# Stories Matter Foundation

Arts education nonprofit in Chicago, Illinois 60613. EIN 47-4664604. Data as of November 8, 2026.

Page: https://backpr.com/find/nonprofit/474664604-stories-matter-foundation

## Mission (the organization's own words)

> We build communities of storytellers trained to question, explore, celebrate, and change their worlds using the power of story.

Source: Form 990, year ending Dec 2022: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474664604/202322559349300527/full

## IRS facts

- Type: Arts education (IRS activity code A25)
- Tax status: 501(c)(3), contributions deductible, recognized 2015
- Source: IRS Business Master File, posted October 13, 2026: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf

## Finances (IRS Form 990 e-file data)

| Year ending | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Employees | Volunteers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | $800,756 | $679,928 | $511,150 | $428,537 | 4 | - | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474664604/202322559349300527/full) |
| Dec 2021 | $619,933 | $517,988 | $368,485 | $366,710 | 4 | 25 | [Form 990](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474664604/202201409349301225/full) |

Expense split, year ending Dec 2022: programs $609,588 (90%), management $50,468 (7%), fundraising $19,872 (3%).

Revenue sources, year ending Dec 2022: gifts and grants $81,804, program fees $706,462, investment income $0.

Growth label: **Growing** (about +29% a year, Dec 2021 to Dec 2022). Growth label: we compare total revenue on the oldest and the newest return shown above. Growing means revenue rose by more than 10% a year on average, Shrinking means it fell by more than 10% a year, and Steady means a change between -10% and +10% a year. The rate is the compounded yearly average between the two returns, so it hides ups and downs in between (see the table). We only label groups with returns at least a year apart and at least $5,000 of revenue on the oldest one. This is our own calculation, not an IRS rating or a judgment of quality.

## How it compares

- Revenue rank: 7 of 106 arts education nonprofits in Chicago.
- Revenue $1,178,792 is higher than roughly 80 to 90% of 74 arts education nonprofits in Illinois; median $194,994.
- Source: IRS Business Master File, posted October 13, 2026; BackPR analysis.

## Local context

- Cook County, Illinois: about 1,053,196 children under 18 (U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2024): https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2024/counties/asrh/cc-est2024-agesex-all.csv
- 2,288 youth and community nonprofits in this directory in the county: 2.2 per 1,000 children.
- Licensed programs in Chicago: 780 licensed child care centers: https://backpr.com/find/illinois/chicago
- Illinois rules: https://backpr.com/resources/states/illinois

## Questions

**What is Stories Matter Foundation's EIN?**

Stories Matter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4664604. It is the nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify the organization. Source: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File posted October 13, 2026.

**Is Stories Matter Foundation a nonprofit?**

Yes. The IRS lists Stories Matter Foundation in Chicago, Illinois as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), recognized since 2015. This is from the IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026. Status can change, so check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.

**Are donations to Stories Matter Foundation tax-deductible?**

Yes, the IRS lists gifts to Stories Matter Foundation as tax-deductible (IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026). How much you can deduct depends on your own taxes, and this is not tax advice. Check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.

**What does Stories Matter Foundation do?**

In its own words on its Form 990 for the year ending Dec 2022: "We build communities of storytellers trained to question, explore, celebrate, and change their worlds using the power of story." The IRS classifies it as: Arts education.

**How much money does Stories Matter Foundation take in?**

For the year ending Dec 2022, Stories Matter Foundation reported total revenue of $800,756 and total expenses of $679,928 on its Form 990 (IRS Form 990 e-file data).

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Data as of November 8, 2026. Sources: IRS Business Master File, IRS Form 990 series e-file data, U.S. Census Bureau. No officer or staff names are published.