Adam M. Alonso, Chief Executive Officer at BUILD | Linkedin
Adam M. Alonso, Chief Executive Officer at BUILD | Linkedin
The listed appropriations included grants of $1,000,000 and $632,000, along with two additional grants totaling $997,000, 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 1969 by Hank Bach, Robert Jemilo, Ted Cappelen, and Bill Wethers, BUILD INC. states that its mission is: “From the very beginning, BUILD has met young people where they are, and offered the support, love, and opportunities that they deserve.”
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 $26,207,800 in total revenue. Of that, $9,651,740 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 36.8% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $26,016,600 in contributions overall. It also reported $15,849,200 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, BUILD INC. had $23,292,700 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $30,100,600, indicating a significant 29.2% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to BUILD INC. surged in the last year. The group received $3,978,370 in government grants in 2023, compared to $9,651,740 in 2024—an increase of 142.6% 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.
BUILD INC. 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 | 4 | $2,629,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Adam Michael Alonso | Chief Executive Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Amy Kadens | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Andres F Alvear | Chief Operations Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Arthur Mortega | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Brittany Hughes | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Cesar Guerra | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Christine H Bakalar | Resource Development Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Christopher John Olson | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Christopher Moskos | Member |
| 2024-2024 | D Nigel Green | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Dale Cabrerra | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Howard Schwarzbach | Member |
| 2024-2024 | James Ramos | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Jeanne Marie Wrenn | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Jin Alyssa Ivacic | Member |
| 2024-2024 | John Wilson | Member |
| 2024-2024 | John S Segal | Member |
| 2024-2024 | John Nitschke | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Kirsten Mallik | Chief Development Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Leila Ann Whitley | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Malaika K Caldwell | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Marquetta M Brown | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Matthew Jason Fisher | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Michael J Friedman | Chief Financial Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Patrick T Spratt | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Priya Aggarwal Bhatt | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Raymond D Rushing | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Scott Skie | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Shannel L Clubb | Member |
| 2024-2024 | Shruti Sekhri | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Siobhan Lynn Sanders | Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Steven Clark Miles | Member |
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