Center on Halsted
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Center on Halsted advances community and secures the health and well-being of the LGBTQ people of Chicagoland.
- Income
- $8.5 million
- Spending
- $8.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 78
- Volunteers
- 350
- Highest pay
- $290,842, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (8)
- $1.6 million spent. HIV Services: The Testing & Prevention Services department provided 2,977 units of service to 1,229 clients in FY '25. Units of service include HIV/HCV testing, PrEP Navigation and Care Coordination, which in FY '25 included: distribution of Aldi, VISA, and Jewel gift cards, transportation assistance, Behavioral Health referrals, re-engagement into care, appointment setting assistance/appointment reminders, emergency shelter referrals, hygiene/personal wellness referral, benefits application assistance, HIV+ support group referrals, AVP referral, medication adherence counseling, Emergency Financial Assistance application completion, employment services referrals, legal referrals, ADAP application assistance, immigration assistance referrals, housing assistance and help with PrEP billing issues in addition to linkage to medical care and/or case management just to name a few. Services were also provided in Spanish. HIV/STI services were implemented at Center on Cottage Grove and Steamworks.
- $1.1 million spent. Youth Services: The Youth Department provides youth ages 13-24 two main program opportunities: the general Youth Program and the Youth Housing Program Initiative, described in greater detail below. Within both of these programs, youth are provided a variety of support and developmental resources including: case management; personalized individual intervention support; Anti-Violence support via the Youth Anti-Violence Advocate through a joint partnership with the Anti-Violence Program at Center on Halsted; Youth-specific Behavioral Health Support; special programming for leadership development; teen specific opportunities; and social and cultural programming.
- $876,492 spent. Behavioral Health Services: Behavioral Health Services offers individual, relationship, and family psychotherapy, therapy groups, and letters of support to access gender affirming surgeries. Behavioral Health staff assess and treat all mood and anxiety symptoms, substance use, provide critical support during traumatic periods, addresses issues pertaining to building healthy relationships, and supports healthy identities around sexual identities and gender identity/expression, and living with HIV/AIDS. In response to COVID-19 services were provided primarily through virtual sessions and groups.
- $870,725 spent. Youth Services:The Youth & Family Services Department provided service to individuals. Individuals who have registered with our program are youth who participated in our on-going youth groups (To Be Human, Trans Youth Group, & Lavender Living) our LGBTQ+ affirming Drop-In (After-School Hang), our Youth Advisory Board (Q+ Council), our Youth Horizons mentoring program, and drag education program (Dare 2 Drag).
- $716,559 spent. Senior Services:Senior Services began hosting providing a special quarterly lunch that is not provided by the City of Chicago in the prior year. These included a Labor Day grill out, a Valentine's Day special meal, a Memorial Day grill out and a pizza party. Senior Services continues to expand these special lunches in FY2025.The Intergenerational Dialog Project, in partnership with the School of the Art Institute, Town Hall Apartments.
- $371,162 spent. Culinary Arts Services: Center on Halsted has a strong history of job training, particularly since the opening of our current facility in 2007. Center on Halsted launched the Silver Fork Culinary Job Training Program in November 2010. This is the first professional culinary arts training at Center on Halsted designed specifically for underserved and at-risk adults. Silver Fork addresses short and long-term vocational needs, and ensures the successful outcomes of our community members while focusing on shortages within the Chicago employment market. Graduates of our Silver Fork program are trained and prepared to enter this growing workforce. In addition to cooking, the students take a Food Service Safety Management Certification course and those who pass have management level certification for Illinois and the City of Chicago. We also take the BASSET certification for serving alcohol in Illinois. We spend time writing resumes, role playing how to handle stressful situations, and offer job assistance. Additionally, we offer a mock interview workshop with industry professionals.
- $326,911 spent. Youth Housing Initiative:Youth Housing Program boasts a wonderful group of participants, and staff who have been working with the program for quite some time. Youth and staff have an overall great rapport.
- Volunteer Program:200 volunteers supported Center on Halsted this year at over 1,000 volunteer shifts, ranging from weekly programming to annual events- adding up to over 2,000 volunteer hours.Center on Halsted launched a new Volunteer Ambassador Committee, consisting of 17 volunteer leaders. The Volunteer Ambassador Committee will support Center on Halsted by giving tours, tabling events, coordinating volunteer events and outreach, and working closely with the Volunteer Manager to best meet the volunteer needs of the Center.Volunteers completed 140 hours of service, just during June 2025 alone.We welcomed 132 new volunteers in FY25.
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 November 6, 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 September 1977.
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 November 4, 2026.
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