Bronzeville Children's Museum Building | Facebook
Bronzeville Children's Museum Building | Facebook
The listed appropriations included grants of $500,000 and $100,000 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 1993, Bronzeville Children's Museum states that its mission is: “Our philosophy of building children’s minds is reinforced by a unique guided tour format that emphasizes the educational message each exhibit is designed to achieve.”
In its most recent IRS Form 990 filing filing for tax year 2024, the organization reported $111,780 in total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $102,655 in contributions overall. It also reported $92,655 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Bronzeville Children's Museum had $1,610,700 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,581,560, indicating a 1.8% 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.
Bronzeville Children's Museum 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 | $600,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Aretha R Jackson | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Arlene H Pierce | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | B Herbert Martin | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Billie Wright | Chairman |
| 2024-2024 | Constance Montgomery | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Lenore Janecek | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Lester Coney | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Myrtle Fantroy | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Pat Michalski | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Paul J Montes Ii | Director/Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | Peggy A Montes | President |
| 2024-2024 | Vilma Colom | Trustee |
| 2024-2024 | William V Walley | Trustee |
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