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Challenge Unlimited

Alton, IL · EIN 37-0805566 · 501(c)(3) · Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Latest filing: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (tax year 2024) · View the filing · Correct or respond

Challenge Unlimited reported $33.8 million in revenue and $33.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.83 went to program services, $15.17 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 97.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $325,359 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 18% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.

Where $100 of spending went

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $34M

For context, the median across 409 covered employment charities: $88.97 programs, $11.03 management, $0.00 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).

Where $100 of revenue came from

The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $34M

The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades

FY2025 filing. Median across 409 covered charities in this category, from their latest filings.
MeasureFY2025Median
Program services
Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A)
84.8%88.0%
Management & general
Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A)
15.2%10.9%
Fundraising
Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A)
0.0%0.0%
Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions
Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h
Not reported$0.00
Contributions & grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1h ÷ 12
0.6%22.8%
Government grants share of revenue
Part VIII 1e ÷ 12
0.6%1.4%
Program service revenue share
Part VIII 2g ÷ 12
97.6%62.6%
Highest reported compensation
Part VII-A, columns D–F
$325,359$297,435
Highest compensation as share of expenses
Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A)
0.96%1.26%
People paid over $100,000
Part VII, line 2
56
Net assets, in months of expenses
Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses
5.68.1
Independent voting board members
Part VI 1a–1b
9 of 9100.0%

A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.

What the money paid for, in its own words

FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expense
$25M expenses · 87.1% of program spending

Vocational development - provide disabled people with an assessment of abilities and a skilled training program to prepare them for competitive employment

$3.0M expenses · 10.4% of program spending

Developmental training services - provide employment, social, recreational and life skills to severely disabled people

$703K expenses · 2.4% of program spending

Community support service - provide the mentally ill with work and on the job training in order to place them with employers and reduce the frequency of psychological hospitalization

Highest reported compensation

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here
RoleFrom this orgFrom related orgsOtherTotal
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$302,496$0$22,863$325,359
EXECUTIVE VP OF FINANCE
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$178,606$0$16,298$194,904
VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$140,582$0$22,283$162,865
VP OF RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$122,806$0$10,798$133,604
EXECUTIVE VP OF PROGRAM SE
Officer, 40.00 hrs/week
$114,240$0$10,798$125,038

5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Challenge Unlimited (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $645K (Part IX, line 5).

6 years of filings

Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linked
RevenueExpenses
$0$10M$20M$30M$40MFY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025$34M$34M
FilingRevenueExpensesProgramsNet assetsTop pay
FY2025 ⓘ$34M$34M84.8%$16M$325,359
FY2024 ⓘ$32M$32M81.9%$16M$313,837
FY2023 ⓘ$30M$31M84.2%$16M$309,401
FY2022 ⓘ$27M$31M74.2%$16M$305,569
FY2021 ⓘ$28M$28M82.7%$20M$297,046
FY2020 ⓘ$29M$28M82.2%$19M$338,136

Governance answers, as filed

FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means
  • Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b9 · 9 independent
  • Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
  • Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
  • Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
  • Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aNo
  • Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
  • Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
  • Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
  • Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
  • Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
  • Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
  • Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
  • Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
  • Employees Part I, line 5776

Largest outside contractors

FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only
ORKIN
Pest control
$284,838
PAUL DAVIS OF SOUTHEAST ST LOUIS
Restoration
$166,622
KINNUCAN COMPANY
Tree service
$164,959
TOM MOEHN
Consulting
$107,676

Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.

Private foundation grants it received

2 private foundations reported grants to Challenge Unlimited totaling $10,594 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.

Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.

Correct a figure or respond

Every number above is copied from Challenge Unlimited's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Challenge Unlimited, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.

Similar-sized charities in this cause

All employment charities · Largest charities in Illinois

Questions people ask

How much of Challenge Unlimited's spending goes to programs?

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Challenge Unlimited reported that 84.8% of its $33.9 million in expenses went to program services, 15.2% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).

How much does Challenge Unlimited pay its top executive?

The largest total compensation Challenge Unlimited reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $325,359, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).

Where does Challenge Unlimited get its money?

Of $33.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 0.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.6% from government grants) and 97.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).

Is Challenge Unlimited a registered charity?

The IRS lists EIN 37-0805566 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.

Sources

  • FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202533579349300708 · read the filing · XML
  • FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202520159349300752 · read the filing
  • FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420319349301812 · read the filing
  • FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202340129349304104 · read the filing
  • FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200179349301025 · read the filing
  • FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110299349300711 · read the filing

All filings for EIN 37-0805566: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.