Chicago Community Loan Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LOW-COST, FLEXIBLE FINANCING TO NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT METROPOLITAN CHICAGO.
- Income
- $32.7 million
- Spending
- $23.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 31.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $1.0 million, president until january 2025
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 74% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
- $19.2 million spent. LENDING - CCLF OPERATES AS A REVOLVING LOAN FUND, PROVIDING FINANCING THROUGH ITS LOAN POOL OF LENDING CAPITAL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NONPROFIT FACILITY AND OFFICE SPACE, COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THESE PROJECTS PROMISE HIGH SOCIAL IMPACT THROUGH THE PRODUCTION AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JOB CREATION AND OTHER SERVICES FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
- $728,625 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - CCLF'S GATEWAY TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BORROWERS AND NON-BORROWERS THROUGH TIME SENSITIVE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ADVICE AND REFERRALS, A RANGE OF WORKSHOP TOPICS, FACILITATED PLANNING PROCESSES AND SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES.
- $500,040 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - CCLF IS HISTORICALLY A NICHE LENDER: ONE THAT MEETS THE FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS THAT ARE UNMET IN THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. THE 2017 - 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN HAS DIRECTED A COURSE OF COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS, EXPLORATION OF AVAILABLE PROGRAMS NEW TO CCLF AND THE CO-CREATION OF PROGRAMS TO BUILD AND/OR REHABILITATE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO RESEARCH AND FINANCE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 November 6, 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 December 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 July 1991.
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 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.