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Chinese American Service League Inc

EIN 36-2984043 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING ON THE WISDOM OF GENERATIONS, CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE (CASL) CATALYZES THE TRANSFORMATION OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY FOR AN EQUITABLE FUTURE. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT: LEAD TO FAMILY ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY STRENGTHEN FAMILIES EASE THE CULTURAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS THEY INTEGRATE INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE SOCIAL SYSTEMIC CHANGE. CASL IS CRITICAL ANCHOR FOR THE GREATER CHICAGO COMMUNITY DELIEVERING IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PRESERVE AND NURTURE THE CONNECTION THAT CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS HAVE TO THEIR CHINESE CULTURE AND HERITAGE. SUPPORTED BY CASL, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL LIVE PROSPEROUS AND EMPOWERED LIVES INTEGRATING THE BEST OF CULTURES.

Income
$24.7 million
Spending
$28.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
797
Volunteers
184
Highest pay
$261,896, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (6)
  1. $13.7 million spent. SENIOR SERVICES - THE AGENCY IMPACTS THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF COMMUNITY SENIORS, ENGAGING THEM TO LIVE HEALTHY, HAPPY, INDEPENDENT AND ENGAGED LIVES THROUGH ADULT DAY SERVICES, SENIOR HOMECARE SERVICES AND THE PINE TREE SENIOR COUNCIL.
  2. $4.6 million spent. ADULT SERVICES - THE AGENCY STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE BY ENRICHING THE ECONOMIC POWER OF ITS CLIENTS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO IT. WHEN THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE MET, THEY ARE ABLE TO BECOME HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND ARE ABLE TO THRIVE. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ADULT EMPLOYMENT, CULINARY TRAINING, SENIOR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION. THE AGENCY ALSO IMPACTS THE STABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING FOUNDATIONAL SERVICES THAT SAFEGUARD INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY NEEDS SUCH AS LEGAL CLINIC, CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION, WELLNESS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND BASIC NEEDS AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
  3. $3.2 million spent. CHILDREN & YOUTH SERVICES - THE AGENCY IMPACTS CHILDREN THROUGH AN ENRICHING MULTILINGUAL ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED AT SCHOOL WHILE SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND THEIR EFFORTS TO TRANSITION INTO AMERICAN CULTURE. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CHILDREN 0 TO 18 YEARS OLD.
  4. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT :CENTER FOR SOCIAL IMPACT - THE AGENCY PROMOTES SOCIAL IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES BY ADVANCING DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS AND EQUITABLE POLICY INITIATIVES AIMED AT ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING THE AGENCY'S DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS.COMMUNITY EQUITY RESEARCH CENTER - THE AGENCY'S COMMUNITY EQUITY RESEARCH CENTER (CERC) PROMOTES INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT BY USING DATA TO SHAPE POLICY, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION EFFORTS. CERC IS DEDICATED TO INCREASING REPRESENTATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER (AANHPI) COMMUNITIES AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLICY LEVEL AND PROVIDES STRATEGIC, DATA-INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. CERC ALSO WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH CASL'S CENTER FOR SOCIAL IMPACT (CSI) TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND CLIENTS. WE PROVIDE OUR DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS WITH THE EDUCATION, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY SERVE OUR DIVERSE CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES.
  5. $1.5 million spent. HEALTH SERVICES - THE AGENCY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND CLINICAL SERVICES PROVIDES QUALITY, PERSON-CENTERED, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE TO HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS ACHIEVE HEALTHY LIVING.
  6. $67,256 spent. LEGAL SERVICES - THE AGENCY'S LEGAL SERVICES PARTNERS WITH CHICAGO VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES (CVLS) AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND VOLUNTEER INTERPRETERS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES. ELIGIBILITY FOR LEGAL SERVICES IS BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND RESIDENCY.

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 October 1979.

    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.

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