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After School Matters Inc

EIN 36-4409182 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE CHICAGO PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TEENS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS, WHILE GAINING CRITICAL SKILLS FOR WORK, COLLEGE AND BEYOND. WE ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY: -DESIGNING AND DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY, HANDS-ON, PROJECT-BASED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN A VARIETY OF CONTENT AREAS, INCLUDING THE ARTS, SCIENCE, SPORTS, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS. -ENGAGING SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AS INSTRUCTORS WHO SUPPORT TEENS' GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AN INTENTIONAL AND MEANINGFUL WAY. -ALIGNING AND MAXIMIZING THE RESOURCES OF AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT COORDINATED AND SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING. -FOCUSING ON CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, DATA-DRIVEN AND COST-EFFECTIVE DECISIONS, STRENGTHENING SKILLS TO ENCOURAGE IMPROVED ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, AND POSITIVE IMPACTS FOR TEENS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

Income
$48.4 million
Spending
$40.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
4,930
Volunteers
277
Highest pay
$442,967, chief executive officer

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 26 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Ran 1,645 afterschool and summer programs for teens.Work delivered
  • Provided 24,000+ opportunities to teens.Work delivered
  • Served 17,000+ teens across the city.Work delivered
  • 92% of teens reported participating made them more hopeful about their future.Change achieved
  • 97% of graduating seniors reported having plans for after graduation.Change achieved
  • 87% of graduating seniors planned to attend college or a trade/vocational program.Change achieved

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $33.6 million spent. THIS YEAR, AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS RAN 1,645 HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDED 24,000+ OPPORTUNITIES TO 17,000+ TEENS ACROSS THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THESE PAID AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL TEENS WITH A SPACE TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS AND DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS IN THE ARTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP, SPORTS, AND STEM. THROUGH PROJECT-BASED PROGRAMS LED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS, TEENS GAINED INDEPENDENCE AND ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS FOR WORK, COLLEGE, AND BEYOND. PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE DURING THE CRITICAL HOURS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN TEENS ARE OTHERWISE MOST VULNERABLE. MORE THAN 96% OF OUR TEENS IDENTIFY AS A PERSON OF COLOR, AND NEARLY THREE IN FOUR LIVE IN A HIGH-POVERTY COMMUNITY. 92% OF TEENS REPORTED PARTICIPATING IN ASM MADE THEM MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. 97% OF ASM GRADUATING SENIORS REPORTED HAVING PLANS FOR AFTER GRADUATION WITH 87% PLANNING TO ATTEND COLLEGE OR A TRADE/VOCATIONAL PROGRAM. AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS HAS BECOME A VITAL PART OF CHICAGO THROUGH OUR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IMPACTFUL PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES AT SITES THROUGHOUT THE CITY INCLUDING AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT AND CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCATIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CHICAGO, AND AT OUR THREE ASM FACILITIES - THE MICHAEL AND KARYN LUTZ FAMILY CENTER FOR AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS IN BELMONT CRAGIN, AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS AT GATELY PARK IN ROSELAND/PULLMAN, AND GALLERY 37 CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO. WE ARE ALSO BUILDING AN ASM FACILITY IN THE CABRINI NEIGHBORHOOD - AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS AT ORLEANS. WE CONTINUE TO REALIZE OUR VISION OF PROVIDING TEENS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL AND FIND THEIR FUTURE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.