Chinese Mutual Aid Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROUDLY FOUNDED BY ETHNIC CHINESE REFUGEES, CHINESE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION (CMAA) IS LED BY MANY PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE NEEDS, PROMOTE THE INTERESTS, AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF LOW-INCOME, DIVERSE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES ACROSS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, THE ELDERLY, AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
- Income
- $14.6 million
- Spending
- $14.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 456
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $143,700, co-interim 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.6 million spent. CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENTADULT EDUCATION: THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD (ICCB), CMAA AND ITS PARTNER AGENCIES, REPRESENTING THE ONLY CONSORTIUM OF DIVERSE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOISPROVIDED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) AND ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. THIS PAST YEAR, THE CONSORTIUM SERVED 1,000+ ADULT LEARNERS. FOR THOSE NEEDING EXTRA SUPPORT, THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATES VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. FOR THOSE NEEDING EXTRA SUPPORT, THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATES VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. CMAA'S TRANSITIONS CASE MANAGERS CONNECT ALL LEARNERS TO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES VITAL TO RETENTION, AND PARTNER WITH CLIENTS TO CREATE PLANS TO MEET THEIR LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL GOALS.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:CMAA CAREER COACHES OFFER TAILORED EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, REFERRALS, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. OUR CLIENTS COME FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, HOSPITALITY, AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, AND POSSESS DIVERSE LEVELS OF EDUCATION. WHILE CMAA PRIMARILY SERVES IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS ALSO WELCOMING TO U.S.-BORN RESIDENTS SEEKING SUPPORT WITH JOB READINESS TRAINING, RESUME WRITING, AND DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS. THIS PAST YEAR, CMAA LAUNCHED EMPLOYMENT-READINESS WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PENINSULA CHICAGO, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO ON-SITE ENGLISH CLASSES FOR EMPLOYEES. CITIZENSHIP:SINCE 1997, CMAA HAS OFFERED CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES SEEKING TO APPLY FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND OTHER BENEFITS. OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) ACCREDITED STAFF OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL COUNSEL AND CASE ASSISTANCE AT A LOW COST TO CLIENTS AND, OFTEN, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES OF VIETNAMESE, CANTONESE, MONGOLIAN, OR MANDARIN. IN FY25, CMAA SERVED 309 CLIENTS AND FILED 243 IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING NATURALIZATION PETITIONS. THE PROGRAM SECURED $70,320 IN WAIVED APPLICATION FEES, WITH 112 CLIENTS RECEIVING FEE WAIVERS OR REDUCTIONS, REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO LEGAL STATUS.
- $9.0 million spent. CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS: CMAA'S CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-HOME CARE AND GOLDEN AGE CLUB, ALL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AGING ADULTS IN MAINTAINING INDEPENDENCE AND SOCIAL CONNECTION. IN 2025, CMAA PROVIDED OVER 330,000 HOURS OF CARE TO RESIDENTS ACROSS COOK AND KANE COUNTIES. CLIENT SATISFACTION REMAINED EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH, WITH 100% SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES, 98% SATISFACTION WITH HOME CARE AIDE RELATIONSHIPS, AND 98% OVERALL PROGRAM SATISFACTION. THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB CONNECTED 241 OLDER ADULTS TO COMMUNITY, WITH 91% REPORTING INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION AND 90% INDICATING THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM.
- $948,978 spent. SOCIAL SERVICES:CMAA'S SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSLATION, AND RESOURCE NAVIGATION TO HELP IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES ACCESS ESSENTIAL BENEFITS AND SERVICES. IN 2025, CMAA SERVED 2,743 CLIENTS THROUGH OUTREACH, TRANSLATION, AND ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD, ENERGY, AND MEDICAID BENEFITS. THE PROGRAM SECURED $488,441 IN ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR CLIENTS, WITH A 95% APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE AND AN AVERAGE BENEFIT OF $500 PER HOUSEHOLD.
- $659,023 spent. YOUTH SERVICES: CMAA'S YOUTH DEPARTMENT SERVES IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH COLLEGE THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, MENTORING, AND FAMILY LITERACY INITIATIVES. IN 2025, CMAA SERVED 200 STUDENTS AND PROVIDED OVER 1,000 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. NOTABLY, 100% OF GRADUATING SENIORS ENROLLED IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEMONSTRATING STRONG OUTCOMES IN COLLEGE ACCESS AND PERSISTENCE.
- $466,627 spent. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER:CMAA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER OPERATES AS A CERTIFIED ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC), APEX ACCELERATOR, AND NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. IN 2025, CMAA PROVIDED OVER 2,000 HOURS OF BUSINESS ADVISING TO MORE THAN 400 ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESSES, MORE THAN HALF OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANTS AND APPROXIMATELY HALF AANHPI. THROUGH APEX PROGRAMMING, CLIENTS SECURED $1.37 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, SUPPORTING BUSINESS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
- $145,539 spent. PAN ASIAN AMERICAN CENTER:THE PAN ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTER (THE "CORPORATION") IS ORGANIZED AND, AT ALL TIMES HEREUNDER, SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF, TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF, AND/OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF APNA GHAR, INC., AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ("APNA GHAR"), CHINESE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION, INC., AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ("CMAA"), AND INDO AMERICAN CENTER ("IAC"), AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, THROUGH THE OWNERSHIP, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF A PHYSICAL FACILITY (THE "CENTER") THAT WOULD BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF APNA GHAR, CMAA AND IAC, WOULD PROVIDE EACH OF APNA GHAR, CMAA, AND IAC A LOCATION TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF, AND/OR TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF SUCH ORGANIZATION. THE PAN ASIAN AMERICAN CENTERPAN-ASIAN CENTER WILL SERVE ASIAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CHICAGOLAND AREA THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE, ONE-STOP FACILITY WHERE ALL ASIANS CAN FEEL WELCOMED AND HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS AND PROVIDE A CENTRAL, ACCESSIBLE GATHERING SPACE ACROSS GENERATIONS.THE CENTER AIMS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE OR "WELCOME CENTER" WHERE ASIANS CAN FIND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED UNDER ONE ROOF, SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE, LANGUAGE, AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE A COMMUNITY EVENTS SPACE THAT WELCOMES ALL ASIAN POPULATIONS TO CELEBRATE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND OTHER EVENTS IN AN UPDATED, INCLUSIVE ATMOSPHERE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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