Brenda Swartz, Former President/CEO of Concordia Place | Linkedin
Brenda Swartz, Former President/CEO of Concordia Place | Linkedin
The listed appropriations included two grants of $250,000 and $200,000, plus an additional grant of $125,701, 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 1981 by Nicholas J. Zook, Concordia Place states that its mission is: “Concordia Place disrupts social inequities through access to top-quality education, enrichment, and hands-on experiences that includes all children, teens, and families—together.”
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 $9,198,130 in total revenue. Of that, $2,535,880 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 27.6% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $2,989,490 in contributions overall. It also reported $4,200 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $396,392 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
In terms of staffing, the organization spent $133,385 on salaries and reportable employee compensation in 2024, along with $60,150 in additional non-salary compensation such as retirement benefits, housing allowances, or travel stipends.
Combined, these totaled $193,535 in staff-related costs, which equates to 2.1% of total reported revenue.
At the beginning of 2024, Concordia Place had $5,165,070 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $10,226,200, indicating a significant 98% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Concordia Place declined in the last year, falling from $3,097,560 in 2023 to $2,535,880 in 2024—a decrease of 18.1% 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.
Concordia Place 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 | 3 | $575,701 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Andrew David Waters | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Brenda Swartz | Former President/Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Dan Formeller | Church Representative/Director |
| 2024-2024 | Grace Araya | President/Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Karen Keenan Semone | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Katherine Elizabeth Ansorge | Vice Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Kevin A Massey | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Kimberly Boike | Board Chair |
| 2024-2024 | KIMBERLY G JOSEPH | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Mark W Croll | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Matthew Stewart Gajda | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nicholas Zook | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Rosa Ramirez Richter | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sarah Bulin Spraker | Vp Program Services |
| 2024-2024 | Stephen Bouman | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sue Rothmeyer | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nicholas Zook | Director | $133,385 |
| 2014 | David W Serpa | - |
Alerts Sign-up