTIVELY FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS MEMBERS OF THE JCYS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO SERVE AS LEADERS WITHIN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. BOOT CAMP TAKES PLACE AT NORTHWESTERN'S DOWNTOWN CAMPUS AND PART OF THE TRAINING IS OPEN TO BOARD ALUMNI AND KEY STAFF, TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUOUS LEARNING FOR MORE EXPERIENCED LEADERS. IT BEGAN IN 2019 AS PART OF THE VISIONING OF THE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE, A DIRECTED PATH OF LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION, RECRUITMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE PART OF JCYS' MISSION OF TRAINING YOUNG JEWISH LEADERS THROUGH BOARD SERVICE. THE PROGRAM DID NOT OPERATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR END MAY 31, 2025 BUT WILL RESUME IN FISCAL YEAR 2026.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 November 6, 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 May 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 May 1939.

    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 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.