Innovation Dupage
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INNOVATION DUPAGE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A NETWORK OF ACADEMIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND BUSINESS PARTNERS. WE SHARE RESOURCES, TALENT, AND IDEAS AS WE SUPPORT OUR GROWING COMMUNITY OF LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND STARTUPS THROUGH EDUCATION, INCUBATION, ACCELERATION, AND COLLABORATION
- Income
- $835,893
- Spending
- $760,067
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 72%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $127,950, managing director
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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $491,791 spent. INNOVATION DUPAGE IS A NON-PROFIT VENTURE THAT UNITES STARTUP FOUNDERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH THE PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THEM GROW. MEMBERS COLLABORATE ACROSS AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF ENTERPRISE, ACADEMIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND RESEARCH PARTNERS. INNOVATION DUPAGE SUPPORTS THE STARTUP COMMUNITY, ENHANCES REGIONAL PROSPERITY, ATTRACTS WORLD-CLASS TALENT, AND DRIVES SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE ORGANIZATION FOSTERS INNOVATION AND SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES THE GROWTH OF JOBS, COMPANIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN DUPAGE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING MIDWEST REGION BY PROVIDING ENTREPRENEURS ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESOURCES, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, CAPITAL, AND CUSTOMERS.
- $7,050 spent. INNOVATION DUPAGE OFFERS A 10-WEEK PROGRAM TWICE PER YEAR, TITLED "OWNER TO CEO." THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO OWNERS OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITH REVENUES IN THE $200,000 TO $2 MILLION RANGE IN ORDER TO HELP AUGMENT THEIR SKILLS IN A NUMBER OF AREAS IN ORDER TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THEIR BUSINESSES. THE PROGRAM SAW A DOZEN OR SO INSTRUCTORS/EXPERTS TEACH CLASSES IN AREAS SUCH AS FINANCE, MARKETING, HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SALES. THE EXPENSE AMOUNT INCLUDED HERE REPRESENTS THE COST INCURRED TO RUN THIS PROGRAM.
- $12,000 spent. PART OF THE MISSION OF INNOVATION DUPAGE IS TO FOSTER ENTREPRENEURSHIP INTEREST AMONG COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. TO THAT END, PITCH COMPETITIONS ARE SPONSORED WHEREIN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS PRESENT THEIR BUSINESS IDEAS TO A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT JUDGES WITH SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURIAL BACKGROUNDS. PRIZES ARE AWARDED TO ENCOURAGE THESE CONTESTANTS TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEIR ENDEAVORS. INNOVATION DUPAGE CONTRIBUTED $12,000 TOWARD SUCH PRIZE MONIES IN FISCAL 2024.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.