AIDS Foundation of Chicago logo

AIDS Foundation of Chicago

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-3412054 Website

AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, at 200 West Monroe Street, Suite 1150. Founded in 1985 by physicians, advocates, and community members, AFC has been working for more than 40 years to support the HIV community and end the HIV epidemic. The organization provides systems-level leadership to the Chicago area's HIV/AIDS sector through funding, coordination, advocacy, and direct services.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$19.8M

-9.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$23.8M

+12.5% YoY

Grant Count

47

-19.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$507K

+38.8% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: AFC mobilizes communities to create equity and justice for people living with and vulnerable to HIV or chronic conditions.

Vision: People living with HIV or chronic conditions will thrive, and there will be no new cases of HIV.

AFC's primary program areas include:

  • Case Management: Providing funding to and coordinating Chicago's regional case management system
  • Housing: Funding permanent supportive housing including rental, utility, and furniture assistance
  • Community Funding: Providing funding to community organizations delivering high-quality HIV/AIDS programming
  • Advocacy: Engaging in local and statewide advocacy to promote HIV/AIDS funding and services
  • Prevention, Treatment, and Care: Supporting life-saving prevention, treatment, care, and support services for people living with or vulnerable to HIV and AIDS

AFC prioritizes racial equity work through its 3-Year Race Equity Action Plan, which aims to dismantle systems of oppression, racism, and white supremacy while embedding equity and justice across all organizational activities.

Grantmaking

AFC makes grants to community organizations and provides systems-level funding support. Grant amounts have ranged from $5,250 to $12,486,268 based on recent activity. The organization distributed $26,519,626 in total giving according to recent IRS filings.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

AFC's primary focus is the Chicago area and Illinois, though the organization also funds work in California. The organization engages in statewide advocacy during Illinois' legislative sessions and coordinates regional HIV/AIDS services.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

AmherstAuroraCalumet CityChicagoCiceroDoltonElginEvanstonFlossmoorJolietLos AngelesSt LouisWaukegan

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2024):

  • Total Assets: $19,832,791
  • Total Revenues: $40,047,349
  • Total Expenses: $41,899,798
  • Total Giving: $26,519,626

Previous Year (2023):

  • Total Assets: $21.9M
  • Total Revenues: $35.4M
  • Total Expenses: $36.8M
  • Total Liabilities: $9.5M

Staffing: 194 employees (as of 2024)

Tax Status: Tax-exempt since March 1986 (EIN: 36-3412054). Donations are tax-deductible.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$12M$23M$35M$46M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$19,832,791$21,916,517$16,331,029
Revenue$40,047,349$35,444,643$35,817,907
Expenses$41,899,798$36,753,246$34,252,936
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$276,666$138,142$190,773
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$6M$12M$18M$24M48 grants202051 grants202161 grants202258 grants202347 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CENTER FOR HOUSING & HEA…$12.5MHEKTOEN INSTITUTE$1.6MCHICAGO HOUSE AND SOCIAL…$986KMOTHER AND CHILD ALLIANCE$851KALEXIAN BROTHERS$542KGREATER FAMILY HEALTH$431KHEARTLAND ALLIANCE HEALTH$376KCENTER ON HALSTED$372KOPEN DOOR CLINIC$368KSINAI HEALTH SYSTEM$351K

Grant Size Distribution

245 grants across all recorded years

63<$50K47$50–100K54$100–250K45$250–500K26$500K–1M6$1–5M4$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • President/CEO: John Peller
  • Chief Officer of External Relations: Edward Wagner
  • Director of Individual Giving: Position referenced in donor materials

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JOHN PELLERPRESIDENT & CEO$274KLAURIE WETTSTEADCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER$189KSIMONE G KOEHLINGERCHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER$171KEDWARD WAGNERCHIEF OFFICER OF EXTERNAL$149KTHOMAS MENARDVP OF OPERATIONS$130KCYNTHIA TUCKERVP OF PREVENTION & COMMUNITY P$123KJAMES WOOTERSSR. DIR - GRANTS AND CONTRACTS$123KNADEEN ISRAELVP OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY$122KBRANDI CALVERTSR. DIR - HOUSING OPERATIONS$120KBRIAN DIBBLEEDIR - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY$117KKIM HUNTSR. DIR - POLICY AND ADVOCACY$115K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOHN PELLERPRESIDENT & CEO37.5$273,879
LAURIE WETTSTEADCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER37.5$189,448
SIMONE G KOEHLINGERCHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER37.5$170,875
EDWARD WAGNERCHIEF OFFICER OF EXTERNAL37.5$148,504
THOMAS MENARDVP OF OPERATIONS37.5$130,295
JAMES WOOTERSSR. DIR - GRANTS AND CONTRACTS37.5$123,143
CYNTHIA TUCKERVP OF PREVENTION & COMMUNITY P37.5$123,451
NADEEN ISRAELVP OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY37.5$121,952
BRANDI CALVERTSR. DIR - HOUSING OPERATIONS37.5$120,176
BRIAN DIBBLEEDIR - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY37.5$116,847
KIM HUNTSR. DIR - POLICY AND ADVOCACY37.5$115,246
JANET LINDIRECTOR - TREASURER & FINANCE1
NAN SILVADIRECTOR - PROGRAMS COMM CHAIR1
ADWOA ANTWI-BARFIDIRECTOR0.5
CAPRICE CARTHANSDIRECTOR0.5
CECIL DEARBORNEDirector - Secretary1
GEOF BROWNDIRECTOR - BOARD CHAIR & STRAT1
JULIE SCOTTDirector0.5
JP VALADEZDirector0.5
LIU MONTSHODirector0.5
MARKUS PITCHFORDDirector0.5
YUSEF GARCIAVice Chair1
LANCE GLASSDirector0.5
ROY FERGUSONDirector1
TANYA LOPEZDirector0.5
TERRI FRIELDirector0.5
TERRI WILKERSONDirector0.5
LORI KAUFMANNDIRECTOR - FUND DVPT CHAIR1
MARY POUNDERDIRECTOR - POLICY & ADVOCACY C1
TOM SONDERGELDDIRECTOR - CHAIR STRATEGY PLAN1
SERGIO MOJICADIRECTOR0.5
TRAVIS GAYLESDirector0.5
TIM MULLETDirector0.5
CHARLIE PETERSONDirector0.5
KARA EASTMANDirector0.5
KEITH MCQUEENDirector0.5
NNENNA OKEKEDirector0.5
PATRICK STREIKDirector0.5
SEAN RADFORDDirector0.5

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

AFC has been active in recent community grantmaking and advocacy efforts:

Awarded $200,000 in community grants in partnership with Getting to Zero Illinois to support ending the HIV epidemic in Illinois

AIDS Foundation Chicago and GTZ-IL awards $200,000 in community grants to

Distributed $350,000 in grants through the GTZ-IL Community Grant Program

AIDS Foundation Chicago and GTZ-IL awards $200,000 in community grants to

Launched advocacy initiatives during Illinois' state legislative session to advance health equity and justice, encouraging constituents to contact legislators through an Action Center

2024

Published a 2024 Annual Report documenting organizational impact and activities

AFC maintains monthly giving programs through its "Friends of the Foundation" initiative, which provides donors with bi-annual updates, monthly newsletters, volunteering opportunities, and personalized support from the Director of Individual Giving.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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