St Leonards Ministries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide holistic housing and supportive services to individuals impacted by the carceral system.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 6.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 145
- Volunteers
- 116
- Highest pay
- $168,564, executive director
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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)
- $1.5 million spent. Saint Leonard's House has provided transitional housing and holistic supports for up to 36 men impacted by the carceral system since it opened in 1954. Holistic care is provided on its campus by Saint Leonard's Ministries as well as by its integrated care partners and service providers. Residents are provided a safe environment and community of support while participating in diverse programming designed for a successful re-entry journey. All services are voluntary and provided free of charge.
- $886,801 spent. The Michael Barlow Center provides educational and workforce development programs for approximately 200 formerly incarcerated Illinois residents each year. Services include job readiness training, computer and technology training, financial literacy and credit building, and culinary and construction skills training. Participants come both from the local community as well as other Saint Leonard's Ministries programs. All services are voluntary and provided free of charge.
- $755,204 spent. Grace House has provided transitional housing and holistic supports for up to 16 women impacted by the carceral system since it opened in 1994. Holistic care is provided by Saint Leonard's Ministries as well as by its integrated care partners and service providers. Residents are provided a safe environment and community of support while participating in gender responsive programming designed for a successful re-entry journey. All services are voluntary and provided free of charge.
- St. Andrew's Court - Since its opening in 1998, St. Andrew's Court has supported and subsidized housing for formerly incarcerated men who successfully complete the St. Leonard's House program.
- $50,751 spent. Harvest Commons provides permanent supporting housing to men and women who have completed the St. Leonard's Ministries program.
- $78,480 spent. Women's Dignity of Choice provides rental & housing assistance to women.
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? 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.
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 January 1959.
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.