Melinda Kelly, Chairman/President at Chatham Business Association Inc | https://media.licdn.com/
Melinda Kelly, Chairman/President at Chatham Business Association Inc | https://media.licdn.com/
The listed appropriations included grants of $1,000,000 and $750,000, along with five additional grants totaling $1,325,000, all designated for programs or services funded by the State of Illinois.
These appropriations represent state-level funding authorized by lawmakers, reflecting what was approved in the budget, not necessarily disbursed. The funds cover only State of Illinois support and exclude federal, local, or other public sources.
Founded in 1972, Chatham Business Association states that its mission is: “To provide a viable and effective business association to enhance social, political, and economic growth within our community.”
You can learn more about the organization at its website.
In its most recent IRS Form 990 filing filing for tax year 2024, the organization reported $1,542,960 in total revenue, including $1,541,010 in contributions—entirely from government grants across federal, state, or local sources—making up 99.9% of its revenue.
At the beginning of 2024, Chatham Business Association had $174,103 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,448,120, indicating a significant 731.8% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Chatham Business Association surged in the last year. The group received $254,771 in government grants in 2023, compared to $1,541,010 in 2024—an increase of 504.9% year-over-year.
However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.
Chatham Business Association is one of hundreds of nonprofits across Illinois that receive substantial support from state taxpayers while also fundraising privately.
In 2025, Illinois lawmakers introduced House Bill 1266, also known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Act. The proposal would create a new oversight body within the Office of the Auditor General tasked with identifying cost-saving measures, reviewing agency performance, and advising on audit priorities. If passed, DOGE could bring additional scrutiny and performance evaluation to taxpayer-funded organizations.
According to ProPublica, Illinois has more than 78,000 active tax-exempt organizations, including nearly 60,000 classified as charitable nonprofits. In their most recent IRS filings, these groups reported a combined revenue exceeding $156 billion.
| Fiscal Year | Total Grants/Contracts | Total Taxpayer $$ |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | $3,075,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Ananias Granger Jr | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Asante Boone | Vice Chairman |
| 2024-2024 | Charles Johnson | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Gwendolyn Shaw | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Jennifer Adkins | Interim Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Karl Riley | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Latonzia D Sanders | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Melinda Rose Kelly | President |
| 2024-2024 | Monica Linares | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Yafawn Smith | Board Member |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Arturus J Eddings Jr | It Ambassador | - |
| 2024 | Carmelita R Fleming | Outreach Spealist | - |
| 2024 | Edward Brown | Outreach Specialist | - |
| 2024 | Gregory Murphy | Itambassador | - |
| 2024 | Kevin Randell | Outreach Specialist | - |
| 2024 | Latoya Turner | Personal Assistant To Executive Director | - |
| 2024 | Linda D Kelly | Executive Director | - |
| 2024 | Madeline M Morgan | Outreach Specialist For Comed Ami Utc Program | - |
| 2024 | Richard J Willis | Sba Lending Representative | - |
| 2024 | Terry L Miller | It Ambassador | - |
| 2018 | Malcom J Moore Jr | Chief It Brand Ambassador | - |
| 2017 | Charles L Edwards | Program Manager - It Ambassador Program | - |
| 2016 | Clifford Borner | - | |
| 2016 | Samil S Malik | Project Manager | - |
| 2015 | Cherish A Mccurry | Street Cleaner | - |
| 2015 | Clifford Borner Sr | Outreach Specialist For Comed Ami Utc Program | - |
| 2015 | Eryn E Matheny | Intern | - |
| 2015 | Willeen Elizabeth Floyd | Outreach Specialist | - |
| 2009 | Karletta R Kelly | Assistant Executive Director | - |
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