Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana

EIN 36-3871241 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$21.3 million
Spending
$20.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 63%
Employees
305
Volunteers
16,973
Highest pay
$363,355, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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 September 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. $15.4 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED ACTIVITIES TO 32,000 GIRLS AND 17,000 ADULTS IN TROOP/GROUP SETTINGS LOCATED IN GREATER CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. OUR GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IS WHERE GIRLS: DISCOVER A STRONG SENSE OF SELF; CONNECT TO DEVELOP HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS; AND TAKE ACTION IN IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY NEEDS. GIRLS ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THOSE IN STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH), FINANCIAL LITERACY, HEALTHY LIVING (WHICH REFLECT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PHYSICAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SELF-ESTEEM), ARTS, TRAVEL AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
  2. $2.3 million spent. GIRL SCOUT TROOPS AND GROUPS USED CAMPS IN WISCONSIN, ILLINOIS AND INDIANA FOR CAMPING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. GIRL SCOUT CAMP GIVES GIRLS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, EXPLORE, AND HAVE FUN UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TRAINED ADULTS. THROUGH CAMP AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES GIRLS DISCOVER LEADERSHIP ABILITIES, BUILD SKILLS, AND DEVELOP A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
  3. THE PRODUCT SALES PROGRAM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY INITIATIVE, WHICH HELPS GIRLS LEARN LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, PEOPLE SKILLS, AND BUSINESS ETHICS. SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE COOKIE PROGRAM AND THE FALL PRODUCT SALES PROGRAM. 6,200 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN OUR FALL PRODUCT PROGRAM IN WHICH GIRLS SELL CANDY, NUTS AND MAGAZINES GENERATING REVENUES OF $2,128,341 AGAINST COSTS OF $1,365,333. 23,300 GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN THE COOKIE PROGRAM SELLING 3,479,082 PACKAGES OF COOKIES. GROSS REVENUES AMOUNTED TO $20,874,492. COSTS INCURRED IN RUNNING THIS PROGRAM AMOUNTED TO $9,407,349. THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS 6 RETAIL SHOPS FOR THE PURPOSES OF SELLING GIRL SCOUT MERCHANDISE AND PROGRAM MATERIALS FOR ALL LEVELS OF GIRL SCOUTING. REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SHOPS WERE $1,490,518 AND COSTS OF MERCHANDISE WERE $906,589. GROSS REVENUES AND EXPENSES RELATED TO THESE PROGRAM SERVICES ARE SHOWN ON FORM 990, PART VIII, LINES 10A & B.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1993.

    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.