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Passes our checks

Bright Star Community Development Corporation NFP

EIN 85-3411154 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP HIGH-QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY CREATING EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, PATHWAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND ADVOCATE FOR A MORE VIBRANT GREATER BRONZEVILLE COMMUNITY.

Income
$4.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
22
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$150,000, vice chair

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 337% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. IN 2024, BRIGHT STAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PARTICIPATED IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORTED OUR ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION AND VISION AS WELL AS SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY. BSCDC HOSTED AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP COHORT. 28 PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED, 23 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. DURING THE COHORT, THERE WAS ONE INSTRUCTOR, AND 5 VOLUNTEERS. BSCDC IN COLLABORATION WITH BSCO, PARTICIPATED IN THE TURKEY GIVE AWAY AND TOY GIVE AWAY. THE TURKEY GIVE AWAY SERVED OVER 500 RESIDENTS. OVER 100 YOUTH WERE SERVED DURING THE TOY GIVE AWAY. BETWEEN THE EVENTS WE HOSTED OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS. ADDITIONALLY BSCDC RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH CHICAGO CARES. A MURALIST CREATED DESIGNS FOR THREE (3) DESIGNATED SPACES. APPROXIMATELY 30 VOLUNTEERS CAME IN TO EXECUTE THIS PROJECT. PAINTING MURALS, AND SETTING UP THE COMMUNITY GARDEN WERE THE TASKS FOR THE DAY. IN 2024, BRIGHT STAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PARTICIPATED IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORTED OUR ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION AND VISION AS WELL AS SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY. BSCDC HOSTED AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP COHORT. 28 PARTICIPANTS REGISTERED, 23 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. DURING THE COHORT, THERE WAS ONE INSTRUCTOR, AND 5 VOLUNTEERS. BSCDC IN COLLABORATION WITH BSCO, PARTICIPATED IN THE TURKEY GIVE AWAY AND TOY GIVE AWAY. THE TURKEY GIVE AWAY SERVED OVER 500 RESIDENTS. OVER 100 YOUTH WERE SERVED DURING THE TOY GIVE AWAY. BETWEEN THE EVENTS WE HOSTED OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS. ADDITIONALLY BSCDC RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH CHICAGO CARES. A MURALIST CREATED DESIGNS FOR THREE (3) DESIGNATED SPACES. APPROXIMATELY 30 VOLUNTEERS CAME IN TO EXECUTE THIS PROJECT. PAINTING MURALS, AND SETTING UP THE COMMUNITY GARDEN WERE THE TASKS FOR THE DAY.

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 October 13, 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 April 2021.

    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 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.