LADDER UP (F/K/A CITY-WIDE TAX ASS… - Form 990 Financial Data

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1996

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

PHYLLIS CAVALLONE

Phone

3124660771

Tax Period

2022-07-01 to 2023-06-30

LADDER UP (F/K/A CITY-WIDE TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM), founded in 1996, is a community nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $2.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2022. The organization ran a surplus of $507K, a strong 18% operating margin.

Mission

THE ORGANIZATION HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ACCESS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CLIMB UP THE ECONOMIC LADDER. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS FREE TAX PREPARATION, FINANCIAL AID AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,602,556

TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:LADDER UP OPERATES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND OLDEST STATE-WIDE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF ITS KIND, OFFERING BOTH IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL SERVICES TO OVER 13,000...

TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:LADDER UP OPERATES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND OLDEST STATE-WIDE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF ITS KIND, OFFERING BOTH IN-PERSON AND DIGITAL SERVICES TO OVER 13,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ILLINOIS. LADDER UP PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH FREE, HIGH-QUALITY TAX PREPARATION AND AN ALTERNATIVE TO PAID TAX PREPARERS. LADDER UP OFFERS MULTIPLE TYPES OF SERVICES AS WELL AS MULTIPLE SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ITS CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. IN THE 2023 TAX SEASON, LADDER UP CLIENTS QUALIFIED FOR AN AVERAGE REFUND OF $1,941, AND OVER 76% QUALIFIED FOR A FEDERAL TAX REFUND.

Program 2

Expenses: $217,287

LOW-INCOME TAX CLINIC:LADDER UP PROVIDES FREE, HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL REPRESSENTATION TO LOW-INCOME TAX PAYERS FACING AN IRS OR IDOR CONTROVERSY. THROUGH ITS OFFICES, LADDER UP OFFERS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ON THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, STIMULUS PAYMENTS, ADVANCE CHILD TAX CREDITS, TAXPAYER RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND COLLECTION ALTERNATIVES. THE TAX CLINIC DELIVERS NEARLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN DECREASED LIABILITIES TO OUR CLIENTS EACH YEAR.

Program 3

Expenses: $60,857

FINANCIAL CAPABILITY PROGRAM:LADDER UP PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND WORKSHOPS, COORDINATES SAVINGS CAMPAIGNS, AND OFFERS FINANCIAL COACHING TO HELP CLIENTS SET FINANCIAL GOALS AND MANAGE MAJOR LIFE FINANCIAL EVENTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, LADDER UP HIGHLY VALUES AND SUPPORTS ITS FREE APPLICATION TRAINING FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) AND COMPLETION WORKSHOPS AT HIGH SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2022)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $2,621,118

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $71,246

Other Revenue $178,161

TOTAL REVENUE $2,870,525

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $1,602,048

Fundraising Expenses $203,148

Program Expenses $1,880,700

Other Expenses $761,888

TOTAL EXPENSES $2,363,936

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2022	2021	Change
Revenue	$2,870,525	$2,908,523	0.0%
Expenses	$2,363,936	$2,417,943	0.0%
Net Income	$506,589	$490,580	+0.0%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

600

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$305,684

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ROBERT M BURKE	BOARD CHAIRMAN	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN CHANDLER	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MARK SNEIDER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SR MARY PAUL MCCAUGHEY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MERCEDES WILLIAMS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PHYLLIS CAVALLONE	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$185,000	$7,344	$192,344
KATRINA MCDERMOTT	DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION	40.00	Officer	$108,609	$4,731	$113,340
HEDI BELKAOUI	COO (THRU 09/16/22)	40.00	Highest	$111,840	$4,541	$116,381

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	No data	No data	No data	No data
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$2,870,525	$2,363,936	$4,661,807	$506,589
2022	$2,908,523	$2,417,943	$3,814,683	$490,580
2021	$2,763,409	$2,508,882	$3,911,753	$254,527
2020	$2,961,364	$2,926,981	$3,315,590	$34,383

LADDER UP (F/K/A CITY-WIDE TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)