East Central Il Community Action Agency
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY IS TO ERADICATE POVERTY; ENGAGE, EMPOWER AND ENRICH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND PARTNERSHIP SERVICES.
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $7.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 126
- Highest pay
- $90,929, pm chair person
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
Weak: 33 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 102% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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 June 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 (5)
- $5.4 million spent. LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) PROVIDES ONE-TIME ENERGY BILL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES TO HELP DEFRAY A PORTION OF THEIR WINTER HEATING COSTS. ASSISTANCE TO EACH HOUSEHOLD IS BASED ON TYPES OF FUEL UTILIZED, INCOME LEVELS, AND GEOGRAPHIC REGION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025, 6,197 INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED LIHEAP SERVICES. LIHEAP FUNDS ALSO ALLOW FAMILIES WHO ARE DISCONNECTED TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO RESTORE HEAT AND TO REPAIR OR REPLACE INOPERABLE OR DANGEROUS FURNACES. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025, THE AGENCY PROVIDED LIHEAP FURNACE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT ASSISTANCE IN 32 HOUSEHOLDS. A TOTAL OF $4,564,734 IN LIHEAP FUNDS WAS EXPENDED TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN FORD, IROQUOIS AND VERMILION COUNTIES.
- $818,988 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP FAMILIES OVERCOME IMMEDIATE CRISIS AND OBTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SPECIFIC SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH CSBG ARE DETERMINED ANNUALLY VIA COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT. CSBG SERVICES OFFERED ARE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, EMPLOYMENT READINESS RESOURCES (I.E. UNIFORMS), SUMMER ACADEMIC CAMP REGISTRATION SPONSORSHIP, SENIOR NUTRITION MEALS TRAININGS AND RESOURCES; RENT AND RENT DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE, NATURAL DISASTER CRISES ASSISTANCE, CAR REPAIRS, AND THREE ANNUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENTS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, 748 INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED VARIED CSBG ASSISTANCE; AND A TOTAL OF $191,304 OF COMMUNITY SERVICES FUNDS WAS EXPENDED TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN FORD, IROQUOIS AND VERMILION COUNTIES.SNAP EMPLOYMENT BARRIER REDUCTION PROGRAM PROVIDES SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECEIVING SNAP, TANF, OR MEDICAID BENEFITS WHO EXPERIENCE A BARRIER TO GAINING EMPLOYMENT OR WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ON THESE PROGRAMS, WORKING, OR ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A JOB, WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM BARRIER REDUCTION SUPPORT. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025, 388 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED WITH EMPLOYMENT BARRIER REMOVAL SERVICES AND $411,650 IN SNAP BRP FUNDS WAS EXPENDED.
- $537,408 spent. THE ILLINOIS HOME WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (IHWAP) PROVIDES INCOME ELIGIBLE AND QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS WITH WEATHERIZATION MEASURES WITHIN THE HOMES THAT INCREASES THE HOMES' ENERGY CONSERVATION AND ULTIMATELY REDUCES HEATING AND COOLING UTILITY BILLS. ALL HOUSES RECEIVE A THOROUGH INSPECTION BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CERTIFIED ASSESSORS. WEATHERIZATION MEASURES MAY INCLUDE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF HVAC SYSTEMS AND HOT WATER TANKS, INSULATION OF WALLS, ATTICS AND CRAWL SPACES, SEALING AND CAULKING OF DOORS AND WINDOWS AND MINOR ROOF REPAIRS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2025, 21 HOMES RECEIVED WEATHERIZATION MEASURES, AND A TOTAL OF $304,709 OF HOUSING PROJECT FUNDS WAS EXPENDED TO HOUSEHOLDS IN FORD, IROQUOIS AND VERMILION COUNTIES.
- $385,492 spent. THE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME PAYMENT PLAN (PIPP) PROGRAM ALLOWS ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS TO PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME TO MAINTAIN THEIR UTILITY SERVICE. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH AN AFFORDABLE, LEVEL PAYMENT PLAN AND A CHANCE TO ELIMINATE PAST DUE BALANCES. IN 2025, THE AGENCY ASSISTED 340 HOUSEHOLDS MAKE MONTHLY UTILITY-BILL ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TOWARDS THEIR UTILITY BILLS. A TOTAL OF $369,724 IN PIPP FUNDS WAS EXPENDED TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN FORD, IROQUOIS AND VERMILION COUNTIES.
- $41,053 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.
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
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 June 2025.
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 1966.
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.