Cosette Nazon-Wilburn, Executive Director at Love Unity u0026 Values (Luv) Institute | LinkedIn
Cosette Nazon-Wilburn, Executive Director at Love Unity u0026 Values (Luv) Institute | LinkedIn
The listed appropriations included two grants of $250,000, plus an additional grant of $2,238, 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 2012 by Cosette Nazon-Wilburn, Love Unity & Values (Luv) Institute states that its mission is: “To apply a restorative and social-emotional approach to college and career readiness for young people of color who have experienced trauma.”
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 $1,796,570 in total revenue. Of that, $1,335,920 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 74.4% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $1,677,390 in contributions overall. It also reported $341,471 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Love Unity & Values (Luv) Institute had $817,125 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,062,890, indicating a significant 30.1% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Love Unity & Values (Luv) Institute surged in the last year. The group received $683,206 in government grants in 2023, compared to $1,335,920 in 2024—an increase of 95.5% 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.
Love Unity & Values (Luv) Institute 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 | 3 | $502,238 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Cosette Nazon Wilburn | Executive Dir. |
| 2024-2024 | Gleatha Wanda Glispie | Chairman |
| 2024-2024 | Jeanie Jones | Vice Chairman |
| 2024-2024 | Kristie Ann Conklin | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Linda Moore | Program Coord. |
| 2024-2024 | Vernis Barrier | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Wendy Ryce | Treasurer |
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