Forefront

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 1974Foundations & GrantmakersEIN 23-7376023Revenue $16.1M in FY2025

On file with the IRSmyforefront.org200 W Madison St 2nd Floor, 60606-3414 · Chicago, ILTax-exempt since Jun 1974Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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To build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of illinois.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 65 volunteers and 36 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.3M a year · 17% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$512K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 66% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $31K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 24 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$16.1M
+89% vs prior year
Spent
$9.5M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$16.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$16.1M
FY2025▲ +89%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.6M
FY2021$8.9M
FY2022$14.5M
FY2023$22.6M
FY2024$8.5M
FY2025$16.1M
Expenses
$9.5M
FY2025▼ -50%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.6M
FY2021$10.8M
FY2022$9.4M
FY2023$10.0M
FY2024$19.1M
FY2025$9.5M
Net assets
$16.3M
FY2025▲ +78%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.1M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$8.4M
FY2023$21.0M
FY2024$9.1M
FY2025$16.3M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1974.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $8.1M Management & general 11% · $1.0M Fundraising 4% · $354K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

28 people listed on the 990; $512K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President, CEO
$286,886Pt VII · Sec A
SR Consultant, Converge
$113,249Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$106,797Pt VII · Sec A
CFO (from Dec '24)
$5,194Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Monique B Jones’s $287K as President, CEO is at the 66th percentile of top reported officer pay among 661 $10–100M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Monique B Jones$286,886$281,250$271,437$258,789——
Eric Weinheimer————$156,296$221,726
Derek Stovall-Leonard—$191,886$185,461$164,823$153,135$138,127
Patrice James—$151,914————
Karen Lehman——$112,585$140,335$151,636$140,686
Yusef Garcia—$132,906$147,999$131,838$131,937$117,336
Dawn Melchiorre————$146,706$130,608
Aerica Camille Love$113,249$119,186$104,944———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Strengthens Illinois's social impact sector by providing nonprofits and foundations with essential financial, accounting, administrative, and consulting services to help them achieve their missions.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $7.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Fresh taste is a sponsored project of forefront. It is a staffed funder initiative formed in 2002 by a group of illinois-based foundations and chicago city officials interested in changing how food is produced for, and processed and consumed in the chicago region.

$5.2Mprogram expense
02

Forefront leverages the collective power of philanthropy and nonprofits to improve lives and strengthen communities. Founded in 1974, forefront is the only membership association in illinois for funders and nonprofits of all kinds, as well as their advisors and consultants.

$2.3Mprogram expense
03

Converge consulting is a social enterprise owned and managed by forefront that delivers financial, accounting, and administrative solutions to nonprofits and foundations so that they can focus on their mission. We work with organizations to address their specific needs onan interim or continuing basis.

$285Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$31K
Grants paid · 497 grants · $36.3M · 2019–2024
Austin Coming TogetherIL · FY2024$543,031
YmenIL · FY2024$450,000
Westside Health AuthorityIL · FY2024$260,000
Dion S Chicago Dream INC NfpIL · FY2024$253,000
GardeneersIL · FY2024$221,000
Chicago Horticultural SocietyIL · FY2024$200,000
Grow Greater Englewood INCIL · FY2024$150,000
First Congregational United Church of ChristFY2024$150,000
Enlace ChicagoIL · FY2024$125,000
Circle Urban MinistriesIL · FY2024$120,000
Illinois Stewardship AllianceIL · FY2024$100,000
The Hack FoundationCA · FY2024$100,000
Gsj Family Life CenterIL · FY2024$100,000
American Indian Center INCIL · FY2024$100,000
Trickster Art GalleryIL · FY2024$78,000
Movement Strategy CenterCA · FY2024$78,000
Growing Home INCIL · FY2024$78,000
See all 497 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$748K
Investment incomeLn 3$188K
Money outPt IX
$9.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.1M
Managementcol C$1.0M
Fundraisingcol D$354K
Owns and owesPt X
$16.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.9M
Total assetsLn 16$18.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
28
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$280K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$750
Fees for servicesLn 2g$748K
Investment incomeLn 3$188K
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Total revenueLn 12$16.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.6M
SavingsLn 2$8.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$9.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$18.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$16.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 536
VolunteersI 665
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.0M$9.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$12.9M$18.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$9.8M$16.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.6M$4.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$402K$102K$169K$131K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.4M$201K$152K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$92K$81K$8K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$192K$166K$9K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$150K$108K$24K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$277K$196K$79K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.3M$924K$375K$8K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$22$22
Office expensesLn 13$12K$9K$3K$11
Information technologyLn 14$128K$92K$35K$701
OccupancyLn 16$198K$142K$39K$17K
TravelLn 17$35K$31K$3K$104
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$170K$152K$17K$505
InsuranceLn 23$20K$3K$17K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$130K$72K$52K$6K
All other expensesLn 24e$11K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.5M$8.1M$1.0M$354K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $16.1M$9.5M$6.6M$16.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.5M$19.1M−$10.6M$9.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $22.6M$10.0M$12.6M$21.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $14.5M$9.4M$5.1M$8.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.9M$10.8M−$1.9M$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.6M$7.6M$2.0M$5.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $16,091,692 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,440,090$15,146,964
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $573,000$748,109
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $177,999$188,070
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,650$8,549
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,194,739$16,091,692
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $12,551,660$4,600,931
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,945,237$2,565,894
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,600,823$2,288,096
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $19,097,720$9,454,921
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$9,902,981$6,636,771
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members24
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $16,091,692 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $7,889 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$872,737
VIII-1e Government grants$280,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,994,227
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$750
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,146,964
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $41,221 · Unrelated business $397,880 · Excluded from tax $309,008$748,109
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $188,070$188,070
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $660$660
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $41,881 · Unrelated business $397,880 · Excluded from tax $504,967$16,091,692
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,454,921 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,600,931$4,600,931
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $101,847 · Management $168,893 · Fundraising $130,830$401,570
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,376,894 · Management $200,675 · Fundraising $152,144$1,729,713
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $80,716 · Management $7,837 · Fundraising $3,812$92,365
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $166,408 · Management $9,143 · Fundraising $16,455$192,006
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $108,362 · Management $24,076 · Fundraising $17,802$150,240
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $195,773 · Management $79,447 · Fundraising $1,706$276,926
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $924,390 · Management $375,129 · Fundraising $8,055$1,307,574
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $22$22
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,438 · Management $2,645 · Fundraising $11$12,094
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $92,285 · Management $35,241 · Fundraising $701$128,227
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $142,057 · Management $39,479 · Fundraising $16,709$198,245
IX-17 TravelPrograms $31,283 · Management $3,443 · Fundraising $104$34,830
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $152,393 · Management $16,772 · Fundraising $505$169,670
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,378 · Management $16,932$20,310
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $72,149 · Management $51,957 · Fundraising $5,539$129,645
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $10,553$10,553
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,068,857 · Management $1,031,669 · Fundraising $354,395$9,454,921
Part X · Balance sheet $18,548,679 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,976,776$1,620,213
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,041,617$8,245,984
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,219,379$7,205,622
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $64,964$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $83,951$124,054
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,470,245$1,352,806
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,856,932$18,548,679
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $429,169$206,417
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $897,600$450,000
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $16,467$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $150,000$150,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,583,990$1,465,996
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,077,226$2,272,413
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $635,683$702,910
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,144,023$15,573,356
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $9,779,706$16,276,266
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,856,932$18,548,679
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,276,266 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$16,091,692
XI-2 Total expenses$9,454,921
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$6,636,771
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$9,779,706
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$140,211
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,276,266

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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