National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Ill
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of NSCDA-IL is historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.
- Income
- $273,744
- Spending
- $131,623
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 65%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 60
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 April 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 (11)
- $36,474 spent. We hold meetings during the year so members can exchange ideas and hear speakers on topics related to our mission of education, patriotic service, and historic preservation.
- $15,060 spent. Per capita dues are paid to our National Organization, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. They in turn, use these funds for their charitable purposes.
- $12,469 spent. We own and insure the collection in the Clarke-Ford House Museum, the oldest house in Chicago. The City of Chicago owns the house.
- $6,800 spent. We make donations to organizations interested in historic preservation. These include Dumbarton House, Sulgrave Manor,and Gunston Hall.
- $6,000 spent. We give history scholarships to worthy recipients for the work they do in historical research.
- $5,400 spent. Members attend educational conferences to exchange information with peers from other NSCDA societies to increase community impact in museum alliances, historic preservation and patriotic service.
- $3,500 spent. Patriotic Service programs include participation with the USO Great Lakes No Dough Dinners for servicemen and servicewomen. We help underwrite and serve meals during the year. Hundreds of service members benefit from these dinners.
- $3,000 spent. We are one of the sponsors for the Chicago Veterans Memorial Day Ruck March, the purpose of which is to raise awareness of the issue of veteran suicide. The march normally takes place on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend.
- $1,393 spent. We purchased special NSCDA scarf rings.
- $670 spent. We sponsor an essay contest for high school students. The winners receive a scholarship to the Congressional Seminar in Washington DC. This Seminar is held under the auspices of the Washington Workshops Foundation, a private nonprofit educational program in American government for high school students. This essay contest is a major project of the NSCDA.
- $100 spent. We contributed to an American Indian Medical Scholarship.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 2026.
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 May 1976.
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.