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Growing Season-Illinois Inc

EIN 86-1376734 · Evanston, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS BY DEVELOPING SPACES AND PROJECTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY LIMIT OPPORTUNITIES, AND BY PROVIDING TRAINING, MENTORING, HOLISTIC-HEALTH PROGRAMS, AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THESE SPACES AND PROJECTS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FROM, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF, THESE COMMUNITIES AND, CONSEQUENTLY, ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN SUCH SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$-4.7 million
Spending
$292,562
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-81.9 months of spending
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$44,500, director and co-developer

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: 18 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 172% of what it owns.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 559% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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. $234,095 spent. THE INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES IN COMMUNITIES WHERE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY LIMIT OPPORTUNITY, WITH THE GOAL OF REVITALIZING THESE AREAS THROUGH INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH. IT PROVIDES TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO RACIAL-MINORITY AND LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS BY ENABLING THEM TO OWN OR OPERATE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES WITHIN THE NEWLY DEVELOPED PROPERTIES. IN DECEMBER 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SOLD THE AUX, AS INITIALLY PLANNED TO AUXILIARY CORD LLC, A COMMUNITY-OWNED ENTITY THAT WILL CARRY THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THE INITIATIVE PROMOTES THE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BUILD SKILLS, RESILIENCE, AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

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 June 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.