Kids First Chicago for Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O NARRATIVE FOR PART I, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $340,435, director/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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 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
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 (3)
- $1.9 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY, FAMILY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, K1C AIMS TO ACTIVATE FAMILIES WITH THE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE DESIGN OF EDUCATION POLICY THAT SERVES CHICAGO'S PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN ADEQUATELY AND EQUITABLY. K1C UTILIZES A PLACE-BASED APPROACH THAT ARMS FAMILIES WITH RELEVANT FACTS, IDENTIFIES KEY ISSUES, AND ENABLES THEM TO LEAD COMMUNITY- AND DISTRICT-WIDE CHANGE. K1C'S DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, INFORMATIONAL EVENTS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED CONVENINGS AND PRESENTATIONS.
- $1.2 million spent. POLICY - GUIDED BY WHAT PARENTS SAY THEY NEED FOR A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, K1C PURSUES THE POLICY IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED WITHIN CHICAGO'S EARLY LEARNING THROUGH GRADE 12 EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP ENSURE ALL STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME STUDENTS OF COLOR, RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION. K1C COLLABORATES WITH CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS), THE CITY OF CHICAGO, AND OTHER EDUCATION PARTNERS TO ADVANCE EVIDENCE BASED EDUCATION POLICY, PUBLISHES WHITE PAPERS AND REPORTS, AND CREATES DATA TOOLS TO SHED LIGHT ON EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES AND SUPPORT STATE-, DISTRICT-, SCHOOL- AND STUDENT-LEVEL IMPROVEMENTS.
- $418,390 spent. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS - K1C STRIVES TO MAKE INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATION POLICY ISSUES ACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEIR DECISION-MAKING AND ALLOW THEM TO BECOME ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR POLICY CHANGE. K1C DOES THIS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF DUAL-LANGUAGE COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS THAT UNPACK COMPLICATED TOPICS AND PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN SUCCEED AND ACCESS WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION. K1C ALSO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS TO ELEVATE PARENT VOICES AND NEW DATA INSIGHTS ABOUT PRESSING ISSUES WITHIN AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
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 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 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 December 2004.
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.