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Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance

EIN 36-3384397 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAFHA PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO A WIDE ARRAY OF STAKEHOLDERS COMBATING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND PROMOTING EQUITABLE PLACE-BASED OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COLLABORATIVE ACTION.

Income
$640,852
Spending
$726,698
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$86,454, former co-ex

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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

    8 of 8 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $675,373 spent. THE CHICAGO AREA FAIR HOUSING ALLIANCE (CAFHA) IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED NONPROFIT, FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATION SERVING THE CHICAGO REGION THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY, COLLABORATIVE ACTION, AND EDUCATION. AS A LEADER IN FAIR HOUSING ADVOCACY, CAFHA SUPPORTS ORGANIZING EFFORTS THAT STEM FROM GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND FOCUS ON PROMOTING RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN HOUSING. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1985, WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, EFFECTIVE POLICY ADVOCACY, AND STRONG COALITION-BUILDING. CAFHA ULTIMATELY ENVISIONS A CHICAGO REGION WITH AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND DIGNIFIED HOUSING OPTIONS. BY DEVELOPING A JUST HOUSING SYSTEM, WE WILL ADDRESS THE LEGACY OF HARMS CAUSED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE HOUSING MARKET AND BUILD THRIVING, WELL-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE. WE DO THIS WORK BY: ADVANCING HOUSING JUSTICE: CAFHA IS A LEADING VOICE ON HOUSING POLICY CAMPAIGNS. CAMPAIGNS WE SUPPORTED THIS YEAR INCLUDE THE JUST CAUSE FOR EVICTION CAMPAIGN AND THE CHICAGO HEALTHY HOMES ORDINANCE. IN ADDITION, WE MONITOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS AND ADVOCATE FOR A FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT ECOSYSTEM THAT BETTER SERVES THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. BROAD-BASED COALITION BUILDING: CAFHA BUILDS COALITIONS CENTERED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY LONGSTANDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. CURRENTLY, CAFHA CONVENES THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LEADER BOARD AND HOMEOWNERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE TO ADVANCE POLICY AND PROGRAMMATIC REFORM TO CREATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND STABILITY FOR VOUCHER HOLDERS. CAFHA ALSO CONVENES THE IL HOUSING EQUITY COLLECTIVE TO ENSURE THAT FAIR HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS ARE UPHELD ACROSS ILLINOIS. INCREASING CAPACITY: CAFHA PROVIDES TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING ON TOPICS RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING TO A VARIETY OF GROUPS INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY -BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING PROVIDERS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. THIS YEAR WE REACHED OVER 2,100 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SUCH TRAININGS AND ALSO PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND REFERRALS TO 169 INDIVIDUALS FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY. PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT: CAFHA ALSO EQUIPS DIRECTLY IMPACTED LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS TO ASSIST THEIR PEERS IN NAVIGATING HOUSING CHALLENGES. WE RECRUITED 10 COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, IMPACTED BY ARREST OR CONVICTION RECORDS, TO LEAD OUR REENTRY SUPPORT OUTREACH AND SERVICES; AND 4 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER HOMEOWNER MENTORS TO ASSIST OTHER VOUCHER HOLDERS IN NAVIGATING THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROCESS. THE CHICAGO AREA FAIR HOUSING ALLIANCE (CAFHA) IS A MEMBERSHIP-BASED NONPROFIT, FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATION SERVING THE CHICAGO REGION THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY, COLLABORATIVE ACTION, AND EDUCATION. AS A LEADER IN FAIR HOUSING ADVOCACY, CAFHA SUPPORTS ORGANIZING EFFORTS THAT STEM FROM GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND FOCUS ON PROMOTING RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN HOUSING. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1985, WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADVANCING FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS THROUGH INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, EFFECTIVE POLICY ADVOCACY, AND STRONG COALITION-BUILDING. CAFHA ULTIMATELY ENVISIONS A CHICAGO REGION WITH AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE, AND DIGNIFIED HOUSING OPTIONS. BY DEVELOPING A JUST HOUSING SYSTEM, WE WILL ADDRESS THE LEGACY OF HARMS CAUSED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE HOUSING MARKET AND BUILD THRIVING, WELL-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES FOR ALL PEOPLE. WE DO THIS WORK BY: ADVANCING HOUSING JUSTICE: CAFHA IS A LEADING VOICE ON HOUSING POLICY CAMPAIGNS. CAMPAIGNS WE SUPPORTED THIS YEAR INCLUDE THE JUST CAUSE FOR EVICTION CAMPAIGN AND THE CHICAGO HEALTHY HOMES ORDINANCE. IN ADDITION, WE MONITOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS AND ADVOCATE FOR A FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT ECOSYSTEM THAT BETTER SERVES THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. BROAD-BASED COALITION BUILDING: CAFHA BUILDS COALITIONS CENTERED IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY LONGSTANDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION. CURRENTLY, CAFHA CONVENES THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LEADER BOARD AND HOMEOWNERSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE TO ADVANCE POLICY AND PROGRAMMATIC REFORM TO CREATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND STABILITY FOR VOUCHER HOLDERS. CAFHA ALSO CONVENES THE IL HOUSING EQUITY COLLECTIVE TO ENSURE THAT FAIR HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS ARE UPHELD ACROSS ILLINOIS. INCREASING CAPACITY: CAFHA PROVIDES TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING ON TOPICS RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING TO A VARIETY OF GROUPS INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY -BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HOUSING PROVIDERS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES. THIS YEAR WE REACHED OVER 2,100 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SUCH TRAININGS AND ALSO PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT AND REFERRALS TO 169 INDIVIDUALS FACING HOUSING INSTABILITY. PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT: CAFHA ALSO EQUIPS DIRECTLY IMPACTED LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS TO ASSIST THEIR PEERS IN NAVIGATING HOUSING CHALLENGES. WE RECRUITED 10 COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, IMPACTED BY ARREST OR CONVICTION RECORDS, TO LEAD OUR REENTRY SUPPORT OUTREACH AND SERVICES; AND 4 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER HOMEOWNER MENTORS TO ASSIST OTHER VOUCHER HOLDERS IN NAVIGATING THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROCESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1987.

    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.