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 $61K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $61,000
- +205.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,500
- +205.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,500
- Total assets
- $949,525
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Chicago Votes funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was World Organizing Institute ($50K). Together the top 2 received $61K.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 10 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chicago Votes gives
- Giving grew 559% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2022) to $61K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $61K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| World Organizing Institute Chicago, IL | General operating support for the No Borders civic-education and leadership initiative | $50,000 |
| MUD Theatre Project Chicago, IL | Civics in Prison subgrant supporting peer-educator training and civic-education programming inside Illinois prisons, September-December 2025 | $11,000 |
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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 | $949,525 | $1,183,890 | $1,474,482 | $61,000 | 2 | $143 |
| 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 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $950K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $61K. Net investment income was $143.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chicago Votes is led by Steven Valles, Co-Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven Valles
Co-Executive Director
Executive Director → Co-Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $179K (2025)
Jennifer Dean
Co-Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $154K (2025)
Troy Alim
President
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Olson
Director
President → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abby Pucker
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernie Williams
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evie Thompson
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caleb Dunson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jorge Arteaga
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Petzel
Treasurer - Term
President → Director, 2023
Director → Treasurer - Term, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zana Marino
Secretary
Treasurer → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/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, 2020–2025. "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 $179K, to Steven Valles (Co-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 $61K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $20K across 2 grants.
How large is Chicago Votes?
Chicago Votes reported $950K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What is Chicago Votes?
Chicago Votes is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $950K in total assets as of 2025.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 2, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Chicago Votes funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Votes's focus areas in our free grants database
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Chicago Votes down — hundreds of funders to go?