Craig Chico, President/Ceo at Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council | www.chivnc.org
Craig Chico, President/Ceo at Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council | www.chivnc.org
The listed appropriations included two grants of $425,000 and $250,000, plus an additional grant of $72,500, 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 1939 by Joseph Meegan and Saul Alinsky, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council states that its mission is: “Mission is to enhance the general welfare of all residents, organizations, and businesses in our service area.”
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 $6,017,190 in total revenue. Of that, $5,172,160 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 86% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $5,875,190 in contributions overall. It also reported $703,034 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council had $5,746,000 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $6,690,030, indicating a 16.4% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council increased in the last year. The group received $3,468,800 in government grants in 2023, compared to $5,172,160 in 2024—an increase of 49.1% 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.
Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council 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 | $747,500 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Craig Chico | President/Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Daniel Arce | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Kimberly Mccullough | Director |
| 2024-2024 | PATRICK E DOHERTY | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Philip K Fuentes | Chairman And Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Richard Anthony Gentile | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Thomas Wheeler Jr | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Edwin Garcia Jr | Director Of Finance | - |
| 2024 | Fabiola Flores | Ssa #10 Program Manager | - |
| 2024 | Gloria Talamantes | Editor | - |
| 2024 | James S Gonska | Director And Community Services | - |
| 2024 | Monica Reynoso | Executive Assistant | - |
| 2017 | Richard L Martinez Jr | Technician | - |
| 2017 | Teron Rasheen Russell | Digital Media Assistant | - |
| 2016 | Michael J Mcmullin | Program Director, Ssa #7 And Ssa #13 | - |
| 2015 | Meghan E Hughes | Intern | - |
| 2012 | Karen A Bertucci | Assistant Program Manager | - |
| 2009 | Melanie Rose Jacobs | Youth Ready Program Assistant | - |
| 2007 | Catherine Baker | Editorial Assistant | - |
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