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Connections for Abused Women and Their Children

EIN 36-2950380 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAWC IS COMMITTED TO ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. USING A SELF-HELP, EMPOWERMENT APPROACH, WE PROVIDE A SHELTER FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, AND A 24-HOUR HOTLINE FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE WORK FOR SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH EDUCATION, SERVICE COLLABORATION, AND INSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
60
Highest pay
$162,996, development 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    9 of 9 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. $2.1 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1979, GREENHOUSE SHELTER IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR 300 ADULTS AND CHILDREN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SERVICES INCLUDE 23-HOUR HOTLINE FOR MORE THAN 3,000 CALLERS COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, REFERRALS AND INFORMATION, FAMILY TRAUMA THERAPY AND HOUSING ASSITANCE, SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES.
  2. $868,541 spent. SINCE 2000 HUMBOLDT PARK OUTREACH PROGRAM HPOP HAS OFFERED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUTREACH AND WALK-IN/BY APPOINTMNET BILINGUAL SERVICES FOR 350 INDIVIDUALS. SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, LEGAL ADVOCACY, FAMILY TRAUMA THERAPY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY. HPOP SERVES APPROXIMATELY 350 ADULTS AND CHILDREN
  3. $146,808 spent. HAYMARKET CENTER IS A COMPREHENSIVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG TTEATMENT PROGRAM AND IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CENTERS OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTY. CAWC STAFF PROVIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EDUCATON AND CORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVCIES TO HAYMARKET RESIDENTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO CONDUCTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAININGS WITH ALL HAYMARKEY STAFF TO ENSURE THEY ARE ABLE TO MEET ALL RESIDENTS PSYCHOSOCIAL AND REHABILITATIVE NEEDS,
  4. Program Service Expenses 369,370, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 HOSPITAL CRISIS INTERVENTION PROJECT HCIP OPENED IN 1992 AND IS LOCATED ON-SITE AT JOHN H. STROGER HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY AND IN 2014 EXPANDED TO NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. HCIP STAFF PROVIDES ON-GOING TRAINING FOR HOSPITAL PERSONNEL ON THE APPROPRIATE IDENTICATION, ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL OF PATIENTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE, ADVOCACY, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS FOR THE EXTENDED SERVICES, AND ON-SITE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COUSELING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REFERRED BY THE MEDICAL STAFF. EACH YEAR THE HCIP SERVICES APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDES TRAINING TO MORE THAN 1750 HEALTH PROVIDERS.

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 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 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 1978.

    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.