Business Leadership Council
The mission of the Business Leadership Council is to advocate to chicagoland corporations to conduct business with african-American owned businesses.
Business Leadership Council at a glance
In short: Business Leadership Council reported $2K in grants paid in 2024 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2024)
- $2,010 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -86.2% vs 2023
- Total assets
- $327,705
- +71.6% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $569,002
- +27.8% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $2
- -50.0% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $432,251
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Business Leadership Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2024) to $25K (2021). In 2024 it reported $2K 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $5,008 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $327,705 | $569,002 | $432,251 | $2,010 | Total only | $2 |
| 2023 | $190,955 | $445,387 | $462,345 | $14,560 | Total only | $4 |
| 2022 | $208,822 | $432,760 | $545,641 | $5,008 | 1 | $10 |
| 2021 | $327,725 | $568,582 | $415,876 | $24,549 | Total only | — |
| 2020 | $161,926 | $358,576 | $309,652 | $10,000 | 1 | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Business Leadership Council
Based on IRS filings
Business Leadership Council is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $328K in total assets. In 2024, it reported $2K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $2.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Business Leadership Council is led by Keiana Barrett, CEO on the 2024 filing; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Keiana Barrett
CEO
New on the 2024 filing
45 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arielle Johnson
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$175K (2024)
Charles Smith
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Charles
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Blackwell
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Washington
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Clark
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kalia Coleman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Otto Nichols
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felicia Rauls
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melody L. Spann Cooper
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
JOHN ROGERS JR Jr.
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: James Reynolds (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: John Hooker (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John Rogers (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: JOHN ROGERS Jr. (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Montel L. Gayles (2022–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Avis L. Sampson (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Karen Riley (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $175K, to Arielle Johnson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Business Leadership Council
How much does Business Leadership Council give each year?
Business Leadership Council reported $2K in grants paid in 2024 on its 2024 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2023 it reported $15K in grants paid.
How large is Business Leadership Council?
Business Leadership Council reported $328K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $569K.
What is Business Leadership Council?
Business Leadership Council is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $328K in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Business Leadership Council operate?
Business Leadership Council has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Business Leadership Council's EIN?
Business Leadership Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-5006375. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Business Leadership Council funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Business Leadership Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Business Leadership Council's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Business Leadership Council down — hundreds of funders to go?