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Southland Development Authority NFP

EIN 84-2818243 · Tinley Park, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHLAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (SDA) WAS LAUNCHED IN 2019 WITH A MISSION TO COLLABORATIVELY DESIGN AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE, TRANSFORMATIVE, INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN COOK COUNTY'S SOUTH SUBURBS. SDA SEEKS TO RE-ESTABLISH THE SOUTHLAND AS A MAJOR HUB OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, REVITALIZING THE AREA AS A UNIQUE SET OF COMMUNITIES THAT CELEBRATES AND ENGAGES ITS RICH HISTORY AND DIVERSITY. INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH HAS BEEN A FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF THE SDA, INFORMING ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WITH A FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING DIMENSIONS:1.OWNERSHIP - GROWING BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE OWNERSHIP BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.2.EMPLOYMENT - INCREASING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WORKERS OF COLOR IN QUALITY JOBS WITH STRONG CAREER LADDER.3.LOCATION AND ACCESS - ENSURING DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS CAN LIVE NEAR JOB CENTERS.4.PARTICIPATION - GROWING DIVERSE REPRESENTATION AT THE RELEVANT PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND CIVIC SECTOR "TABLES," WHERE GROWTH STRATEGIES ARE SHAPED AND IMPLEMENTED.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 46%
Employees
16
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$243,505, ceo

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: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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: 80 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $1.0 million spent. THE SDA BUSINESS GROWTH SERVICES (BGS) PROGRAM PROVIDES TARGETED, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC, TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES THROUGH AN ENTENSIVE AND SOPHISTICATED NETWORK OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, EXPERT MENTORS AND SPECIALISTS. THE BGS PROGRAM HAD PROVIDED OUTREACH TO OVER 10,000 COMPANIES IN THE SOUTHLAND, AND SUPPORTED OVER 500 - WITH 125 PREPARING FOR, RECEIVING, OR HAVING RECEIVED MENTORSHIP. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO BUILD ON THIS SUCCESS, SPECIFICALLY DEMONSTRATING A GROWTH IN BUSINESS REVENUE AND EMPLOYMENT OVER TIME FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVE SDA MENTORSHIP SERVICES.
  2. $135,665 spent. THE CAPITAL PROGRAM INCLUDES EQUITY AND DEBT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SOUTHLAND BUSINESSES. THE SDA LAUNCHED AN ONLINE PLATFORM TO SUPPORT LOAN FACILITATION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS DEVELOPED THE DIVERSE OWNERS PROGRAM INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO ACQUIRE A SOUTHLAND BASED BUISINESS.
  3. $390,957 spent. THE SDA METALS HUB WILL GROW REVENUE FOR METALS, MANUFACTURING AND EQUIPMENT (MM&E) FIRMS IN THE REGION COLLABORATIVELY BY CREATING AND HARNESSING THE MOST ACCESSIBLE, CAPABLE, AND COMPETITIVE METAL FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE U.S. TO DELIVER NEW REGIONAL REVENUE AND GROWTH. IN ADDITION, IT WILL GUIDE SOUTHLAND MM&E FIRMS TOWARDS INCREASED SPEED, QUALITY, AND RAPID CUSTOMIZATION OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. THE FOUNDING CORPORATE PARTNERS OF THE METAL HUB HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THEIR REPORTS TO SOLICIT NEW MANUFACTURING BUSINESS TO THE SOUTHLAND AREA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.