Chicago Mobile Makers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Chicago Mobile Makers creates programming that encourages youth to become advocates and change-makers in their own communities through design-focused skill-building workshops. The organization engages and empowers youth through making and skill-building trains and supports future public interest architects designers and makers.
- Income
- $327,876
- Spending
- $446,230
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 60%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $114,444, executive director
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
Weak: 8 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 141% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
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
6 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 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 (7)
- $17,500 spent. Educational Consulting: The Aspen Art Museum engaged Chicago Mobile Makers to serve as an Education Partner for the 2024 Youth Art Expo. The organization designed educational design prompts and instructional videos. Chicago Mobile Makers also facilitated a teen program focusing on the design of youth third spaces that culminated in the transformation of a gallery at the museum.
- $57,500 spent. Community Pop-Ups: Chicago Mobile Makers hosted over 30 pop-ups across the Chicago-land area over two years with the Mobile Makerspace a USPS delivery van that the organization converted into a mobile design studio. Hundreds of participants engaged with playful design-related activities and were encouraged to envision and reimagine their communities.
- $9,100 spent. Recurring Workshops: Chicago Mobile Makers partnered with Embarc Chicago on a series of field trips. Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools students visited the organizations permanent location to participate in design workshops and explore educational themes related to architecture prototyping and digital fabrication.
- $102,186 spent. Program Facilitators
- $13,490 spent. Office Supplies
- $65,576 spent. Rent
- $15,005 spent. Insurance
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
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 December 2024.
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 December 2017.
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.