Nonprofit · EIN 88-4195004
COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Tax-exempt · WAUKEGAN, IL 60085
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $198,324 | $202,052 | -$3,728 | $28,879 | $0 | $28,879 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $238,036 | $271,400 | -$33,364 | $32,787 | $180 | $32,607 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $162,076 | $96,105 | $65,971 | $69,171 | $0 | $69,171 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $191,766
- Membership dues
- $6,558
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $86,830
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $173,606
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $2,503
- Occupancy
- $25,943
- Program services (functional)
- $129,464
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $32,787
- Total assets, end of year
- $28,879
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $28,879
- Cash, savings and investments
- $28,879
- Gross receipts
- $198,324
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritza Rocha | Executive Director | 40 | $86,830 |
| Linda Wiens | President | 5 | $0 |
| Mark Nolte | Treasurer | 5 | $0 |
| Gale Graves | Secretary | 5 | $0 |
| Yareli Salgado | Director | 5 | $0 |
| Cory Ratliff | Director | 5 | $0 |
| Azuree Winston | Director | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritza Rocha | Executive Director Officer, Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,430 |
| Linda Wiens | President Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Nolte | Treasurer Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Gale Graves | Secretary Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Yareli Salgado | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Cory Ratliff | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Azuree Winston | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritza Rocha | Executive Director | 40 | $26,250 |
| Linda Wiens | President | 1 | $0 |
| Mark Nolte | Treasurer | 1 | $0 |
| Gale Graves | Secretary | 1 | $0 |
| Yarelio Salgado | Director | 1 | $0 |
| Cory Ratliff | Director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 401 N GENESEE ST, WAUKEGAN, IL 60085-4005
- In care of
- % BARBARA WALLER
- Signed the 990-EZ
- Ivan Gomez, Treasurer
- Phone
- (224) 877-1067
- Website
- clewaukegan.org
Mission
Cool Learning Experience offers out of school programs for school aged children in the Waukegan area, using STEAM-based age appropriate curriculum with an environmental focus.
Program accomplishments
- Cool Learning Experience (CLE) continued its commitment to high-quality, nature-based programming aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), while integrating social-emotional learning, social justice, and environmental education. This year, CLE connected over 250 people to nature through 45+ outdoor outings. Family and community events included the Earth Month & Migrating Birds Celebration (April) and Nature Fun Fest (August), hosted with partners such as REI, Sharing Our Shore Waukegan, Lake County Forest Preserves, and the Lake County Audubon Society. Families engaged in hands-on activities like T-shirt recycling, seed bomb making, and sustainability education. The Cool Summer Experience (June-August) enrolled 48 youth-a 20% increase-expanding to two four-week sessions with 85% of programming outdoors and average attendance above 70%. Notably, 75% of Program Assistants were former CLE participants, underscoring CLE's commitment to cultivating future community leaders.Expenses $129,464 · grants $127,000
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 88-4195004
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2023
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B90)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $28,879
- Income (IRS master file)
- $198,324
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $198,324 | $202,052 | $28,879 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $238,036 | $271,400 | $32,787 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $162,076 | $96,105 | $69,171 | XML |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 88-4195004).
Questions about COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE
- What is the EIN of COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE is 88-4195004.
- Is COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2023.
- Are donations to COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $86,830 (Maritza Rocha, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does COOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $198,324, expenses of $202,052 and total assets of $28,879 at year end.
Other nonprofits in WAUKEGAN
- COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF LAKE COUNTY EIN 36-2580774 · last filed 990 for 2024
- CRISTO REY ST MARTIN COLLEGE PREP EIN 42-1597059 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CHICAGO WORKERS COLLABORATIVE EIN 26-1470308 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WAUKEGAN TO COLLEGE NFP EIN 45-4860376 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LAKE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION EIN 23-7094399 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN NURSERY SCHOOL EIN 36-2258522 · last filed 990 for 2024
- FOCUS FOR OUR CHILDRENS UNDISTRACTED SUCCESS EIN 47-5114016 · last filed 990-PF for 2026
- AFFIRM LEADERSHIP CHRISTIAN ACADEMY INC EIN 36-4365823 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025