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Chicago Architecture Foundation

EIN 36-6144362 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION'S (DBA CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER "CAC") MISSION IS TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO DISCOVER WHY DESIGN MATTERS.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 52%
Employees
156
Volunteers
439
Highest pay
$418,184, ceo & 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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. $1.9 million spent. TOURS ARE THE HALLMARK OF THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER AND OFFER INSIGHTS INTO CHICAGO'S BUILDINGS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND ENVIRONMENTS. IN 2024 TOUR ATTENDANCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,200 FOR WALKING TOURS AND OVER 395,000 FOR BOAT TOURS. CAC TOURS ARE GIVEN BY 439 TRAINED VOLUNTEER DOCENTS WHO ALSO WRITE AND CONCEPTUALIZE THE TOUR OFFERINGS FOR BOAT, BUS, WALKING AND EL.
  2. $826,843 spent. IN 2024, THE YOUTH & FAMILY LEARNING TEAM AVERAGED 17 UNIQUE PROGRAMS PER MONTH, AND 644 PARTICIPANTS PER MONTH IN THOSE PROGRAMS. THIS IS A 22% INCREASE FROM 2023 PARTICIPATION NUMBERS (524/MO) AND 133% INCREASE IN PROGRAMS OFFERED (7/MO). OUR CORE PROGRAMMING INCLUDED TEEN FELLOWS, SATURDAY STUDIOS, FAMILY FESTIVALS, AND GIRLS BUILD!. WE WELCOMED A NEW CLASS OF TEEN FELLOWS AND THERE WAS AN 8% INCREASE IN GIRLS BUILD! STUDENTS AGREEING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN STEM (UP TO 97% FROM 90% IN 2023).
  3. $609,691 spent. CAC OFFERS EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS ON THE SUBJECT OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. IN 2024, OVER 37,473 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN OUR EXHIBITIONS. THE CENTER OFFERS A SKYSCRAPER GALLERY, ROTATING EXHIBITS AND A LARGE-SCALE INTERACTIVE MODEL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

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 October 13, 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 2025.

    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 October 1966.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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