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Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies

EIN 37-0956949 · Springfield, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES (ASSOCIATION) IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH SERVES AS A NETWORK FOR ILLINOIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS AND UNITS OF GOVERNMENT WHICH STRIVE TO RAISE THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC STANDARDS OF ILLINOIS' CITIZENS LIVING AT THE LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC MARGINS. THE ASSOCIATION SERVES THE COLLECTIVE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS THROUGH REPRESENTATION, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INFORMATION EXCHANGE, ADVOCACY, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
12
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$205,195, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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)
  1. $3.9 million spent. EMPLOYMENT BARRIER REDUCTION FUND - IACAA WAS AWARDED A GRANT WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ACT AS THE LEAD GRANTEE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSED THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. WORKING WITH 21 OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES, AWARDS AMOUNT OF $3,298,565 WERE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCH ITEMS AS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AUTO REPAIR, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, PERSONAL HYGIENE, TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING, AND DENTAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 2,892 SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WHO WERE ALL PROVIDED SOME FORM OF ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM SEEK EMPLOYMENT. THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT PROVIDED PER INDIVIDUAL WAS $2,000.
  2. $350,395 spent. RENTAL HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM - RENTAL HOUSING SUPPORT PROGRAM - THE RHSP PROGRAM PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED RENT PAYMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INCOME UNDER 30% OF THE AVERAGE MEDIUM INCOME (AMI) LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. IN 2025, AN AVERAGE OF 97 HOUSEHOLDS WERE ASSISTED PER QUARTER IN THE PROGRAM THROUGH JUNE OF 2025. IACAA SUB-GRANTS WITH SIX AGENCIES THROUGH JUNE OF 2025; ALL ARE MEMBER COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES. BEGINNING IN JULY, 2025 AGENCIES CONTRACTED DIRECTLY WITH ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. FROM JULY-DECEMBER, IACAA ASSISTED AN AVERAGE OF 22 HOUSEHOLDS WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY. THESE FUNDS ARE PROVIDED BY A GRANT WITH THE ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
  3. $2.3 million spent. HOUSING BRIDGE SUBSIDY ADMINISTRATOR - IACAA SERVED JUST OVER 200 CLIENTS WITH MONTHLY RENTAL ASSISTANCE DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. THIS GRANT FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE RENTAL SUBSIDIES TO INCOME-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, HAVE BEEN UNHOUSED AND INSTITUTIONALIZED, BUT ARE ABLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY WITH OUR ASSISTANCE.
  4. $225,654 spent. ENERGY SAVINGS KITS PROGRAM - THE ENERGY SAVINGS KITS PROGRAM PROVIDES ENERGY SAVINGS KITS TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT DEMONSTRATE A NEED BASED UPON THEIR INCOME LEVELS. THE KITS STRIVE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING A CUSTOMERS HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. IN ALL CASES, THE APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF INCOME LEVELS, TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY FOR AN ENERGY SAVINGS KIT. WITH THE HELP OF THE CAA'S IN THE COMED, NICOR, NORTH SHORE GAS, AND PEOPLES GAS, SERVICE TERRITORY, THE PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE 20,978 ENERGY SAVINGS KITS TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS DURING THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR.
  5. $663,535 spent. IACAA TRAINING ASSISTANCE - ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES (IACAA) WAS AWARDED A CONTRACT BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (IDCEO) TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE 35 COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES (CAAS) THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS. UNDER THIS CONTRACT, IACAA FACILITATED WEBINARS COVERING A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING STORYTELLING, COMMUNICATION, MEDIA LITERACY, RE-ENTRY, LEADERSHIP, AND DATA UTILIZATION. IN ADDITION TO THE WEBINARS, IACAA DELIVERED IN-PERSON TRAINING SESSIONS INCLUDING A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORIENTATION, A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN/COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CAP/CNA) WORKSHOP, AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORKSHOP, AND FISCAL STAFF TRAINING. IACAA ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHICH FEATURED SESSIONS ON SUCCESSION PLANNING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ENERGY AND WEATHERIZATION TOPICS, FISCAL MANAGEMENT, COACHING AND LEADERSHIP, RE-ENTRY, AND HUMAN RESOURCES. THE CONTRACT CONTINUED TO SUPPORT COMPREHENSIVE RESULTS ORIENTED MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (ROMA) ACTIVITIES. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED TWO VIRTUAL AND TWO IN-PERSON ROMA TRAINING SESSIONS, AS WELL AS ONGOING SUPPORT FOR ROMA PROFESSIONAL CANDIDATES ACROSS THE NETWORK. TO EXPAND THE NETWORK'S ACCESS TO COMPLIANCE TOOLS, IACAA LAUNCHED A ZENDESK RESOURCE LIBRARY FEATURING ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARDS CONTENT AND MAINTAINED REQUIRED TRAINING COURSES IN ITS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS), INCLUDING ANTI-HARASSMENT; FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE; AND INFORMATION SECURITY TRAININGS. IACAA ALSO PROVIDED ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE ILLINOIS DATA HUB AND DELIVERED FINANCIAL TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SUPPORTING THE 2025 NASCSP TRAINING CONFERENCE AND ADMINISTERING A FAMILY CENTERED COACHING (FCC) SCHOLARSHIP, THROUGH WHICH THREE CA AGENCIES RECEIVED AND STARTED THEIR FCC TRAINING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 November 1972.

    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.

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.