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Slovenian Union of America

EIN 45-3860236 · Joliet, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF SLOVENIAN-AMERICANS, THROUGH A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM, SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, COOKBOOK PUBLICATION, WEBSITE COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITES TO PROMOTE SLOVENIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY.

Income
$131,740
Spending
$111,596
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
56.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
4
Volunteers
205
Highest pay
$6,000, national treasurer

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 56.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 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.

  • 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. $36,234 spent. ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A QUARTERLY MAGAZINES KNOW AS "ZARJA" (THE DAWN)" IN 2024, PUBLISHED 6,753 MAGAZINES WITH AVERAGE OF 40 PAGES. MAGAZINES ARE PRINTED IN COLOR ON GLOSSY PAPER. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES OF $35 INCLUDES THE MAGAZINE. ANNUAL MAILING EXPENSE FOR 6,753 MAGAZINES IS $5,596. NON MEMBERS PAY $8.99 EACH AND INTERNATIONAL $15,99 EA. MAGAZINES CONTAIN: PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, LIST OF NEW MEMBERS, LIST OF DONORS WITH NAMES AND AMOUNTS, DONATIONS OF ARTIFACTS, VARIOUS ARTICLES SUBMITTED BY DONORS IN TRIBUTE TO LONG TERM MEMBERS, FAMILY SLOVENIAN GENEALOGY, AND TRADITIONAL FOOD RECIPES. THERE ARE TWO PART TIME EMPLOYEES, EDITOR AND DESIGNR.$10.400 AND TWO PART TIME CONTRACTOR PROOFREADERS, ONE ENGLISH GRAMMAR CHECKER $600 AND ONE SLOVENIAN GRAMMER CHECKER $400.
  2. $14,522 spent. HERITAGE EDUATIONAL MUSEUM CONTAINS A COLLECTION OF IMMIGRANT'S ARTIFACTS SUCH AS PHOTOS, BOOKS, DIARIES,CLOTHING, UNIFORMS , TRUNKS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, WORK TOOLS, AND FURNITURE, ETC. LIBRARY HOLDINGS HAVE OVER 900 BOOKS AND SPECIAL COLLECTION FROM A RECOGNIZED SLOVENIAN AMERICAN ARTIST BROGAN GROM (1918 TO 2013). THERE IS A SMALL GIFT SHOP AND MUSEUM IS OPENED BY APPOINTMENT. HARTFORD INSURANCE PROVIDES MUSEUM COVERAGE OF $136,400, PLUS VALUABLE PAPERS $50,000, 1940 PORTRAIT PAINTING OF FOUNDER $4,000 AND ROADSIDE CHAPEL AT A CEMETARY $25,000.HISTORICALLY, ORGANIZATION MOVED FROM CHICAGO IL TO JOLIET IL IN NOVEMBER 1976 TO A 2 1/2 STORY BRICK BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1910. TOTAL FIRST FLOOR IS 1,324 SQ FT, MUSEUM IS 729 SQ FT WITH LIBRARYHOLDINGS/OFFICE 363 SQ FT AND REAR 232 SQ FT CONTAINS REST ROOMS AND STORAGE. REAR SIDE OF BUILDING IS LOCATED ON FAMOUS STREET ROUTE 66. BOARD OF DIRECTORS HELD ITS ANNUAL MEETING AT THE MUSEUM IN SEPTEMBER FOR 3 DAYS. REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS ARE HELD BY VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS - ZOOM.
  3. $6,049 spent. THERE ARE 20 BRANCHES IN 9 STATES AND D.C. WITH 1,799 MEMBERS. BRANCHES CONTRIBUTED $3,049 TO VARIOUS LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES/FOOD PANTRIES, CHURCHES, LIBRARIES, ETCTHERE WERE 3 EDUCATION GRANTS OF $1,000 EACH FOR A TOTAL OF $3,000. PRGORAM IS MANAGED BY THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE OF 4 MEMBERS. CHAIR PERSON IS FROM BOARD AND 3 OTHERS ARE FROM 3 DIFFERENT BRANCHES. PROGRAM IS ADVERTISED IN THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATIONI "ZARJA AND ON THE WEBSITE. APPLICATION FORM OF TWO PAGES CAN BE DOWLOADED FROM WEBSITE. DUE DATE IS JULY 1 AND 20 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED FOR 2024. COMMITTEE FOLLOWS ITS POLICY/PROCEDURE AND USES AN EVALUATION TOOL KNOWN AS THE RUBRIC SCORING SHEET. IN ADDITION TO OTHER APPLICATION QUESTIONS. COMPLETED APPLICATION CAN BE EMAILED TO COMMITTEE OR U.S. MAIL TO HOME OFFICE IN JOLIET, IL . THE BUDGET OF $3,000 IS AN AVERAGE OF EDUCATION GRANT DONATIONS RECEIVED IN PRIOR TWO YEARS.
  4. $6,808 spent. 1. SLOVENIAN TRIP TOUR EXPENSES AS SUPERVISED BY VOLUNTEERS $9792. EXPENSES ADVANCED FOR THE JULY 30 TO AUGUST 2, 2026 CONVENTION AT FORTUNE BAY, MN $3,0913. BRANCHES HOLD HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS REQUIRING SPACERENT $2,738TOTAL $6,808

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 November 2012.

    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.