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Harlem Community Center

EIN 36-2706406 · Machesney Pk, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HARLEM COMMUNITY CENTER IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL GROWTH, FAMILY LIFE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE BY PROVIDING RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND HUMAN SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS LIVING IN THE LOVES PARK/MACHESNEY PARK COMMUNITY AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
108
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$119,274, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 113% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $2.9 million spent. DAYCARE - IN OCTOBER 2007, HCC OPENED THE HAND-N-HAND CHILD CARE CENTER. HAND-N-HAND IS A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT PROVIDES FULL-TIME CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS THROUGH PRESCHOOL. HAND-N-HAND IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 6:15 AM - 5:45 PM. THE FEES ARE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER CHILD CARE CENTERS IN OUR REGION. IF FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD CHILD CARE, HCC ACCEPTS REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. HCC IS ALSO ENROLLED IN THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOOD PROGRAM. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 178 CHILDREN ENROLLED AT THE CENTER AT THIS TIME. HNH IS THE ONLY CENTER-BASED PROVIDER OF INFANT CARE IN THE LOVES PARK/MACHESNEY PARK COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 300 EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SPACES AVAILABLE FOR THE 3000+ CHILDREN. THE COVID PANDEMIC RESULTED IN A WIDE-SPREAD IMPACT IN ALL AREAS OF HCC ORGANIZATION. PROGRAMS WERE ALTERED OR ELIMINATED. STAFF MEMBERS HAD THEIR HOURS IMPACTED DEPENDING UPON WHICH PROGRAM THEY WORK IN. NEW EMERGENCY FUNDS WERE PROVIDED AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
  2. $745,111 spent. RECREATIONAL - HCC'S WENTLAND FAMILY SPORT COMPLEX IS LOCATED IN LOVES PARK. IT IS A 32-ACRE FACILITY CREATED TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR OPEN GREEN SPACE AND FOR BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IT CURRENTLY HAS 15 BALL DIAMONDS (4-6 TOURNAMENT QUALITY), BASKETBALL COURTS, SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, A WALKING PATH, PROJECT PLAYWORKS (A WOODEN PLAYGROUND FACILITY) AND SKATEWORKS - THE ONLY SKATE PARK IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY. HCC'S BALL DIAMONDS ARE RENTED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. TWO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS CALL OUR DIAMONDS THEIR "HOME" DIAMONDS AND PRACTICE AND PLAY THROUGHOUT THEIR SEASON. DURING IHSSA PLAYOFFS, HCC IS THE CHOSEN LOCATION FOR REGIONAL, SECTIONAL, AND SUPER SECTIONAL GAMES. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, OUR DIAMONDS ARE RENTED FOR LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL SOFTBALL, AND BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS. THE TOURNAMENTS ARE PRIMARILY YOUTH TOURNAMENTS. OVER 100,000 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR VISIT THIS FACILITY. HCC'S SUMMERBALL PROGRAM INCLUDES BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FOR YOUTH AGES 4 THROUGH 16. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXISTED AT HCC FOR 60 YEARS. LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY 500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. HCC UTILIZES VOLUNTEERS AS COACHES, ASSISTANT COACHES, SCOREKEEPERS, AND CONCESSION HELPERS. THE PROGRAM OPERATES FROM MAY TO AUGUST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 January 1971.

    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.