I am thinking about making a contribution to a large charity called
the Chicago Commons Association at 3645 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL  
60651.  Their EIN is 36-2169136.

Before I do make a contribution, I would like to know if there is
information out there that would make me reconsider doing so.  Has
there been any negative information on this charity over the past few
years?  How strong is its leadership?  Has there been any recent
changes in its leadership?  Are they spending their money wisely?

Greetings Richatlii:

As found at Guidestar, the national database of non-profit
organizations, at http://www.guidestar.org -
a financial snapshot of the year ending 2001 may be seen on their page
at http://www.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&npoId=487790

***********

I located an article from the Chicago Reporter regarding agency
rankings.  These are located at
http://www.chicagoreporter.com/1999/10-99/1099adoptionexclusive.htm
and they have 2 lists.

In "Agencies ranked by performance, from best to worst, for children
placed in the homes of relatives" it ranked 24th.

In "Agencies ranked by performance, from best to worst, for children
placed in non-relative homes" it ranked 10th.

Their source is cited as the Illinois Department of Children and
Family Services.

************

From http://comm-org.utoledo.edu/papers2003/tjerandsen/Chapter9.htm

"In Altoona, the Highlander staff workers who tried to start
something, "from out of nowhere," as it were, were unable to overcome
the mistrust of community residents. In Lackawanna, there was no real
invitation; Catholic Charities of Buffalo merely agreed to accept and
spend the money. There was no genuine burning desire to organize; the
organizing effort never seemed to come to grips with interests and
issues in the community. This could be said of several of the
neighborhood house projects as well. Chicago Commons Association (CCA)
and Hull House can be cited as further examples of the gap between the
would-be helper and the community because of fundamental differences
in values and perceptions of community needs."

and

"At the other extreme, Chicago Commons Association was able to elicit
virtually no response to its class or discussion group offerings and
even to its ultimate attempt to offer individual instruction in
English to immigrant residents of the community."

***********

I found no other slightly negative information other than what is
above.  I hope this information is of assistance to you in making your
donation decision.  If you are looking for additional organization to
support, you might review those ranking lists mentioned above at
http://www.chicagoreporter.com/1999/10-99/1099adoptionexclusive.htm

Best regards,
journalist-ga


SEARCH STRATEGY:

"Chicago Commons Association" http://www.chicagocommons.org/
"Chicago Commons Association" trouble
"Chicago Commons Association" litigation
"Chicago Commons Association" theft
"Chicago Commons Association" embezzlement
"Chicago Commons Association" arrest
"Chicago Commons Association" misuse funds
"Chicago Commons Association" leadership
"Chicago Commons Association" operations

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Request for Answer Clarification by richatlii-ga on 09 Jul 2003 07:37 PDT

This is not much info for such a large charity.  Why is that?  Is the
information not on the web, but in propietary databases?  Where or how
should I go about my due diligence on this entity?

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 09 Jul 2003 08:52 PDT

Hi Richatlii:

There was also positive information, I was just focusing on what was
negative or slightly negative regarding your statement "I would like
to know if there is information out there that would make me
reconsider doing so."  I'll be happy to give you some positive links
about CCA if you wish.

I chose the keywords and phrases that I felt might reveal negative
press.  There may be some information in proprietary (paid
subscription) databases or you might visit the county courthouse to
see if any lawsuits have been filed against them.  I found none in my
searches.

I'll be happy to do additional searches for you online from public
domain sources.  Just let me know how you'd like me to proceed.

Best regards,
journalist-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by richatlii-ga on 10 Jul 2003 11:56 PDT

Hi richatlii-ga, 

In Chicago Common's annual report, 
http://www.chicagocommons.org/2002AnnualReport.pdf, page 2, letter
from the Chairman, he talked about all the troubles they had in early
1991 and how they are all behind them.  I was looking for information
regarding these troubles and anything on what they did to effect
change.

Additionally, I would pay another $10 for a biography and news items
on their new chairman, Frank C. Schell III.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 11 Jul 2003 07:35 PDT

I checked the archives of the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago
Tribune yesterday for references to him and I found nothing of
consequence.  There is another page on the site you mentioned above at
http://www.chicagocommons.org/ccfall2002news.pdf where a message from
Schell is located.

If you have access to a Lexis Nexis subscription at
http://www.lexisnexis.com you may be able to find articles there - in
the public domain, I'm not locating any negative press.  See
http://web.lexis.com/xchange/ccsubs/cc_prods.asp for fees and
subscription information.

If you have any other names or terms you would like me to search that
might lead to any CCA or Schell information, please post them here and
I'll be happy to perform additional searches.

Best regards,
journalist-ga