Family Focus

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 1849Human ServicesEIN 36-2166998Revenue $32.5M in FY2025

On file with the IRSfamily-focus.org5467 S University Ave, 60615-5114 · Chicago, ILTax-exempt since Jan 1951Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Family Focus invests in strengthening families and children in chicago and ne illinois through innovative community-based education and social service programs.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 150 volunteers and 547 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $614K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 84% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $3.8M
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$16.2M
33% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 33% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
31
of 32 voting members
Looks good: 31 of 32 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$32.5M
+5% vs prior year
Spent
$34.1M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$33.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$32.5M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.8M
FY2021$12.8M
FY2022$12.6M
FY2023$27.8M
FY2024$31.0M
FY2025$32.5M
Expenses
$34.1M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$9.6M
FY2021$12.6M
FY2022$14.3M
FY2023$24.7M
FY2024$31.8M
FY2025$34.1M
Net assets
$33.7M
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$22.9M
FY2021$30.2M
FY2022$25.4M
FY2023$29.9M
FY2024$32.5M
FY2025$33.7M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1951.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $27.7M Management & general 16% · $5.3M Fundraising 3% · $1.0M

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

38 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO
$346,785Pt VII · Sec A
$217,679Pt VII · Sec A
SVP of Programs & Impact
$174,965Pt VII · Sec A
SVP of People & Culture
$170,157Pt VII · Sec A
SVP External Relations
$166,546Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$155,118Pt VII · Sec A
$138,150Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Dara T Cohen’s $347K as President & CEO is at the 84th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Dara T Cohen$346,785—————
Dara Munson—$292,008$309,607$250,662$222,814$210,933
Dottie J Johnson$217,679—————
Caterina Varvaro-Retired 621———$204,355——
Dottie Johnson—$181,524$191,389$118,318——
Amy Curtis————$183,616—
Sherneron Hilliard$174,965$172,305$160,688$142,803——
Linda Balsamo——$174,912$131,705$112,786—

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.

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Strengthens families and children in Chicago and Northeast Illinois through community-based education, social services, and after-school youth development programs.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $27.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The early childhood education division serves children from birth to 5 years of age. The division operates in 11 centers in the chicagoland area with total capacity to serve 2,158 children in either center based AND/OR home visiting capacity. The center-based program has the capacity to serve 224 EHS/HS children.

$19.5Mprogram expense
02

The family support services division provides programs and services for parents of all ages and stages, including immigration services support and support for families involved with the department of children and family services. We provide multiple levels of support to help families stay intact and thrive in their communities.

$6.4Mprogram expense
03

The youth development division provides resources for students k-12 primarily through out of school time programming, providing them with educational support, cultural enrichment opportunities, and social-emotional learning skills.

$1.6Mprogram expense

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 · FY2024
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 2 grants · $75K · 2019–2020
Unitemized GrantFY2020$29,345
Unitemized GrantFY2019$46,009

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$32.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$27.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$450K
Money outPt IX
$34.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$27.7M
Managementcol C$5.3M
Fundraisingcol D$1.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$33.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$49.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
38
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a32
IndependentVI 1b31
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$447K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$670K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$27.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$391K
Other incomeLn 4–11$450K
Total revenueLn 12$32.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$180K
SavingsLn 2$2.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$21.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.2M
Other assetsLn 15$15.5M
Total assetsLn 16$49.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.2M
Net assetsLn 32$33.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5547
VolunteersI 6150
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$214K$2.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$20.3M$21.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.7M$4.2M
Total assetsLn 16$47.0M$49.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14.4M$16.2M
Net assetsLn 32$32.5M$33.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$614K$614K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$18.1M$15.7M$1.8M$603K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$714K$644K$52K$19K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.6M$2.3M$204K$67K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.5M$1.3M$162K$40K
Legal feesLn 11b$10K$5K$5K$575
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.2M$1.0M$1.2M$66K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$19K$13K$3K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$707K$594K$86K$28K
OccupancyLn 16$1.9M$1.6M$165K$98K
TravelLn 17$272K$231K$34K$8K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$210K$190K$3K$17K
InterestLn 20$397K$34K$363K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$902K$469K$433K
InsuranceLn 23$253K$235K$14K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3.4M$3.1M$191K$71K
All other expensesLn 24e$273K$207K$53K$13K
Total functional expensesLn 25$34.1M$27.7M$5.3M$1.0M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $32.5M$34.1M−$1.6M$33.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $31.0M$31.8M−$870K$32.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $27.8M$24.7M$3.1M$29.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $12.6M$14.3M−$1.7M$25.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $12.8M$12.6M$195K$30.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.8M$9.6M−$2.8M$22.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $32,501,020 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,350,110$4,098,191
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $26,327,842$27,562,156
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $393,670$391,094
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $888,563$449,579
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $30,960,185$32,501,020
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $22,136,784$23,545,961
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,693,528$10,552,421
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $31,830,312$34,098,382
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$870,127−$1,597,362
Part VI · Governance 31 of 32 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body32
VI-1b Independent voting members31
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
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 $32,501,020 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$32,506
VIII-1c Fundraising events$670,293
VIII-1d Related organizations$249,970
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,145,422
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$446,593
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,098,191
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $27,562,156$27,562,156
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $391,094$391,094
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax −$13,079−$13,079
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$67,553−$67,553
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $530,211$530,211
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $27,562,156 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $840,673$32,501,020
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $34,098,382 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $613,999$613,999
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $15,726,424 · Management $1,784,326 · Fundraising $602,535$18,113,285
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $644,032 · Management $51,511 · Fundraising $18,913$714,456
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,292,163 · Management $204,324 · Fundraising $67,222$2,563,709
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,338,936 · Management $161,867 · Fundraising $39,709$1,540,512
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $4,603 · Management $4,524 · Fundraising $575$9,702
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,006,454 · Management $1,164,885 · Fundraising $66,182$2,237,521
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $13,113 · Management $2,700 · Fundraising $3,436$19,249
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $593,604 · Management $86,031 · Fundraising $27,513$707,148
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,640,169 · Management $165,467 · Fundraising $98,191$1,903,827
IX-17 TravelPrograms $230,531 · Management $33,525 · Fundraising $8,360$272,416
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $190,072 · Management $3,446 · Fundraising $16,771$210,289
IX-20 InterestPrograms $34,312 · Management $362,988$397,300
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $468,810 · Management $433,172$901,982
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $234,732 · Management $13,987 · Fundraising $4,092$252,811
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,105,561 · Management $190,759 · Fundraising $70,764$3,367,084
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $207,494 · Management $52,530 · Fundraising $13,068$273,092
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $27,731,010 · Management $5,330,041 · Fundraising $1,037,331$34,098,382
Part X · Balance sheet $49,898,842 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $214,330$180,061
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$2,663,963
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $625,202$692,679
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,879,063$5,423,253
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $131,902$108,884
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,702,123$4,154,811
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $20,268,936$21,136,430
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $15,154,400$15,538,761
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $46,975,956$49,898,842
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,407,207$1,852,019
X-19 Deferred revenue$24,799
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,488,471$6,331,684
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $14,427,355$16,229,940
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $20,004,995$20,720,971
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $12,543,606$12,947,931
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $32,548,601$33,668,902
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $46,975,956$49,898,842
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $33,668,902 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$32,501,020
XI-2 Total expenses$34,098,382
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,597,362
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$32,548,601
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,717,663
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$33,668,902

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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