Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. Designated by the City of Chicago and Cook County to steward federal workforce-development funding, it manages a network of more than 70 community-based organizations and American Job Centers serving Chicago and suburban Cook County.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership at a glance
In short: Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership gave $66.9M across 98 grants in 2025 (avg $683K), mostly in Illinois. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $66,912,104
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 98
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $682,777
- -15.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $310,056
- Total assets
- $23,389,713
- -6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (28 of 98, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
- Contact
Mailing address: 1 N Dearborn St Ste 750, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-7065
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ists ($9.6M). Together the top 10 received $38.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
550 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 119 grants of 550 (22%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Partnership describes its regional workforce system as serving Chicago and suburban Cook County. In 2025, 81% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 14% to Tennessee, 3% to Kentucky, and 1% to Virginia; the filing lists Maryland at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 98 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 28 of 98 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $460K; repeat grants $772K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $341K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48.0M (2020) to $75.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 98 grants totaling $66.9M.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ists Nashville, TN | — | $9,614,828 |
| EdAssist Chicago, IL | — | $7,067,642 |
| Employment & Employer Services Chicago, IL | — | $5,498,967 |
| National Able Network Chicago, IL | — | $4,219,724 |
| Central State Ser Chicago, IL | — | $2,857,894 |
| Business and Career Services Arlington Heights, IL | — | $2,411,615 |
| Equus Louisville, KY | — | $2,056,727 |
| Calumet Area Industrial Commission Chicago, IL | — | $1,833,749 |
| Greater West Town Project Chicago, IL | — | $1,551,105 |
| YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | — | $1,203,670 |
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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 | $23,389,713 | $77,702,139 | $79,946,801 | $66,912,104 | 98 | $242,144 |
| 2024 | $24,934,496 | $80,064,940 | $80,953,196 | $67,169,221 | 83 | $151,333 |
| 2023 | $29,521,414 | $82,312,669 | $81,287,364 | $65,752,809 | 97 | $85,750 |
| 2022 | $31,507,856 | $89,236,447 | $88,904,298 | $74,985,012 | 104 | $1,187 |
| 2021 | $32,171,643 | $83,286,997 | $83,470,070 | $71,534,218 | 168 | $611 |
| 2020 | $14,252,070 | $57,313,123 | $58,684,127 | $47,960,072 | Total only | $28,664 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Partnership’s mission is to create, promote, and effectively manage a network of workforce-development organizations that designs innovative solutions to address business needs and prepares individuals for, and connects them to, career opportunities. Its website describes a focus on equitable career pathways, employer demand, and regional economic growth.
The Partnership funds programs through community-based organizations in its network. Examples of supported organizations include National Able Network, whose stated mission is to create employment and training opportunities for dislocated and disadvantaged workers, including veterans, older workers, and low-income individuals. Greater West Town Community Development describes its mission as expanding educational and economic opportunities for low-income residents in several Chicago community areas through workforce-development and educational services. Calumet Area Industrial Commission says it exists to attract, develop, and retain industry in the Calumet region.
Its programs include American Job Centers, clean-energy workforce training through Climate and Equitable Jobs Act hubs, and ConstructionWorks, which offers training, career coaching, and employer connections. ConstructionWorks is funded by the Illinois Tollway and administered by the Partnership’s network.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Partnership reported 98 grants totaling $66,912,104. Grant amounts ranged from $10,251 to $9,614,828, with a median of $310,056. The largest reported awards included $9,614,828 to ISTS in Nashville, $7,067,642 to EdAssist in Chicago, $5,498,967 to Employment & Employer Services in Chicago, and $4,219,724 to National Able Network in Chicago. Other large recipients included Central State Ser ($2,857,894), Business and Career Services ($2,411,615), and Equus ($2,056,727).
The Partnership’s website invites readers to join its funding-opportunities mailing list for updates as opportunities become available. A request for proposals for affiliate American Job Center WIOA Title I services described a competitive selection process and required program and fiscal proposals, including a program narrative, planned outcomes form, budget forms and narrative, and specified organizational and financial documents. Its submission deadline, August 13, 2026, has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George Wright as CEO. Other listed officers and directors include Jose A. Mota, Director of Finance; Susan Bison Massel, Director of Communications and External Affairs; Marisa Z. Lewis, CPO; Michael John Balcsik, Director of Risk; Amy M. Santacaterina, Director of Program Guidelines and Budgets; Claudia Cattouse, Director of Program Relationship Management; Bradley David Swanson, Senior Project Manager; Ebony Jones, Director of Human Resources; and Pilar Trejo, Director of Program Performance.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is led by Wright George, CEO on every filing since 2024; 19 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wright George
CEO
On filings since 2024
42.5 hrs/week
$228K (2024) → $222K (2025)
Cattouseclaudia
Director of Program Relationship Management
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
Employee → Director of Program Relationship Management, 2024
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $145K (2025)
Trejo Pilar
Director of Program Performance
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
Employee → Director of Program Performance, 2024
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $121K (2025)
Balcsik Michael John
Director of Risk
Director → Director of Risk, 2024
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Mota Jose A.
Director of Finance
Director → Director of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$162K (2023) → $169K (2025)
Santacaterina Amy M.
Director of Program Guidelines & Budgets
Director → Director of Program Guidelines & Budgets, 2024
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Massel Susan Bison
Director of Communications & External Affairs
On filings since 2024
42.5 hrs/week
$155K (2024) → $151K (2025)
Jones Ebony
Director of Human Resources
New on the 2025 filing
42.5 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Adam Hecktman
Director
Director of Technoloy & Civic Innovation → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liisa Stark
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Schulman
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Jacobson
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela McDonough
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elliott Thadius
Employee
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$103K (2022) → $110K (2025)
Gordon Sheila Y.
Employee
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $114K (2025)
Prado Patricia
Regional Manager
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
Employee → Regional Manager, 2024
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $110K (2025)
Randle Dora A.
Employee
Key Employee → Employee, 2023
On filings since 2022
42.5 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $108K (2025)
Garcia Abraham David
Employee
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $104K (2025)
Lewis Marisa Z.
Cpo
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $149K (2025)
Swanson Bradley David
Senior Project Manager
Employee → Senior Project Manager, 2024
On filings since 2023
42.5 hrs/week
$118K (2023) → $119K (2025)
Buenrostro Veronica
Employee
On filings since 2024
42.5 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $115K (2025)
Ko Carole
Employee
On filings since 2024
42 hrs/week
$103K (2024) → $104K (2025)
Carrie Martin
Employee
New on the 2025 filing
42.5 hrs/week
$100K (2025)
Chevali Kristen
Employee
New on the 2025 filing
42.5 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Haven Allen
Co-Chair
Chief Executive Officer → Director, 2021
Director → Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacki Robinson-Ivy
Co-Chair
Senior Vice President → Co-Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (68)
- Former: Monica Haslip (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Hogan Anne E. (2022–2024) — Employee
- Former: Walton Michael (2022–2024) — Employee
- Former: Bateymarion (2024) — Employee
- Former: Brannigankathleen M. (2024) — Employee
- Former: Cody-Robinson Tonya L. (2024) — Employee
- Former: Gonzalez Pedro (2024) — Employee
- Former: Johnson Ebony (2024) — Director of Human Resources
- Former: Moore Patricia (2024) — Employee
- Former: Thomas Pamela (2024) — Employee
- Former: Vizueta Victor (2024) — Employee
- Former: Williams Jasmine (2024) — Employee
- Former: George Wright (2020–2023) — Co-Chair
- Former: Brooks La Tonya (2022–2023) — Employee
- Former: Gee Tommy (2022–2023) — Employee
- Former: Tirado Efren (2022–2023) — Employee
- Former: Combs Marshall Patrick (2023) — Cpo
- Former: Massel Susan Bisno (2023) — Ccea
- Former: Sheffey-Rawlings Illona (2023) — CAO
- Former: Whatley Trina (2023) — Employee
- Former: Martinez Greg (2022) — Key Employee
- Former: Revilla Rosario (2022) — Key Employee
- Former: Charles Smith (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Farrell R. Bentley (2020–2021) — CCO
- Former: Illona Sheffey-Rawlings (2020–2021) — CAO
- Former: Amy M. Santacaterina (2021) — Director
- Former: Cory Muldoon (2021) — Director
- Former: Jose A. Mota (2021) — Director
- Former: Karin M. Norington Reaves (2021) — CEO
- Former: Marisa Z. Lewis (2021) — Cpo
- Former: Marshall Patrick Combs (2021) — Cpo
- Former: Michael John Balcsik (2021) — Director
- Former: Phaedra M. Leslie (2021) — Director
- Former: Susan Bisno Massel (2021) — Ccea
- Former: Alberto Ortego (2020) — Director
- Former: Amanda Cage (2020) — Director Strategic Initiative
- Former: Andre Rice (2020) — Director
- Former: Carrie Thomas (2020) — Director
- Former: Colin Cosgrove (2020) — President
- Former: Dan Lyonsmith (2020) — Associate Director of Workforce Development
- Former: Don Finn (2020) — Director
- Former: Donovan Pepper (2020) — Director
- Former: Eugene Jones Jr. (2020) — Director
- Former: James Skogsbergh (2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Foster (2020) — Director
- Former: Jim Dimas (2020) — Director
- Former: Jim McDonough (2020) — Director
- Former: John A. Mele (2020) — CFO
- Former: Jorge Ramirez (2020) — Director
- Former: Juan Salgado (2020) — Director
- Former: Kareem A. Dale (2020) — Director
- Former: Karen Teitelbaum (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Karin M. Norington-Reaves (2020) — CEO
- Former: Kenneth Ender (2020) — Co-Chair
- Former: Kristin Gomez (2020) — Director
- Former: Lashana Jackson (2020) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Laura Britton (2020) — Director
- Former: Marc Gordon (2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Jasso (2020) — Director
- Former: Pam McDonough (2020) — Director
- Former: Ray Marchiori (2020) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Rich Monocchio (2020) — Director
- Former: Robert Reiter (2020) — President
- Former: Scott Drach (2020) — Director
- Former: Shelley Stern Grach (2020) — Director
- Former: Sylvia Jenkins (2020) — Director
- Former: Tiffany Hamel-Johnson (2020) — Director
- Former: Xochitl Flores (2020) — Bureau Chief
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $222K, to Wright George (CEO). 19 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
How much does Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership give each year?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership gave $66.9M across 98 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $67.2M across 83 grants.
What is Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's typical grant size?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's median grant in 2025 was $310,056, and its average grant was $682,777, across 98 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership that year got $460K on average.
Where does Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership give grants?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership gives mostly in Illinois: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (69 grants), University Park, IL (3 grants), Arlington Heights, IL (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Who are Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's largest grantees?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's largest 2025 grantees include Ists ($9,614,828), EdAssist ($7,067,642) and Employment & Employer Services ($5,498,967), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership reported $23.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $77.7M.
What does Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership fund?
The Partnership’s mission is to create, promote, and effectively manage a network of workforce-development organizations that designs innovative solutions to address business needs and prepares individuals for, and connects them to, career opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's EIN?
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4122225. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-cook-workforce-partnership-morg_a28f3e648dcd42b7a5c6f4cf3dfdf0b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364122225_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-cook-workforce-partnership-morg_a28f3e648dcd42b7a5c6f4cf3dfdf0b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership'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.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership down — hundreds of funders to go?