Leadership Greater Chicago Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA'S FUTURE LEADERS IN WHOM THE COMMUNITY WILL VEST RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS WELL BEING.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 18.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 57%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 130
- Highest pay
- $348,109, chief executive officer
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 75 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. THE YEAR-LONG SIGNATURE FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IMMERSING PARTICIPANTS WHO REPRESENT ALL SECTORS AND HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND SPONSORED BY THEIR EMPLOYER IN THE MAJOR SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUES FACING THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE GREATER CHICAGO REGION THROUGH RETREATS, FULL-DAY SEMINARS, SITE VISITS, DISCUSSION GROUPS, CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERS AND EXPERTS, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS, FELLOWS SEEK TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE, HOW COMPLEX POLICIES ARE SHAPED, AND HOW TO INFLUENCE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. THE DANIEL BURNHAM FELLOWSHIP WAS LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY 2019. THIS EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM IS AN ACCELERATED CIVIC ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES, DESIGNED TO INSPIRE THESE LEADERS TO MOBILIZE AND EXERT THEIR COMBINED INFLUENCE AND INTELLECT TO POSITIVELY IMPACT CHICAGO, ITS FUTURE, AND THE CONTINUED ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF THE REGION. THE FELLOWSHIP IS FOR C-SUITE OR SENIOR LEVEL EXECUTIVES WHO ARE NEW TO THEIR ROLE OR NEW TO CHICAGO, AND WHO WANT TO INTEGRATE INTO THE CIVIC FABRIC OF THE CITY BY UNDERSTANDING ITS HISTORY AND FUTURE TRAJECTORY, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKS ACROSS THE GREATER CHICAGO REGION, AND GAINING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY, ITS NETWORKS, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
- $572,374 spent. THE LEADERSHIP FELLOWS ASSOCIATION (LFA) CONSISTS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY LEADERSHIP GREATER CHICAGO FELLOWS CLASS (1985 TO PRESENT) - THAT IS CHARGED WITH FOSTERING THE ENGAGEMENT OF FELLOWS AFTER THEIR PROGRAM YEAR. THIS ENGAGEMENT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH EDUCATION, SOCIAL, AND PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES SHAPED BY THE CONVENE, CONNECT AND MOBILIZE COMMITTEES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORTED BY THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AT THE ORGANIZATION.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.