State-funded Nonprofit Spotlight: Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change

Tyrone F. Muhammad, Founder and CEO of Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change | eccsc.org

By T. T. Collins

Sep 1, 2025

Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive a $250,000 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 2017 by Tyrone F. Muhammad, Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change states that its mission is: “Our mission is to change the trajectory of violence and trauma in our communities with effective programming.”

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 $561,079 in total revenue. Of that, $10,310 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 1.8% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $561,079 in contributions overall. It also reported $550,769 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

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

Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change 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.

Ex-Cons For Community And Social Change 990 Filing – Key Officers