Health Care (E70) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

PILOT LIGHT

EIN: 45-5497499 · CHICAGO, IL 60612-3644 · United States · FY 2024 Data

4 out of 5 62 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 57/100

Reliability (20%) 50/100

Effectiveness (25%) 73/100

Impact (25%) 65/100

Financial data: FY 2023 · Scored 9/13/2026

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CharityAI™ Score

Not yet evaluated

Mission Statement

Pilot Light is a Chicago-based nonprofit that partners with teachers to integrate Food Education into learning in classrooms across our country. Our mission is to support students as they learn and advocate for informed choices by bridging the lessons they learn in their classrooms to the foods on their lunch trays, at home, and in their communities. Our vision is to create a world of knowledgeable and engaged changemakers for an equitable, sustainable, and accessible food future.

Financial Overview — FY 2024

$1.5M

Total Revenue

$1.5M

Total Expenses

N/A

Net Assets

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio N/A

Fundraising Efficiency 24.6%

Operating Reserve N/A

Liability-to-Asset 0.0%

Revenue Diversification N/A

Compared with Peers

FY 2023

Compared with 6,416 similar organizations (United States, Health Care, $100K–$1M in expenses), FY 2023.

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	57.7%	84.9%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	29.6%	11.3%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	12.7%	0.0%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising efficiency Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income · lower is better	3541.6%	14.3%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	3.8 mo	13.8 mo	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	25.0%	1.4%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	119.4%	94.7%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Revenue growth Year over year revenue growth	13.4%	6.3%	P10P90
Expense growth Year over year expense growth	22.6%	10.8%	P10P90
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	-9.4%	3.3%	P10P90

Impact

1 program

Outcome / Program	People Served	Cost / Service	# Completed	Duration
improved education (students) and professional development (teachers)	11,317	$750.00	—	Per Year

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2024	$1.5M	$1.5M	N/A	—	12
2023	$717K	$785K	$246K	57.7%	8
2022	$633K	$640K	$313K	63.8%	4
2021	$583K	$525K	N/A	—	4

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Organization Details

EIN: 45-5497499
State: IL
City: CHICAGO
ZIP: 60612-3644
Classification: E70
Category: Health Care
Rating: 4★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 2012
Foundation Code: 15
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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