501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,200 volunteers and 61 employees.
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 $256K 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
$150K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $35K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$120K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.6M
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$1.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.6M
FY2024▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$2.6M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2024▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.5M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.3M
Net assets
$1.9M
FY2024▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$908K
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.9M

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

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 1991.

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% · $1.8M Management & general 9% · $205K Fundraising 11% · $250K

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

20 people listed on the 990; $150K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$149,663Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (through May)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (through May)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (through May)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (through May)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Stacy Jackson’s $150K as Executive Director is at the 63rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1690 $1–10M philanthropy & grantmaking 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Stacy Jackson$149,663$143,796$131,402$135,953

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

Programs and updates

Builds brighter futures for Chicago's youth and adults through supportive programs.

Questions for Chicago Lights

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Your first name shows with your question. Chicago Lights answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The chicago lights social service center helps adults pursue and reach their goals toward greater stability. Our food, clothing, housing, and other resources like case management and enrichment groups help build healthy and fulfilling lives.

$667Kprogram expense
02

Chicago lights tutoring supports the academic and personal growth of 300 students each year and matches them one-to-one with caring volunteer mentors. These relationships, combined with innovative educational and enrichment resources, mindfulness practices, and career development, help prepare students for higher education and future…

$630Kprogram expense
03

The chicago lights urban farm is dedicated to cultivating a thoughtful and engaged community of youth and adults through educational and economic opportunities, hands-on learning experiences, and access to fresh, local, affordable, and sustainably grown produce.

$337Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$35K
Grants paid · 16 grants · $729K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$44,150
Unitemized GrantFY2024$42,700
Unitemized GrantFY2024$20,956
Unitemized GrantFY2024$3,090
Unitemized GrantFY2023$53,034
Unitemized GrantFY2023$47,604
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,885
Unitemized GrantFY2023$4,508
Unitemized GrantFY2022$106,150
Fourth Presbyterian ChurchFY2022$55,800
Unitemized GrantFY2022$27,108
Unitemized GrantFY2022$9,089
Unitemized GrantFY2021$114,394
Fourth Presbyterian ChurchFY2021$53,375
Fourth Presbyterian Church of ChicagoFY2020$70,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$65,350

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$15K
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$205K
Fundraisingcol D$250K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$120K
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$292K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$548K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$15K
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Total revenueLn 12$2.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$844K
SavingsLn 2$799K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$121K
Total assetsLn 16$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$120K
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 561
VolunteersI 61,200
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$972K$1.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$1.6M$2.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$61K$120K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M$1.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$201K$201K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$170K$77K$92K$1K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$998K$15K$189K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$21K$16K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$169K$132K$37K
Payroll taxesLn 10$99K$79K$6K$14K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$81K$56K$24K$850
Office expensesLn 13$9K$6K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$34K$34K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$88K$85K$3K
InterestLn 20$31K$31K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$26K$26K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$142K$141K$886$47
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.8M$205K$250K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.6M$2.3M$347K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.5M$2.2M$335K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.4M$2.5M−$81K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.6M$2.2M$379K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.7M$2.4M$301K$908K 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,646,919 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,594,398$2,716,340
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $37,852$14,891
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $12,568$30,738
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$137,274−$115,050
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,507,544$2,646,919
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $179,205$201,262
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,608,489$1,660,970
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $384,923$437,544
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,172,617$2,299,776
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $334,927$347,143
Part VI · Governance 14 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members14
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 $2,646,919 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$548,438
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,167,902
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$291,519
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,716,340
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $14,891$14,891
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $30,738$30,738
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$115,050−$115,050
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $14,891 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$84,312$2,646,919
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,299,776 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $201,262$201,262
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $76,632 · Management $92,375 · Fundraising $1,288$170,295
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $997,862 · Management $14,893 · Fundraising $189,176$1,201,931
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $15,851 · Fundraising $5,044$20,895
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $131,598 · Fundraising $37,365$168,963
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $78,968 · Management $6,356 · Fundraising $13,562$98,886
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,275$26,275
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $56,417 · Management $23,763 · Fundraising $850$81,030
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $6,434 · Fundraising $2,911$9,345
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $34,153$34,153
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $84,928 · Management $3,330$88,258
IX-20 InterestManagement $30,538$30,538
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $25,655$25,655
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $141,357 · Management $886 · Fundraising $47$142,290
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,844,683 · Management $204,850 · Fundraising $250,243$2,299,776
Part X · Balance sheet $2,007,765 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $703,528$844,123
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $268,602$798,577
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$75,000
X-4 Accounts receivable$320
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $29,534$101,782
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $11,671$5,168
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $81,396$62,244
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $506,810$120,551
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,601,541$2,007,765
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,283$18,181
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $46,390$101,573
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $60,673$119,754
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,320,140$1,358,899
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $220,728$529,112
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,540,868$1,888,011
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,601,541$2,007,765
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,888,011 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,646,919
XI-2 Total expenses$2,299,776
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$347,143
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,540,868
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,888,011

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

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