Advance public knowledge and appreciation of Architecture. See schedule o.the Chicago Architecture foundation's (caf) mission is to inspire people to discover why design matters.Chicago Architecture Foundation is the leading organization devoted to celebrating and promoting Chicago as a center of architectural innovation. As chicago's forum for the exchange of ideas on urban design, Chicago Architecture Foundation inspires people to participate in the building of vibrant communities and to demand the highest standard in urban design. Caf awakens young people to achieve their potential through the discovery of Architecture, engineering and design.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 574 volunteers and 71 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.2M a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.7M
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
22
named funders · $2.9M
Looks good: 22 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$16.8M
61% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 61% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
30
of 30 voting members
Looks good: 30 of 30 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$14.7M
-10% vs prior year
Spent
$12.3M
To programs
62%
Net assets
$10.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$14.7M
FY2024▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.6M
FY2021$14.7M
FY2022$21.1M
FY2023$16.3M
FY2024$14.7M
Expenses
$12.3M
FY2024▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$10.1M
FY2021$15.3M
FY2022$21.8M
FY2023$19.0M
FY2024$12.3M
Net assets
$10.7M
FY2024▲ +29%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$12.3M
FY2021$11.7M
FY2022$11.1M
FY2023$8.3M
FY2024$10.7M

From the FY2024 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 Oct 1966.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $7.6M Management & general 29% · $3.6M Fundraising 9% · $1.1M

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

52 people listed on the 990; $1.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO & President
$387,784Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$231,662Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer
$161,442Pt VII · Sec A
$149,738Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Advancement Officer
$149,709Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Marketing Officer
$125,424Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Learning
$122,292Pt VII · Sec A
HR Director
$120,836Pt VII · Sec A

Eleanor Gorski’s $388K as CEO & President is at the 62nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture 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
Lynn Osmond——$209,936$489,535—
Eleanor Gorski$387,784$353,453$27,083——
Lynn J Osmond————$383,323
Juanna Blackwell—$34,500$295,058$72,798—
Simone Edwards$231,662$65,909———
Michael Malak——$197,351$167,373$156,797
Nicole Korwach——$188,282$182,875—
Lori Ann Kleinerman————$169,007

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 Chicago Architecture Foundation 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

Promotes architectural innovation and urban design through public exhibitions, educational programs, and interactive displays that inspire people to discover why design matters.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Tours 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.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

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!.

$827Kprogram expense
03

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.

$610Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 22 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$14.7M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$419K
Money outPt IX
$12.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.6M
Managementcol C$3.6M
Fundraisingcol D$1.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$10.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.2M
Total assetsLn 16$27.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
52
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a30
IndependentVI 1b30
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$650K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$363K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$102K
Other incomeLn 4–11$419K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$14.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.5M
SavingsLn 2$692K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$121K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7.1M
Other assetsLn 15$12.8M
Total assetsLn 16$27.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16.8M
Net assetsLn 32$10.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 571
VolunteersI 6574
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M$5.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$103K$121K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7.9M$7.1M
Total assetsLn 16$26.4M$27.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18.1M$16.8M
Net assetsLn 32$8.3M$10.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
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$1.1M$885K$190K$69K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.4M$2.0M$1.8M$565K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$153K$118K$25K$9K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$554K$429K$92K$34K
Payroll taxesLn 10$380K$294K$63K$23K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$3K$714$261
Accounting feesLn 11c$75K$58K$12K$5K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$684K$176K$506K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$277K$254K$22K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$126K$71K$37K$17K
Information technologyLn 14$665K$368K$260K$37K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$1.2M$847K$258K$93K
TravelLn 17$409K$170K$86K$153K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$21K$16K$3K$1K
InterestLn 20$114K$88K$19K$7K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$972K$707K$188K$78K
InsuranceLn 23$94K$73K$16K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$984K$984K
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.3M$7.6M$3.6M$1.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $14.7M$12.3M$2.5M$10.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.3M$19.0M−$2.8M$8.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $21.1M$21.8M−$646K$11.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $14.7M$15.3M−$565K$11.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.6M$10.1M−$4.5M$12.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $14,714,952 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,925,871$6,516,891
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $13,080,304$7,677,165
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $92,913$101,861
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $173,800$419,035
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $16,272,888$14,714,952
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $23,177$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,973,649$6,641,027
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $13,043,416$5,623,554
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $19,040,242$12,264,581
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,767,354$2,450,371
Part VI · Governance 30 of 30 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body30
VI-1b Independent voting members30
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 $14,714,952 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $393,358 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$621,456
VIII-1c Fundraising events$362,799
VIII-1e Government grants$649,796
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,882,840
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,516,891
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,677,165$7,677,165
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $101,861$101,861
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $923$923
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$17,619
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $7,135$7,135
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,070,523 · Excluded from tax $109,919$14,714,952
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $12,264,581 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
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 $884,972 · Management $189,614 · Fundraising $69,276$1,143,862
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,023,647 · Management $1,821,358 · Fundraising $564,872$4,409,877
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $118,113 · Management $25,307 · Fundraising $9,246$152,666
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $428,886 · Management $91,893 · Fundraising $33,573$554,352
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $294,204 · Management $63,036 · Fundraising $23,030$380,270
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,332 · Management $714 · Fundraising $261$4,307
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $58,204 · Management $12,471 · Fundraising $4,556$75,231
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $175,889 · Management $505,635 · Fundraising $2,175$683,699
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $253,919 · Management $21,553 · Fundraising $1,648$277,120
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $71,322 · Management $37,021 · Fundraising $17,445$125,788
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $368,182 · Management $259,557 · Fundraising $37,485$665,224
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $846,932 · Management $257,501 · Fundraising $92,555$1,196,988
IX-17 TravelPrograms $169,596 · Management $86,006 · Fundraising $153,424$409,026
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $16,156 · Management $3,462 · Fundraising $1,265$20,883
IX-20 InterestPrograms $88,472 · Management $18,956 · Fundraising $6,926$114,354
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $706,846 · Management $187,650 · Fundraising $77,782$972,278
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $72,858 · Management $15,611 · Fundraising $5,703$94,172
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $984,484$984,484
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,566,014 · Management $3,597,345 · Fundraising $1,101,222$12,264,581
Part X · Balance sheet $27,482,026 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,383,638$4,467,173
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,396,569$692,155
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,594,578$1,726,537
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $65,400$20,985
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $256,972$273,953
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $153,096$214,288
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,931,955$7,127,975
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $103,322$121,468
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $13,530,265$12,837,492
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $26,415,795$27,482,026
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $724,243$429,274
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $6,695$6,260
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 $15,628,438$14,809,114
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $18,090,668$16,778,930
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,688,112$6,515,594
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $637,015$4,187,502
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,325,127$10,703,096
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $26,415,795$27,482,026
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,703,096 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$14,714,952
XI-2 Total expenses$12,264,581
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,450,371
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,325,127
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$8,197
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$80,599
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,703,096

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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