Chicago Dream Center
Chicago Dream Center operates on a lean budget with no reported officer compensation, experiencing minor deficits in recent years.
EIN: 203107540 · Chicago, IL · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $406K |
| Total Expenses | $440K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $400,000 |
| Net Assets | $36K |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Chicago Dream Center Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Chicago Dream Center directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Chicago Dream Center
Chicago Dream Center (EIN: 203107540) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL. The organization reported total revenue of $406K and total assets of $44K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Chicago Dream Center's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Chicago Dream Center is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2022).
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $406K |
| Total Expenses | $440K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-34,781 |
| Total Assets | $44K |
| Total Liabilities | $8K |
| Net Assets | $36K |
| Operating Margin | -8.6% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 19.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2022, Chicago Dream Center reported a deficit of $35K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 1.2 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 19.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -4.2% | +11.8% | -45.9% |
| 2021 | +4.7% | -7.5% | +13.8% |
| 2020 | +3.7% | +17.4% | +4.4% |
| 2019 | -19.8% | -34.0% | +71.0% |
| 2018 | -6.8% | +29.1% | -62.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Chicago Dream Center with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Chicago Dream Center allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $35K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 19.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported at 0% across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly commendable for an organization of its size with annual revenues typically between $400,000 and $500,000.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Chicago Dream Center's IRS 990 filings:
- Operating deficits in multiple years (e.g., 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015) indicate reliance on prior reserves or future funding.
- Relatively low asset base ($43,962 in 2022) compared to annual revenue, suggesting limited financial reserves for unexpected events.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Chicago Dream Center:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, demonstrating strong financial stewardship.
- Regular filing of IRS Form 990s over 11 periods, indicating transparency and compliance.
- Consistent revenue generation in the $400,000-$500,000 range over the past decade, showing stable operational capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago Dream Center
Is Chicago Dream Center a legitimate charity?
Chicago Dream Center (EIN: 203107540) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $406K. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Chicago Dream Center spend its money?
Chicago Dream Center directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Chicago Dream Center tax-deductible?
Chicago Dream Center is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203107540). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Chicago Dream Center CEO make?
Chicago Dream Center's highest-compensated officer earns $400,000 annually. The organization reported $406K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Chicago Dream Center's spending goes to programs?
Chicago Dream Center directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Chicago Dream Center located?
Chicago Dream Center is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 203107540.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Chicago Dream Center have?
Chicago Dream Center has 11 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $406K in total revenue.
Is Chicago Dream Center a good charity?
Based on the available data, Chicago Dream Center appears to be a good charity, particularly due to its consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission. However, a full assessment would benefit from detailed expense breakdowns.
How has Chicago Dream Center's financial health changed over time?
Chicago Dream Center's financial health has shown some fluctuations, with revenues and expenses generally in a similar range. While it experienced a deficit in 2022 (expenses $440,327 vs. revenue $405,546), it had a surplus in 2021 (revenue $423,453 vs. expenses $393,873). Assets have also varied, from a low of $17,137 in 2015 to a high of $106,003 in 2017.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization's approach to executive compensation is highly conservative, with 0% officer compensation reported in all 11 available filings. This indicates that officers are not compensated through salaries, which is a significant positive for resource allocation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Chicago Dream Center showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
In its most recent filing year (2022), Chicago Dream Center reported a deficit of $35K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $8K in liabilities against $44K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 19.0%), resulting in net assets of $36K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $406K | $440K | $44K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $423K | $394K | $81K | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $405K | $426K | $71K | $31K | — | — |
| 2019 | $390K | $363K | $68K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $486K | $550K | $40K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $522K | $426K | $106K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $476K | $484K | $42K | $40K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $393K | $428K | $17K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $429K | $407K | $48K | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $186K | $162K | $23K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $406K, expenses of $440K, and assets of $44K (revenue -4.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $423K, expenses of $394K, and assets of $81K (revenue +4.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $405K, expenses of $426K, and assets of $71K (revenue +3.7% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $390K, expenses of $363K, and assets of $68K (revenue -19.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $486K, expenses of $550K, and assets of $40K (revenue -6.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $522K, expenses of $426K, and assets of $106K (revenue +9.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $476K, expenses of $484K, and assets of $42K (revenue +21.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $393K, expenses of $428K, and assets of $17K (revenue -8.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $429K, expenses of $407K, and assets of $48K (revenue +131.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $186K, expenses of $162K, and assets of $23K.
- 2011: Revenue of $0, expenses of $0, and assets of $0.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Chicago Dream Center:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Chicago Dream Center is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.