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Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

EIN 36-2358083 · South Elgin, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

BUILDING GIRLS OF COURAGE, CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER, WHO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 84%
Employees
109
Volunteers
335
Highest pay
$119,444, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $3.8 million spent. FINANCIAL LITERACY - WORKED WITH 8,472 GIRLS TO TEACH FIVE BUSINESS SKILLS IN PLANNING, GOAL SETTING, PEOPLE SKILLS, DECISION MAKING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
  2. $532,129 spent. CAMPING - OVER 12,320 GIRLS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAMPED AT THREE SITES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURE, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT THROUGH GROUP ACTIVITIES THAT CHALLENGED THEM PHYSICALLY.
  3. $912,214 spent. MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT - VOLUNTEERS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN DELIVERING THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (PROGRAMMING) BOTH THRU DIRECT SERVICES TO GIRLS AS WELL AS INDIRECT SERVICES SUCH AS RECRUITING AND TRAINING FELLOW VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT GSNI'S JURISDICTION (16 COUNTIES IN THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS AREA, WEST OF CHICAGO, SOUTH OF WISCONSIN AND EAST OF IOWA). OUTREACH PROGRAMMING IS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY GIRL SCOUTS INCLUDING STAFF-LED AND STAFF-SUPPORTED GROUPS AND PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 August 1958.

    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.