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Focus Fairies Mentoring

EIN 82-1147254 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Focus Fairies Mentoring is a community-based nonprofit that empowers and uplifts girls and young women of color from underserved communities, ages 7 to 21, on Chicago's West and South sides who have experienced vicarious trauma, violence, and systemic inequities.

Income
$944,038
Spending
$804,344
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
13
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$90,000, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 104% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $501,149 spent. Mentoring & Youth Development: In 2024, Focus Fairies Mentoring continued to deepen the impact of its core youth development work through intentional, relationship-centered mentoring. Across our school and community sites, girls participated in both 1:1 mentoring and group sessions designed to strengthen confidence, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills. This year, we celebrated several major milestones four of our mentees graduated high school and transitioned into college, marking a proud moment for both our team and their mentors who supported them along the way. Additionally, two of our girls secured employment through one of Focus Fairies corporate partners, reflecting the success of our career-exposure and workforce-readiness efforts. Throughout the year, our team continued to emphasize depth over breadth, focusing on the quality, consistency, and intentionality of our two core mentoring programs B-Girl and Whimsical Wonders & Wishes ensuring that every participant receives the individualized support and guidance needed to thrive personally, academically, and professionally.
  2. $90,321 spent. Bee Girls: In 2024, Focus Fairies Mentoring proudly served 57 high schoolaged girls across the South and West Sides of Chicago through our BEE-Girl initiative. Program sites included but not limited to, Marshall, Art in Motion, and Bogan High School. The BEE-Girl program continues to provide a safe and affirming space for girls to explore identity, emotional wellness, and leadership through mentorship, creative expression, and community engagement. This year, we also expanded our youth employment efforts by hiring and paying four student interns during the summer to work with Focus Fairies Mentoring, offering hands-on experience in nonprofit operations and youth development. Additionally, we rebranded and relaunched our alumni program, now called BEE Girl Fly, designed for young women ages 16 to 21 who are transitioning out of the core mentoring program. B-Girl Fly serves as a bridge to adulthood, providing alumni with continued mentorship, workforce readiness training, and leadership development opportunities as they prepare for college, careers, and independent living.
  3. $45,000 spent. Whimsical Wonder and Wishes: The Whimsical Wonders and Wishes (WWW) program reached 140 elementary-age girls across schools such as Daniel Webster, Mason, and Sumner Elementary in North Lawndale. The curriculum promoted social-emotional learning, character-building, and self-expression through play-based learning. Following cuts from CPS, FFM restored WWW to these schools to ensure continuity for girls in under-resourced communities. Programming reflected the organizations commitment to cultural affirmation and community healing, grounded in identity, joy, and resilience

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 2025.

    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 September 2017.

    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.