Chicago City Wire

Target Area Development Corporation, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive seven grants totaling $1,850,000 in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly’s FY2024 budget (Public Act 103-0006).

The listed appropriations included grants of $500,000 and $250,000, along with five additional grants totaling $1,100,000, 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 1995, Target Area Development Corporation states that its mission is: “Our mission is to create safer cities by inspiring and empowering people.”

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 $7,647,660 in total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $7,647,660 in contributions overall. It also reported $7,647,660 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, Target Area Development Corporation had $1,655,350 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,095,780, indicating a significant 33.8% decline in overall holdings.

However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.

Target Area Development Corporation 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	$1,850,000

Term	Name	Title
2024-2024	Joseph Stanford	President & Ceo

Year	Name	Title	Compensation
2024	Jennifer Ibarra	Victim Advocate	-
2012	Valencia R Pringle	Young Researcher	-