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Blackroots Alliance

EIN 82-3487898 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to be an organization & network committed to the safety and liberation of all Black people promoting Black leadership and Black-centered community transformation as we work to collectively to build social and economic power.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$106,000, 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 (6)
  1. $497,324 spent. Ujimaa Medics provided programs in 5 areas to address Chicagos health disparities and life expectancy gap by developing the community care skills of lay bystanders: Emergency and Community Care First Response Training Workshops; CPR Training and General First-Aid Workshops; Community Outreach Mutual Aid and Education Activities; First Aid Provisions; and Healthcare and Anti-violence Advocacy. Over 900 people participated in their workshops with attendees from over 60% of Chicago neighborhoods. Participants included high school students street outreach workers neighbor networks community organizers incarcerated youth and participants in workforce development programs.
  2. $671,930 spent. Blackroots Alliance fiscally supports projects that further its mission. These fiscally sponsored projects include expanding food access cross-cultural education mutual aid victim advocacy trauma care and cultural preservation.
  3. $178,350 spent. We have engaged with thousands of community members and civic leaders to identify reparative pathways that resonate with Black Chicagoans and broader Illinois communities. Our Reinvest 2 Repair report informed by community voices explores these pathways and challenges historical misconceptions surrounding reparations.
  4. $64,907 spent. We provided strategic leadership for several organizations to help further community access health and wellness civic engagement and community wealth building
  5. $94,467 spent. Seeding the future invests in activists and community leaders who have ideas that express inspire and build toward liberation at the community level.
  6. $67,522 spent. Supported formerly incarcerated grassroots leadership by supporting the Guaranteed Basic Income projects developed structures to support Know Your Rights trainings researched the connections between criminal justice and reparations and other preliminary research related to helping grassroots communities understand the public defense system.

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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 February 2020.

    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 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.