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Mutual Ground Inc

EIN 36-2921680 · Aurora, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MUTUAL GROUND CREATES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND SUBSTANCE USE ARE ABLE TO RECLAIM THEIR POWER. EMERGENCY TEMPORARY SHELTER, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS ARE PROVIDED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS -BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. OUTPATIENT COUNSELING AND TREATMENT WHICH HELP ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS, AND FAMILIES HEAL FROM THE EFFECTS OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
117
Volunteers
73
Highest pay
$219,584, 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $2.3 million spent. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. SERVICES INCLUDE TEMPORARY SHELTER, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, LEGAL AND MEDICAL ADVOCACY, 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE AND OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES. MUTUAL GROUND, INC. PROVIDED 17,995 HOURS OF COUNSELING/ADVOCACY, 19,639 NIGHTS OF SHELTER TO 228 CLIENTS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SUBSTANCE AND PREVENTION - PROVISION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ASSESSMENT, INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT IN AURORA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND PROVISION OF RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUMS TO STUDENTS TO REDUCE RISK FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE USE OF MOOD ALTERING SUBTANCES. THE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDED 24,410 STUDENTS AND PARENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE AURORA AND SUGAR GROVE AREAS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. THE SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. SERVICES INCLUDE GROUP COUNSELING, MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY, 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE, INFORMATION, REFERRALS AND EDUCATION PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN AREA SCHOOLS. MUTUAL GROUND, INC. PROVIDED 2,128 HOURS OF COUNSELING/ADVOCACY TO 178 CLIENTS AND PRESENTED 2,751 EDUCATION PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO 68,848 STUDENTS.

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 August 1978.

    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.