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Whats Your Forte Foundation

EIN 46-4290311 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Foundation's mission is designed to uplift, impact and empowers today's youth by establishing a sense of community, providing resources to further education, and creating mentorship opportunities.

Income
$171,585
Spending
$111,321
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
31.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$80,000, executive dir.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (1)
  1. $90,127 spent. IN 2013, MATT FORTE, ALL PRO RUNNING BACK FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS ESTABLISHED THE MATT FORTE FOUNDATION WITH HIS CO-FOUNDER AND WIFE DANIELLE FORTE AFTER LEARNING THAT 14.7 % OF CHICAGO'S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS WERE INCARCERATED, AND NEARLY 42,000 TEENS DID NOT RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, AND TO MEET THE EVER-GROWING NEED FOR WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT IN SOUTHSIDE AND WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED PROGRAMMING FROM SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO DIRECTLY FACILITATING ONGOING PROGRAMMING IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, MENTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE EVOLUTION TO HIGHLY VARIED, DIRECTLY OPERATED PROGRAMMING. MOTIVATED THE NAME CHANGE FROM "MATT FORTE FOUNDATION" TO "WHAT'S YOUR FORTE FOUNDATION," AS IT IS KNOWN TODAY. THE WHAT'S YOUR FORTE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO INVEST IN THE EQUITABLE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIPS. OUR VISION IS TO BE A POWERFUL LEVER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, THAT FACILITATES TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH & WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO. WE DO THIS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY, INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES, ROBUST ENGAGEMENT, AND A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT JUST ABOUT PROGRAMS BUT COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS. IT HAS BEEN OUR CHARGE TO SEEK OUT THE FORGOTTEN, DISCONNECTED (OPPORTUNITY YOUTH), AND MARGINALIZED. CENTERING OUR OUTREACH ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH IN THE MOST UNDERINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND UPLIFTING THE FAMILY UNIT AS A WHOLE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT STRONG FAMILIES CAN TRANSFORM CULTURE IN POSITIVE WAYS THAT LAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AS A PROUD GRADUATE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY, MATT UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY AND HOW IT CHANGES LIVES FOR THE BETTER. MATT BELIEVES THAT THROUGH AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND YOUTH -FOCUSED EMPOWERMENT, SUCCESSFUL PATHWAYS CAN BE CHARTERED, AND A TRANSFORMATION OF STATISTICS AND FUTURES OF THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES CAN BE REALIZED.

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 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 June 2014.

    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.