Chicago Lighthouse Industries
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES IS ORGANIZED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT POSSIBILITIES, WHICH FOSTER INDEPENDENCE.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 63%
- Employees
- 63
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $671,160, president & ceo
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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $2.4 million spent. THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES MANUFACTURING PROGRAM PROVIDES REHABILITATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. WORKERS PERFORM VARIOUS PACKAGING AND ASSEMBLY ROLES, IN THE MANUFACTURING OF BOTH PLANNERS AND CLOCKS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER COMMERCIAL MARKETS. THE WORKERS ASSEMBLE AND PACKAGE FOOTRESTS, BACKRESTS AND MONITOR ARMS, AND PACKAGE COOKING THERMOMETERS AND LENS CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR THE FEDERAL MARKET, AS WELL. DURING FY25, 42 PEOPLE WITH VISUAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES WERE PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT
- $310,904 spent. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SERVICES (CMS) PROGRAM OPERATES IN ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS. CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES OPERATES AS A SUB-CONTRACTOR FOR NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND, EMPLOYING TRAINED CONTRACT CLOSEOUT SPECIALISTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DE-OBLIGATING UNSPENT FUNDS FOR THE MILITARY, THROUGH THE CLOSEOUT PROCESS. DURING FY25, THREE PEOPLE WITH VISUAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS VETERANS, WERE PROVIDED JOBS IN THIS PROGRAM.
- $494,582 spent. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONTRACTS PROVIDE JOBS FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, WITH CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES MAINTAINING RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECRUITING, TRAINING AND HIRING FOR THESE POSITIONS AND MANAGING SUCH CONTRACTS, AT OFFSITE LOCATIONS. THOSE EMPLOYED ARE PAID BY CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES. THE WORK IS PERFORMED IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, WHERE EMPLOYEES OF CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES ARE ENGAGED IN JANITORIAL, AND WAREHOUSING ACTIVITIES, FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF TWO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE CONTRACTS. DURING FY25, NINE PEOPLE WITH VISUAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES WERE PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT UNDER THESE CONTRACTS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.