Allies for Community Business Inc
Allies for Community Business Inc (A4CB) is a Chicago-based public charity, formed in 1994, that supports small businesses with capital, coaching, and connections intended to help them create jobs and wealth in their communities. It prioritizes Black, Hispanic/Latinx, women, and low-income entrepreneurs across the Chicagoland area and beyond.
Allies for Community Business Inc at a glance
In short: Allies for Community Business Inc gave $856K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $856,403
- +73.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +38.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,256
- +24.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $41,625,686
- +14.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Allies for Community Business Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 135 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 924-2180
Website: https://a4cb.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Allies for Community Business Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Fawohodie Foundation ($135K). Together the top 10 received $556K.
Grant Size Distribution
223 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 210 grants of 223 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
A4CB says it serves small businesses throughout Chicagoland and beyond, and its program description identifies priority entrepreneurs across the Chicagoland area and beyond. In its 2025 grant filings, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 2% to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Allies for Community Business Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2022) to $1.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $856K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Fawohodie Foundation Chicago, IL | To Support the Fawohodie Foundation | $135,306 |
| Legal Aid for New Entrepreneurs Inc Chicago, IL | To support organization as fiscal sponsor until 501(c)(3) status is reached. | $103,907 |
| Outwest Gallery and Cafe Chicago, IL | To support organization as fiscal sponsor in its application for exemption under 501(c)(3) | $95,850 |
| Future Firm PLLC Chicago, IL | Subcontractor for Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program | $71,340 |
| Crown Family Philanthropies Chicago, IL | To Support the Hatchery Programming | $50,000 |
| Andy Sunflower Cafe Chicago, IL | Support for neighborhood entrepreneurship lab cohorts designed to provide assistance to small businesses | $20,000 |
| B Prignano Tax and Accounting Serv Vitality Tax & Advisory LLC Warrenville, IL | Support for neighborhood entrepreneurship lab cohorts designed to provide assistance to small businesses | $20,000 |
| City Wide Jani Inc Chicago, IL | Support for neighborhood entrepreneurship lab cohorts designed to provide assistance to small businesses | $20,000 |
| Bill Welding & Fabrication Chicago, IL | Support for neighborhood entrepreneurship lab cohorts designed to provide assistance to small businesses | $20,000 |
| Toss and Spin Chicago, IL | Support for neighborhood entrepreneurship lab cohorts designed to provide assistance to small businesses | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,625,686 | $8,016,576 | $8,741,317 | $856,403 | 25 | $346,599 |
| 2024 | $36,374,214 | $9,940,987 | $9,802,100 | $495,000 | 18 | $137,559 |
| 2023 | $35,556,703 | $9,139,197 | $8,848,618 | $901,730 | 43 | $79,460 |
| 2022 | $47,279,806 | $8,974,469 | $7,836,906 | $60,000 | 3 | $77,621 |
| 2021 | $54,726,016 | $12,452,578 | $6,695,795 | $1,900,000 | 134 | $34,649 |
| 2019 | $12,958,409 | $5,884,549 | $4,366,347 | $180,000 | 9 | $-296,675 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
A4CB’s stated mission is to provide the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow businesses that create jobs and wealth in their communities. Its services include loans and lines of credit, free one-to-one coaching, the nine-month Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab, and support such as kitchen space, licensing assistance, and help pursuing larger contracts.
A4CB’s website describes grant programs it administers with partners. Examples include grants for small retail food businesses in priority Chicago geographies and reimbursable grants for small businesses and property owners making capital improvements to commercial spaces. The 2025 filing also describes payments to selected businesses in the Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Program, whose candidates must meet program requirements before funds are disbursed.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, A4CB reported 25 grants totaling $856,403. The grants ranged from $20,000 to $135,306, with a median of $20,000. The filing describes grant expenses as including Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Program disbursements and support for Hatchery programming.
Among the largest reported grants were $135,306 to The Fawohodie Foundation, for its support; $103,907 to Legal Aid for New Entrepreneurs Inc and $95,850 to OutWest Gallery and Cafe, each to support the organization as a fiscal sponsor; $71,340 to Future Firm PLLC as a subcontractor for the Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation Program; and $50,000 to Crown Family Philanthropies for Hatchery programming. Several listed $20,000 grants supported Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab cohorts designed to assist small businesses.
A4CB’s website says it partners with public and private organizations to provide small-business grants and posts new opportunities with application instructions as they arise.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Brad McConnell, chief executive officer; Darlene Hightower, chair, outreach; Horacio Mendez, treasurer, finance and audit; and S. Michael McCracken, chair, portfolio and credit. The filing also lists directors Ben Bochnowski, Clemente Nicado, Juan Ortiz, Latonya Caldwell, Mariah Van Ermen, and Nicole McCarthy.
Allies for Community Business Inc is led by Brad McConnell, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2019; 6 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brad McConnell
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$176K (2019) → $205K (2025)
S. Michael McCracken
Chair, Portfolio & Credi
Chair, Portfolio & Credit Committee → Chair, Portfolio & Credit Committee Chair, 2024
Chair, Portfolio & Credit Committee Chair → Chair, Portfolio & Credi, 2025
On filings since 2019
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darlene Hightower
Chair & Outreach
Director → Chair & Outreach, 2023
On filings since 2022
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary F. Riley
Director of Community Rela
Senior Vice President & Ext → Director of Community Rela, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$107K (2019) → $133K (2025)
Rowan Richards
Director of Coaching & C
Director of Coaching & Connections → Director of Coaching & C, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$115K (2019) → $171K (2025)
Mary Tritsis
Director of Community Busi
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$136K (2021) → $168K (2025)
Jill Kozeluh
Director of Development
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$134K (2022) → $128K (2025)
Ben Bochnowski
Director
On filings since 2022
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clemente Nicado
Director
On filings since 2022
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juan Ortiz
Director
On filings since 2022
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shandra Richardson
Director
On filings since 2023
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mariah Van Ermen
Director
On filings since 2024
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Taz George
Director
On filings since 2024
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Latonya Caldwell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole McCarthy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennie Motto Mesterharm
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$123K (2021) → $134K (2025)
Horacio Mendez
Treasurer, Finance & Audit
Director → Treasurer, Finance & Audit Chair, 2024
Treasurer, Finance & Audit Chair → Treasurer, Finance & Audit, 2025
On filings since 2023
2.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Adrianne Spivey (2019–2025) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 111425
- Former: Anthony Waller (2019–2025) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 111425
- Former: Oscar Johnson (2022–2025) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 111425
- Former: Joe Neri (2019–2023) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Michelle T. Thom (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Bernita Johnson-Gabriel (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Patrice Dziire (2019–2022) — Director -
- Former: George S. Wright (2019–2021) — Chair & Director
- Former: James Gilliam (2019–2021) — Chair & Outreach
- Former: R. Carson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Isabel Cristina Velez Diez (2021) — Director of Operations & Strategy
- Former: Clay Cochran (2019) — Director
- Former: Gregory S. Pike (2019) — Chair
- Former: Shaina Doar (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $205K, to Brad McConnell (Chief Executive Officer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Allies for Community Business Inc
How much does Allies for Community Business Inc give each year?
Allies for Community Business Inc gave $856K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $495K across 18 grants.
What is Allies for Community Business Inc's typical grant size?
Allies for Community Business Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $34,256, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Allies for Community Business Inc give grants?
Allies for Community Business Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (18 grants).
Does Allies for Community Business Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Allies for Community Business Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Allies for Community Business Inc's largest grantees?
Allies for Community Business Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Fawohodie Foundation ($135,306), Legal Aid for New Entrepreneurs Inc ($103,907) and Outwest Gallery and Cafe ($95,850), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Allies for Community Business Inc?
Allies for Community Business Inc reported $41.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.0M.
What does Allies for Community Business Inc fund?
A4CB’s stated mission is to provide the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow businesses that create jobs and wealth in their communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Allies for Community Business Inc?
Allies for Community Business Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check a4cb.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Allies for Community Business Inc's EIN?
Allies for Community Business Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3966573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Allies for Community Business Inc funds
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