Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance faces declining assets and consistent deficit spending in recent years.
EIN: 204255290 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: R02 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Illinois Safe Schools Alliance Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (EIN: 204255290) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code R02. The organization reported total revenue of $495K and total assets of $160K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Illinois Safe Schools Alliance's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 7 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2018). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2018)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $478K |
| Total Expenses | $538K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-60,590 |
| Total Assets | $160K |
| Total Liabilities | $7K |
| Net Assets | $153K |
| Operating Margin | -12.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 4.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.6 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2018, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance reported a deficit of $61K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.6 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 4.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 7 years of filings (2012–2018), Illinois Safe Schools Alliance's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +1.8% | -8.4% | -26.1% |
| 2017 | -28.2% | -44.4% | -36.4% |
| 2016 | -15.6% | +21.9% | -53.7% |
| 2015 | -2.7% | +16.2% | -15.3% |
| 2014 | -17.2% | +47.2% | +12.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| 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 Illinois Safe Schools Alliance 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: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2018)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $61K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 4.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers received compensation, which is a strong positive for efficient use of funds 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 Illinois Safe Schools Alliance's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending (expenses exceeding revenue) in multiple recent periods (e.g., 2018, 2017, 2016).
- Significant decline in total assets from $863,763 in 2014 to $159,610 in 2018.
- Substantial decrease in annual revenue from $960,329 in 2013 to $477,605 in 2018.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Illinois Safe Schools Alliance:
- Consistent IRS 990 filing history demonstrates transparency.
- 0% officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds at the executive level.
Frequently Asked Questions about Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
Is Illinois Safe Schools Alliance a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (EIN: 204255290) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
How does Illinois Safe Schools Alliance spend its money?
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Illinois Safe Schools Alliance tax-deductible?
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204255290). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Illinois Safe Schools Alliance financially stable?
The organization's financial stability has declined, with expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years (e.g., 2018, 2017, 2016) and assets decreasing from $863,763 in 2014 to $159,610 in 2018.
How has the organization's revenue trended?
Revenue has shown a significant downward trend from a peak of $960,329 in 2013 to $477,605 in 2018, indicating challenges in fundraising or grant acquisition.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The organization reports 0% officer compensation in all available filings, suggesting a volunteer-led executive structure or that executive salaries are covered by other means not reported as officer compensation.
Are the organization's assets growing or shrinking?
The organization's assets have been shrinking, from a high of $863,763 in 2014 to $159,610 in 2018, reflecting the impact of consistent deficit spending.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Illinois Safe Schools Alliance showing financial trends over 7 years of public records:
Over 7 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2018), Illinois Safe Schools Alliance's revenue has grown by 11.7%, moving from $428K to $478K. Total assets decreased by 48.8% over the same period, from $311K to $160K. Total functional expenses rose by 23.4%, from $436K to $538K. In its most recent filing year (2018), Illinois Safe Schools Alliance reported a deficit of $61K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $7K in liabilities against $160K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 4.4%), resulting in net assets of $153K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $478K | $538K | $160K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $469K | $587K | $216K | $19K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $653K | $1.1M | $339K | $24K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $774K | $866K | $732K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $795K | $745K | $864K | $55K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $960K | $506K | $770K | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $428K | $436K | $311K | $7K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2018: Revenue of $478K, expenses of $538K, and assets of $160K (revenue +1.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $469K, expenses of $587K, and assets of $216K (revenue -28.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $653K, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $339K (revenue -15.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $774K, expenses of $866K, and assets of $732K (revenue -2.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $795K, expenses of $745K, and assets of $864K (revenue -17.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $960K, expenses of $506K, and assets of $770K (revenue +124.5% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $428K, expenses of $436K, and assets of $311K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Illinois Safe Schools Alliance 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.