Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation
Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation reported $15.1 million in revenue and $17.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.74 went to program services, $3.38 to management and general costs and $2.88 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $186,889 (MANAGING DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS). 5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 32% 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 $17MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 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 $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 3.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $186,889 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 6 | 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 expenseThe cff mission is to support Chicago Public schools (cps) goal of preparing every student for success in college, career and civic life. Operating as an independent 501(c)(3), cff proactively engages partnerships and external resources, facilitating support and raising funds, maximizing impact for supporters of cps' students, and advancing equity across the district. Cff is committed to supporting the district by being a trusted, independent philanthropic arm identifying and communicating cps' most urgent needs to partners and ensuring the fidelity of their investments
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANAGING DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,825 | $0 | $13,064 | $186,889 |
| DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $147,067 | $0 | $12,919 | $159,986 |
| DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,375 | $0 | $11,417 | $134,792 |
| DIRECTOR OF ROADMAP FUNDRAISING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,111 | $0 | $12,553 | $125,664 |
| MANAGER, HR & OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $107,000 | $0 | $2,858 | $109,858 |
5 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation (Part VII, line 2).
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–1b6 · 6 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 55
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BELLWETHER EDUCATION PARTNERS INC Support planning, advising &developing p | $367,930 |
| ELECTRICAL JOINT APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAI Student programming | $160,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
12 private foundations reported grants to Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation totaling $4.8M 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 Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation spent in FY2025, $93.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Management CenterWashington, DC · revenue $15M · programs 79.8% · 2025
- Frederica AcademySt Simons Island, GA · revenue $15M · programs 79.5% · FY2025
- Barr CenterSt Louis Park, MN · revenue $15M · programs 91.3% · FY2025
- Presbyterian Day SchoolMemphis, TN · revenue $15M · programs 83.7% · FY2025
- Working America Education FundWashington, DC · revenue $15M · programs 92.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation reported that 93.7% of its $17.2 million in expenses went to program services, 3.4% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $186,889, for the role of MANAGING DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation get its money?
Of $15.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 94.5% came from contributions and grants (including 1.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-4094830 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 202630839349300438 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501059349302060 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410939349301906 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331329349308298 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221309349305462 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131329349303798 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-4094830: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.