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Chicago Architecture Foundation
Also known as Chicago Architecture Center (Cac)
Chicago Architecture Foundation reported $14.7 million in revenue and $12.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $61.69 went to program services, $29.33 to management and general costs and $8.98 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 52.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $418,184 (CEO & President). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 31% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 61.7% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 29.3% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 44.3% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.4% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 52.2% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $418,184 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.41% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.5 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 30 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseTours are the hallmark of the Chicago Architecture center and offer insights into chicago's buildings, neighborhoods, and environments. In 2024 tour attendance was approximately 25,200 for walking tours and over 395,000 for boat tours. Cac tours are given by 439 trained volunteer docents who also write and conceptualize the tour offerings for boat, bus, walking and el
In 2024, the youth & family learning team averaged 17 unique programs per month, and 644 participants per month in those programs. This is a 22% increase from 2023 participation numbers (524/mo) and 133% increase in programs offered (7/mo). Our core programming included teen fellows, saturday studios, family festivals, and girls build!. We welcomed a new class of teen fellows and there was an 8% increase in girls build! Students agreeing on the importance of women in STEM (up to 97% from 90% in 2023)
Cac offers exhibitions and public programs on the subject of architecture and the built environment. In 2024, over 37,473 people participated in our exhibitions. The center offers a skyscraper gallery, rotating exhibits and a large-scale interactive model of the city of chicago
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 & President Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $387,784 | $0 | $30,400 | $418,184 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $231,662 | $0 | $18,149 | $249,811 |
| Chief Strategy Officer Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $161,442 | $0 | $14,530 | $175,972 |
| Curator Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $149,738 | $0 | $13,477 | $163,215 |
| Chief Advancement Officer Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $149,709 | $0 | $13,473 | $163,182 |
| Chief Marketing Officer Officer, 37.5 hrs/week | $125,424 | $0 | $11,288 | $136,712 |
| VP of Learning Highest compensated employee, 37.5 hrs/week | $122,292 | $0 | $11,007 | $133,299 |
| HR Director Highest compensated employee, 32.8 hrs/week | $120,836 | $0 | $10,875 | $131,711 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chicago Architecture Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (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
2024 · 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–1b30 · 30 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 5156
- Volunteers Part I, line 6439
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Chicago Architecture Foundation totaling $207K 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 Architecture 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 Chicago Architecture Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Chicago Architecture Foundation spent in 2024, $61.69 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 arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of Chicago Architecture Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Chicago Architecture Foundation reported that 61.7% of its $12.3 million in expenses went to program services, 29.3% to management and general and 9.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chicago Architecture Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chicago Architecture Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $418,184, for the role of CEO & President (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chicago Architecture Foundation get its money?
Of $14.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 44.3% came from contributions and grants (including 4.4% from government grants) and 52.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chicago Architecture Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-6144362 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512729349301341 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403199349303920 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333189349319023 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243199349317319 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202132789349301393 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022959349301852 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-6144362: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.