Communities United
Communities United is an intergenerational community organization that engages community members in efforts to preserve affordable housing, improve the quality of education, increase access to affordable health care, and increase positive investment in young people.
Communities United at a glance
In short: Communities United gave $309K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $309K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $308,500
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $308,500
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $308,500
- Total assets
- $9,981,786
- -14.6% 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 September 2026.
Who Communities United funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital ($309K).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 6 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Communities United gives
- Giving grew 262% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2020) to $309K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $309K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | Kellogg year 3 subgrant for healing through justice project partnership | $308,500 |
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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 | $9,981,786 | $1,729,877 | $3,221,083 | $308,500 | 1 | $41,487 |
| 2024 | $11,683,509 | $3,767,466 | $3,712,657 | $308,500 | 1 | $12,589 |
| 2023 | $11,590,706 | $2,616,989 | $3,582,242 | $69,593 | 1 | $24,532 |
| 2022 | $10,466,076 | $10,443,279 | $2,964,019 | $85,153 | 1 | $4,346 |
| 2021 | $2,735,245 | $2,755,023 | $2,286,567 | $64,138 | 2 | $356 |
| 2020 | $2,126,220 | $2,674,758 | $1,969,548 | $15,900 | 2 | $687 |
About Communities United
Based on IRS filings
Communities United is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $10.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $309K. Net investment income was $41K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Communities United is led by Jennifer Arwade, Co Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Arwade
Co Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $115K (2025)
Raul Botello
Co Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$95K (2020) → $122K (2025)
Roxanne Smith
President
Secretary → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $7K (2025)
Diane Limas
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Brown
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Khong
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Syed Mahmood
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Deshawn Smith (2020–2024) — Board Memer
- Former: Rosa Reyes (2021–2024) — Board Memer
- Former: Seneca Oaddams (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dakota Burnett (2020–2021) — Board Member to
- Former: Earline Gates (2020–2021) — Board Member to
- Former: Maria Elena Sifuentes (2020–2021) — President to
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 $122K, to Raul Botello (Co Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Communities United
How much does Communities United give each year?
Communities United gave $309K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $309K across 1 grant.
How large is Communities United?
Communities United reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What is Communities United?
Communities United is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $10.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Communities United operate?
Communities United has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Communities United's EIN?
Communities United's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4394374. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Communities United's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Communities United'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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