Forefront is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization and membership association serving Illinois' social impact sector. Founded in 1974 and formerly known as Donors Forum, Forefront operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a team of 31 employees. The organization was formed by Illinois foundations and city officials in 2002 with the goal of strengthening the social impact sector for the people of Illinois.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.2M
-53.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.6M
+165.8% YoY
Grant Count
123
+101.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$102K
+31.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Forefront's mission is to build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of Illinois. The organization aims to create a united and thriving social impact sector that has a transformative impact on the wellbeing and economic security of communities while promoting equity across the state.
The organization accomplishes its mission through:
- Education and Training: Providing best-in-class resources and training programs to help organizations maximize their impact
- Capacity Building Services: Offering tools including the Impact Capacity Assessment Tool (iCAT) and customized, developmentally sequenced training programs that provide skills and peer-to-peer connections
- Technical Assistance and Fiscal Sponsorship: Supporting mission-driven organizations to address social challenges with sustainable solutions
- Advocacy and Policy Work: Organizing stakeholders from elected officials to community partners to benefit Illinois residents
- Thought Leadership: Providing emerging trends information and facilitating collective action around sector-wide issues
- Networking and Connection: Creating opportunities for engagement and exclusive access to networks and potential partners
Forefront also operates Converge Consulting, a social enterprise that delivers financial, accounting, and administrative solutions to nonprofits and foundations, and Fresh Taste, a staffed funder initiative focused on changing how food is produced, processed, and consumed in the Chicago region.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenue: $8.53 million
- Total Expenses: $19.1 million
- Total Assets: $12.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.08 million
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $26.12 million
- Total Giving: $4.73 million
The organization maintains a strong financial position with a perfect 100% score in Accountability & Finance from independent evaluators. Forefront operates with a fully independent board of 22 members, ensuring high-level oversight and governance.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,196,932 | $26,120,035 | $9,409,994 |
| Revenue | $8,534,739 | $22,563,689 | $14,471,149 |
| Expenses | $19,097,720 | $9,985,432 | $9,388,075 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $177,999 | $11,347 | $1,366 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Forefront
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Illinois Foundation ($897,600), Ymen ($575,000), Austin Coming Together ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION CHAMPAIGN, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $897,600 |
| YMEN CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $575,000 |
| AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $450,000 |
| NEIGHBORSPACE CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| ILLINOIS STEWARDSHIP ALLLIANCE SPRINGFIELD, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $325,000 |
| CHICAGO COMMUNITY AND WORKERS RIGHT CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| GARDENEERS CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $255,000 |
| CHICAGO FOOD POLICY ACTION COUNCIL CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| VIVERY COMMUNITY - FOOD ACCESS PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| FAITH IN PLACE CHICAGO, IL | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | $225,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Monique B. Jones serves as President & CEO. Jones is a visionary leader with over 25 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. She holds an LCSW credential and brings extensive background in mental health, violence prevention, philanthropy, and gender and racial equity. Prior to joining Forefront as the fourth President & CEO, she led the Evanston Community Foundation, where she increased the organization's asset size from $18 million to $30 million in five years and established the Evanston Reparations Community Fund. She also led the establishment of Forefront's Racial Equity Collective and expanded the organization's public policy footprint.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONIQUE B JONES | PRESIDENT, CEO | 40 | $281,250 |
| DEREK STOVALL-LEONARD | CFO (TO MAY '24) | 40 | $191,886 |
| PATRICE JAMES | IBAI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $151,914 |
| YUSEF GARCIA | CHIEF EXT AFFAIRS OFF (TO AUG '23) | 40 | $132,906 |
| LISA MAY SIMPSON | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $104,493 |
| AERICA CAMILLE LOVE | SR CONSULTANT, CONVERGE | 40 | $119,186 |
| ROBIN KROUSE | CONTROLLER (TO JUN '24) | 40 | $115,955 |
| MARIA SOCORRO PESQUEIRA | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| ANNA LEE | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| KIM TYLER | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DINAZ MANSURI | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| HEATHER HIGGINS ALDERMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LAWRENCE BENITO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ADELA CARLIN | BOARD MEMBER (FROM JAN '24) | 1 | — |
| GILLIAN DARLOW | BOARD MEMBER (TO JUN '24) | 1 | — |
| LATOYA EGWUEKWE-SMITH | BOARD MEMBER (FROM JAN '24) | 1 | — |
| THEODIA GILLESPIE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOHN S HERRING SR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| IANNA KACHORIS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TRACY KREMER | BOARD MEMBER (FROM JUL '23) | 1 | — |
| VICKIE LAKES-BATTLE | BOARD MEMBER (FROM JAN '24) | 1 | — |
| ALISON UPTON LOPEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KRISTEN MACK | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANTONIO TONY MARTINEZ JR | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATE MCADAMS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DORRI MCWHORTER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| VICKI MORCOS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARY O'DONNELL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARY POUNDER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOHN SHAW | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KAREN M TAMLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Forefront has been active in grantmaking and policy engagement, including participation in Foundations on the Hill 2026, an annual event in Washington D.C. where philanthropic stakeholders educate elected officials on key issues.
The organization has developed a curated resource page addressing federal directives, including executive orders, DEIA initiatives, immigration matters, communications, and financial planning.
Forefront leads the **Racial Equity Collective (REC)**, a multi-sector collaboration of DEI leaders, nonprofit and private sector organizations, philanthropic funders, and legislators committed to creating sustainable systemic change to address systemic inequities and divestments in the social impact sector.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Forefront fund?
Forefront's mission is to build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of Illinois. The organization aims to create a united and thriving social impact sector that has a transformative impact on the wellbeing and economic security of communities while promoting equity across the state. The organization accomplishes its mission through: • **Education and Training**: Providing best-in-class resources and training programs to help organizations maximize their impact • **Capacity Buildin…
What size grants does Forefront award?
In 2024, Forefront awarded 123 grants totaling $12.6M — an average of about $102K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Forefront's EIN?
Forefront's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7376023. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Forefront's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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