Irish American Heritage Center Building | it.enjoyillinois.com
Irish American Heritage Center Building | it.enjoyillinois.com
The listed appropriations included two grants of $500,000, plus an additional grant of $25,000, 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 1976 by Ambrose Kelly, Irish American Heritage Center states that its mission is: “The Irish American Heritage Center’s (IAHC) mission is to cultivate the cultural bonds of the Irish and Irish Americans to Ireland through gatherings and festivals and by promoting cultural programming such as music and theater, literature, and language.”
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 $881,828 in total revenue. Of that, $344,290 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 39% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $467,546 in contributions overall. It also reported $15,756 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $83,456 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Irish American Heritage Center had $2,480,530 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $2,594,300, indicating a 4.6% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding remained fairly steady year-over-year, changing from $346,790 in 2023 to $344,290 in 2024 (a difference of 0.7%).
However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.
Irish American Heritage 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 | 3 | $1,025,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Anne Marie Herlehy | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Anthony W Mchale | President |
| 2024-2024 | Caroline Marie Hennessy | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Cliff Carlson | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dominick F Owens | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dominick Mulcrone | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Donna H Quirk | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Eugene M Cooney | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Jacob Rodriguez | Director |
| 2024-2024 | James E Naughton | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Margaret A Buchanan | Executive Dir. |
| 2024-2024 | Martin J Mcdonagh | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Meaghan T Mcdonagh | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Michael Galvin | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sean James Mcdonough | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Siobhan Oneill Meluso | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Thomas P Chambers | Vice President |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Jorge Vergara | - |
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