Great Lakes Cities Initiative
Great Lakes Cities Initiative shows fluctuating finances with recent expenses exceeding revenue, and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 201628958 · New Lenox, IL · NTEE: S01 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.5M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $605K |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Great Lakes Cities Initiative Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Great Lakes Cities Initiative is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Great Lakes Cities Initiative in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
14 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $1.4M and expenses of $1.4M.
Revenue and Expenses
Great Lakes Cities Initiative reported $1.4M in revenue and $1.4M in expenses, a deficit of $11K.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
65/100 mission score, 4 red flags, and 3 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Great Lakes Cities Initiative Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $979K (70%) |
Across stored filings, Great Lakes Cities Initiative shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 4 red flags identified |
| Mission spend | 70% to programs | Good |
| Financial durability | Grade B | 14 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Shorefront | Illinois and Community Improvement context |
Trust Check
Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.
Open charity check →Peer Benchmark
Compare against real state and category peers.
Compare with Shorefront →All Illinois nonprofits
All Community Improvement
Local and Sector Spokes
Move into this nonprofit's local market, category, and sector maps.
New Lenox, IL nonprofitsCommunity Improvement in Illinois
Public Benefit in Illinois
Follow the Money
Jump into spending, compensation, rankings, and filing-year evidence.
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Community Improvement spending
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Donation Decision Flow
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Next Best Actions
Keep the Investigation Moving
Great Lakes Cities Initiative directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Great Lakes Cities Initiative
Great Lakes Cities Initiative (EIN: 201628958) is a nonprofit organization based in New Lenox, IL, classified under NTEE code S01. The organization reported total revenue of $1.5M and total assets of $631K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Great Lakes Cities Initiative's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Great Lakes Cities Initiative is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.4M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-10,716 |
| Total Assets | $685K |
| Total Liabilities | $80K |
| Net Assets | $605K |
| Operating Margin | -0.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Great Lakes Cities Initiative reported a deficit of $11K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 5.9 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.7% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2023), Great Lakes Cities Initiative's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +163.5% | +104.4% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | -36.5% | +56.8% | -14.8% |
| 2021 | +185.3% | +242.5% | +108.8% |
| 2020 | +2.0% | -65.5% | +89.6% |
| 2020 | -31.5% | -20.7% | +5.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| 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 Great Lakes Cities Initiative with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Great Lakes Cities Initiative allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $11K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
No officer compensation has been reported across all available filings, suggesting either a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is embedded within other expense categories, which limits transparency regarding leadership costs relative to the organization's size and revenue.
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 Great Lakes Cities Initiative's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses frequently exceed revenue (e.g., 2023: $1,398,316 expenses vs. $1,387,600 revenue; 2022: $684,270 expenses vs. $526,645 revenue)
- Significant year-over-year fluctuations in revenue and expenses, indicating potential instability in funding or operations
- Lack of detailed functional expense breakdown (program, admin, fundraising) in provided data, hindering efficiency assessment
- No reported officer compensation, which could obscure leadership costs if not truly volunteer-led
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Great Lakes Cities Initiative:
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 14 periods, demonstrating regulatory compliance
- Significant growth in assets over time, reaching $684,797 in 2023, providing some financial buffer
- Substantial revenue growth in recent years, with 2023 revenue at $1,387,600, indicating increased support or activity
Frequently Asked Questions about Great Lakes Cities Initiative
Is Great Lakes Cities Initiative a legitimate charity?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative (EIN: 201628958) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 65/100. It has 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.5M. 4 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Great Lakes Cities Initiative spend its money?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Great Lakes Cities Initiative tax-deductible?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201628958). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Great Lakes Cities Initiative's spending goes to programs?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Great Lakes Cities Initiative compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Great Lakes Cities Initiative is above average for NTEE category S01 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Great Lakes Cities Initiative located?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative is headquartered in New Lenox, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 201628958. It is classified under NTEE code S01.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Great Lakes Cities Initiative have?
Great Lakes Cities Initiative has 14 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 $1.5M in total revenue.
Is Great Lakes Cities Initiative financially stable?
The organization's financial stability appears moderate. While it has grown its assets to $684,797 in 2023, it has also experienced periods where expenses exceeded revenue, such as in 2023 ($1,398,316 expenses vs. $1,387,600 revenue) and 2022 ($684,270 expenses vs. $526,645 revenue), indicating a need for careful financial management.
How efficient is Great Lakes Cities Initiative's spending?
Without a detailed functional expense breakdown (program, administrative, fundraising) from the provided data, it is difficult to precisely assess spending efficiency. However, the recurring instances of expenses exceeding revenue suggest potential inefficiencies or reliance on reserves in certain periods.
What is the trend in the organization's revenue?
The organization's revenue has shown significant fluctuations, from a low of $164,330 in 2017 to a high of $1,387,600 in 2023. This indicates an inconsistent funding stream, though recent years show substantial growth.
Why is no officer compensation reported?
The absence of reported officer compensation (0%) across all filings could mean that the organization's leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation for key personnel is reported under different expense lines, which would require further investigation for full transparency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Great Lakes Cities Initiative showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Great Lakes Cities Initiative's revenue has grown by 404.4%, moving from $275K to $1.4M. Total assets increased by 152% over the same period, from $272K to $685K. Total functional expenses rose by 323.9%, from $330K to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Great Lakes Cities Initiative reported a deficit of $11K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $80K in liabilities against $685K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.7%), resulting in net assets of $605K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.4M | $1.4M | $685K | $80K | — | — |
| 2022 | $527K | $684K | $662K | $47K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $830K | $436K | $778K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $291K | $127K | $372K | $118K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $285K | $369K | $196K | $105K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $417K | $466K | $186K | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $592K | $471K | $249K | $25K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $164K | $438K | $113K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $685K | $378K | $382K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $169K | $426K | $89K | $19K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $622K | $368K | $407K | $79K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $167K | $336K | $89K | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $404K | $384K | $245K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $275K | $330K | $272K | $49K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $685K (revenue +163.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $527K, expenses of $684K, and assets of $662K (revenue -36.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $830K, expenses of $436K, and assets of $778K (revenue +185.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $291K, expenses of $127K, and assets of $372K (revenue +2.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $285K, expenses of $369K, and assets of $196K (revenue -31.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $417K, expenses of $466K, and assets of $186K (revenue -29.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $592K, expenses of $471K, and assets of $249K (revenue +260.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $164K, expenses of $438K, and assets of $113K (revenue -76.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $685K, expenses of $378K, and assets of $382K (revenue +305.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $169K, expenses of $426K, and assets of $89K (revenue -72.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $622K, expenses of $368K, and assets of $407K (revenue +273.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $167K, expenses of $336K, and assets of $89K (revenue -58.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $404K, expenses of $384K, and assets of $245K (revenue +46.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $275K, expenses of $330K, and assets of $272K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Great Lakes Cities Initiative:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Great Lakes Cities Initiative 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.