The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENABLE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED PERSONS TO SECURE ECONOMIC SELF RELIANCE, PARITY, POWER AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 90
- Highest pay
- $191,482, 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (4)
- $3.0 million spent. THE FAMILY PROSPERITY INITIATIVE ENCOMPASSES ALL WORKFORCE-RELATED INITIATIVES WITHIN THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND FAMILY EMPOWERMENT CENTER. ITS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO SERVE FAMILIES THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH, FOSTERING SOCIAL AND ECOMOMIC PROSPERITY BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE,SKILLS, CONNECTIONS, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS NEEDED FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYABILITY SUCCESS. KEY PROGRAMS INCLUDE: LEVEL UP EDUCATIONAL ACADEMY, ANNUAL HIRING FAIRS, SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM(SCSEP), WORKFORCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND JOB COACHING.
- $281,672 spent. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES TO ACCELERATE GROWTH, EXPAND NETWORKS AND ACCESS KNOWLEDGE FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. SOME INITIATIVES INCLUDE: ENTREPRENEUR POWER LUNCHEON,(EPL) NEXT LEVEL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, MONEY TALKS CAPITAL ACCESS SUMMIT,ONLINE MINORITY BUSINESS DIRECTORY, AND VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND BUSINESS COACHING.
- $276,947 spent. THE REGIONAL COORDINATOR AND COALITION LEAD THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM, AN IRS BACKED INITIATIVE PROVIDING FREE BASIC TAX RETURN PREPARATION FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
- $170,032 spent. THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND FAMILY EMPOWERMENT PROVIDES AN INTERGRATED SERVICES APPROACH TO ADDRESS FAMILY PROSPERITY THROUGH PROGRAMS AND INITATIVES WHICH FOSTER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINTMENT, PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND INCREASED ECONOMIC POWER. PROGRAMS INCLUDE LEAP AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM,STEAM MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP, ANNUAL MLK DAY YOUTH LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM, PROJECT READY NATIONAL ACHIEVERS SOCIETY, HIGH SCHOOLS ACADEMIC & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,AND SHOES FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAM AND W.E.L SCHOLARSHIP 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
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 August 1981.
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.
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.