Anita Puri, Executive Director at Indo-American Center | linkedin.com
Anita Puri, Executive Director at Indo-American Center | linkedin.com
The listed appropriations included grants of $6,000,000 and $3,000,000, along with seven additional grants totaling $5,555,000, 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 1990 by Group of Indian Immigrants, Indo-American Center states that its mission is: “IAC creates and provides services that facilitate South Asian immigrant adjustment, socio-economic wellbeing, and community through direct service, education and advocacy.”
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 $2,055,230 in total revenue. Of that, $974,771 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 47.4% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $1,830,940 in contributions overall. It also reported $856,171 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Indo-American Center had $1,113,240 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,253,910, indicating a 12.6% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Indo-American Center increased in the last year. The group received $764,048 in government grants in 2023, compared to $974,771 in 2024—an increase of 27.6% 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.
Indo-American Center 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 | 9 | $14,555,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Angie Lobo | Executive Di |
| 2024-2024 | Anil D'Souza | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Anita Puri | Vice Preside |
| 2024-2024 | Ashref Hashim | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Basanti Banerji | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Deepak Kapoor | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Krutee A Barot | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Mondira Bhattacharya | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Morlie P Patel | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Ralph W Nicholas | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Ranjit Ganguly | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Rishi Agrawal | President |
| 2024-2024 | Rohit Vishnoi | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sunil M Sanghvi | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Syed M Hussaini | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Tejas Shah Jd | Treasurer |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bharati S Patel | Associate | - |
| 2024 | Chirag Shah | Computer Instructor | - |
| 2024 | Melissa Jeanne Bowman | Workforce Development Case Manager | - |
| 2024 | Naila I Abdul-Hakeem | Health Literacy Program Coordinator | - |
| 2024 | Naureen N Fidai | Director Of Finance And Operations | - |
| 2019 | Renuka G Sharma | Adult Literacy Program Manager | - |
| 2018 | Grace Chan Mckibben | Development Director | - |
| 2017 | Jose D Vega | Tutor | - |
| 2017 | Laura Smith | Volunteer Coordinator | - |
| 2017 | Mary Chase Montgomery Tsui | Esl Instructor | - |
| 2015 | Andrew William Kletzien | Tutor | - |
| 2015 | Ayomide D Ogunsola | South Asian Youth Empowerment Student Coordinator | - |
| 2015 | Mackenzie Taylor Levy | Esl Instructor And Tutor | - |
| 2015 | Poorna Subramanian | Student Volunteer | - |
| 2015 | Rachel B Kemel | Volunteer | - |
| 2014 | Kiana Narvaez | Summer Recreational Leader | - |
| 2014 | Phoenix Forbes | Assistant Youth Coordinator | - |
| 2014 | Ryan A Rhoades | English Second Language Teacher - Volunteer | - |
| 2012 | Althea B Klein | Immigration Associate | - |
| 2012 | Devang Patel | Citizenship And Immigration Services Associate | - |
| 2012 | Kulsum Ameji | Volunteer | - |
| 2011 | Heather M Carper | Social Media Intern - Social Work | - |
| 2011 | Kali Alanna Cohn | Development Coordinator | - |
| 2011 | Muamer Mujagic | Social Media Specialist | - |
| 2011 | Robert Bruce Langston | Esl Volunteer | - |
| 2010 | Mimosa A Shah | Literacy Program Coordinator | - |
| 2010 | Sarah Mitchell | English Teacher | - |
| 2010 | Wasif A Osmani | Junior Couselor | - |
| 2009 | LISA S THAKKAR | Former Board Member | - |
| 2009 | Natasha Kanchwala | Tutor | - |
| 2008 | Hetal Mistry Shah | Volunteer Coordinator | - |
| 2006 | Chirag Patel | Nadp Fellow | - |
| 2006 | Chris Zala | Executive Director | - |
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