Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for Changing Lives

EIN 36-3731388 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HELP INDIVIDUALS UNCOVER POSSIBILITIES, OVERCOME BARRIERS, AND REALIZE THEIR POTENTIALS

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
30
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$155,502, president & ceo

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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $349,757 spent. EMPLOYMENT COACHING PROGRAM - CCLS EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM WORKS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS AS THEY WORK TO ACHIEVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE SHORT-TERM AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN THE LONG-TERM. ONE ON ONE EMPLOYMENT COACHING INCLUDES: JOB READINESS TRAINING, DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING, ASSESSMENT AND GOAL SETTING, RESUME AND JOB APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, MOCK INTERVIEWING AND SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, REFERRALS TO JOB LEADS, PRE-SCREENING FOR DIRECT PLACEMENTS, CLOTHING AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, FOLLOW-UP AND JOB RETENTION.
  2. $349,756 spent. OUTREACH - COACHES WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONNECT THEM TO A SPECTRUM OF RESOURCES. RESOURCES THAT MAY INCLUDE,BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MAINSTREAM PUBLIC BENEFITS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES OR ANY OTHER NEEDED COMMUNITY SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE OR RESOURCE THAT MOVES COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOWARDS GOAL ATTAINMENT.THE GOAL OF CCLS PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS TO DEVELOP EMPOWERED AND ACCOUNTABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT WILL PREPARE AND RESOURCE THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
  3. $340,729 spent. HOUSING FINANCIAL COACHING PROGRAM - WORKS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS AS THEY WORK TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL GOALS. CCL PROVIDES ONE ON ONE AND GROUP FINANCIAL COACHING THAT FOCUS ON DEVELOPING PARTICIPANTS FINANCIAL VISIONS, OUTCOMES, ACTION PLANS AND ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURES, FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT AND MOBILIZATION AND APPLICATION OF RESOURCES TO THE FINANCIAL ACTION PLANS, INCLUSIVE OF INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS AS THEY WORK TO OBTAIN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. TO THAT END, CCL PROVIDES HUD CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING.
  4. $301,875 spent. SMALL BUSINESS COACHING FOCUSES - ON BUILDING BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) LED BUSINESSES IN THEIR CAPACITY TO IDENTIFY AND PURSUE PATHWAYS OF ENTREPRENEURIALISM AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY. SMALL BUSINESS COACHING INCLUDES ENROLLING ENTREPRENEURS, CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESSES OWNERS TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TRAINING, DEVELOPING AND ASSESSING GENERAL BUSINESS GOALS, AND COLLABORATIVELY IDENTIFYING AND MOBILIZING THE VARIETY OF SUPPORTS THAT ENTREPRENEURS NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL DURING AND BEYOND SMALL BUSINESS COACHING SERVICES.
  5. SMALL BUSINESS COACHING FOCUSES - ON BUILDING BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) 301875. 0. 0.

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 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 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.