Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
To further the education and professional advancement of black women lawyers.
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago at a glance
In short: Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago reported $27K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $26,623 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +36.5% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $181,831
- -13.8% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $231,210
- -16.3% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $232,782
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
2026 Agnes B. McGirth Scholarship
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
2026 Bar Review Scholarship
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
2026 Spring Essay Scholarship
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 2 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2024) to $70K (2023). In 2025 it reported $27K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BWLA Scholarship Fund Chicago, IL | — | $19,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $181,831 | $231,210 | $232,782 | $26,623 | Total only |
| 2024 | $210,838 | $276,247 | $223,307 | $19,500 | 1 |
| 2023 | $159,424 | $446,318 | $457,402 | $70,409 | Total only |
| 2022 | $170,508 | $251,120 | $212,469 | $50,000 | 1 |
| 2021 | $144,087 | $125,989 | $114,150 | $52,905 | Total only |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
Based on IRS filings
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago is a public charity, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $182K in total assets. In 2025, it reported $27K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago is led by Joan Akalaonu, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Akalaonu
President
Corresponding Seretary → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Weeya Young
Ex-Officio
Board Member at Large → President, 2024
President → Ex-Officio, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kina Arnold
Parliamentarian
Recording Secretary → Board Member at Large, 2023
Board Member at Large → Parliamentarian, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Rogers
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leloni English
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary → Recording Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natanya Pope-Sohel
Vice President
Board Member at Large → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amber Carpenter
Board Member at Large
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cyerra McGowan
Board Member at Large
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jade Peeples
Board Member at Large
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kameelah Pointer
Corresponding Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Omoyele Ajayi
Board Member at Large
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Renai Rodney (2022–2024) — Executive Officio
- Former: Shannon Stokes (2022–2024) — Board Member at Large
- Former: Alichia McIntosh (2023–2024) — Board Member at Large
- Former: Jenee Gaskin (2023–2024) — Recording Secretary
- Former: Christina Alabi (2024) — Board Member at Large
- Former: Elsa Andrianifahanana (2021–2023) — Executive Officio
- Former: Era Laudermilk (2021–2023) — President
- Former: Maggie Mendenhall Casey (2022–2023) — Parliamentarian
- Former: S. Mayumi Grigsby (2023) — Board Member at Large
- Former: Ashley Varnado (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Nakhia Morrissette (2021–2022) — Exofficio
- Former: Christian Conway (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Amber Bennett (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Arielle Williams (2021) — Member at Large
- Former: Camile Lindsay Kumi (2021) — Member at Large
- Former: Carrera Thibodeaux (2021) — Corresponding Secretary
- Former: Kalia Coleman (2021) — Executive Officio
- Former: Kenyatta Beverly (2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago
How much does Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago give each year?
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago reported $27K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $20K across 1 grant.
How large is Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago?
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago reported $182K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $231K.
Where does Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago operate?
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago's EIN?
Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3571804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
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