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Greater West Town Community Development Project

EIN 36-3657734 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GREATER WEST TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY BASED RESPONSE THAT EXPANDS EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHICAGO'S LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN THE HUMBOLDT PARK, EAST GARFIELD PARK, WEST GARFIELD PARK, AUSTIN, AND NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY AREAS. WE ACHIEVE THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPLEMENTED BY RIGOROUS RESEARCH, ADVOCACY EFFORTS AND POLICY INITIATIVES THAT LINK THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKFORCE WITH OTHER KEY LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
82
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$243,876, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $3.9 million spent. EMPLOYMENT TRAINING - VOCATIONAL TRAINING & CAREER PATHWAYS: GREATER WEST TOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (GWTP) OPERATES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, AND CAREER PREPARATION SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL INDUSTRY AND EMPLOYER PARTNERS SERVING HIGH SCHOOL NON-COMPLETERS, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, SINGLE PARENTS, LOW-INCOME AND UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, RETURNING CITIZENS, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. GWTP OFFERS TWO CAREER TRAINING PROGRAMS IN HIGH-GROWTH FIELDS - WOODWORKING & SOLID SURFACE MANUFACTURING AND SHIPPING & RECEIVING. THESE PROGRAM ARE APPROVED BY THE ILLINOIS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND ACCREDITED BY THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION OF CAREER SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND INTEGRATE TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING, BASIC SKILLS SUPPORT, AND 12 MONTHS OF POST-PROGRAM ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING JOB READINESS AND PLACEMENT SERVICES. THROUGH GWTP'S CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM, GWTP DELIVERS JOB READINESS TRAINING TO PREPARE YOUTH AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OR POST SECONDARY EDUCATION. GWTP PROVIDES CAREER SERVICES AND COLLEGE COUNSELING, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLANNING, JOB READINESS TRAINING, COLLEGE EXPLORATION, AND JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS.
  2. $3.0 million spent. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION: GREATER WEST TOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (GWTP) OPERATES WEST TOWN ACADEMY AND THE NEWLY ACQUIRED YCCS WEST HIGH SCHOOL, PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SERVICES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH WHO HAVE DISENGAGED FROM TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS OR GED PROGRAM AND WANT TO EARN THEIR DIPLOMA. WEST TOWN ACADEMY AND YCCS WEST OFFER CREDIT RECOVERY, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS, AND ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 September 1994.

    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.