Scott Aaron, Senior Associate Vice President, JUF Education | Linkedin
Scott Aaron, Senior Associate Vice President, JUF Education | Linkedin
The listed appropriations included grants of $465,000 and $250,000, along with three additional grants totaling $200,056, 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 1900, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago states that its mission is: “Federation brings Jewish Chicago together to support human services, advocate on key issues and connect people to Jewish life and community.”
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 $169,078,000 in total revenue. Of that, $10,261 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 0% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $147,420,000 in contributions overall. It also reported $24,734,400 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $92,401,700 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
In terms of staffing, the organization spent $2,914,580 on salaries and reportable employee compensation in 2024, along with $1,248,930 in additional non-salary compensation such as retirement benefits, housing allowances, or travel stipends.
Combined, these totaled $4,163,510 in staff-related costs, which equates to 2.5% of total reported revenue.
At the beginning of 2024, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago had $969,217,000 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $981,497,000, indicating a 1.3% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago declined in the last year, falling from $163,707 in 2023 to $10,261 in 2024—a decrease of 93.7% 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.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago 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 | 5 | $915,056 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | James Pinkston | Vp, Accounting |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Anna L Johnson | Corporate Controller | - |
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