Leeandra Khan, Executive Director at EPIC Academy | www.facebook.com
Leeandra Khan, Executive Director at EPIC Academy | www.facebook.com
The listed appropriations included grants of $2,000,000 and $2,000,000 if two, each 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 2007 by Matthew King, Epic Academy states that its mission is: “EPIC Academy has a shared commitment for our students to pursue excellence and high expectations for postsecondary success, working towards college and career readiness through a variety of pathways.”
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 $9,279,730 in total revenue. Of that, $4,051,210 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 43.7% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $4,183,870 in contributions overall. It also reported $43,888 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Epic Academy had $4,280,240 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $5,420,820, indicating a significant 26.6% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Epic Academy increased in the last year. The group received $2,827,750 in government grants in 2023, compared to $4,051,210 in 2024—an increase of 43.3% 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.
Epic Academy 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 | 2 | $4,000,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Adam E Semel | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Alexander Adam Hales | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Andrew Louis Annacone | President |
| 2024-2024 | Ayola O Showola | Learning Behavior Specialist |
| 2024-2024 | Elizabeth Catherine Foster | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Kevyn J Harmon | Sr Dir Of Fin & Admin |
| 2024-2024 | LEEANDRA D KHAN | Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Louis A Sandoval | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Mark Davids | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Nancy Brennan | Teacher |
| 2024-2024 | Natalie C Neris | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Peter Lawrence Friedman | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Roshaun A Bowens | Assistant Principal |
| 2024-2024 | Tiffany Monique Parker | Board Member |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Alfredo Carrizales | Accountant And Recruiter | - |
| 2024 | Ayola O Showola | Learning Behavior Specialist | - |
| 2024 | Christian W Feaman | Senior Director Of Finance And Administration | - |
| 2024 | Corey Antonio Hardiman | Director Of College And Career Pathways And Alumni Counseling | - |
| 2024 | Daijzah Cleshe Hill | Teachers Assistant | - |
| 2024 | Daniel Alexis Rivera | Dean Of Students | - |
| 2024 | Georgina E Mesa | Administrative Assistant | - |
| 2024 | Guillermo Madrigal | - | |
| 2024 | Jessica E Zeh | English Teacher | - |
| 2024 | Joseph Patterson | Guest Teacher | - |
| 2024 | Kesha Williams | High School Science Teacher | - |
| 2024 | Quincy Rm Bloem | Biology Teacher | - |
| 2024 | Stefanie L Burby | Director Of Social Work Services | - |
| 2024 | Tristian White | Educator | - |
| 2024 | Tyler C Stratton | Director Of Community Engagement And Student Programs | - |
| 2024 | Victor Taylor | Operations Manager | - |
| 2020 | Grace Rosa Casasola | Bilingual Coordinator And Esl And Dl Teacher | - |
| 2019 | Heather Patrice Otto | Learning Specialist | - |
| 2018 | Imani T Wilson | School Social Work Intern | - |
| 2018 | Joshua C Milberg | Board Member, Chairman Of The Board | - |
| 2018 | Katherine V Wiseman | English Teacher | - |
| 2018 | Sydney Iman Lawings | School Social Worker Intern | - |
| 2017 | Brian H Sloan | Office Clerk | - |
| 2017 | Myetie H Hamilton | Executive Director | - |
| 2016 | Colleen Creevy | 12th Grade English Instructor | - |
| 2016 | Daniel Edward Wallace Effland | Learning Specialist | - |
| 2016 | Ellen Mary Barry | Physics Teacher | - |
| 2016 | Gregory H Smith | 12th Grade Economics And Ap Us Historyteacher | - |
| 2016 | Maya A Robinson | Social Work Intern | - |
| 2016 | Natalie Phillips | Summer School Tutor | - |
| 2016 | Steven Michael Baskin | Chief Financial And Operations Officer | - |
| 2015 | Andrea Syukur | College, Career, And Skills And Reading Teacher | - |
| 2015 | Andrew Louis Annacone | Board President | - |
| 2015 | Jason Milano | Special Education Teacher | - |
| 2015 | Jessica Stockl | Social Work Intern | - |
| 2015 | Jose Maldonado | Seasonal Information Technology Intern | - |
| 2015 | Keisha Chanel Liddell | Keynote Speaker | - |
| 2015 | Michelle Lee Miller | Special Education Teacher | - |
| 2015 | Paul M Reeping | 10th Grade Environmental Science Teacher | - |
| 2014 | Dominique M Dyson | 9th Grade English Language Arts And Reading Intervention Teacher | - |
| 2014 | Nina M Fuentes | Operations Manager | - |
| 2014 | Roisleen K Todd | Jeff Metcalf Fellow | - |
| 2014 | Roy Elmer Hickman Jr | Behavior Specialist, Athletic Director | - |
| 2013 | Bylynda N Bridges | Learning Behavior Assistant | - |
| 2013 | Cally Hobbs Orme | Teacher | - |
| 2013 | David Carter Whitehead | 9th Grade Algebra And Math Concepts Teacher | - |
| 2013 | Eileen Quandt | Special Education Teacher | - |
| 2013 | Jaimie M Grazi | School Social Work Graduate Intern | - |
| 2013 | Lydia Rachelle Young | Teacher | - |
| 2012 | Michael Maxwell | Instructional Guide | - |
| 2011 | Daniel C Kendrick | Office Manager | - |
| 2011 | Daniel R Jankovich | Science Department Head And Biology Teacher | - |
| 2011 | Mario J Polizzi | Founding Member, Board Of Directors | - |
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