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Metropolitan Planning Council

EIN 36-2382849 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1934, THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING COUNCIL IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN GROUP OF BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS COMMITTED TO SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST THROUGH THE PROMOTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SENSIBLE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES NECESSARY FOR A WORLD-CLASS CHICAGO REGION. THE COUNCIL CONDUCTS POLICY ANALYSIS, OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO IMPROVE EQUITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGHOUT METROPOLITAN CHICAGO.

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
21.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
31
Volunteers
38
Highest pay
$170,850, vp of programs & strategic

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 38 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 (1)
  1. $3.0 million spent. SINCE 1934, MPC HAS SHAPED A MORE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND PROSPEROUS CHICAGOLAND. AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION, MPC SERVES COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS BY DEVELOPING, PROMOTING AND IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS FOR SOUND REGIONAL GROWTH. IN 2020 MPC FOCUSED ITS PROGRAMMATIC WORK ON WATER RESOURCES INCLUDING WATER AFFORDABILITY, SAFE DRINKING WATER, AND FLOODING RELIEF; HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LIKE OUR CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND GOOD NEIGHBORHOODS RESEARCH, AND OUR TRANSIT INITIATIVES SUCH AS UNIVERSAL MOBILITY WHICH INCREASES ACCESS TO TRANSIT, MAKING IT EQUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

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 December 1943.

    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.