Garden of Prayer Youth Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To keep families together by providing structured educational and training support, social service and the basic needs for youth to improve and enhance their qualtiy of life and their families.GOPYC services include: group home and residential services, individual and family counseling, family advocacy and support services, mentoring, tutoring, after school recreation, life skills training, and job readiness training. The ultimate goal of this agency is "Keeping Families Together".
- Income
- $9.3 million
- Spending
- $8.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 129
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $210,151, executive director/ceo
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $7.5 million spent. RE-DIRECT THE LIVES OF TROUBLED YOUTH, INCLUDING STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES, EMERGENCY SHELTER, SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT, SEMINARS AND PERSONAL ITEMS.GOPYC HAS A GROUP HOME PROGRAM 8-BED UNIT. SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, 24-HOUR SUPERVISED HOUSING, JOB TRAINING, JOB COACHING, EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, MENTORIING & THERAPY AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING -DRIVERS'S EDUCATION, VOTER'S REGISTRATION AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.GOPYC OPERATES AN AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, FAMILY SUPPORT, TUTORING, TRANSPORTATION, MEALS AND STRUCTURED ACTVITIES. GOPYC SERVES APPROXIMATELY 225 CHILDREN PER YEAR.GOPYC OPERATES A GROUP HOME FOR GIRLS (GEMS). THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENABLE AND EMPOWER YOUTH TO REGULATE THEIR BEHAVIOR, ACHIEVE THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS, STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS, ENGAGE IN CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND ADOPT LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO TRANSITION TO AN INDEPENDENT LIVINING PROGRAM.GOPYC OPERATES AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES AND CHILDCARE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN KANKAKEE COUNT, ILLINOIS. THE GOAL IS TO HELP EACH CHILD REACH HIS OR HER MAXIMUM LEARNING POTENTIAL AND TO CREATE LIFELONG LEARNERS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR ACCESS TO PRIVATE EDUCATION.
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
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 June 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 March 1996.
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.