Growing Home Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GROWING HOME IS A NONPROFIT USDA-CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARM AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, SERVING THE GREATER ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY OF CHICAGO THROUGH INNOVATIVE PAID EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND NUTRITIOUS, AFFORDABLE PRODUCE. WE BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO A GOOD JOB AND GOOD FOOD.OUR INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AIM TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, LOW EDUCATION, LACK OF WORK HISTORY, AND OTHER EXTREME BARRIERS TO WORKFORCE ENTRY. EACH YEAR WE ENROLL APPROXIMATELY 120 INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO GAIN JOB SKILLS AND SECURE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH HANDS-ON FIELD WORK, CLASSROOM TRAINING, AND INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, OUR 12-WEEK PROGRAM PROVIDES THE TOOLS, SKILLS, AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS NEED TO FIND AND KEEP GOOD JOBS. OUR PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE A 10-WEEK COMPTIA CERTIFIED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM. IN 2024, WE HARVESTED 42,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCE, SERVED 15,879 PEOPLE.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 14.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $183,497, executive director
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (1)
- $2.1 million spent. IN 2025, GROWING HOME ENROLLED 148 PARTICIPANTS IN ITS TRANSITIONAL JOB TRAINING AND CERTIFIED IT TRAINING PROGRAMS. PARTICIPANTS EARNED 217 INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, INCLUDING SARVSAFE, GED, FORKLIFT, CISCO IT ESSENTIALS, AND COMP TIA CERTIFICATIONS, WHILE RECEIVING CAREER COACHING, RESUME ASSISTANCE, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND MOCK INTERVIEWS. GROWING HOME SUPPORTED 61 JUSTICE-INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS IN PROGRESSING TOWARD PAROLE OR PROBATION DISCHARGE, AND 60% OF ACTIVE JOB SEEKERS SECURED FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CULTIVATED 61 CROPS (113 VARIETIES) AND DISTRIBUTED 142,976 SERVINGS OF FRESH PRODUCE, WITH 86% REACHING FOOD-INSECURE COMMUNITIES AND 73% REMAINING IN GREATER ENGLEWOOD.
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 October 13, 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 October 1993.
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 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.