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Habitat for Humanity Chicago

EIN 46-0494889 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEEKING TO PUT GOD'S LOVE INTO ACTION, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BUILD HOMES, COMMUNITIES AND HOPE TO REALIZE OUR VISION OF A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE HAS A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHICAGO ADHERES TO A STRICT NON-PROSELYTIZING POLICY AND WILL NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE ON THE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONDITION THAT PEOPLE MUST ADHERE TO OR CONVERT TO A PARTICULAR FAITH OR LISTEN AND RESPOND TO MESSAGING DESIGNED TO INDUCE CONVERSION TO A PARTICULAR FAITH.

Income
$9.8 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
57
Volunteers
5,736
Highest pay
$194,250, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $6.6 million spent. HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM (Code 531390): BUYERS IN NEED OF A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE BUILD SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US. HABITAT HOUSES ARE MODESTLY SIZED. THEY ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE BUYERS NEEDS, BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO KEEP CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS AFFORDABLE. BY USING THE LABOR OF VOLUNTEERS AND PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS, EMPLOYING EFFICIENT BUILDING METHODS, KEEPING HOUSE SIZES MODEST, USING DONATED CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND APPLIANCES, AND ISSUING NO-PROFIT LOANS, HABITAT MAKES ITS HOUSES AFFORDABLE FOR BUYERS WITH LOW INCOMES TO PURCHASE. AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP HELPS CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT FREE FAMILIES FROM INSTABLITY, STRESS AND FEAR, AND ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIANCE AND CONFIDENCE. STUDIES SHOW THAT STRONG AND STABLE HOUSEHOLDS ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH. WHEN A HOME FOSTERS - INSTEAD OF HINDERS - HEALTH AND SAFETY, FAMILIES CAN FLOURISH. OWNING AN AFFORDABLE HOME ALSO ALLOWS HOMEOWNERS TO LIFT UP THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY BY SAVING FOR THEIR FUTURES AND INVESTING IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BOLSTERING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER GROWTH. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, HABITAT CHICAGO SERVED MORE THAN 8 FAMILIES THROUGH ITS LONG-TERM HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM.
  2. $2.3 million spent. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHICAGO RESALE STORE (NET)(Code 453310) - SALE OF USED HOME FURNISHINGS AND APPLIANCES THAT WERE DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION
  3. $186,738 spent. NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS INITIATIVE (CODE 624200): THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS INITIATIVE, WE TAILOR OUR EFFORTS BY PARTNERING LOCALLY WITH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BEST ADDRESS THE REAL CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. USING A DATA-DRIVEN AND CUSTOMIZABLE APPROACH, WE FOCUS ON FIRST UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS AND THEN EMPOWERING THESE RESIDENTS TO LEAD THE PROJECTS THEY WANT TO SEE. ALONGSIDE HABITAT, RESIDENTS WORK WITH CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, NEW AND LONGSTANDING MEIGHBORHOOD COALITIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.BECAUSE EACH NEIGHBORHOOD'S CHALLENGES AND ASPIRATIONS ARE DIFFERENT, THE FRAMEWORK ACTS AS A GUIDE THAT CAN BE TAILORED TO THE GOALS OF EACH COMMUNITY. HABITAT CHICAGO AWARDS DIRECT FUNDING TO RESIDENT-LED PROJECTS IN WEST PULLMAN, GREATER GRAND CROSSING, AND AUSTIN, FISCAL YEAR 2025, HABITAT CHICAGO FACILITATED 60 GROUP PROJECTS THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 January 1987.

    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.