Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Gary Comer Youth Center

EIN 45-5399472 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER PREPARES YOUTH AGED 11-24 FOR COLLEGE, CAREERS AND FUTURES AS WELL-ROUNDED, GLOBAL CITIZENS. THROUGH AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT, CAREER READINESS, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND INDEPENDENCE NEEDED TO BUILD BRIGHT FUTURES.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
205
Volunteers
320
Highest pay
$119,791, executive director

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: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMS - PROVIDED A SAFE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH ENGAGED IN DIVERSE PROGRAMMING ACROSS SIX CORE AREAS: ACADEMIC SUCCESS; ARTS & TECHNOLOGY; CULINARY ARTS & NUTRITION; SPORTS & LEADERSHIP; AND URBAN AGRICULTURE, SUPPORTING HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND SKILL-BUILDING.
  2. $1.3 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - MAINTAINED A SAFE, WELL-EQUIPPED COMMUNITY SPACE HOSTING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT DELIVER SERVICES, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMMING TO THE PUBLIC. PROVIDED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES, INCLUDING STREET OUTREACH, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND VICTIM SUPPORT.
  3. $783,802 spent. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT - DELIVERED CAREER PATHWAY EXPOSURE THROUGH APPRENTICESHIPS, PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS, SUMMER EMPLOYMENT, INTERNSHIPS, AND CAREER EXPLORATION. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, EARNED INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS, AND ENGAGED IN JOB SHADOWING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND JOB READINESS TRAINING.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.