Guide to Charitable Giving in Chicago
Posted by Thomas Halwax
on Nov 30, 2012
The Gold Standard
Not only do these 15 local nonprofits pass the screens, but they’re recommended by experts in the charity world for making excellent use of donations.
| Organization | Director name and salary | % of budgets spent on programs | Mission and accomplishments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Chicago Food Depository chicagosfoodbank.org |
Kate Maehr $197,000 |
93% of $79.7 million | This massive network of shelters and food pantries distributed more than 64 million pounds of food last year to area residents in need. | |
| Habitat for Humanity Lake County habitatlc.org |
Julie Donovan $61,000 |
88% of $1.7 million | One of the most productive Habitat affiliates in Illinois, this group is on track to build, rehab, or repair homes for 40 families in 2012. | |
| Inspiration Corporation inspirationcorp.org |
Shannon Stewart $94,000 |
87% of $4.3 million | This innovative organization helps Chicago’s homeless become self-sufficient through housing and job-training programs. | |
| Alliance for the Great Lakes greatlakes.org |
Joel Brammeier $114,000 |
80% of $1.9 million | A vocal protector of our lakes, this group recruits thousands of volunteers annually to help clean up polluted shorelines and restore wetlands. | |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center elpc.org |
Howard A. Learner $278,000 |
79% of $5.5 million | In 2011, this green policy advocate successfully negotiated an end to the dumping of untreated sewage into the Chicago River. | |
| American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest lungum.org |
Harold Wimmer $236,000 |
86% of $20.8 million | Look for a new public awareness campaign this winter from this regional group, which aims to combat asthma, cancer, and lung disease. campaign. | |
| Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation lynnsage.org |
Stephanie Lieber $0 |
75% of $1.7 million | During its most recent grant cycle, this organization donated $1.2 million in seed funding to five breast cancer research projects. | |
| United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago ucpnet.org |
Paul J. Dulle $179,000 |
95% of $8.7 million | An advocate for disabled children and adults, this foundation plans to open a group home in Lombard in 2013. | |
| Big Shoulders Fund bigshouldersfund.org |
Joshua Hale $285,000 |
92% of $13.1 million | This fund supports programs in 93 inner-city Catholic schools and administers more than $4.5 million annually in scholarships. | |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities rmhc.org |
Martin J. Coyne Jr. N/A* |
90% of $28.9 million | Chicago is home to this global network, which arranges for temporary housing and other resources for sick children and their families. | |
| SOS Children’s Villages Illinois sosillinois.org |
Tim McCormick $270,000 |
86% of $7.4 million | Over the summer, this resource for foster children and parents opened the Wellness Garden in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. | |
| PAWS Chicago pawschicago.org |
Rochelle Michalek $121,000 |
91% of $5.3 million | The city’s most vocal advocate for pet adoption and the humane treatment of animals is frequently cited as Chicagoans’ favorite charity. | |
| Chicago Public Library Foundation cplfoundation.org |
Rhona Frazin $191,000 |
80% of $5.5 million | Founded by Cindy Pritzker, this group sponsors literacy programs, including a free summer reading push that, in 2012, reached 60,000 children. | |
| Joffrey Ballet joffrey.com |
Christopher C. Conway $216,000 |
90% of $13.5 million | The classical dance company—founded in New York in 1956; returned to Chicago in 1995— teaches weekly classes in 35 local schools. | |
| Rotary Foundation of Rotary International rotary.org |
John Osterlund $167,000 |
87% of $193.9 million | One of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, Rotary recently raised $228 million for a polio eradication campaign. |
METHODOLOGY: Chicago started with a list of 53 four-star local groups from charity navigator, then narrowed it down to 15 after applying the screens at left and interviewing staff. salaries come from the most recent 990 forms but, in some cases, were updated by the charities themselves; budget percents come from charity navigator. *Coyne is compensated through McDonald’s Corporate.
This article appears in the December 2012 issue of Chicago Magazine.