Lawndale Christian Health Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SHOW AND SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS BY PROMOTING WELLNESS AND PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR LAWNDALE AND THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $97.6 million
- Spending
- $98.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 65%
- Employees
- 880
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $329,093, chief clinical officer - clinical quality
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: 82 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 (4)
- $64.1 million spent. IN THE EARLY 1980S, A GROUP OF LAWNDALE RESIDENTS DETERMINED THAT THE COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDED A LAUNDROMAT AND A HEALTH CENTER. WORKING THROUGH LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BOTH THE LAUNDROMAT AND LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER (LCHC) WERE FOUNDED. LCHC, NOW A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, SERVES SIX ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES (NORTH LAWNDALE, SOUTH LAWNDALE, EAST GARFIELD PARK, WEST GARFIELD PARK, ARCHER HEIGHTS, AND BRIGHTON PARK) ON CHICAGO'S WEST SIDE. LCHC WORKS OUT OF SEVEN SITES TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO A FULL SPECTRUM OF AFFORDABLE, HIGH QUALITY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PATIENTS. LCHC HAD CLINICAL VISITS OF APPROXIMATELY 202,800, WHICH INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY 170,600 MEDICAL VISITS (FAMILY PRACTICE, INTERNAL MEDICINE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, AND CARDIOLOGY), APPROXIMATELY 15,500 DENTAL VISITS, APPROXIMATELY 9,900 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VISITS AND APPROXIMATELY 6,800 OPTOMETRY VISITS. APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THESE VISITS ARE PAID FOR ON A SLIDING SCALE BY PATIENTS WHO HAVE NEITHER PRIVATE NOR PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE. ANOTHER 59% OF CARE IS PAID FOR BY MEDICAID, 8% BY MEDICARE, AND 12% BY OTHER.
- $4.7 million spent. AT LCHC, THE HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS COLLABORATE WITH THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS PATIENTS' SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL HABITS THAT LIMIT THEIR ABILITIES TO ACHIEVE OR MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH. THE DEPARTMENT CONSISTS OF TWO MAJOR AREAS: CHRONIC DISEASE AND MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT TO MOTHERS AT-RISK FOR COMPLICATED PREGNANCIES AND PROVIDES EDUCATION ON PARENTING AND RELATIONSHIPS. THE CHRONIC CARE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES DISEASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN EIGHT KEY AREAS INCLUDING CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS ASTHMA, DIABETES, HIV, AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE THAT AFFECT SO MANY PATIENTS. THE CHRONIC CARE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO FOCUS ON PROVIDING EDUCATION AND SELF-MANAGEMENT TO PATIENTS WITH THESE FOUR CHRONIC DISEASES. THE PROGRAM'S STAFF INCLUDES EDUCATORS, A REGISTERED DIETICIAN, A NUTRITIONIST AND OUTREACH WORKERS WHO PROVIDE SCREENING AND EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE CHRONIC CARE MODEL, IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF HRSA'S BUREAU OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, CONSISTS OF SIX INTERRELATED COMPONENTS (COMMUNITY LINKAGES, HEALTH SYSTEMS, SELF-MANAGEMENT SUPPORT, DELIVERY SYSTEM DESIGN, DECISION SUPPORT, AND CLINICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS) THAT PROMOTE QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES. THE STANDARD MODEL FOR PRIMARY CARE IS A VISIT-BASED MODEL THAT EMPHASIZED THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE SYMPTOMS IN THE CONTEXT OF A ONE-ON-ONE CLINIC VISIT BY A PATIENT WITH A PROVIDER; THIS MODEL FOCUSES ON THE CHIEF PRESENTING PROBLEM. IN A PCMH MODEL OF CARE, A TEAM OF HEALTH PROVIDERS (PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PSYCHOLOGISTS, HEALTH EDUCATORS, ETC.) COLLABORATE TOGETHER WITH PATIENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND ENCOURAGE OVERALL WELLNESS. THE PCMH MODEL, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON CARE COORDINATION, IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE FOR LOW-INCOME PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND FOR POPULATIONS EXPERIENCING HEALTH DISPARITIES. CHRONIC CARE EDUCATORS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THIS MODEL.
- $15.5 million spent. PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE SAME POPULATION FILLING OVER 180,000 PRESCRIPTIONS ANNUALLY. THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO LCHC PATIENTS THEREBY GIVING OUR RESIDENTS ACCESS TO 340B PRICING WHICH IS THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COST FOR A GIVEN MEDICINE. THE PHARMACY TEAM ALSO PROVIDES A COUNSELOR WHOSE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO COORDINATE THE COMPLETION OF APPLICATIONS THAT VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS PROVIDE AS PART OF THEIR OWN CHARITY CARE PROGRAMS WHICH ALLOWS THOSE PATIENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FURTHER REDUCED OR FREE MEDICINE.
- $1.8 million spent. IN 2005, LCHC OPENED THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN FITNESS CENTER, THE ONLY FITNESS FACILITY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CENTER OFFERS LOW-COST MONTHLY MEMBERSHIPS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACCESS CARDIO AND RESISTANCE EQUIPMENT, AN AEROBIC STUDIO, AND ADULT AND YOUTH CLASSES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN HEALTH. IN 2009, THE FEDERAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AWARDED LCHC A $10 MILLION COMPETITIVE GRANT TO BUILD A NEW HEALTH CARE FACILITY. THE NEW SITE INCLUDES A FITNESS CENTER WITH AN INDOOR RUNNING TRACK, 65 CARDIOVASCULAR MACHINES, 44 STRENGTH MACHINES, AND FREE WEIGHT STATIONS, AND 3 GROUP EXERCISE ROOMS. LCHC BELIEVES THAT THE FITNESS PROGRAMS ARE NECESSARY ADJUNCT TO THE CARE IT PROVIDES IN THE EXAM ROOM. LCHC'S OVERALL GOAL IS TO CREATE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND RACIAL BARRIERS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE ELIMINATED. THE STRATEGY LCHC HAS ADOPTED FOR CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION AND VISION CONSISTS OF PROVIDING CLINICAL SERVICES FULLY INTEGRATED WITH WELLNESS SERVICES IN AN INNER-CITY ENVIRONMENT. IN THE TRADITIONAL MODEL, VISITS TO A HEALTH PROVIDER ARE PASSIVE FROM A PATIENT'S PERSPECTIVE. IN LCHC'S MODEL, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THEIR OWN HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF THEIR FAMILIES.LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER OPENED THE GREEN TOMATO CAF IN THE SPRING OF 2012 AS A PART OF THE LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER (LCHC) MINISTRY TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE A CONNECTED LAWNDALE COMMUNITY. THE GREEN TOMATO CAF OFFERS AFFORDABLE, HEALTHFUL FOOD IN A RELAXING, INVITING, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY 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 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 October 13, 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 August 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 October 21, 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.