New Life Centers of Chicagoland

Overview

Mission

To see communities transformed by the love of Christ through the empowerment of youth and families.

What it reported doing in 2024

Mentoring: In 2024, NLC served 2,791 youth through mentoring services and/or weekly programming. Of those 1,074 received one on one mentoring sessions. We provided weekly in-school programming to 5 local schools. We partnered with other agencies to provide cognitive behavioral therapy in the schools as part of our programming. Launched in 2024, The Heart Project supports youth mental health through art-based mentorship. Mentors are available four days a week at the local high school, offering open studio sessions during lunch and free periods. These sessions provide a safe, creative space for students to reflect, express themselves, and heal. NLC also expanded our entrepreneurship mentoring program to serve young ladies in Little Village in addition to Humboldt Park. Participants learn entrepreneurship, marketing, and product creation through jewelry-making, while also building leadership, financial literacy, and faith-based values. The program offers trauma-informed, promoting resilience and self-worth. Girls engage in small group mentoring, leadership, service projects, and creative experiences like workshops and adventure therapy. Youth voice and leadership are central, with girls planning activities and sharing their stories. Ongoing partnerships with schools and organizations help expand outreach and impact.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Hybrid. The nonprofit split its reported program spending across 58% for direct work, and 42% for grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
202380358
IRS 990 coverage
2017–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Chicago, IL, US
Phone
(312) 772-6675
Rating
93
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Youth Development Programs
Affiliation
Christianity

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown and liabilities are high compared with assets.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 89
  • Transparency & Controls: 100
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 45
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 87%; rating input score 87
  • Program expense ratio: 94%; rating input score 94
  • Fundraising efficiency: $64.61 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 7.4%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.32; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 2.8%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 28.6% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 29.2% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 35.9% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 6 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 6 operating locations identified
  • Where the money goes: 87% of revenue deployed · 94% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 10 of 10 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $29.9M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $147K · 18 people listed
  • Highest-paid contractors: 3 contractors listed · $561K reported
  • Consistency: 39 of 39 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors and grants
  • Filing history: 8 annual filings from 2017 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 8 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

18 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • Matt DeMateo (Chief Executive Officer): $147,240 total reported compensation
  • Nina Lopez (Chief Operating Officer): $132,359 total reported compensation
  • Vivian Bahena (Chief Program Officer): $125,349 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.