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Center for Enriched Living

EIN 36-3339009 · Riverwoods, 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

ENRICHING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BY MAXIMIZING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL SUCCESS, FRIENDSHIP, FUN, EMPLOYMENT, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
90
Volunteers
263
Highest pay
$223,438, 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: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 25

    21 of 21 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. $1.9 million spent. ADULT DAY PROGRAM - CEL'S YEAR ROUND ADULT DAY PROGRAMS NAMED REACH AND CATALYST ADDRESSES THE DAYTIME NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH IDD, SO THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES, COMMUNICATE THEIR NEEDS AND OPINIONS, VOLUNTEER FOR SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, EXPLORE PERSONAL HOBBIES AND INTERESTS, AND SO MUCH MORE, WITH MANY DAYS SPENT OUT AND ABOUT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. CATALYST ALSO OFFERS A MORE FOCUSED GOAL OF EQUIPPING MEMBERS WITH THE LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO TAKE GREATER OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LIVES. THE RESULT IS INCREASED CONFIDENCE, LIFE SKILLS COMPETENCY, AND EFFICIENCY THROUGH INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE OF NEW SKILLS, DEVELOPMENT OF PREVIOUSLY LEARNED SKILLS, AND MODIFYING DAILY ENVIRONMENTS THAT MAY IMPACT INDEPENDENCE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SOCIAL ENRICHMENT - CEL'S SOCIAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE MEMBERS AGES 13 AND UP WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE FRIENDS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, EXPLORE THE COMMUNITY, BUILD SKILLS, AND PURSUE NEW INTERESTS. THE PROGRAMS RUN YEARROUND DURING EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS. AT THE FOUNDATION OF THIS PROGRAM LIES A SOCIAL COMPONENT. SOCIAL ISOLATION IS A KEY BARRIER THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE WITH IDD FROM LIVING THEIR FULLEST LIVES. AT CEL, THEY ARE PART OF A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY WHERE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD, THEIR CHOICES ARE HONORED, AND THEIR INTERESTS AND FEEDBACK DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE YEARROUND. SOCIAL INTERACTIONS CREATE COMMUNITY, STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
  3. $480,439 spent. EMPLOYMENT - WHILE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES HAVE THE SKILLS AND THE DESIRE TO WORK, THEY LACK THE OPPORTUNITIES. CEL WORKS TO INCREASE 22.5% OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE EMPLOYED, WHICH IS NOTABLY BELOW THE 65.8% OF PEOPLE WITHOUT DISABILITIES WHO ARE EMPLOYED. CEL PARTNERS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND LARGE CORPORATIONS REMOVE EXISTING BARRIERS TO HIRING SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY. CEL'S STAFF CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD TO LEARN THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO FIND AND KEEP A JOB, WHILE PROVIDING JOB COACHING THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY.
  4. $166,764 spent. ROBERT VIHON FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER - THE ROBERT VIHON FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (RVFRC) DRAMATICALLY EXPANDS THE SCOPE OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE, TRANSFORMING CEL INTO A REGIONAL DESTINATION FOR THOSE SEEKING RELIABLE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, AND MORE. THE RVFRC TEAM WORKS WITH MEMBERS AND FAMILIES TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE LIFE TRANSITIONS, CONNECT WITH CRITICAL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RESOURCES, AND BUILD MEANINGFUL, INDEPENDENT LIVES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.