Metropolitan Tenants Organization
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE, ORGANIZE AND EMPOWER TENANTS TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF SAFE,DECENT AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING.
- Income
- $944,614
- Spending
- $980,346
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $89,708, executive dir.
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 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 (3)
- $556,882 spent. TENANTS STABILIZATION:TENANTS STABILIZATION INCLUDES THREE SUB-PROGAMS. EACH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND ASSIST INDIVIDUAL TENANTS TO STABILIZE THEIR RENTAL HOUSING SITUATION. MTO'S TENANTS RIGHTS HOTLINE SERVES BETWEEN 8,000 AND 10,000 RENTERS ANNUALLY. STAFF AND VOLUNTEER HOTLINE COUNSELORS PROVIDE CALLERS WITH INFORMATION TO HELP THEM RESOLVE EXISTING HOUSING CRISES. COUNSELORS PROVIDE TENANTS WITH VERBAL INFORMATION AND THEN SEND THEM WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION. MTO PROVIDES TENANTS WITH 11 DIFFERENT BROCHURES COVERING ALL AREAS OF RENTAL HOUSING. MTO ASLO HAS 15 SAMPLE LETTERS TENANTS CAN USE TO HELP THEM FOLLOW THE LAW AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR LANDLORD. MTO'S EVICTION PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR BETTER HOUSING
- $181,558 spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING PREVENTION PROGRAM (AHPP):THROUGH AHPP, THE ORGANIZATION ATTEMPTS TO REVERSE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS OF SUBSIDIZED AND PRIVATELY OWNED RENTAL STOCK AND TO HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISTREATMENT AND UNFAIR POLICIES. AHPP HELPS TENANTS TO FORM TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS AND PROVIDES SELF-HELP TOOLS TO TENANTS THAT BUILD THE CAPACITY OF TENANTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO INITIATE REPAIRS AND BE PROACTIVE ABOUT HOUSING CONDITIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
- $96,878 spent. ADVOCACY PROGRAM:THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO SECURE PASSAGE OF THREE HOUSING LAWS. MTO EMPOWERS MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN COALITIONS, MEET WITH THE ALDERMAN AND DEVELOP CAMPAIGNS. CURRENTLY, MTO IS WORKING TO SECURE THE PASSAGE OF CHICAGO HEALTHY HOMES INSPECTION PROGRAM (CHHIP), THE HOUSING FOR ALL CAMPAIGN AND THE JUST HOUSING INITIATIVE (JHI). MTO SUPPORTS LIFTING THE BAN ON RENT CONTROL. CHHIP WORKS TO DEVELOP A PROACTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO. HOUSING FOR ALL SEEKS TO EXPAND CHICAGO'S ARO ORDINANCE BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BEING BUILT. JHI WILL LIMIT THE USE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR TENANTS SEEKING APARTMENTS IN COOK COUNTY.
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 November 1985.
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.