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Vietnamese Asso of Illinois

EIN 36-2882292 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VAI FOCUSES ON SERVING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF ALL ETHNICITIES AND RELIGIONS, FOSTERING UNITY, AND PROMOTING VIETNAMESE AMERICAN IDENTITY.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
372
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$115,700, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 (5)
  1. $7.3 million spent. COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM - VAI'S HOMECARE PROGRAM SERVES SENIORS IN COOK, DUPAGE, KANE AND WILL COUNTIES. MULTILINGUAL VIETNAMESE, CHINESE, ARABIC, ALBANIAN, GREEK, AMHARIC AND SPANISH HOMECARE WORKERS PROVIDE CARE FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS, SUCH AS WITH DAILY TASKS AND HOUSEHOLD CHORES. IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025, VAI PROVIDED CARE FOR OVER 353 SENIORS AND EMPLOYED 305 HOMECARE WORKERS. VAI PROVIDED 4 TRAININGS FOR HOMECARE AIDES WITH TOPICS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION, CYBER SECURITY FOR SENIORS, PUBLIC BENEFIT UPDATES, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND DOMESTIC WORKER'S RIGHTS. IN ADDITION TO HOMECARE SERVICES, VAI PROVIDED AN AVENUE FOR SENIORS TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO ATTEND OUR MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE US-VIETNAM WAR.
  2. $963,240 spent. VAI PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN BOTH PUBLIC BENEFITS AND IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE. OUR PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS HELP LOW-INCOME AND LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND ASYLEES ACCESS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS MEDICAID, SNAP, SSI & RETIREMENT, CRISIS ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE OFFER IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION ON IMMIGRATION AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS TO HELP CLIENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS, COMPLETE IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS, AND CONNECT TO RELIABLE LEGAL RESOURCES. IN FY'25, VAI ASSISTED 506 FAMILIES IN IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL SERVICES AND 464 FAMILIES WITH PUBLIC AID APPLICATIONS,TRANSLATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT SERVICES, VAI PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND INFO SESSIONS ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND IMMIGRATION UPDATES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND LOCAL ISSUES IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $310,155 spent. VAI'S COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WORK BUILDS SOLIDARITY AMONG VIETNAMESE AMERICAN, IMMIGRANT AND WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES IN UPTOWN, CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGOLAND AREA TO BUILD POWER AND ADVANCE SOCIAL CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. THROUGH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP SKILL-BUILDING, WE DEVELOP COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME AWARE OF THEIR ABILITY TO SHAPE CONDITIONS AND WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN FY25, WE HOSTED BIWEEKLY MUTUAL AID DISTRIBUTIONS WITH THE HELP OF 10 VOLUNTEERS, ENGAGING ALMOST 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS NEEDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND COLLECTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING. WE HAVE FACILITATED 25 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON CURRENT EVENTS AND ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY, 6 BOOK CLUB MEETINGS FOR YOUTH, AND A WORKSHOP ON VIETNAMESE AMERICAN IDENTITY AND HISTORY WITH UIC'S VIETNAMESE STUDENT ASSOCIATION. WE LED 2 VOTER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, COORDINATED 5 PHONE AND TEXT-BANKING SESSIONS, AND ORGANIZED AN EARLY VOTING DRIVE TO PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SUPPORT AT THE POLLS. THIS YEAR, WE LAUNCHED OUR MONTHLY SENIOR AND YOUTH MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, WITH 25 SENIOR AND 10 YOUTH MEMBERS, TO FURTHER DEVELOP COMMUNITY MEMBERS ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION INTO LEADERS IN OUR ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY WORK. ADDITIONALLY, WE TRAINED AND MOBILIZED 68 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN SPRINGFIELD ON OUR ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN ACTION DAY.
  4. $171,775 spent. ADULT EDUCATION - THE ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM PROVIDES ENGLISH (ESL) AND CITIZENSHIP INSTRUCTION TO LIMITED-ENGLISH-PROFICIENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PREPARING THEM FOR THEIR NATURALIZATION INTERVIEWS WITH USCIS AND TO IMPROVE THEIR CAPACITY TO COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH. IN FY'25, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES OPTIONS FOR ON-LINE LEARNING AND EXPANDED SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 406 LEARNERS WITH ESL AND CITIZENSHIP INSTRUCTION PROVIDED BY 50 VOLUNTEER TEACHERS. THE PROGRAM ALSO EXPANDED TO DUPAGE AND WILL COUNTIES, SUCH AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CREST HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY TO REFER VAI SERVICES TO NEW IMMIGRANT POPULATION. IN ADDITION TO ON-LINE LEARNING, IN PERSON INSTRUCTION WAS PROVIDED AT VAI OFFICES IN CHICAGO AND CAROL STREAM, INCLUDING ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION AT THE BEZAZIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN CHICAGO.
  5. $245,761 spent. YOUTH PROGRAM - VAI'S YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SERVICES FOR CULTURALLY DIVERSE YOUTH, AGES 6-13, FROM AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM TO ALL-DAY SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM. AS A PART OF OUR PROGRAMMING, WE OFFER ACADEMIC SUPPORT, MENTORING, AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER PERSONAL GROWTH, CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY. IN FY'25, WE CONSISTENTLY ENGAGED 30 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AND NOW HOLD A WAITLIST OF AT LEAST 20 STUDENTS FOR EACH PROGRAM. OUR CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON CREATION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING FROM FUN ACTIVITIES LIKE MAKING SLIME AND PAINTING TO DISCUSSIONS AROUND LATINX HISTORY AND JUNETEENTH.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.