Chicago Commons Association
Chicago Commons Association reported $53.9 million in revenue and $54.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.45 went to program services, $9.31 to management and general costs and $1.24 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $378,486 (President & CEO). 13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 81% 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 $55MFor 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 $54MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.4% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.2% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.22 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 5.7% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.5% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $378,486 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.69% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 13 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.2 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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 expenseEarly Childhood Development:Chicago Commons has four directly operated early education centers and partners with six external agencies to offer developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, high quality child care, and family centered supports to more than 1,700 children in 18 of Chicago's most disadvantaged communities. Chicago Commons was one of the first preschools in the U.S. to use the Reggio Emilia approach in educating young children and has garnered regional and national recognition for our approach, results, and adaptations of the method. The Reggio Emilia approach is an…
Senior Services:Chicago Commons Senior Services operates one adult day service center and provides in-home services for seniors and adults with disabilities. The program provided services to 1,000 seniors and adults with disabilities to help them continue living in their own home prolonging, and in some cases preventing, the need for institutional care
Family Hub:Chicago Commons Family Hub Program seeks to address the multifaceted needs of families with young children and older adults with the support, resources, and holistic approach that will enable success. Family Hub pairs early education and senior programs with employment, post-secondary education, financial wellness, and health and wellness services
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $343,745 | $0 | $34,741 | $378,486 |
| Chief Human Resource Officer Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $211,625 | $0 | $21,019 | $232,644 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $198,184 | $0 | $4,708 | $202,892 |
| Chief Strategy Officer Key employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $197,293 | $0 | $5,174 | $202,467 |
| Chief Development Officer Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $182,197 | $0 | $19,429 | $201,626 |
| VP Early Education Key employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $189,320 | $0 | $7,566 | $196,886 |
| VP Finance Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $160,496 | $0 | $15,986 | $176,482 |
| VP Facilities Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $145,383 | $0 | $15,858 | $161,241 |
13 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Commons Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b16 · 16 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 11aNo
- 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 4Yes
- 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 5850
- Volunteers Part I, line 621
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Childcare Careers LLC Substitute Teachers | $1,346,066 |
| Eyes on the Future Day Care Services | $377,303 |
| Lakeshore Learning Academy Day Care Services | $313,862 |
| Outsource Partners International Accounting Services | $257,598 |
| RSM US LLP Audit Services | $206,236 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Commons Association totaling $382K 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 Chicago Commons Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chicago Commons Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chicago Commons Association spent in FY2025, $89.45 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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All human services charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Chicago Commons Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Chicago Commons Association reported that 89.4% of its $54.6 million in expenses went to program services, 9.3% to management and general and 1.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chicago Commons Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chicago Commons Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $378,486, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chicago Commons Association get its money?
Of $53.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 5.7% came from contributions and grants and 93.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chicago Commons Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2169136 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 202631349349303828 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531349349312713 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431359349310538 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349302747 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241369349311404 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121379349301402 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2169136: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.