Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cba Media and Civic Education Inc

EIN 36-3467483 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CBA MEDIA AND CIVIC EDUCATION, INC. UNDERTAKES ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRINCIPLES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN INTERACTIONS AMONG PERSONS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS IN A FREE SOCIETY, AND THE MEANS OF REFORM OR IMPROVEMENT OF THE LAW.

Income
$60,965
Spending
$89,526
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$191,467, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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. $89,526 spent. The CBA's Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom (LIC) program is a civic education program with a curriculum that focuses on teaching 2nd - 8th grade students how to better understand the U.S. Constitution, and the nation's legal system, instill knowledge of their rights and responsibilities as U.S. Citizens and bring awareness to racial injustice, racial equity, and restorative justice principles. Attorney volunteers are scheduled to visit public and private schools in the Chicagoland area. During LIC visits, attorney volunteers partner with teachers to educate students on the first amendment's clauses, the fourth amendment, jury selection, the meaning of Reasonable Doubt, the letter of the law versus the intent of the law, and landmark court cases. The program currently has nearly 500 attorney volunteers and relationships with 60 partner schools and reaches more than 3,000 students.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.