Chicago Fair Trade
Chicago Fair Trade shows consistent revenue growth and zero executive compensation over a decade.
EIN: 20776317 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: B60 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $506K |
| Total Expenses | $270K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $250,000. |
| Net Assets | $100K |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Chicago Fair Trade Legit?
Appears Legitimate
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Chicago Fair Trade directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Chicago Fair Trade
Chicago Fair Trade (EIN: 20776317) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code B60. The organization reported total revenue of $506K and total assets of $81K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Chicago Fair Trade's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Chicago Fair Trade is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $251K |
| Total Expenses | $270K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-18,897 |
| Total Assets | $110K |
| Total Liabilities | $10K |
| Net Assets | $100K |
| Operating Margin | -7.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 9.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 4.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Chicago Fair Trade reported a deficit of $19K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 4.9 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 9.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2011–2023), Chicago Fair Trade's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +6.3% | +37.8% | -14.4% |
| 2022 | +32.4% | +52.0% | +49.8% |
| 2020 | +83.4% | +20.8% | +201.7% |
| 2019 | -18.5% | -0.2% | -11.5% |
| 2018 | +20.0% | +25.9% | +34.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
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 Fair Trade with a Mission Score of 92 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Chicago Fair Trade allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $19K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 9.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the organization, which is highly commendable for an organization of its size with revenues reaching over $250,000.
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.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Chicago Fair Trade:
- Consistent revenue growth over a decade, from $58,101 in 2013 to $250,762 in 2023.
- Zero officer compensation reported across all 12 available IRS 990 filings.
- Healthy asset growth, from $6,057 in 2013 to $109,920 in 2023.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency.
- Relatively low liabilities compared to assets, indicating sound financial management.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chicago Fair Trade
Is Chicago Fair Trade a legitimate charity?
Chicago Fair Trade (EIN: 20776317) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $506K. No red flags identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Chicago Fair Trade spend its money?
Chicago Fair Trade directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Chicago Fair Trade tax-deductible?
Chicago Fair Trade is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 20776317). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Chicago Fair Trade CEO make?
Chicago Fair Trade's highest-compensated officer earns $250,000. annually. The organization reported $506K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Chicago Fair Trade's spending goes to programs?
Chicago Fair Trade directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Chicago Fair Trade compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), Chicago Fair Trade is above average for NTEE category B60 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Chicago Fair Trade located?
Chicago Fair Trade is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 20776317. It is classified under NTEE code B60.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Chicago Fair Trade have?
Chicago Fair Trade has 12 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 $506K in total revenue.
Is Chicago Fair Trade a good charity?
Based on its financial data, Chicago Fair Trade appears to be a very good charity. It demonstrates consistent revenue growth, responsible asset management, and notably, zero officer compensation, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards its mission.
How has Chicago Fair Trade's revenue changed over time?
Chicago Fair Trade has shown significant revenue growth, increasing from $58,101 in 2013 to $250,762 in 2023, with a peak latest revenue of $505,750 reported, suggesting a strong upward trend.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization has consistently reported 0% officer compensation across all 12 available IRS 990 filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Chicago Fair Trade showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Chicago Fair Trade's revenue has grown by 417.5%, moving from $48K to $251K. Total assets increased by 1354.2% over the same period, from $8K to $110K. Total functional expenses rose by 218.6%, from $85K to $270K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Chicago Fair Trade reported a deficit of $19K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $10K in liabilities against $110K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 9.4%), resulting in net assets of $100K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $251K | $270K | $110K | $10K | — | — |
| 2022 | $236K | $196K | $128K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $178K | $129K | $86K | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $97K | $107K | $28K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $119K | $107K | $32K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $99K | $85K | $24K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $80K | $77K | $9K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $69K | $71K | $0 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $74K | $68K | $7K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $58K | $62K | $6K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $78K | $76K | $10K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $48K | $85K | $8K | $38 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $251K, expenses of $270K, and assets of $110K (revenue +6.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $236K, expenses of $196K, and assets of $128K (revenue +32.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $178K, expenses of $129K, and assets of $86K (revenue +83.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $97K, expenses of $107K, and assets of $28K (revenue -18.5% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $119K, expenses of $107K, and assets of $32K (revenue +20.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $99K, expenses of $85K, and assets of $24K (revenue +23.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $80K, expenses of $77K, and assets of $9K (revenue +15.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $69K, expenses of $71K, and assets of $0 (revenue -6.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $74K, expenses of $68K, and assets of $7K (revenue +27.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $58K, expenses of $62K, and assets of $6K (revenue -25.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $78K, expenses of $76K, and assets of $10K (revenue +61.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $48K, expenses of $85K, and assets of $8K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Chicago Fair Trade:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Chicago Fair Trade 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.