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Skills for Chicago

EIN 45-1287418 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE MISSION OF SKILLS IS TO STAND AS A LIFE-CHANGING EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CONNECTING UNDERREPRESENTED JOB SEEKERS TO EMPLOYERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS INDUSTRIES. WE DO THIS BY BUILDING MULTI-LEVEL, TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR EMPLOYER PARTNERS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS IN THE HIRING PROCESS AND CONNECT THEM TO OVERLOOKED TALENT. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PREPARE UNEMPLOYED TALENT FOR JOBS AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE THOSE PLACED CAN STAY IN THOSE JOBS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF SKILLS' CANDIDATES COME FROM DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO, WHICH EXPERIENCE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES 3-5X HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. SKILLS COLOCATES IN OFFICES IN SOUTH, WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE ITS SERVICES CONVENIENT TO JOB SEEKERS AND TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE PULSE ON COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
56
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$361,116, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 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 (4)
  1. $4.6 million spent. PLACEMENTS: THE MISSION OF SKILLS IS TO STAND AS A LIFE-CHANGING EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CONNECTING UNDERREPRESENTED JOB SEEKERS TO EMPLOYERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS INDUSTRIES. WE DO THIS BY BUILDING MULTI-LEVEL, TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR EMPLOYER PARTNERS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS IN THE HIRING PROCESS AND CONNECT THEM TO OVERLOOKED TALENT. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PREPARE UNEMPLOYED TALENT FOR JOBS AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE THOSE PLACED CAN STAY IN THOSE JOBS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF SKILLS' CANDIDATES COME FROM DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO, WHICH EXPERIENCE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES 3-5X HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. SKILLS CO-LOCATES IN OFFICES IN SOUTH, WEST AND SOUTHWEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE ITS SERVICES CONVENIENT TO JOB SEEKERS AND TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE PULSE ON COMMUNITY NEEDS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. NATIONAL EXPANSION: NATIONAL EXPANSION, ALSO KNOWN AS SKILLS FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE, IS AN INITIATIVE OF SKILLS THAT IS FOCUSED ON REPLICATING SKILLS' MODEL IN TARGET CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SKILLS HAS LAUNCHED AFFILIATES IN RHODE ISLAND, PHOENIX, AND ATLANTA WITH MORE TO ROLL OUT IN 2025.
  3. $370,569 spent. CREDENTIAL AND CAREER COACHING: CREDENTIAL AND CAREER COACHING (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CAREER ACCESS) PROGRAM TARGETS UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED PARTICIPANTS SEEKING MIDDLE-SKILL ROLES, FOR WHICH THEY MAY NEED AN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL INCLUDING - LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND CERTIFICATIONS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES: CREDENTIAL CONNECTION - SKILLS WORKS WITH CREDENTIALING PARTNERS TO RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT OR NEAR COMPLETION OF TRAINING, PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED JOB SEEKER SUPPORT, AND PLACES THEM INTO A ROLE ALIGNED WITH THEIR TRAINING. CAREER PATHWAYS - SKILLS PROVIDES MORE INTENSIVE SUPPORT AND ENGAGES THE JOB SEEKER BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING JOURNEY. THROUGH CAREER PATHWAYS, SKILLS HELPS JOBSEEKERS ENROLL IN CLASSES WITH EDUCATION PARTNERS AND PLACES THEM INTO ENTRY-LEVEL ROLES WHERE THEY CAN EARN INCOME AND GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE, ULTIMATELY CONNECTING THEM TO A MIDDLE-SKILL JOB OPPORTUNITY AS THEY ADVANCE OR COMPLETE EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING.
  4. $296,667 spent. COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE:THE CBO COLLECTIVE (CBOC) IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE CO-FOUNDED BY CARA COLLECTIVE AND SKILLS IN 2021. THIS COLLABORATIVE OF 16 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS WORKED TO BETTER CONNECT HIRING DEMAND WITH BLACK AND BROWN TALENT THROUGH A COLLECTIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. THE CBOC ENDED IN JANUARY 2025. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINED THAT THE CBOC HAD FULFILLED ITS MISSION, AND THE COLLABORATION WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH EXISTING PROGRAMS.

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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 2011.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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