Growing Home is a nonprofit usda-certified organic farm and workforce development center, serving the greater englewood community of chicago through innovative paid employment training and nutritious, affordable produce. We believe everyone deserves access to a good job and good food.our innovative workforce development programs aim to increase employment opportunities for individuals with justice involvement, low education, lack of work history, and other extreme barriers to workforce entry. Each year we enroll approximately 120 individuals seeking to gain job skills and secure long-term employment. Through hands-on field work, classroom training, and individualized case management, our 12-week program provides the tools, skills, and support participants need to find and keep good jobs. Our programs also include a 10-week comptia certified information technology training program. In 2024, we harvested 42,000 pounds of produce, served 15,879 people.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 17 volunteers and 23 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.2M a year · 35% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Fine: 75% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$183K
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
21 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 21.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
12
named funders · $1.5M
Looks good: 12 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$506K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.9M
-12% vs prior year
Spent
$2.8M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$8.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.9M
FY2025▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$4.4M
FY2025$3.9M
Expenses
$2.8M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$2.4M
FY2024$2.6M
FY2025$2.8M
Net assets
$8.6M
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$7.5M
FY2025$8.6M

From the FY2025 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 1993.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $2.1M Management & general 14% · $409K Fundraising 11% · $299K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $183K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$183,497Pt VII · Sec A
Board Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past Board President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Janelle St John’s $183K as Executive Director is at the 80th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1245 $1–10M employment 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Janelle St John$183,497$176,788$160,200$142,262$135,000$100,038

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 Growing Home INC 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

Trains residents and provides fresh organic produce in Chicago's Englewood community.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

In 2025, growing home enrolled 148 participants in its transitional job training and certified it training programs. Participants earned 217 industry-recognized credentials, including sarvsafe, ged, forklift, cisco it essentials, and comp tia certifications, while receiving career coaching, resume assistance, networking opportunities…

$2.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
ForefrontFY2024$78K
Total grants receivedfrom 12 funders$1.5M
See all 12 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$131K
Investment incomeLn 3$119K
Money outPt IX
$2.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.1M
Managementcol C$409K
Fundraisingcol D$299K
Owns and owesPt X
$8.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.0M
Total assetsLn 16$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$506K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$531K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$166K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$131K
Investment incomeLn 3$119K
Total revenueLn 12$3.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$439K
SavingsLn 2$4.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$506K
Net assetsLn 32$8.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 523
VolunteersI 617
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.6M$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.0M$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$8.1M$9.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$580K$506K
Net assetsLn 32$7.5M$8.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$956K$245K$102K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$119K$84K$29K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$120K$76K$31K$13K
Accounting feesLn 11c$51K$25K$18K$9K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$185K$40K$26K$120K
Information technologyLn 14$17K$3K$8K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$10K$5K$5K
InterestLn 20$32K$32K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$89K$89K$842
InsuranceLn 23$50K$32K$8K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$631K$627K$2K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$222K$161K$36K$26K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.8M$2.1M$409K$299K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $3.9M$2.8M$1.1M$8.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.4M$2.6M$1.8M$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.2M$2.4M$1.9M$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.6M$2.1M$519K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.0M$1.9M$1.1M$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.8M$1.7M$1.1M$2.3M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,882,152 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,270,484$3,678,104
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $87,975$131,455
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $113,173$118,750
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$55,002−$46,157
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,416,630$3,882,152
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 $1,386,895$1,541,896
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,259,903$1,288,729
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,646,798$2,830,625
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,769,832$1,051,527
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $3,882,152 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$166,207
VIII-1e Government grants$530,516
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,981,381
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,678,104
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $131,455$131,455
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $118,750$118,750
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$46,597−$46,597
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $440$440
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $131,895 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $72,153$3,882,152
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,830,625 across 12 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $955,928 · Management $244,857 · Fundraising $102,291$1,303,076
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $83,963 · Management $29,163 · Fundraising $5,617$118,743
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $75,623 · Management $31,150 · Fundraising $13,304$120,077
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $24,937 · Management $17,696 · Fundraising $8,616$51,249
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $39,760 · Management $25,860 · Fundraising $119,769$185,389
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,832 · Management $8,064 · Fundraising $6,426$17,322
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $4,800 · Fundraising $4,800$9,600
IX-20 InterestPrograms $31,537$31,537
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $88,598 · Management $842$89,440
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $31,855 · Management $8,195 · Fundraising $10,440$50,490
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $626,805 · Management $2,166 · Fundraising $2,253$631,224
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $160,871 · Management $35,942 · Fundraising $25,665$222,478
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,122,709 · Management $408,735 · Fundraising $299,181$2,830,625
Part X · Balance sheet $9,069,167 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $465,481$438,751
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $4,098,517$4,515,082
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $171,432$90,114
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $256,110$758,925
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $81,369$111,767
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,018,935$3,154,528
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,091,844$9,069,167
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $155,361$96,946
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $10,000$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $580,300$506,096
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,031,612$6,547,993
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,479,932$2,015,078
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $7,511,544$8,563,071
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,091,844$9,069,167
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,563,071 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,882,152
XI-2 Total expenses$2,830,625
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,051,527
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$7,511,544
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,563,071

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

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