Human Services (P86) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

EIN: 36-2169139 · CHICAGO, IL 60608-1200 · United States · FY 2025 Data

3 out of 5 56 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 80/100

Reliability (20%) 45/100

Effectiveness (25%) 93/100

Impact (25%) No data yet

Financial data: FY 2025 · Scored 9/13/2026

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Mission Statement

The mission is to provide high-quality educational, clinical, rehabilitation, employment and independent living services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired, including those who are deaf and blind, multi-disabled, and Veterans.

Financial Overview — FY 2025

$60.1M

Total Revenue

$54.1M

Total Expenses

$45.9M

Net Assets

1170

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio 80.4%

Fundraising Efficiency 1134.7%

Operating Reserve 10.18x

Liability-to-Asset 13.5%

Revenue Diversification 78.0%

Executive Compensation $1.1M

Compared with Peers

FY 2025

Compared with 1,399 similar organizations (United States, Human Services, $10M–$100M in expenses), FY 2025.

This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median

Ratio	This org	Peer median	Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better	80.4%	87.1%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	16.9%	11.4%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	2.8%	0.3%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising efficiency Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income · lower is better	1134.7%	459.1%	P10P90	Below median
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	10.2 mo	7.3 mo	P10P90	Above median
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	13.5%	28.4%	P10P90	Top quarter
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	78.0%	91.8%	P10P90	Top quarter
Revenue growth Year over year revenue growth	32.6%	6.0%	P10P90
Expense growth Year over year expense growth	23.7%	5.1%	P10P90
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	10.0%	2.5%	P10P90

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2025	$60.1M	$54.1M	$45.9M	80.4%	1170
2024	$45.4M	$43.7M	$38.3M	79.2%	974
2023	$39.7M	$39.6M	$35.1M	81.1%	911
2022	$50.3M	$39.3M	$33.9M	69.9%	1036
2021	$42.6M	$38.0M	N/A	—	939

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Organization Details

EIN: 36-2169139
State: IL
City: CHICAGO
ZIP: 60608-1200
Classification: P86
Category: Human Services
Rating: 3★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 1906
Foundation Code: 16
Form 990: On File

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CharityAI™ rates charities from 0 to 100 using public filings (IRS Form 990 and the equivalent registries outside the US) together with the information the charity itself provides on DonationX. Ratings are recalculated every quarter, without human bias, and shown as stars.

Four pillars

Financial strength30%

Program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, operating reserves, liabilities and revenue diversification, compared with similar organizations.

Reliability20%

Standing with the registry, filing history, verification and how complete the profile is.

Effectiveness25%

How much goes to programs and how consistently the organization delivers them.

Impact25%

The outcomes the charity reports on DonationX: people served, cost per service and results.

Stars

★★★★★ 80–100 ★★★★☆ 60–79 ★★★☆☆ 40–59 ★★☆☆☆ 20–39 ★☆☆☆☆ 1–19

A pillar with no data counts as zero. Without impact metrics the score is capped at 59 (three stars): only the charity can supply that data.
The coverage grade (A to D) says how much filing data the score rests on; NONE means there is not enough to rate.
An organization that is not in good standing with its registry (for example a revoked tax exemption) is shown as Not rated.
"Compared with peers" places the charity's key ratios against organizations of the same country, sector and size.

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