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Childrens Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County

EIN 36-3711203 · Hoffman Est, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAC'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER CHILDREN TO OVERCOME TRAUMA FROM PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE THROUGH EMPATHETIC COLLABORATION AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. FROM THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW TO THE LAST THERAPY SESSION, CAC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT OUR CLIENTS ARE BUILDING RESILIENCY IN ORDER TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
21
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$124,783, ceo

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (3)
  1. $647,405 spent. USES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, DCFS AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR CASE COORDINATION, FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, VICTIM ADVOCACY AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-17 WHO ARE VICTIMS OR WITNESSES TO VIOLENT CRIME AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING FAMILY MEMBERS. OVER 400 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED AND A TOTAL OF 1,800 CLIENTS SERVED ANNUALLY.
  2. $402,386 spent. PROVIDED EVIDENCE BASED TRAUMA THEARPY SERVICES TO CHLDREN 6-17 WHO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE OR POST TRAUMATIC STRESS STEMING FROM ABUSE OR OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE.
  3. $245,068 spent. SPECIALIZED PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR NON OFFENDING CAREGIVER WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE; EARLY INTERVENTION IS KEY.

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 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 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 November 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 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.