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Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation

EIN 36-3922804 · Bensenville, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceWeak40 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CHICAGOLAND LUTHERAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IS TO EMPOWER URBAN LUTHERAN SCHOOLS TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE, QUALITY EDUCATION IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
10
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$286,900, executive di

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% 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 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (5)
  1. $1.1 million spent. CHICAGOLAND LUTHERAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION HELPS CHILDREN ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY WITHIN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING, AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL, ELEMENTARY, AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO.
  2. $2.0 million spent. GRANTS TO CHICAGO AREA ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN FURTHERANCE OF LUTHERAN EDUCATION AND UPKEEP OF THOSE FACILITIES. GRANT FUNDING SUPPORTS MANY AREAS INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS, TECHNOLOGY, CURRICULUM MATERIALS, SCHOOL CAPITAL NEEDS, TEACHER SALARY SUPPORT AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $876,849 spent. THE P360 LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS IS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS NECESSARY TO FOSTER AND MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE, HIGH-QUALITY LUTHERAN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THREE MAJOR INITIATIVES: STRATEGIC STRENGTH & MANAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL BEST PRACTICES, AND LEADERSHIP & INTERPERSONAL EMPOWERMENT.
  4. THE LUTHERAN URBAN KINGDOM EXPANSION (LUKE) UBRAN MINISTRY RENEWAL INITIATIVE WORKS TO REVITALIZE EXISTING CHURCH CONGREGATIONS AND CREATE NEW MISSIONAL MINISTRIES IN THE CHICAGO AREA
  5. THE LUTHERAN URBAN KINGDOM EXPANSION (LUKE) UBRAN MINISTRY RENEWAL INITIATIVE WORKS TO REVITALIZE EXISTING CHURCH CONGREGATIONS AND CREATE NEW MISSIONAL MINISTRIES IN THE CHICAGO AREA

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 February 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.