The Ark
The Ark reported $14.2 million in revenue and $12.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $73.34 went to program services, $14.42 to management and general costs and $12.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $317,125 (CEO). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 41% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.3% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.4% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.2% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.9% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $317,125 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.64% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 25.7 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 27 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSocial service assistance: provides case management, food, rent, utility and financial assistance, and legal aid to low-income individuals and families from the ark's headquarters in chicago. 4,200 clients served
Housing program: provides financial assistance with housing and utility payments to prevent homelessness, manage a few rent-reduced apartments, and assists with temporary hotel stays during crisis. 544 clients served
Intensive day program: addresses the needs of individuals who suffer from chronic mental illness. Oversees clients' housing and budgeting, offers family support; provides therapeutic classes, group activities, communal meals. 174 clients served
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $295,559 | $0 | $21,566 | $317,125 |
| CFAO Officer, 45.0 hrs/week | $193,563 | $0 | $9,373 | $202,936 |
| Director of Development Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $167,609 | $0 | $14,008 | $181,617 |
| Dentist Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $142,691 | $0 | $13,980 | $156,671 |
| Director of Marketing and Communications Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $138,313 | $0 | $6,401 | $144,714 |
| Director of Evaluation and Special Projects Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $135,625 | $0 | $2,254 | $137,879 |
| Pharmacist Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $117,535 | $0 | $6,096 | $123,631 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Ark (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $517K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b27 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 567
- Volunteers Part I, line 64,284
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PENTEGRA SYSTEMS Consulting | $628,483 |
| MID TOWN DISTRIBUTIONS Food distribution | $267,095 |
| JFMC FACILITIES CORPORATION Property management | $220,396 |
| HOUSTON PROTECTION & INVESTIGATION SERVICE INC Security | $186,264 |
| BOS Furnishing | $177,524 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
75 private foundations reported grants to The Ark totaling $1.5M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Ark's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Ark, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Ark spent in FY2025, $73.34 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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- Jewish Community Center of Greater BuffaloGetzville, NY · revenue $14M · programs 91.5% · FY2026
All human services charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of The Ark's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Ark reported that 73.3% of its $12.0 million in expenses went to program services, 14.4% to management and general and 12.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Ark pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Ark reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $317,125, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Ark get its money?
Of $14.2 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Ark a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7164967 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202513509349300031 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202510229349300116 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411299349302526 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301259349302255 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202231329349303543 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101339349304415 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7164967: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.