Chicago Heights Non-Profits Lose Tax-Exempt Status

Nearly a dozen local non-profits were included in an Internal Revenue Service list of Illinois organizations whose tax-exempt status was automatically revoked due to failure to file an annual return.

The list, released June 8, includes 275,000 agencies that lost their tax status after failing to file a return for three consecutive years. The loss of tax-exempt status means that anyone who makes a donation cannot claim it on the following year’s tax return.

But according to IRS spokesman Michael Devine, in many cases those groups would no longer be accepting donations anyway—they’re probably defunct.

Here's a look at the non-profit organizations listed on the IRS release:

• Southeast Cook County Community   
• Christ Ecumenical Center          
• Am I My Brothers Keeper           
• American Federation Of State County
• American Federation Of Teachers   
• Chicago Heights Chapter 675 Women 
• Dravo Charitable Foundation       
• Evergreen Park Community HS Foundation
• Family Health Society Inc         
• Family Success                    
• High Praise Ministries Inc        
• I Am Ministries                   
• Latin-American Club Of Chicago    
• Lithuanian Junior League          
• Longwood Farms Garden Club       
• Lovie Jackson Delgado Memorial Assn
• New First Community Housing Dev Org
• Reconciliation Resource Ministries
• Sharing With The Sheep Inc        
• Southland Health Link Inc         
• Sweeneys Swamp Duck Club Inc      
• The Immaculate Heart Of Mary      
• Unity C B Club                    
• Unsung Heroes Foundation          
• Young Ambassador Center

The automatic revocation stems out of the 2006 Pension Protection Act, which requires most non-profits to file returns or notices annually. Prior to 2006, many non-profits weren’t required to file the documents if they took in less than $25,000 in tax-deductible contributions per year. But because the language was buried in the many pages of the law, many groups missed the memo.

Devine said the agency sent out more than 1 million notices to inform nonprofits about the new rule. The IRS list hopes to reach donors and educate them that organizations are no longer eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

If a nonprofit is still functioning, however, Devine said it’s possible for them to regain tax-exempt status.

“The best thing they can do is to contact the IRS,” he said. The group can then reapply for tax-exempt status, he said.

For a complete list of Illinois non-profits included in the automatic revocation, click here.

Editor's note: Portions of this article were used from  and .