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Illinois Action for Children

EIN 36-2712912 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Illinois Action for Children uplifts children and all who care for them, advancing strong families and prosperous communities.

Income
$60.6 million
Spending
$61.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
623
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$396,983, president/ceo

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

Weak: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $26.8 million spent. PROVIDER SERVICES/PROVIDER RESOURCES - ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN WORKS WITH LICENSED AND LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER VALUABLE SUPPORTS THAT HELP TO ENHANCE THE CARE THEY PROVIDE. ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN AND ITS COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAD MORE THAN 7,002 PARTICIPANTS IN NEARLY 496 TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS MAKE EARLY EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO YOUNG CHILDREN SO THAT THEY WILL BE READY TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY START SCHOOL. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE CREATED A NATIONAL MODEL FOR PROVIDING PRESCHOOL TO CHILDREN IN HOME CHILD CARE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION, AND FOR TRAINING PROVIDERS TO BECOME A CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER. (Expenses $ 1,225,091 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 359,547) THE PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM - ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY PROGRAM ORGANIZES MORE THAN 6,613 ADVOCATES STATEWIDE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND URGE THEM TO MAKE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING EXPANDED ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION, A PRIORITY IN ILLINOIS. ADDITIONALLY, ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS MAKE EARLY EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO YOUNG CHILDREN WHILE IN CHILD CARE SO THEY WILL BE READY TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY START SCHOOL. THIS WORK HAS INCLUDED CREATING A NATIONAL MODEL FOR PROVIDING PRESCHOOL TO CHILDREN IN HOME-BASED CHILD CARE, AS WELL AS BRINGING CERTIFIED TEACHERS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, NUTRITION, AND LITERACY TRAINING AND BOOKS INTO THESE CHILD CARE HOMES.
  2. $19.2 million spent. CERTIFICATE/FAMILY RESOURCES - ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN ADMINISTERS THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP) FOR THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (IDHS) IN COOK COUNTY. CCAP HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES PAY FOR CHILD CARE THAT ALLOWS PARENTS TO WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, MORE THAN 67,870 FAMILIES AND NEARLY 112,595 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY THE CCAP IN COOK COUNTY.
  3. $9.5 million spent. PARENT SERVICES/CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES - AS THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL AGENCY FOR COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN CONNECTS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH VITAL RESOURCES LIKE CHILD CARE REFERRALS, HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. IN FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, ALMOST 7,175 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES RECEIVED REFERRALS WHILE THOUSANDS MORE UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN ALSO HAD ACCESS TO LITERACY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND NUTRITION RESOURCES AS A RESULT OF ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S WORK. ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN WAS IN THE 5TH YEAR OF A 5 YEAR HEAD START GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (USDHHS) DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START LOCATIONS UTILIZE EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES TO SERVING LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A RESPECTFUL, UNDERSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. CHILDREN RECEIVE SERVICES THAT PROMOTE CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACROSS MANY AREAS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 800 FAMILIES. (Expenses $ 1,225,091 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 359,547) THE PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM - ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY PROGRAM ORGANIZES MORE THAN 6,613 ADVOCATES STATEWIDE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND URGE THEM TO MAKE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING EXPANDED ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION, A PRIORITY IN ILLINOIS. ADDITIONALLY, ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS MAKE EARLY EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO YOUNG CHILDREN WHILE IN CHILD CARE SO THEY WILL BE READY TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY START SCHOOL. THIS WORK HAS INCLUDED CREATING A NATIONAL MODEL FOR PROVIDING PRESCHOOL TO CHILDREN IN HOME-BASED CHILD CARE, AS WELL AS BRINGING CERTIFIED TEACHERS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, NUTRITION, AND LITERACY TRAINING AND BOOKS INTO THESE CHILD CARE HOMES.
  4. $1.2 million spent. THE PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM - ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY PROGRAM ORGANIZES MORE THAN 6,613 ADVOCATES STATEWIDE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND URGE THEM TO MAKE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING EXPANDED ACCESS TO CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION, A PRIORITY IN ILLINOIS. ADDITIONALLY, ILLINOIS ACTION FOR CHILDREN'S EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS MAKE EARLY EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO YOUNG CHILDREN WHILE IN CHILD CARE SO THEY WILL BE READY TO SUCCEED WHEN THEY START SCHOOL. THIS WORK HAS INCLUDED CREATING A NATIONAL MODEL FOR PROVIDING PRESCHOOL TO CHILDREN IN HOME-BASED CHILD CARE, AS WELL AS BRINGING CERTIFIED TEACHERS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS, NUTRITION, AND LITERACY TRAINING AND BOOKS INTO THESE CHILD CARE HOMES.

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

  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 June 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 February 1972.

    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.

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