John McElwee, Former Chief Financial Officer at Howard Brown Health Center | Linkedin
John McElwee, Former Chief Financial Officer at Howard Brown Health Center | Linkedin
The listed appropriations included grants of $500,000 and $2,852 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 1974 by Howard Brown, Howard Brown Health Center states that its mission is: “Rooted in LGBTQ+ liberation, Howard Brown Health provides affirming healthcare and mobilizes for social justice. We are agents of change for individual wellbeing and community empowerment.”
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 $201,159,000 in total revenue. Of that, $16,214,500 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 8.1% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $25,127,900 in contributions overall. It also reported $3,981,580 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $8,826,310 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Howard Brown Health Center had $139,024,000 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $186,474,000, indicating a significant 34.1% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Howard Brown Health Center declined in the last year, falling from $23,470,100 in 2023 to $16,214,500 in 2024—a decrease of 30.9% 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.
Howard Brown Health 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 | 2 | $502,852 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Angela D Shrestha | Psychiatrist |
| 2024-2024 | Austin Grant Baidas | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Ayanna Armstrong | Member At-Large (As Of Jan 2023) |
| 2024-2024 | B Pagels | Vice Chair At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Caleb Manuel Reyes | Psychiatrist |
| 2024-2024 | David E Munar | President And Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Elliott Jayne Crigger | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Fresh Sharonmelissa Roberson | Board Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Garrett M Taliaferro Jr | Vice Chair At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Jae Rice | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Jared C Lewis | Executive Vice Chair |
| 2024-2024 | JAVIER J GUEVARA | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Jennifer N Purcell | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | John Mcelwee | Chief Financial Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Joseph A Niz | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Justin Douglas | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Magda M Houlberg | Chief Clinical Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Maliyah Londyn Arnold | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Mark Liberson | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | MAYA M GREEN | Chief Medical Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Michael J Mazzeo | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Monica Moore | Medical Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nicholas Brian Belgrave | Vice Chair At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Patrick J Gibbons Ii | Chief Medical Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Rashad Robison | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Robert T Hargan | Site Medical Director |
| 2024-2024 | Robin Gay | Interim President And Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Scott Stuart | Member At-Large (As Of Jan 2023) |
| 2024-2024 | Steven Howard Glass | Chief Operating Officer |
| 2024-2024 | W Robert Schultz Iii | Member At-Large |
| 2024-2024 | Wen Hui Bobby Yang | Physician |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Jeffery Jefferson | Program Manager And Violence Prevention Program | - |
| 2016 | Imani Rae Rupert | Director | - |
| 2016 | Zahara Bassett | - | |
| 2008 | Daniel Rokos | - | |
| 2007 | Jack L Mclaughlin | - | |
| 2007 | Rebecca Dorothea Taylor | Community Practicum And Internship | - |
| 2006 | Marilyn Urso | - | |
| 1999 | Scott Bethowski | - | |
| 1996 | Mary L Mccauley | - | |
| 1993 | Marilyn Urso | - | |
| 1993 | Marilyn C Urso | - |
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