Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Joseph Center

EIN 36-4175789 · Forest Park, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TEACH NEW ENTREPRENEURS THE DETAILS OF STARTING AND MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
23
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$234,200, director/president and coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $1.2 million spent. BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE JOSEPH CENTER FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (JCBD) OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO TRAIN, NURTURE, AND SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS IN STARTING AND RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, AS WELL AS WORKERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE THE ENGINE OF THE ECONOMY. JCBD ENCOMPASSES THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS. 1. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES WORKSHOPS AND COURSES IN AREAS SUCH AS BUSINESS START-UP AND PLANNING, FINANCING, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING IN ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE/OPERATE THEIR BUSINESSES. 2. CONTINUING EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CEPD) WHICH OFFERS TECHNOLOGY TRAINING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT COURSES AND GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (GED) COURSES, ALL DESIGNED TO ASSIST ADULTS IN ACQUIRING SKILLS NECESSARY FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT, BETTER PAYING JOBS, ETC. CEPD ALSO HOSTS AN ANNUAL JOB FAIR THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR UP TO 1,000 ATTENDEES. 3. ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) AT THE JOSEPH CENTER, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE SBA AND PROVIDES BUSINESS CONSULTING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ASSIST ENTREPRENEURS IN IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY.
  2. $717,049 spent. ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM: THE JOSEPH BUSINESS SCHOOL (JBS) IS A WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTION THAT EQUIPS ENTREPRENEURS AND INDIVIDUALS USING PRACTICAL AND BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES TO RAISE UP COMPANIES AND CREATE WEALTH TO TRANSFORM DESOLATE PLACES INTO FLOURISHING COMMUNITIES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. JBS HAS A PERMIT OF APPROVAL BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ILLINOIS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION PRIVATE BUSINESS & VOCATIONAL DIVISION AND IS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ACCREDITING COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING (ACCET). 58 STUDENTS WERE COMPLETERS IN THE TWO, 2024 4-MONTH COHORTS ON THE CHICAGO CAMPUS IN A LIVE IN-PERSON AND LIVE INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED FEED OF EACH SATURDAY SESSION. 43 STUDENTS WERE COMPLETERS IN THE TWO, 2024 4-MONTH COHORTS ONLINE MODALITY WHERE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
  3. $682,180 spent. BUSINESS INCUBATOR & OTHER: THE JOSEPH CENTER HAS A BUSINESS OFFICE CENTER TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW COST AND PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS OFFICES, A CONFERENCE CENTER AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR START-UP BUSINESSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1998.

    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 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.