Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Neighborhood Lending Services Inc

EIN 36-3471392 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH NLS WAS ORGANIZED WERE: (I) TO RECEIVE, ADMINISTER AND DISBURSE FUNDS EXCLUSIVELY FOR SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES WITHOUT PECUNIARY GAIN TO ITS MEMBERS; (II) TO MAKE LOANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF PERSONS OF LOW-MODERATE INCOME WHO RESIDE PRIMARILY IN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR RESIDENCY;(III) TO STEM OR OTHERWISE PREVENT DETERIORATION OF EXISTING HOUSING STOCK IN TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS;(IV) TO PROVIDE IMPROVED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS OF LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
25.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 70%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$238,561, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 March 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. $2.4 million spent. NEIGHBORHOOD LENDING SERVICES, INC. (NLS) IS AN ILLINOIS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LICENSE (#M000661) AND AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING LENDER, INCORPORATED IN 1987 TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE FINANCING FOR HOME PURCHASE, HOME IMPROVEMENTS OR REFINANCE LOANS TO HELP BORROWERS BUY, FIX, AND KEEP THEIR HOMES. NLS ORIGINATES AFFORDABLE FIXED-RATE LOANS FOR BORROWERS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND SOUTH SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY. NLS OFFERS FIRST MORTGAGES FOR HOME PURCHASE, PURCHASE-REHAB, REFINANCE AND REFINANCE-REHAB AND HOME IMPROVEMENT. THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO, NLS ALSO OFFERS FORGIVABLE AND DEFERRED LOANS IN TANDEM WITH OTHER NLS LOAN PRODUCTS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR LOANS AND GRANTS WENT TO LOW-MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO AND SOUTH SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 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 January 1989.

    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 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.