Together Chicago Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

See schedule otogether chicago grew in breadth, scope and maturity this reporting year in all five established program service areas: economic development, education, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith community mobilization.in economic development, we cultivate economic thriving through entrepreneurial scaling and job creation. Over the last year we assisted 30 mbe entrepreneurs and nonprofits in their strategic, administrative, and organizational improvement. Our workforce development, mentorship, and entrepreneurship support helped create 60 jobs, contributing to the rebuilding of economic strength across chicago's south and west sides. We are also convening second chance discussions with human resource professionals to expand career opportunities for returning citizens. In education, we increase the educational achievement of students in chicago by removing barriers that disrupt a quality education. We are progressing toward the goal of supporting 15% of chicago's most systemically underserved youth through sustained mentoring and wrap-around care by 2030. Our school-based social and emotional learning (sel) programs are connecting over 200 students with mentors from 50 local churches. In the past year we also successfully launched a technical platform to support school-based mentoring and onboarded 250+ students. To date, over 3000 students have been impacted by our programs at 123 chicago public schools through our love your school initiative, after-school, and in-classroom programs.in violence reduction, we reduce gun violence through street outreach, life transformation plans, trauma care, and collaborative place-based peacemaking efforts. Our impact continues to grow with teens, young adults and their families in neighborhoods that are perceived as challenging. Our 34 street outreach professionals, victim service advocates, and case managers conduct 1,360 connections, provide conflict mediation to 30+ incidents, and assist over 340 participants each month with employment training, job placement, and housing resources, helping participants embark on healthy and productive new lives. 40% of our participants are connected to jobs and 10% receive expungements. Shootings in our service areas have decreased 42% year-over-year.in gospel justice, we provide quality, affordable legal counsel and advice for civil matters through local, church-based justice centers. Each of our 17 gospel justice centers are facilitated by a 5-7 person volunteer team composed of local congregants and attorneys who offer monthly access to affordable consultation, emotional support, and compassionate prayer. These saturday morning legal clinics are open to everyone in the community and serve over 700 clients each year.in faith community mobilization, we foster collaboration by coordinating seasonal rhythms of united prayer and collective action among churches and faith-based organizations. Our premier city-wide prayer event gathered 1,300 individuals from over 200 congregations. Our spring training series (building blocks of peace) mobilized 188 leaders from over 50 churches, 23 organizations, and the chicago police department into collective action for the wellbeing of chicago. Church leaders and community organizations hosted 60 united prayer and positive presence gatherings through our most recent hand across chicago event over memorial day weekend, rallying hundreds of neighborhood participants in prayer and action across the city.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 49.3%; rating input score 49
• Program expense ratio: 93.4%; rating input score 93
• Fundraising efficiency: $232.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 93; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 98.2%; rating input score 98; 34th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 47.7%; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.3; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.8%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 30.9% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 37% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 42.4% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings