Jay H Rowell, Executive Director at HIRE360 | hire360chicago.com
Jay H Rowell, Executive Director at HIRE360 | hire360chicago.com
The listed appropriations included two grants of $2,000,000, plus an additional grant of $1,500,000, 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 2019 by Alex Golimbievsky, Ntuna Ekuri, and Sergei Golimbievsky, HIRE360 states that its mission is: “We bring together the largest construction unions, general contractors, and developers to create opportunities in construction for everyone.”
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 $6,830,930 in total revenue. Of that, $1,071,340 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 15.7% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $6,769,190 in contributions overall. It also reported $728,007 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $5,697,840 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, HIRE360 had $3,105,140 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $6,673,460, indicating a significant 114.9% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to HIRE360 surged in the last year. The group received $172,140 in government grants in 2023, compared to $1,071,340 in 2024—an increase of 522.4% 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.
HIRE360 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 | $5,500,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Brian Ortiz | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Deborah Ann Whitaker | Director Of Business Development & Supply Chain |
| 2024-2024 | Don Villar | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Don Biernacki | President |
| 2024-2024 | Jay H Rowell | Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Jonathan Jones | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Karen D Larson | Director Of Finance & Operations |
| 2024-2024 | Karen E Kent | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Michael Joseph Kramer Meagher | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Michael Macellaio | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Rashid E Davis | Director |
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