Healthy Schools Campaign
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Healthy Schools Campaign is dedicated to making schools healthier places for children, and engages a broad set of school stakeholders to advocate for nutritious school food, comprehensive health services, physical activity, healthy built environments and green schoolyards.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 61
- Highest pay
- $177,496, senior vice president
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 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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, 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 (2)
- $985,047 spent. Promoting healthy schools nationally: HSC advocates for state and national policy that includes access to comprehensive school health services, green schoolyards and healthy built environments. HSC leads the national Healthy Students, Promising Futures Learning Collaborative which supports states in expanding Medicaid-funded school health services. In Illinois, HSC supports policies that help Illinois school districts expand school health services and provide healthy school meals. Through the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program, HSC is a national leader in promoting healthy, sustainable facilities management practices. HSC leads and supports a variety of national coalitions and partnerships that work at the intersection of education, health and sustainability.
- $785,215 spent. Promoting healthy schools in Chicago: Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) advocates for policies and practices that support health and learning in Chicago. Focus areas include: nutritious school food, comprehensive school health services; green schoolyards and healthy built environments. HSCs work has resulted in significant progress toward healthier school environments in Chicago, including one of the countrys strongest local wellness policies, green schoolyards across Chicago neighborhoods, the reinstatement of daily recess and comprehensive school health services for students. HSC provides support to parents, teachers and principals at more than 50 Chicago public schools. Space to Grow, Chicagos green schoolyards initiative, which HSC leads, transforms Chicago schoolyards into beautiful and functional spaces to play, learn, garden and enjoy nature, all while relieving flooding through green stormwater infrastructure.
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 April 2000.
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 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.