Sylvia Shokunbi, Physician at ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTERS | Esperanza Health Centers
Sylvia Shokunbi, Physician at ESPERANZA HEALTH CENTERS | Esperanza Health Centers
The listed appropriations included grants of $250,000 and $115,000 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 2004, Esperanza Health Centers states that its mission is: “To deliver health and hope for Chicago’s underserved communities.”
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 $54,417,200 in total revenue. Of that, $9,773,980 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 18% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $12,564,800 in contributions overall. It also reported $2,617,830 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Esperanza Health Centers had $32,262,900 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $58,413,700, indicating an significant 81.1% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Esperanza Health Centers increased in the last year. The group received $8,889,520 in government grants in 2023, compared to $9,773,980 in 2024—an increase of 9.9% 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.
Esperanza Health Centers 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 | $365,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Alejandro Clavier | Physician |
| 2024-2024 | Brian D Fredericks | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Carmen Vergara | Chief Operating Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Daniel C Fulwiler | Chief Executive Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Destiny B Ortega | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Elba Aranda | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Federico John Herrera | Medical Director - Little Village |
| 2024-2024 | Gia Mac | Director |
| 2024-2024 | JIMENA SOTO | Physician |
| 2024-2024 | Jodi R Portnoy | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Joel Rodarte | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Kristina N Pontarelli | Physician |
| 2024-2024 | Lameis Victoria Dromgoole | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Linda B Simon | Advanced Practice Practitioner |
| 2024-2024 | Luis Gutierrez | Vice Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Marisela Rosales Lawson | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Melanie Tan | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Michael Chico | Board Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Nilima Rajkumar | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nyla R Diab | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | RAFAEL MELENDEZ ROBLES | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Ryan Dale Gadia | Cfo |
| 2024-2024 | Ryan Dale Gadia | Chief Financial Officer |
| 2024-2024 | Sylvia Adenike Shokunbi | Physician |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Adrian Guerrero | Behavioral Health Counselor | - |
| 2024 | Amy N Bolton | Manager Of Special Events And Individual Giving | - |
| 2024 | ARELE LOPEZ | Care Manager | - |
| 2024 | Carina Faye Sturgeon | Outreach And Enrollment Assistance Worker | - |
| 2024 | Chantal Pico | Behavioral Health Counselor | - |
| 2024 | Daniel S Vergara | Behavioral Health Counselor | - |
| 2024 | Elvira Pellitteri | Behavioral Health Counselor | - |
| 2024 | Griselda Patino | Health Center Manager | - |
| 2024 | Itzamarie Nieves | Medical Assistant | - |
| 2024 | Jessica Torres | Care Coordination And Programs Manager | - |
| 2024 | Joy O Erebholo | Revenue Cycle Manager | - |
| 2024 | Katherine Liu | Obstetrician, Gynecologist Physician | - |
| 2024 | Kristina N Pontarelli | Obstetrician And Gynecologist | - |
| 2024 | Kyla Smith | Pediatrician | - |
| 2024 | Lorena Medina | Care Coordinator | - |
| 2024 | Luz M Cruz | Food Service Worker | - |
| 2024 | Maria Figueroa | Certified Medical Assistant | - |
| 2024 | Mark D Minier | Medical Director Of Pediatrics | - |
| 2024 | Norma Lee | Success By 6 And Outreach Coordinator | - |
| 2024 | Ricardo Cifuentes | Vice President Of External Affairs | - |
| 2024 | Sandra Alfonso | Psr | - |
| 2024 | Steven Matthew Conrad | Director Of Human Resources | - |
| 2024 | Theodore W Hufstader | Director Of Quality And Practice Transformation | - |
| 2019 | Cielo Z Melero | Events And Marketing Intern | - |
| 2019 | Frederick Thomas Campobasso | Advisory Board Member | - |
| 2019 | Kevin Christopher Seske | Behavioral Health Counselor | - |
| 2019 | Marisela Rosales Lawson | Board Member | - |
| 2017 | Denise Garcia | Senior Accountant | - |
| 2017 | Gregory Vernord Hampton Ii | Resource Development Specialist | - |
| 2017 | Yvette Cazales | Medical Assistant | - |
| 2016 | Christopher G Biddle | Executive Assistant | - |
| 2015 | Cailin Elizabeth Whisler | Health Fair Coordinator | - |
| 2015 | Mario Lopez | Member Board Of Directors | - |
| 2014 | Colleen Mcloughlin | Graduate Intern | - |
| 2014 | David Moreno | Development Associate | - |
| 2011 | Estela Martinez | Family Physician | - |
| 2011 | Sandra L Perez | Patient Service Representative | - |
| 2003 | Jose Correia Figueiredo | Medical Assistant | - |
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