Chicago Votes
Chicago Votes is a non-partisan, non-profit organization building a more inclusive democracy by putting power in the hands of young Chicagoans. We're engaging and developing a new generation of leaders by opening the doors of government, through civic education, to young people from all corners of the city. We're creating a civic culture to make Chicago and Illinois a better place to be young, and in the process we're making democracy FUN.
Chicago Votes at a glance
In short: Chicago Votes gave $20K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- Average grant
- $10,000
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,288,004
- +143.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Chicago Votes funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Southside Together ($10K). Together the top 2 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
8 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 8 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chicago Votes gives
- Giving fell 50% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2022) to $40K (2021). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southside Together Chicago, IL | Educating, connecting and empowering voting-age residents in Chicago | $10,000 |
| Healthy Hood Chicago, IL | Educating, connecting and empowering voting-age residents in Chicago | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chicago Votes?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,288,004 | $2,174,240 | $1,460,661 | $20,000 | 2 | $155 |
| 2023 | $528,867 | $1,467,228 | $1,685,664 | — | — | $220 |
| 2022 | $795,486 | $806,990 | $1,577,163 | $9,260 | 1 | $109 |
| 2021 | $1,474,463 | $1,810,608 | $1,191,516 | $40,000 | 5 | — |
| 2020 | $847,379 | $1,288,650 | $705,886 | — | — | — |
About Chicago Votes
Based on IRS filings
Chicago Votes is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $20K. Net investment income was $155.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chicago Votes is led by Steven Valles, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Steven Valles
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $180K (2024)
Jennifer Dean
Co-Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $155K (2024)
Troy Alim
President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne OIson
Director
President → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Petzel
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abby Pucker
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bernie Williams
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evie Thompson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zana Marino
Secretary
Treasurer → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Bernadine Williams (2021–2023) — President
- Former: Courtney Hrejsa (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Dakari Howard (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Evanescia Thompson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Ruelyn Garrett (2022–2023) — Co-Executive Director
- Former: Avalon Betts (2023) — Director
- Former: Tre King (2023) — Director
- Former: Troy Aim (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Alex Soble (2020) — Director
- Former: Jamie Brown (2020) — Director
- Former: Jauwan Hall (2020) — Director
- Former: Jaylin McClinton (2020) — Director
- Former: Laura Garcia (2020) — Director
- Former: Matthew Blizek (2020) — Director
- Former: Sam Spitz (2020) — Director
- Former: Tyler Holland (2020) — 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 $180K, to Steven Valles (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Votes
How much does Chicago Votes give each year?
Chicago Votes gave $20K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990.
How large is Chicago Votes?
Chicago Votes reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What is Chicago Votes?
Chicago Votes is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Chicago Votes operate?
Chicago Votes has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Chicago Votes's EIN?
Chicago Votes's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0545127. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Votes's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
The Albert Pick Jr Fund
Chicago, IL
The Albert Pick Jr Fund supports small, community-centered Chicago nonprofits, particularly those advancing civic activism, youth safety and wellness, and collaborative or rapid-response initiatives in communities affected by systemic inequities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $75,000, with a median of $16,250. It does not accept unsolicited requests; grants are by invitation.
Assets
$20.4M
Grants
54
Total Given
$1.0M
Grand Victoria Foundation
Chicago, IL
Grand Victoria Foundation funds community power-building and systemic racial justice work, especially Black-led efforts and organizations accountable to Black communities and other communities of color. It focuses on Illinois and gave a median grant of $25,000 in 2024, with awards ranging from $300 to $555,150. It accepts requests through a Letter of Inquiry when the process is open, but says it is paused until October 2026.
Assets
$180.9M
Grants
114
Total Given
$6.5M
Morrison Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Morrison Family Foundation funded youth health and mental health, substance-abuse and nutrition programs, and cancer prevention research, education, screening, and early detection; it was based in Chicago, with recent grant dollars going to Illinois. Grant sizes varied widely: its 2021 grants averaged about $32,000, while its 12 grants in 2022 averaged about $635,000; its 2024 final return reported one $136,546 grant, suggesting it has wound down. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$137K
United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund Inc
Denver, CO
The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes as allowed by section 501c3 of the internal revenue code, including, for such purposes, identifying, researching, analyzing, and pursuing solutions to problems of consumer protection, environmental preservation, corporate and governmental responsibility to the public, discrimination, and other issues affecting the social welfare of the people of the united states and to cooperate with other citizen action groups that qualify as exempt under section 501c3 of the internal revenue code concerning problems of common concern to people throughout the united states.
Assets
$7.7M
Grants
4
Total Given
$618K
The Joyce Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Joyce Foundation funds policy research, development, and advocacy advancing racial equity and economic mobility, across areas including education, the environment, democracy, culture, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism. Its grants primarily support work in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; the 2024 median grant was $80,000, with awards ranging from $685 to $1 million. It accepts online letters of inquiry year-round, but formal proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
470
Total Given
$52.2M
American Documentary Inc
Brooklyn, NY
A national non-profit media arts organization, American Documentary strives to make essential documentaries accessible as a catalyst for public discourse. We collaborate with passionate filmmakers to amplify their voices, nuture the nonfiction community, and conduct community outreach.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
6
Total Given
$46K
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Chicago Votes'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 Votes down — hundreds of funders to go?