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Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Common Threads
Address:	500 North Dearborn Street, Suite 530
	Chicago, IL 60654
Phone:	312-329-2501
Web Address:	www.commonthreads.org

Common Threads (CT) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

CT provides after-school programs to children between 8 and 12 years old who live in areas of economic deprivation. The programs employ the creative cooking process to provide the next generation with skills and knowledge of how to choose and prepare healthy food, while working to reduce social risks for inner-city youth by keeping students off the streets and enrolled in a safe, productive after-school program. Chef instructors teach students how to prepare well-balanced meals using fresh, inexpensive, wholesome ingredients. Each week the curriculum focuses on a different country, such as China, India, Italy, Senegal or Mexico, and the children cook three to four nutritious, ethnic recipes from that specific culture. The programs also seek to engage parents and families alongside the students to build healthier family units and healthier, stronger communities.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, CT's program expenses were:

Program services	733,767
Total Program Expenses:	$733,767

Chief Executive : Linda Novick O'Keefe, Executive Director

Compensation*:

$117,589

Chair of the Board: Art Smith
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Executive Chef, TABLE fifty-two

Board Size: 24

Paid Staff Size: 9

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Special events, print advertisements, television, grant proposals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 15% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,350,761, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on CT's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds
Special events revenue	608,334
Grant revenue: foundations, organizations and corporations	277,700
In-kind contributions	265,192
Donated facilities	114,100
Contributions: organizations and corporations	60,905
Contributions: individuals	22,530
Investment income	21,466
Grant revenue: government	2,000
Program service fees	1,927
Merchandise sales	1,485
Total Income	$1,375,639

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 71%  Fund Raising: 19%  Administrative: 10%

Total income				$1,375,639
	Program expenses			$733,767
	Fund raising expenses			197,102
	Administrative expenses			97,854
Total expenses				$1,028,723
Income in Excess of Expenses				346,916
Beginning net assets				638,174
Ending net assets				985,090
Total liabilities				12,488
Total assets				$997,578

Note: CT reports receiving in-kind contributions in the amount of $265,192 for kitchen rent and supplies.