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Centro Romero

EIN 36-3517408 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASSIST DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO'S EDGEWATER, ROGERS PARK, AND UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
99
Volunteers
279
Highest pay
$78,250, ex officio exec director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $867,905 spent. LEGAL SERVICES:THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM SERVED 6,143 CLIENTS WITH IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION ISSUES. THESE CLIENT NUMBERS INCLUDE 50 ADULTS WHO COMPLETED APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENSHIP, 39 CLIENTS THAT BECAME LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS (LPRS), AND 50 CLIENTS WHO WERE NATURALIZED. WE PROCESSED 506 RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE DACA PROGRAM (DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS) AND FILED 190 TPS RENEWALS (TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS).
  2. $874,092 spent. PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM:A TOTAL OF 3,710 FAMILY MEMBERS BENEFITED FROM ACCESSING PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS.
  3. $928,560 spent. THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMTHE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM SERVED 1,152 STUDENTS. THESE INCLUDE 450 ADULTS INSTRUCTED IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) AND 55 IN GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GED). A TOTAL OF 198 ADULTS ATTENDED CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION CLASSES, 6 RECEIVED VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE CAREERS, AND 48 YOUNG CHILDREN AND PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN FAMILY LITERACY. A TOTAL OF 175 STUDENTS RECEIVED ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING FROM TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. 120 ADULTS RECEIVED JOB-READINESS TRAINING, AND 21 STUDENTS LEARNED BASIC EDUCATION COURSES IN PREPARATION FOR GED. SIXTY-SEVEN ADULTS RECEIVED COMPUTER SKILLS TRAINING, AND ANOTHER 12 STUDENTS BECAME PROFICIENT IN BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 October 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 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.