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Saturday, September 27, 2025

State-funded Nonprofit Spotlight: Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana

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Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana on Google Maps | Google Maps

Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana on Google Maps | Google Maps

Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive a $150,000 grant in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly’s FY2024 budget (Public Act 102-6 0698).

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 1977 by Charlie Marino and Dr. Ed Baum, Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana states that its mission is: “We provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.”

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 $13,341,000 in total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $12,710,400 in contributions overall. It also reported $1,331,310 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $10,382,200 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana had $67,820,100 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $66,924,600, indicating a 1.3% decline in overall holdings.

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

Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana 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.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana 990 Filing – Key Officers
TermNameTitle
2024-2024Abigail L RistowChief People Officer
2024-2024Addie SpencerBoard Member
2024-2024Andrea DieckmannBoard Member
2024-2024Ava Ariel QuailBoard Member
2024-2024Colin WaltersChief Financial Officer
2024-2024Daniel W Henry JrBoard Member
2024-2024David Lewis JrBoard Member
2024-2024Deborah Rexford BallardBoard Member
2024-2024Dep AhujaBoard Member
2024-2024Diane Abbey DimbergBoard Member
2024-2024Elizabeth Genevieve ReillyBoard Member
2024-2024Harris SessionsBoard Member
2024-2024Holly A BuckendahlChief Executive Officer
2024-2024Hugues LabrecqueBoard Member
2024-2024Jamie RosmanSecretary
2024-2024Jeff CantalupoChairman
2024-2024Julius A AgonorBoard Member
2024-2024Kate BoegeBoard Member
2024-2024Laura Francesca DavidsonBoard Member
2024-2024Laura HerreraBoard Member
2024-2024Lisa MitchellChief Program Officer
2024-2024Marion GrossVice Chairman
2024-2024Mark GrippandoHead Of Information Techno
2024-2024Megan KuehlDirector Of Corporate & Foundation Relations
2024-2024Omar RihaniBoard Member
2024-2024Rodney BrownBoard Member
2024-2024Ruth Anne RenaudChief Marketing Officer
2024-2024Sam LubeznikBoard Member
2024-2024Spero DrouliasBoard Member
2024-2024Terry JimenezTreasurer
2024-2024Tom DeerBoard Member
2024-2024Tyler GloverBoard Member

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