Chicago City Wire

Neighborhood Network Alliance, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive a $1,000,000 grant in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly’s FY2024 budget (Public Act 103-0006).

This appropriation represents 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 2018 by Val Free, Neighborhood Network Alliance states that its mission is: “The Neighborhood Network Alliance (The NNA) connect, convene, and collaborate block-by-block with residents, nonprofits, and institutions to equip neighbors with the resources that will empower cooperative community management and revitalization.”

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 $425,227 in total revenue, entirely comprised of government grants from federal, state, or local sources.

According to its filing, public funding remained fairly steady year-over-year, changing from $441,548 in 2023 to $425,227 in 2024 (a difference of 3.7%).

However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.

Neighborhood Network Alliance 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.

Term	Name	Title
2024-2024	David Robinson	Board Member
2024-2024	Eboni Davis	Board Member
2024-2024	Gerald Williams	Board Member
2024-2024	Kenneth Thomas	Board Member
2024-2024	Noel Sulivan	Board Member
2024-2024	Robin Mangrum Bland	Board Member
2024-2024	Val M Free	Executive Dir.