The Chicago Community Trust
Provides grants and other resources to improve the community; addresses community challenges; and promotes philanthropy by informing donors about philanthropic opportunities.
IRS Tax Year 2023
Period ending September 30, 2024
Total Revenue
$2.5B
Total Expenses
$1.5B
Net Assets
$6.0B
Employees
157
Volunteers
17
Grants Paid
$1.5B
Program Expense Ratio
98.3%
Fundraising Efficiency
57160.4%
This nonprofit profile presents IRS Form 990 tax filing data for The Chicago Community Trust (EIN: 36-2167000), based on the 2023 tax year annual return filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
Sections below include financial summaries (revenue, expenses, and net assets), program accomplishments, officer and key employee compensation, detailed executive pay breakdowns, top independent contractors, governance policies and audit information, related tax-exempt organizations. All figures are reported in USD as filed.
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Financial Health
Transparency
Compensation
Program Effectiveness
Financial Stability
Risk Flags
Indicators derived from IRS Form 990 data. Not financial advice.
The Chicago Community Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in CHICAGO, IL, founded in 1915. The organization has held tax-exempt status since 1951. In its 2023 filing, the organization reported $2.5B in total revenue, a 59.8% increase from the prior year, and $1.5B in total expenses. The organization employed 157 people and engaged 17 volunteers. Andrea Saenz, President & CEO, is the highest-compensated individual at $655,609. The organization runs 1 program, totaling $1.5B in program expenses. 6 of 6 recommended governance policies are in place.
The Chicago Community Trust is classified under NTEE code T310. Its foundation type is 15.
Programs(Tax Year 2023)
1 record
The Chicago Community Trust operates 1 program, with total program expenses of $1.5B. The Chicago Community Trust's largest program accounts for 100% of total program spending.
See Schedule F and Schedule I for list of grants made. See Schedule O for most significant program accomplishments.
Financial Overview(Tax Years 2019–2023)
5 records
Over the past 5 years, The Chicago Community Trust's revenue has grown from $862.3M to $2.5B, a 184.8% increase. Program expenses represent 98% of total spending.
Revenue increased 59.8% year-over-year, while expenses declined 5.6%. net assets rose to $6.0B, up 33.3% from the prior year. the organization added 4 employees.
The Chicago Community Trust derives 86% from contributions and grants, with 13% from investment income.
Revenue is primarily driven by contributions and grants (86%), with investment income at 13%.
The Chicago Community Trust allocates 98% to programs, 1% to management and general, 0% to fundraising.
Revenue grew by 59.8% while expenses declined by only 5.6%, suggesting improving operational efficiency.
The Chicago Community Trust distributed $1.5B in grants to other organizations and individuals, representing 97% of total expenses.
Over 5 filings from 2019–2023, The Chicago Community Trust grew revenue from $862.3M to $2.5B (+184.8%) while maintaining a program expense ratio of 98%. During this period, the organization grew from 138 to 157 employees.
The Chicago Community Trust holds $6.0B in total assets against $38.9M in liabilities (debt-to-asset ratio of 1%). The organization has 47.2 months of operating reserves. Cash and equivalents of $402K cover approximately 0.0 months of expenses.
Revenue
| Year | Total Revenue | Contributions | Gov't Grants | Program Revenue | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2.5B | $2.1B | $0 | $0 | $331.2M |
| 2022 | $1.5B | $1.4B | $0 | $0 | $150.0M |
| 2021 | $1.9B | $1.6B | $0 | $0 | $231.4M |
| 2020 | $2.0B | $1.8B | $11.1M | $0 | $208.7M |
| 2019 | $862.3M | $706.7M | $15.0M | $0 | $154.1M |
Expenses
| Year | Total Expenses | Program | Management | Fundraising | Grants Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.5B | $1.5B | $22.3M | $3.7M | $1.5B |
| 2022 | $1.6B | $1.6B | $20.4M | $3.6M | $1.6B |
| 2021 | $1.5B | $1.5B | $24.1M | $3.6M | $1.5B |
| 2020 | $1.4B | $1.4B | $19.7M | $3.1M | $1.4B |
| 2019 | $606.5M | $586.6M | $17.2M | $2.6M | $576.9M |
Program Expense Ratio
98.3%
Admin Expense Ratio
1.5%
Fundraising Efficiency
57160.4%
Operating Reserve
47.2 mo
People & Compensation(Tax Year 2023)
28 records
The Chicago Community Trust reported compensation for 28 officers and key employees. Total officer compensation was $3.1M, representing 0.2% of total expenses. 1 individual received total compensation exceeding $500,000.
The Chicago Community Trust's highest-compensated individual received $656K in total compensation. Total officer compensation of $3.1M represents 0.2% of total expenses. 1 individual received total compensation exceeding $500,000.
| Name | Title | Type | Hours/wk | Comp from Org | Related Orgs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Saenz | President & CEO | Officer | 38.00 | $596,277 | $0 | $655,609 |
| Jessica Strausbaugh | Chief Financial Officer | Officer | 37.00 | $322,265 | $0 | $343,093 |
| Clothilde A Ewing | VP Strategic Communications | Highest Comp | 40.00 | $260,251 | $0 | $311,562 |
| Lisa Jericho | VP Innovation & Technology | Key Employee | 40.00 | $249,996 | $0 | $299,269 |
| Amy Pena | General Counsel & Secretary | Officer | 37.00 | $231,325 | $0 | $263,216 |
| Wendell Williams | Associate VP Talent & Admin | Highest Comp | 40.00 | $216,656 | $0 | $246,276 |
| Kristin Vogen | Assoc. VP Philanthropic Services | Highest Comp | 39.00 | $207,344 | $0 | $246,238 |
| Rosa Carrillo | Controller | Highest Comp | 40.00 | $199,801 | $0 | $231,027 |
| Jennifer Axelrod | Sr. Director Learning & Impact | Highest Comp | 40.00 | $189,872 | $0 | $227,355 |
| Peggy Davis | Former VP Community Impact | Former | — | $134,492 | $0 | $138,448 |
| Sylvia Garcia | Chief Operating Officer | Officer | 40.00 | $99,164 | $0 | $106,370 |
| Martin Cabrera Jr | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Omar Duque | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Renetta McCann | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sandra Micek | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Steven Koch | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Terry Peterson | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Steans | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Anne Ladky | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Brett Hart | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Connie Lindsey | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Ethan Meers | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Gretchen Crosby Sims | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Bryan Traubert | Director & Chair | OfficerDirector | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| James Reynolds | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Jesse Ruiz | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Lou Nieto | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Margaret Stineman | Director | Director | 1.00 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Compensation Breakdown
Schedule J detail — base, bonus, benefits, and executive perks
Andrea Saenz
Base Salary
$567,771
Bonus
$27,250
Other Reportable
$1,256
Retirement/Deferred
$50,550
Nontaxable Benefits
$8,782
Jessica Strausbaugh
Base Salary
$321,339
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$926
Retirement/Deferred
$18,339
Nontaxable Benefits
$2,489
Clothilde A Ewing
Base Salary
$259,708
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$543
Retirement/Deferred
$22,760
Nontaxable Benefits
$28,551
Lisa Jericho
Base Salary
$249,195
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$801
Retirement/Deferred
$21,327
Nontaxable Benefits
$27,946
Amy Pena
Base Salary
$230,285
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$1,040
Retirement/Deferred
$19,712
Nontaxable Benefits
$12,179
Wendell Williams
Base Salary
$216,198
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$458
Retirement/Deferred
$18,517
Nontaxable Benefits
$11,103
Kristin Vogen
Base Salary
$206,414
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$930
Retirement/Deferred
$17,119
Nontaxable Benefits
$21,775
Rosa Carrillo
Base Salary
$173,405
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$26,396
Retirement/Deferred
$17,894
Nontaxable Benefits
$13,332
Jennifer Axelrod
Base Salary
$189,023
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$849
Retirement/Deferred
$16,548
Nontaxable Benefits
$20,935
Peggy Davis
Base Salary
$101,901
Bonus
—
Other Reportable
$32,591
Retirement/Deferred
—
Nontaxable Benefits
$3,956
Top Contractors(Tax Year 2023)
5 records
The Chicago Community Trust reported 5 contractors receiving over $100,000, with total contractor payments of $7.7M.
| Name | Service | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Trust Company | Advisory Services | $3,919,611 |
| Clarity Partners LLC | Consulting Services | $1,413,559 |
| Bank of America | Advisory Services | $1,199,939 |
| JP Morgan Chase | Advisory Services | $602,046 |
| BMO Harris Bank | Advisory Services | $577,507 |
Governance & Compliance(Tax Year 2023)
The Chicago Community Trust has 6 of 6 recommended governance policies in place, including conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention. Its board has 17 members, 17 of whom are independent.
The Chicago Community Trust's financial statements are audited, an audit committee oversees the process.
The Chicago Community Trust has family or business relationships among officers, directors, or key employees.
Policies & Oversight
Audit & Financial Oversight
Grants Awarded(Tax Year 2023)
3976 records
The Chicago Community Trust awarded $1.4B across 3976 grants to organizations. Top recipients include Save The Children Federation Inc (Fairfield, CT) — $50.8M for general support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes; Capital Impact Partners (Arlington, VA) — $45.0M for general support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes; Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation (Seattle, WA) — $30.0M for general support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes.
Organization Grants
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save The Children Federation Inc060726487 | Fairfield, CT | $50.8M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Capital Impact Partners521290127 | Arlington, VA | $45.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation853677542 | Seattle, WA | $30.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Hope Enterprise Corporation640851798 | Jackson, MS | $28.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Tides Foundation510198509 | San Francisco, CA | $26.1M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Accion Opportunity Fund Community Development311719434 | San Jose, CA | $23.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| The Center for Popular Democracy453813436 | Brooklyn, NY | $20.1M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Eisenhower Medical Center956130458 | Rancho Mirage, CA | $20.1M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| National Council of YMCAs of the USA363258696 | Chicago, IL | $20.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Climate Imperative Foundation845024713 | San Francisco, CA | $20.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America135562976 | Atlanta, GA | $20.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Community Investment Corporation362780862 | Chicago, IL | $15.1M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| GRID Alternatives260043353 | Oakland, CA | $15.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| The Miami Foundation650350357 | Miami, FL | $15.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Community First Fund232689714 | Lancaster, PA | $15.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| National Philanthropic Trust237825575 | Jenkintown, PA | $11.2M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs582383669 | Cleveland, GA | $10.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation954712513 | Los Angeles, CA | $10.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| OCHIN Inc200195556 | Portland, OR | $10.0M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
| Metropolitan Family Services362167940 | Chicago, IL | $9.6M | General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes |
Showing 20 of 3976 grants.
Foreign Activities(Tax Year 2023)
Activities span Central America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland), North America, South America.
Regions & Countries
| Region / Country | Activity | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Central America and the Caribbean | — | — |
| Central America and the Caribbean | — | — |
| East Asia and the Pacific | — | — |
| Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland) | — | — |
| Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland) | — | — |
| North America | — | — |
| South America | — | — |
Supplemental Financial Data(Tax Year 2023)
The Chicago Community Trust operates a donor-advised fund (DAF) program with 1,914 accounts. The endowment stands at $1.6B, with $17.0M in new contributions.
Filing History(Tax Years 1951–2023)
5 records
Showing the 5 Form 990 filings currently in our system.
| Tax Year | Form | Period | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 990 | 2023-10-01 – 2024-09-30 | $2.5B | $1.5B | $6.0B |
| 2022 | 990 | 2022-10-01 – 2023-09-30 | $1.5B | $1.6B | $4.5B |
| 2021 | 990 | 2021-10-01 – 2022-09-30 | $1.9B | $1.5B | $4.3B |
| 2020 | 990 | 2020-10-01 – 2021-09-30 | $2.0B | $1.4B | $4.7B |
| 2019 | 990 | 2019-10-01 – 2020-09-30 | $862.3M | $606.5M | $3.5B |
| 1951–2018 | No filings acquired yet | ||||
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Chicago Community Trust do?
Provides grants and other resources to improve the community; addresses community challenges; and promotes philanthropy by informing donors about philanthropic opportunities.
How much revenue does The Chicago Community Trust have?
The Chicago Community Trust reported $2,455,691,801 in total revenue for tax year 2023, up 59.8% from the prior year.
Who is the highest-paid executive at The Chicago Community Trust?
Andrea Saenz, President & CEO, received $655,609 in total compensation as of tax year 2023.
Is The Chicago Community Trust a 501(c)(3)?
Yes, The Chicago Community Trust is classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Where is The Chicago Community Trust located?
The Chicago Community Trust is headquartered in CHICAGO, IL 60601.
How many employees does The Chicago Community Trust have?
The Chicago Community Trust has 157 employees and 17 volunteers as of tax year 2023.
Is The Chicago Community Trust audited?
Yes, The Chicago Community Trust's financial statements are audited, and the organization has an audit committee.
How much does The Chicago Community Trust spend on fundraising?
The Chicago Community Trust reported $3,713,899 in fundraising expenses for tax year 2023, which represents 0.2% of total expenses.
Does The Chicago Community Trust give grants?
Yes, The Chicago Community Trust distributed $1,480,832,942 in grants to other organizations and individuals in tax year 2023. Top recipients include Save The Children Federation Inc, Capital Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation.
Does The Chicago Community Trust operate internationally?
Yes, The Chicago Community Trust conducts activities outside the United States. Activities span Central America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe (Including Iceland & Greenland), North America, South America.
Data Source
Prepared by: RSM US LLP, Chicago, IL
IRS Form 990 electronic filings via the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File. All financial figures are as reported in USD.
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