Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Building | https://onthegrid.city/
Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Building | https://onthegrid.city/
The listed appropriations included grants of $2,000,000 and $1,000,000, along with 10 additional grants totaling $4,040,000, 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 by José E. López, Puerto Rican Cultural Center states that its mission is: “Our mission is to take actionable steps to engage our community working towards our self-determinatino, self-sufficiancy and self-reliance.”
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 $12,499,300 in total revenue. Of that, $9,516,400 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 76.1% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $12,553,400 in contributions overall. It also reported $3,037,000 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Puerto Rican Cultural Center had $9,175,570 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $11,247,600, indicating a 22.6% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Puerto Rican Cultural Center increased in the last year. The group received $8,016,420 in government grants in 2023, compared to $9,516,400 in 2024—an increase of 18.7% 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.
Puerto Rican Cultural 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 | 12 | $7,040,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Alejandro Molina | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | ANNA MARIA PETERSON | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Margaret Power | President |
| 2024-2024 | Maria Berrios I | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Michael Rodriguez Sr | Director |
| 2024-2024 | MICHAEL HUNTER HANNAN | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Veronica Ocasio | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Billy D Cobbs | Director Of Research And Evaluation | - |
| 2024 | Cristian Roldan | Program Director | - |
| 2024 | Edwin Cortes | Medical Case Manager And Aca Navigator | - |
| 2024 | Estella Cassandra Nunez | Team Leader Of Outreach | - |
| 2024 | Geovanna Candelaria | Ipc | - |
| 2024 | Grissell Baez Reyna | Health Insurance Consultant | - |
| 2024 | Jakoby Lopez | Employee | - |
| 2024 | Jonathan E Lizardi | Project Manager | - |
| 2024 | Juan Calderon | Chief Operating Officer | - |
| 2024 | KEVIN HERNANDEZ | High Impact Prevention Manager | - |
| 2024 | Luis Sanchez | In-Person Counselor | - |
| 2024 | Patricia B Uhe | Child Safety Supervisor | - |
| 2024 | Rebecca F Rios | Mentor | - |
| 2024 | Ricardo A Jimenez | Manager Of Linkage To Care And Treatment | - |
| 2024 | Shirley Payton | Manager Housing | - |
| 2024 | Susan F Perez | Health Educator | - |
| 2019 | Ahmed Nadeem Chaudhry | Grant Writer | - |
| 2019 | Kelvyn Negron | Humboldt Park Youth Employment Program: Case Manager | - |
| 2018 | Carlos Munoz | Director Of Media And Publishing At La Voz Newspaper | - |
| 2018 | Darius Goldsby | Peer Advisor For El Rescate Basic Center | - |
| 2018 | Juvia J Velez | Case Manager | - |
| 2018 | Michael J Forbes | Social Media And Outreach Manager | - |
| 2017 | Kevin Garcia | Program Coordinator And Technician Assistant | - |
| 2017 | Leandrae Donnell Blackman | Community Worker | - |
| 2017 | Nancy Rivera | Outpatient Dietetic Intern | - |
| 2017 | Sylvia Ortiz | Career Coordinator Supervisor | - |
| 2016 | Dorian A Ortega | Program Coordinator Of Behavioral Health Programming | - |
| 2015 | Brianna D Martin | Outreach Coordinator | - |
| 2015 | Carolina A Rincon | In-Person Counselor | - |
| 2015 | Felicia Hernandez | Case Manager | - |
| 2015 | John E Contreras | Director Integrated Paseo | - |
| 2015 | Yolanda Nieves | In-Person Counselor | - |
| 2013 | Amber Nicole Kraft | Evaluation And Program Development Consultant | - |
| 2012 | Margrethe Floding Jasker | Case Manager | - |
| 2011 | Amy L Hendershot | Intern - Vida And Sida | - |
| 2010 | Alexandra M Ulp | Community Mapping Volunteer | - |
| 2010 | Steven R Millard | Integrated Science Instructor | - |
| 2009 | Matthew Arnulfo Mccanna | Videographer | - |
| 2008 | Mervin A Mendez | Program Coordinator, Vida Sida | - |
| 2007 | David Meyers | Grants Coordinator And Development | - |
| 2007 | Jorge M Ortega | Production Manager | - |
| 2005 | Marisol Morales | Program Director | - |
| 2004 | Zera Monique Thompson | Board Member | - |
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