To promote, foster, and encourage physical and mental health improvement for children and adults in chicago with intellectual and development disabilities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 5,000 volunteers and 6 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $509K a year · 10% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$471K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $3.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $76K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.4M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 23 voting members
Concern: none of 23 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.9M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$8.5M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$6.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$8.9M
FY2024▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$7.6M
FY2024$8.9M
Expenses
$8.5M
FY2024▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$8.0M
FY2024$8.5M
Net assets
$6.4M
FY2024▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.3M
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$6.0M
FY2023$5.8M
FY2024$6.4M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 1970.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $6.8M Management & general 17% · $1.5M Fundraising 3% · $258K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

28 people listed on the 990; $471K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$128,914Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$123,673Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$107,679Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance
$105,000Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$5,769Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Mary Slowik$107,679$131,507$126,877——
Heather Kundert———$128,969$118,842
Marybeth O Carlson$128,914$122,654———
Ann M Hartnett$123,673$117,654———
Tapeca Carthan$105,000————
Amy Taylor$5,769————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Special Children's Charities executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Improves physical and mental health for Chicagoans with intellectual disabilities.

Questions for Special Children's Charities

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $6.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

In cooperation with the Chicago Park District Special Recreation Program and the Chicago Public Schools, Special Children's Charities provides funding for the year-round sports training, recreational, and social programs for the children and adults participating in the programs.

$6.8Mprogram expense
02

Art & Music Therapy Program

Special Children's Charities funds art and music therapy services to students in cluster programs at Chicago Public Schools and various Chicago Park District locations. Licensed certified art and music therapists work with students to enhance sensory integration, imagination, and abstract thinking, while they improve their social skills…

Pt IX · col B
03

After 22 Program

Developed in partnership with Anixter Center and City Colleges of Chicago, Special Children's Charities funds the After 22 program which gives young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to continue to receive educational services and develop job readiness skills after they age out of the Chicago Public…

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$76K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 17 grants · $5.1M · 2020–2024
Chicago Park DistrictFY2024$606,283
Richard J Daley CollegeFY2024$191,640
City Colleges of ChicagoFY2024$187,106
Wilbur Wright CollegeIL · FY2024$70,989
Bsn Sports LLCFY2024$10,178
Chicago Park DistrictFY2023$927,014
Richard J Daley CollegeFY2023$119,184
Chicago Park DistrictFY2022$386,388
Richard J Daley CollegeFY2022$115,171
Chicago Park DistrictFY2021$340,170
Chicago Park DistrictFY2020$364,819
Unitemized GrantFY2020$5,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$247K
Money outPt IX
$8.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.8M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$258K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$757K
Total assetsLn 16$8.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
28
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.8M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$247K
Gains on assetsLn 7$116K
Total revenueLn 12$8.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$757K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$757K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K
Total assetsLn 16$8.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$6.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 65,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$710K$757K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.0M$3.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10K$7K
Total assetsLn 16$8.6M$8.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.8M$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$5.8M$6.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2.6M$2.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$150K$18K$86K$46K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$460K$56K$262K$143K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$17K$2K$10K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$47K$4K$29K$14K
Legal feesLn 11b$418K$308K$110K$176
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$21K$7K$12
Investment management feesLn 11f$37K$37K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.2M$1.6M$569K$912
Advertising and promotionLn 12$103K$19K$79K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$69K$8K$29K$33K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$208K$17K$190K
TravelLn 17$454K$454K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$13K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.6M$1.6M$9K$3K
All other expensesLn 24e$94K$68K$18K$8K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.5M$6.8M$1.5M$258K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $8.9M$8.5M$411K$6.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.6M$8.0M−$437K$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.5M$3.8M$698K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.4M$1.7M$658K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.8M$1.6M$1.2M$5.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,886,502 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,388,346$9,211,044
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $119,901$246,822
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $44,976−$571,364
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,553,223$8,886,502
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,394,867$2,600,770
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $658,071$674,557
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,936,863$5,200,317
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,989,801$8,475,644
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$436,578$410,858
Part VI · Governance 0 of 23 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $8,886,502 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$2,772,744
VIII-1e Government grants$5,806,922
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$631,378
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,211,044
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $131,232$131,232
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $115,590$115,590
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$593,710−$593,710
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $22,346$22,346
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $22,346 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$346,888$8,886,502
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,475,644 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,600,770$2,600,770
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $17,602 · Management $86,016 · Fundraising $46,382$150,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $55,602 · Management $261,775 · Fundraising $142,877$460,254
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,587 · Management $10,402 · Fundraising $5,149$17,138
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $4,366 · Management $28,627 · Fundraising $14,172$47,165
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $307,902 · Management $109,646 · Fundraising $176$417,724
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $21,007 · Management $7,481 · Fundraising $12$28,500
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $36,859$36,859
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,596,706 · Management $568,601 · Fundraising $912$2,166,219
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $18,967 · Management $79,050 · Fundraising $4,750$102,767
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,773 · Management $28,744 · Fundraising $32,646$69,163
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $10,817$10,817
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $17,369 · Management $190,333$207,702
IX-17 TravelPrograms $453,795$453,795
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $3,872$3,872
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $12,634$12,634
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,584,496 · Management $8,996 · Fundraising $2,847$1,596,339
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $67,917 · Management $17,636 · Fundraising $8,373$93,926
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,755,859 · Management $1,461,489 · Fundraising $258,296$8,475,644
Part X · Balance sheet $8,762,203 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $710,122$757,027
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,348,919$1,834,766
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,522,281$2,493,749
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,426$6,554
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,981,195$3,670,107
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,572,943$8,762,203
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,547,664$2,250,425
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $55,343$99,666
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $164,296$31,396
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,767,303$2,381,487
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,189,623$5,690,970
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $616,017$689,746
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,805,640$6,380,716
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,572,943$8,762,203
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,380,716 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,886,502
XI-2 Total expenses$8,475,644
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$410,858
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,805,640
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$164,218
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,380,716

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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