A Better Chicago FY2022 filing

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 2011Human ServicesEIN 27-4499625

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A Better Chicago is changing how Chicago fights poverty by investing in bold ideas that create opportunity for our youth

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$982K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2022 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.5M a year · 15% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$982K
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 16.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.4M
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.1M
-66% vs prior year
Spent
$8.2M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$14.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.1M
FY2022▼ -66%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.1M
FY2021$14.7M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$8.7M
FY2024$12.4M
Expenses
$8.2M
FY2022▼ -3%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.7M
FY2021$8.5M
FY2022$8.2M
FY2023$7.6M
FY2024$7.5M
Net assets
$14.0M
FY2022▼ -18%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.9M
FY2021$17.1M
FY2022$14.0M
FY2023$15.0M
FY2024$20.0M

From the FY2022 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2011.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $6.4M Management & general 10% · $856K Fundraising 11% · $935K

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

22 people listed on the 990; $982K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$374,565Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Marketing Officer
$189,318Pt VII · Sec A
$177,280Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$129,617Pt VII · Sec A
Portfolio Director, Growth
$111,532Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elizabeth Swanson’s $392K as CEO is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Elizabeth Swanson$392,366$371,688$374,565$358,230$345,480
Becky Betts—$192,816$189,318$143,572—
Kelly Jones———$187,940$190,840
Walter McCloskey$188,839$179,759$177,280$76,958—
Nataly Barrera$163,082$146,948———
Chelsea Huszar$135,334$142,923$129,617——
Marshana Pace$137,341—$111,532$91,147—
Domonique Battle———$124,615—

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.

See A Better Chicago executive salaries →

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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

Invests in bold ideas to create opportunity and fight poverty for Chicago's youth.

Provided by the organization

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1 program service account for $6.4M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2022.
01

In line with the organization's mission and values, A Better Chicago provided financial grants to organizations that are equipping people with education, skills and credentials to empower them to reach their potential.

$6.4Mprogram expense

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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 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 159 grants · $23.4M · 2020–2024
The Bottom Line INCMA · FY2024$300,000
One Million DegreesIL · FY2024$250,000
National Louis UniversityIL · FY2024$225,000
Braven IncorporatedIL · FY2024$200,000
College PossibleMN · FY2024$200,000
Intrinsic SchoolsIL · FY2024$175,000
Alternatives IncorporatedIL · FY2024$150,000
Springboard CollaborativePA · FY2024$125,000
Imentor IncorporatedNY · FY2024$125,000
Lion Pride Mentoring INCIL · FY2024$100,000
Rush University Medical CenterIL · FY2024$100,000
Maafa Redemption ProjectIL · FY2024$100,000
The BlocIL · FY2024$100,000
See all 159 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Money outPt IX
$8.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.4M
Managementcol C$856K
Fundraisingcol D$935K
Owns and owesPt X
$14.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.5M
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$449K
Investment incomeLn 3$16K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$6K
Total revenueLn 12$5.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$11.5M
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$11.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18K
Other assetsLn 15$790K
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$14.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 6130
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.4M$11.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$20K$18K
Total assetsLn 16$21.3M$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M$1.4M
Net assetsLn 32$17.1M$14.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5.2M$5.2M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$620K$155K$334K$131K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$697K$229K$335K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$144K$74K$40K$29K
Payroll taxesLn 10$156K$70K$47K$39K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$128K$37K$91K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$316K$316K
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$233K$120K$66K$48K
TravelLn 17$9K$4K$3K$3K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$16K$16K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$4K$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$73K$37K$21K$15K
All other expensesLn 24e$86K$45K$24K$17K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.2M$6.4M$856K$935K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $12.4M$7.5M$5.0M$20.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.7M$7.6M$1.0M$15.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $5.1M$8.2M−$3.1M$14.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $14.7M$8.5M$6.2M$17.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.1M$8.7M−$1.7M$10.9M 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 FY2022 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,080,046 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,064,335
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$449,201
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,064,335
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $22,139$22,139
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$6,428−$6,428
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $15,711$5,080,046
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,227,773 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $5,179,375$5,179,375
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $154,757 · Management $333,896 · Fundraising $131,098$619,751
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $697,100 · Management $228,854 · Fundraising $335,110$1,261,064
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $74,000 · Management $40,460 · Fundraising $29,452$143,912
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $70,488 · Management $46,566 · Fundraising $38,577$155,631
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $36,926 · Management $91,032$127,958
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $316,355$316,355
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $119,904 · Management $65,557 · Fundraising $47,722$233,183
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,544 · Management $2,792 · Fundraising $2,545$8,881
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $15,690$15,690
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,855 · Management $2,107 · Fundraising $1,534$7,496
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $37,275 · Management $20,665 · Fundraising $14,836$72,776
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $44,545 · Management $23,780 · Fundraising $17,376$85,701
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,437,459 · Management $855,709 · Fundraising $934,605$8,227,773
Part X · Balance sheet $15,380,399 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $16,410,920$11,486,082
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,804,757$2,948,584
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $104,504$137,323
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $19,711$17,923
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $2,826$455
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$790,032
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $21,342,718$15,380,399
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $292,443$185,397
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $3,905,000$375,000
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$820,559
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,197,443$1,380,956
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,798,848$6,148,754
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $11,346,427$7,850,689
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $17,145,275$13,999,443
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $21,342,718$15,380,399
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,999,443 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,080,046
XI-2 Total expenses$8,227,773
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,147,727
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$17,145,275
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,895
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,999,443

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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