Westside Community Empowerment Center

EIN: 923432585 501(c)(3) Community Improvement

Chicago, IL

Total Revenue
$301,855
Total Expenses
$295,336
Total Assets
$311,331
Net Assets
$7,751
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2023
Legal Domicile
IL
Principal Officer
Paul C Sims
Phone
7733701065
Tax Period
2025-04-01 to 2026-03-31

Westside Community Empowerment Center, founded in 2023, is a small nonprofit in the Community Improvement sector that reported $302K in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Revenue fell 96% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of westside residents through increased civic responsibility enhanced mental and physical well-being and advanced educational opportunities. And in doing so we will address behavioral health generational trauma and wealth-based obstacles to progress through the creation of opportunities that will create pathways to generational wealth.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $44,000 Revenue: $0

Youth Enrichment Program with a 12-week curriculum. Goal: Provide youth with Social Emotional Learning SEL tools. The program integrated robotics creative arts and basic life skills development. Each...

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Youth Enrichment Program with a 12-week curriculum. Goal: Provide youth with Social Emotional Learning SEL tools. The program integrated robotics creative arts and basic life skills development. Each session either demonstrated a previously taught or introduced a new emotional skillset. Goal achievement was broken down into 6 levels referred to as rites of passage. There were 48 participants. At the end of the program each participant received a new pair of sneakers.

Program 2
Expenses: $39,757 Revenue: $0

Community Outreach Program. Our organization served 52 community members through culturally enriching and skill-based programs. Programs included African Dance with Drums Learning Spanish cosmetology...

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Community Outreach Program. Our organization served 52 community members through culturally enriching and skill-based programs. Programs included African Dance with Drums Learning Spanish cosmetology classes and CPR certification. Programs maintained an average week attendance rate of 80% and a retention rate of 78% reflecting strong engagement and consistency. Participants demonstrated measurable growth across all program areas. In African Dance 85% of participants showed improved rhythm coordination and cultural knowledge. In cosmetology training 78% of participants demonstrated job-ready skills in ponytail styling and lash application. Spanish language participants showed progress with 75% able to engage in basic conversations. In CPR training 90% of the participants successfully completed certification and demonstrated emergency response readiness. Beyond direct participants programs extended their impact by reaching an additional 200 community members through commuity engagement word-of-mouth and shared resources.

Program 3
Expenses: $15,000 Revenue: $0

Through four PlayStreets events held in the West Garfield community the organization created safe engaging spaces for youth and families to gather play and build positive social connections. Each...

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Through four PlayStreets events held in the West Garfield community the organization created safe engaging spaces for youth and families to gather play and build positive social connections. Each event served an estimated 200-350 community members resulting in a total reach of approximately 1,100 unduplicated individuals across all events accounting for repeat attendance. These events transformed neighborhood streets into safe havens for recreation and community engagement providing structured activities such as games music food distribution and interactive attractions including jump houses. As a result: Over 1,100 residents were engaged in safe supervised outdoor activities that promoted community cohesion and reduced idle time for youth. An estimated 65%-70% of attendees were youth increasing access to safe recreational spaces in an area with limited structured programming. 80% of participants reported feeling a stronger sense of community connection and neighborhood pride based on informal feedback and on-site engagement. 75% of families participated in multiple activities encouraging family bonding and positive social interaction. In addition to participation metrics PlayStreets events contributed to broader community safety and well-being by activating public spaces in a positive way. The presence of organized activities and community members helped deter negative behaviors and provided youth with safe alternatives during peak hours of risk. Overall the PlayStreets initiative demonstrated measurable success in fostering safe environments strengthening community relationships and increasing access to free family-centered recreational opportunities in the West Garfield neighborhood.

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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%)

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Financial Overview (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $301,855
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $0
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $301,855

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $33,000
Salaries & Benefits $136,169
Fundraising Expenses $0
Program Expenses $98,757
Other Expenses $126,167
TOTAL EXPENSES $295,336

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $301,855 $6,951,555 -1.0%
Expenses $295,336 $153,483 +0.9%
Net Income $6,519 $6,798,072 -1.0%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
7
Independent Members
7
Employees
14
Volunteers
N/A

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
3
$0
Total Directors
0
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Paul C Sims CEO 16.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
Shirley A Underwood CFO 20.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
Jewel J Martin-Smith COO 18.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
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
2026 $301,855 $295,336 $311,331 $6,519
2025 $69,516 $153,482 $1,232 $-83,966
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