2025-12-04T08:50:24-06:00 2025-06-30 363321958 Desmond & Ahern Ltd 10827 S Western Avenue Chicago IL 60643 990 2024-07-01 364268095 The Cara Program CARA 3127983334 237 S DesPlaines Chicago IL 60661 Kathleen St Louis Caliento President & CEO 3127983334 2025-12-04 1 1 Mel Padillo P03172019 7737794720 2025-11-26 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Cara Chicago Kathleen St Louis Calien 237 S DesPlaines Chicago IL 60661 23264566 0 X www.caracollective.org X 1999 IL Build an inclusive economy by developing employment pathways to advance transformative individual and community success. 21 21 837 250 0 0 17760243 16034825 4611695 4368115 487334 576127 -90365 -108385 22768907 20870682 540582 500820 0 0 11874754 12375304 0 0 1700554 3004167 3689765 15419503 16565889 7349404 4304793 22687332 26522087 4874329 4357676 17813003 22164411 X Build an inclusive economy by developing employment pathways to advance transformative individual and community success. 0 0 6729554 450199 129392 Traditional Training & Placement Program is Cara's traditional services which includes a comprehensive range of training and support for motivated individuals affected by poverty and homelessness, including life-skills training, specialized job-skills training, and personalized career placement services.South Side Campus (SSC) is Cara's South Side campus and provides trainings and workshops similar to Cara's traditional program. The SSC also offers drop-in financial and digital literacy trainings and referrals to wraparound supportive services.Employment Retention ensures that participants of Cara have the tools needed for long-term selfsufficiency.Cara offers personal and professional coaching throughout each participant's first year of employment. These services include: regular one-on-one meetings with employed participants about on-the-job successes and challenges; and development of individual long-term goals, including goals related to housing, education, and debt repayment. As a result, over 70% or more of employed Cara participants receiving this support remain in their first job placement for at least one year. In addition to employment retention support, Cara's Career AdvancementProgram supports participants who have not only achieved stability in their personal and professional lives, but who also show an exceptional drive to grow in their careers. Once participants have been employed for at least six months and are established personally and professionally, they may opt in to career advancement services. 280493 1356 298040 TCP Staffing, LLC (TCP Staffing) dba Cara Connects, a wholly owned limited liability company started in 2011, was created to manage employment of individuals in the transitional jobs aspect of Cara Chicago. Cara Connects employs participants who are working transitional jobs for Cleanslate and Cara Chicago as well as select companies outside of the enterprise. In 2013, Cara Connects expanded to be a contract staffing firm dedicated to sourcing quality candidates to fulfill critical entry-level positions within Chicago's growing job market by providing temporary and temporary to permanent opportunities. 5239057 49265 3949147 Cleanslate Chicago, LLC (Cleanslate), a wholly-owned limited liability company started in 2005, provides exterior maintenance services to customers across Chicago. The program was created as a vehicle for individuals with significant obstacles to employment - particularly individuals with criminal backgrounds to gain on-the-job work experience and intensive support services through transitional jobs. Cleanslate is a complement to Cara and provides additional services and training opportunities for at-risk individuals. For tax purposes, Cleanslate is treated as a disregarded entity and will be included in Cara Chicago's financial statements and tax reporting. Under applicable accounting standards, Cara Chicago is required to prepare consolidated financial statements with Cleanslate Cara Works, LLC a wholly owned limited liability company started in 2018, was organized to further the charitable purpose of Cara Chicago by serving as employer of record for workers employed in transitional jobs through other social enterprises. 12249104 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 33 0 1 837 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 21 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 IL CA CT FL IN MA MD MI MN NC NY OH PA VA WA WI X X Cheryl Gavin 3127983311 237 S Desplaines Chicago IL 60661 Andrea O'Leary Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Andrew Davis Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Brenda Battle Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Chris Rafferty Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Doyoung Yong Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 J Todd Philips Director 4.00 X 0 0 0 Jaclyn Trovato Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Julie Owens Burns Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Keisha Mullings-Smith Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kelvin Buncum Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marta Delgado Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Regina Cross Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Rufus Smith Director 2.00 X 0 0 0 Scott Gidwitz Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Stephen Sheldon Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Steven Quirk Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Terrill North Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Thomas Owens Jr Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Wendy Raymer Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Willette Benford Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 William Eveland Director 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kathleen Caliento President/CEO 37.50 X 270826 0 29164 Tara Harper Chief External Affairs Officer 37.50 X 196049 0 17487 Matt Michalak Chief Financial Officer 37.50 X 0 0 0 Lauren Feldman Chief Operating Officer 37.50 X 178501 0 1936 Joel Pomerenk CFO 37.50 X 177285 0 6209 Kimberly Massenburg Chief Impact Officer 37.50 X 131739 0 19854 Brady Gott Chief Social Enterprise Officer 37.50 X 130629 0 26266 Joseph Mutuc CTO 37.50 X 118145 0 0 Cheryl Gavin Senior Controller 37.50 X 121255 0 14075 Kristen Boelkens HR Manager 37.50 X 110217 0 4903 Ron Holakovsky Manager 37.50 X 105284 0 2523 Mark Toriski Manager 37.50 X 101038 0 0 Liana Bran Manager 37.50 X 102025 0 0 1742993 0 122417 12 0 1 0 0 1212756 4455521 10366548 72000 16034825 Job contracts 561700 4368115 4368115 4368115 529587 529587 2090000 2043460 46540 46540 46540 195100 1212756 336233 -141133 -141133 38475 14191 24284 24284 Miscellaneous 900099 8464 8464 8464 20870682 4376579 0 459278 500820 500820 1275089 961871 187438 125780 9139414 6957465 1306798 875151 157931 114125 26130 17676 1054315 760482 175250 118583 748555 541443 123549 83563 36981 17202 13520 6259 828673 452659 218299 157715 12935 7198 167 5570 23294 1843 658 20793 566231 358242 149106 58883 499533 335711 101730 62092 228714 179824 30188 18702 76527 52185 14952 9390 538262 352512 133213 52537 211653 191950 12318 7385 Program supplies 208392 196806 6816 4770 Fees 174933 98794 27494 48645 Building Repairs & Main 106819 72831 21203 12785 Admissions screening 84453 84202 174 77 92365 10939 67228 14198 16565889 12249104 2616231 1700554 707404 4687714 8112240 8338785 790686 2311850 1035657 1191246 4088 13168 296806 355927 11261806 5065835 6412334 6195971 4039475 2079430 1288642 1347996 22687332 26522087 1145671 1294168 2888838 2608624 839820 454884 4874329 4357676 X 15874680 19704690 1938323 2459721 17813003 22164411 22687332 26522087 4304793 46615 0 X X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 8542988 7310304 7978184 17760243 16034825 57626544 8542988 7310304 7978184 17760243 16034825 57626544 5940939 51685605 24018 28488 86914 487334 529587 1156341 80494 11776 5107 22382 8464 128223 58911108 23152490 0.87730 0.93910 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 0 742244 742244 1113366 185561 185561 278342 1096940 137484 1234424 733350 265000 98590 1096940 672817 60533 733350 773938 -101121 672817 643642 130296 773938 0.72999 0.27001 0 0 8547497 3006923 5540574 118012 118012 0 2511297 1868650 642647 85000 72250 12750 6195971 BoA Merril Investment 2079430 F 2079430 Investments - endowment 1234424 Other long-term assets 45202 Accounts Receivable, net of current portion 68370 1347996 Accrued interest payable 4119 Refundable advances 450765 454884 X 21054405 46615 137108 183723 20870682 0 20870682 16702997 137108 137108 16565889 0 16565889 Part V, Line 4: It is the policy of the Organization to manage the endowment fund in a manner that will, at a minimum, preserve and maintain the real purchasing power of the principal while allowing for annual distributions to the operating budget. Part X, Line 2: FIN 48 note from Audited Financial Statements Cara Chicago was granted an exemption from federal income taxes by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The tax-exempt purpose of the Organization and the nature in which it operates is described in the first paragraph of Note 1. The Organization continues to operate in compliance with its tax-exempt purpose. Cleanslate Chicago, LLC, TCP Staffing, LLC dba Cara Connects, and Cara Works, LLC are single-member LLC's. For tax purposes, Cleanslate, Cara Connects, and Cara Works are treated as disregarded entities and are included in Cara Chicago's consolidated financial statements and tax reporting. The Organization's annual information and income tax returns filed with the federal and state governments are subject to examination, generally for three years after they are filed. The Organization has adopted the requirements for accounting for uncertain tax positions and management has determined that the Organization was not required to record a liability related to uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2025. X X X X X 1 Alford Group enter address here Chicago IL 60101 Consulting 0 96000 0 0 96000 Gala 1123656 950006 173650 105265 181185 Summer Social 157228 138278 18950 18384 400 2 126972 124472 2500 30110 889 1407856 1212756 195100 153759 182474 336233 -141133 38475 14191 0 38475 14191 14191 24284 IL 0 Raffle registration with the State of Illinois is not required. Organization obtained raffle license from the municipality. 0 0 0 1.00000 Cheryl Gavin 237 S DesPlaines Chicago IL 60661 0 0 Schedule G, Part I, Line 2b, Column (v) The Cara Program entered into an agreement with the Alford Group as part of the Englewood Expansion project. Per the attached agreement, we paid The Alford group for campaign consulting services. The total paid to the group was $96,000. The Alford group did not raise a single cent for The Cara Program during the year. 1 Transportation 1361 191450 Rental assistance, student support and other service 63 258638 Part III Transportation - The Cara Program provides transportation to/from our site for participants (clients) while they are participating in the program and for the first two weeks after placement. Support Service - The Cara Program offers assistance to participants in the form of rental, utility, vision (glasses) and other supports to give resources needed to succeed in the program as well as in the 1st year of employment. X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kathleen Caliento President/CEO 270826 0 0 0 0 0 8243 0 20921 0 299990 0 0 0 Tara Harper Chief External Affairs Officer 196049 0 0 0 0 0 8445 0 9042 0 213536 0 0 0 Joel Pomerenk CFO 177285 0 0 0 0 0 5807 0 402 0 183494 0 0 0 Lauren Feldman Chief Operating Officer 178501 0 0 0 0 0 1454 0 482 0 180437 0 0 0 Brady Gott Chief Social Enterprise Officer 130629 0 0 0 0 0 5910 0 20356 0 156895 0 0 0 Kimberly Massenburg Chief Impact Officer 131739 0 0 0 0 0 2677 0 17177 0 151593 0 0 0 Thomas Owens Jr and Julie Owens Bu Board of Directors 257500 The Organization received significant cash contributions from The Owens Foundation ($354,000 for year ended 6/30/22) which is controlled by members of the Owens family related to the above listed Board Members. 0 X Garbage Dumpsters 12 72000 FMV 0 0 0 Form 990, Page 1, Line 5 Number of Employees There are 696 employees reported on Form 990 which includes: 97 2023 W-2s from payroll of The Cara Program (FEIN 36-4268095); 565 2023 W-2s from payroll of TCP Staffing, LLC (FEIN 38-3859756) and 34 2023 W-2s from payroll of Cleanslate Chicago LLC (FEIN 20-4914943). TCP Staffing LLC and Cleanslate Chicago LLC are both single member LLCs and disregarded entities of The Cara Program. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 Thomas Owens Jr. and Julie Owens, members of the Board of Directors, have a family relationship. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b THE RETURN IS EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED BY THE CFO AND CONTROLLER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RETURN IS REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT & CEO. THE 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c At the start of each board meeting Directors are asked if there are any new conflicts to report. They are encouraged to report conflicts as they occur. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves the salary of the President of the Organization and compares it to other Chicago area not for profit organizations. Salaries of other staff members are regularly reviewed and compared to other not for profit organizations for fairness and competitiveness. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The audit report is posted on the Illinois Attorney General's website. Governing documents are available upon request. Form 990, Part XII, line 2c: The process has not changed from the prior year. Cleanslate Chicago LLC 6027 W Wentworth Ave Chicago IL 60621 204914943 to assist individuals who have significant obstacles to employment IL 372265 1317695 TCP Staffing LLC 237 S Desplaines Chicago IL 60661 383859756 to manage employment of individuals participating in transitional jobs IL 2847 1140550 Cara Works LLC 237 S Desplaines Chicago IL 60661 352612536 to serve as employer of record for workers employed in transitional jobs IL 0 0 1 1