Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tri-County Opportunities Council

EIN 36-2559180 · Rock Falls, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF POVERTY THROUGHOUT OUR NINE COUNTY SERVICE AREA AND WILL WORK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT MOVEMENT TOWARD STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$19.4 million
Spending
$19.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
185
Volunteers
78
Highest pay
$114,209, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 82% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    34 of 34 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, 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 (7)
  1. $7.5 million spent. THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) AND PERCENTAGE OF INCOME PAYMENT PLAN (PIPP) ASSIST HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES AT OR BELOW 60% OF THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME WITH HOME ENERGY NEEDS. THE PIPP PROGRAM HELPS HOUSEHOLDS MAINTAIN THEIR ENERGY BILLS WHILE STAYING ON A BUDGET WITH THEIR UTILITY COMPANY. THE AGENCY ALSO ASSISTED HOUSEHOLDS WITH AN APPLICATION FOR THE JO CARROLL NEIGHBOR-TO-NEIGHBOR PROGRAM AND WITH AMEREN FUNDING AND THE NICOR ENERGY AIDE PROGRAM. FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS WERE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
  2. $6.5 million spent. HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CENTER SERVICES FOR THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM OPERATES 15 LICENSED CENTERS WITH 3 PART-DAY CLASSES, 18 EXTENDED-DAY CLASSES, AND THREE FULL-DAY, FULL-YEAR CLASSES. KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE: SCHOOL READINESS, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT; MEDICAL, DENTAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND NUTRITION SERVICES; SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS; SUPPORTIVE FAMILY SERVICES; AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT. EARLY HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO 133 PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS THROUGH CENTER-BASED AND HOME-BASED OPTIONS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS THROUGH THREE LICENSED CENTERS AND HOME-BASED PROGRAMMING OPTIONS.
  3. $957,029 spent. THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH HHS, DOE, STATE OF ILLINOIS AND BRAIDED FUNDING WITH UTILITY CONTRACTS FROM NICOR GAS, COMMONWEALTH EDISON AND AMEREN ILLINOIS THAT MADE 43 HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. WEATHERIZATION INCLUDES SUCH MEASURES AS WEATHER STRIPPING, CAULKING, INSULATION, PROGRAMMABLE AND SMART THERMOSTATS, COMPREHENSIVE AIR SEALING, AND REPLACEMENT OF WATER HEATERS AND REFRIGERATORS. THE PROGRAM ALSO HAS A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT FURNACE COMPONENT. THE OUTCOME OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL NEEDED TO HEAT THE HOME AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENCE. IN ADDITION TO WEATHERIZING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, MULT-UNIT RESIDENCES WERE COMPLETED ALSO.
  4. $725,074 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
  5. $370,355 spent. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS
  6. $1.6 million spent. FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAMS
  7. $131,198 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 March 1966.

    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.