Family Matters Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FAMILY MATTERS PARTNERS WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN NORTHEAST CHICAGO TO ADDRESS AND OVERCOME STRUCTURAL RACISM AND SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE SOCIETY. OUR VISION IS TO FACILIATE PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE JUSTICE UTILIZING THE PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP, STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION, AND SAFE ENVIRONMENTS FOR COURAGEOUS SOCIAL CHANGE.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $41,203, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 August 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 (4)
- $362,706 spent. THE FAMILY MATTERS SCHOOL: THE SCHOOL IS A SPECIALTY KINDERGARTEN-4TH GRADE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WHO THRIVE OUTSIDE OF A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM. THE SCHOOL'S PERSONALIZED LEARNING CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON MASTERING CORE COMPETENCIES IN READING, STEM, ART, GLOBAL CULTURES, AND SPANISH WHILE PROVIDING SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH SENSORY SENSIVITIES.
- $220,687 spent. PROJECT RISE: TEENS AGES 13-18 LEARN ON-THE-JOB EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, EXPAND FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUILD A NETWORK OF TRUSTED ADULTS, AND SET ACADEMIC AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS. THEY STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH A YOUTH-LED SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT AND PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) AND COMMUNICATION TRAINING.
- $177,366 spent. PARTNERS IN LEARNING: INDIVIDUALLY MATCHED 1ST-12TH GRADE YOUTH/ADULT PAIRS MEET WEEKLY FOR 90-MINUTE, ONE-TO-ONE TUTOR/MENTORING SESSIONS. ACTIVITIES, PROVIDED VIA INDIVIDUALIZED LESSON PLANS, FOCUS ON ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SEL, GOAL SETTING, AND COLLEGE- AND CAREER-READLINESS.
- $118,249 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: FAMILY MATTERS' COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE PROJECTS DESIGNED TO BUILD COMMUNITY COHESION AND DRIVE COMMUNITY TRATEGIC PLANNING. THEY INCLUDE NORTH OF HOWARD TOGETHER, THE SHARED LEADERSHIP COLLECTIVE, AND THE ROGERS PARK HEALTY CHICAGO EQUITY ZONE WORK.RESPECTFUL COMMUNITIES PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING: FAMILY MATTERS' FUNDATIONAL TENETS, THE PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP, PROMOTE POSITIVE THINKING AND LANGUAGE, THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERED DECISION-MAKING, AND PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION. TRAINING SESSIONS ARE OFFERED TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MULTIPLE TIMES EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 1993.
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 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.