Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois logo

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois

Public charity · Grantmaker Springfield, IL EIN: 36-4254553 Website

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) is a public charity based in Springfield, Illinois. Established in 1995, it is an accredited state chapter of the National Children’s Alliance and supports Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) throughout Illinois through leadership, education, collaboration, technical assistance, and grants.

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois at a glance

In short: Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois gave $18.0M across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $429K). 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$18,034,797
+5.6% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
42
+2.4% vs 2024
Average grant
$429,400
+3.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$331,023
Total assets
$2,805,646
+10.0% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
10% first-time grantees (4 of 41, 2025)
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 Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois

Contact

Mailing address: 400 South 9Th Street Suite 101, Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: (217) 528-2224
Website: https://childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Chicago CAC: $3.4MChicago CAC$3.4MLake County Child ADV Center: $843KLake County Child ADV Center$843KLarabida CAC: $778KLarabida CAC$778KWill County CAC: $684KWill County CAC$684KN&NW Cook County: $640KN&NW Cook County$640KKane County CAC: $634KKane County CAC$634KWinnebago County: $618KWinnebago County$618KSt Clair Co CAC: $575KSt Clair Co CAC$575KMadison County CAC: $565KMadison County CAC$565KAll Our Children's CAC: $551KAll Our Children's CAC$551K

The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago CAC ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $9.3M.

Grant Size Distribution

202 grants across all recorded years

16<$50K31$50–100K63$100–250K62$250–500K25$500K–1M5$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 63 grants of 202 (31%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

CACI states that it supports Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois, and its grantmaking is described as supporting centers in Illinois.

Is Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 41 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $317K; repeat grants $449K. How we count

Medians: $350K first-time, $334K repeat.

  • 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M35 grants2019 36 grants2020 39 grants2021 40 grants2022 40 grants2023 41 grants2024 42 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7.0M (2019) to $18.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $18.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Chicago CAC To Assist with Goals$3,413,353
Lake County Child ADV Center To Assist with Goals$842,946
Larabida CAC To Assist with Goals$777,944
Will County CAC To Assist with Goals$683,672
N&NW Cook County To Assist with Goals$639,812
Kane County CAC To Assist with Goals$634,278
Winnebago County To Assist with Goals$618,111
St Clair Co CAC To Assist with Goals$575,057
Madison County CAC To Assist with Goals$564,699
All Our Children's CAC To Assist with Goals$550,896
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$2,805,646$20,277,014$20,126,738$18,034,79742$3,595
2024$2,551,604$18,829,202$18,834,029$17,084,47941—
2023$1,835,881$10,097,298$10,149,141$8,744,51240—
2022$1,925,327$10,958,021$10,951,765$9,717,67740—
2021$1,652,670$9,398,415$9,389,266$8,268,43139—
2020$1,448,429$8,746,596$8,751,262$7,712,36036—
2019$1,496,916$7,973,301$8,003,667$6,961,76935—

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

CACI’s mission is to support and sustain Illinois’ Children’s Advocacy Centers through leadership in resource development, education, and collaboration. Its work includes training and technical assistance for developing and existing centers, support for members working toward National Children’s Alliance accreditation standards, and collaboration on education and public policy issues.

CACI states that it provides grants to child advocacy centers in Illinois. It monitors funded subgrantees for compliance with program objectives and budgets, including centers receiving VOCA funding.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, CACI reported 42 grants totaling $18,034,797. Grant amounts ranged from $43,792 to $3,413,353, with a median grant of $331,023.

Among the largest reported grants were $3,413,353 to Chicago CAC, $842,946 to Lake County Child Advocacy Center, $777,944 to LaRabida CAC, $683,672 to Will County CAC, and $639,812 to N&NW Cook County. The stated purpose for these grants was “to assist with goals.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jeffrey Brown as president; Amber Clayborne as vice preside; Tony Kolbeck as secretary; and Chris Hankins as treasurer. Directors listed are Jackie Diediker, John JJ James, Theodore Cross, Verleaner Lane, Michelle Mussman, and L Kay Deselms Dent.

CACI’s website lists Kim Mangiaracino as CEO, Carrie Cohan as chief program officer, and Amy Apostal as chief operating officer.

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois is led by Jeffrey Brown, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jeffrey Brown

    President

    Board Member → Vice President, 2020

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Tennyson

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • L. Kay Deselms Dent

    Director

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2020

    Treasurer → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Mussman

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Verleaner Lane

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Colquhoun

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jackie Diediker

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Jj James

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Theodore Cross

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Williams

    Diector

    President → Past President, 2020

    Past President → Diector, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amber Clayborne

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Hankins

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tony Kolbeck

    Secretary

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (12)
  • Former: Kris Tharp (2024) — Director
  • Former: Sherri Lau (2024) — Director
  • Former: Careyana M. Brenham (2019–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Elizabeth Johnstone (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Joan Pernecke (2019–2023) — President
  • Former: Meryl Paniak (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Casey Bloodworth (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Cheryl Peterson (2019–2020) — Past Secretary
  • Former: Joe Poshard (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Justin Fitzsimmons (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Mary Beth Long (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Erin Merryn (2019) — Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois

How much does Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois give each year?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois gave $18.0M across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $17.1M across 41 grants.

What is Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's typical grant size?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's median grant in 2025 was $331,023, and its average grant was $429,400, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois that year got $317K on average.

Does Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 41 grants with a stated purpose on Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Assist with Goals" (41 grants).

Who are Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's largest grantees?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago CAC ($3,413,353), Lake County Child ADV Center ($842,946) and Larabida CAC ($777,944), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.3M.

What does Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois fund?

CACI’s mission is to support and sustain Illinois’ Children’s Advocacy Centers through leadership in resource development, education, and collaboration. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

Where does Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois make grants?

CACI states that it supports Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout Illinois, and its grantmaking is described as supporting centers in Illinois.

What is Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's EIN?

Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4254553. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 5, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 23, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)

Live grants for the work Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois funds

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois'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.

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