Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates
Illinois CASA is a Chicago-based public charity that supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. It provides statewide support to a network of local CASA programs, whose volunteers advocate for children involved in the child welfare system.
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates at a glance
In short: Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates gave $5.9M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $196K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,882,665
- +36.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $196,089
- +36.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $165,262
- Total assets
- $1,099,765
- -13.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 30, 2025)
- 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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Contact
Mailing address: 180 N Stetson St Ste 3500, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (847) 977-2965
Website: https://illinoiscasa.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CASA of Southwestern Illinois ($573K). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 62 grants of 152 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The organization describes its local-program network as serving 85 of the state’s 102 counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 30 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2020) to $5.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $5.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA of Southwestern Illinois Belleville, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $573,200 |
| Macon County CASA Decatur, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $386,313 |
| Advocacy Network for Childrencasa of Adams County Quincy, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $365,440 |
| CASA Kane County Geneva, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $354,648 |
| CASA Lake County Vernon Hills, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $318,586 |
| South Central Illinoismarion Salem, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $303,291 |
| CASA of Vermilion County Danville, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $295,345 |
| Champaign County CASA Urbana, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $255,045 |
| CASA of Will County Joliet, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $232,962 |
| CASA of Dupage County Wheaton, IL | Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant | $205,276 |
Ready to take the next step with Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,099,765 | $7,003,347 | $6,966,283 | $5,882,665 | 30 | $10 |
| 2024 | $1,275,456 | $5,394,776 | $5,360,804 | $4,305,384 | 30 | $10 |
| 2023 | $804,407 | $5,418,022 | $5,361,659 | $4,408,311 | 30 | $9 |
| 2022 | $1,157,086 | $3,940,398 | $3,961,829 | $3,080,957 | 31 | $13 |
| 2021 | $1,154,642 | $3,506,477 | $3,519,223 | $2,655,841 | 31 | $14 |
| 2020 | $876,420 | $3,031,728 | $3,016,777 | $2,233,638 | 31 | $26 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. It supports local CASA programs and their work advocating for children’s best interests in the juvenile court system.
The 2025 grant descriptions identify pass-through funding for Illinois DCFS and CESF grants. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the work of organizations supported: CASA of Southwestern Illinois says it recruits, trains, supervises, and supports volunteers advocating for abused and neglected children; Macon County CASA says it advocates for children in state custody under the protection of local courts; and CASA Kane County says it trains volunteers who represent children’s best interests in court. Other grantees describe work recruiting, training, and supporting volunteer advocates, or providing trained community volunteers to help inform court decisions about children.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Illinois CASA reported 30 grants totaling $5,882,665. Grant amounts ranged from $44,450 to $573,200, with a median of $165,262.
The largest reported grants included $573,200 to CASA of Southwestern Illinois, $386,313 to Macon County CASA, $365,440 to Advocacy Network for Children/CASA of Adams County, $354,648 to CASA Kane County, and $318,586 to CASA Lake County. Each was listed with the purpose “pass thru IL DCFS & CESF grant.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Missy Greathouse, president; Robert Anderson, vice president; Steve Pikturna, treasurer; Maha McDiarmid, secretary; Lynn Harvey, director, ex officio; and directors Ellen Lucke, Whitney Luebbers, Sharif Walker, Pam Perrilles, and Jessica Hudspeth.
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates is led by Mari Christopherson, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mari Christopherson
CEO
Executive Director → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $190K (2025)
Missy Greathouse
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Lucke
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Harvey
Director & Executive Officio
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Director & Executive Officio, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mariah Hayes
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Perrilles
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharif Walker
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Hudspeth
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terri Greenberg
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Luebbers
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angel Traub
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill Olsen
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beatriz Valdez
Deputy Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$112K (2025)
Robert Anderson
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maha McDiarmid
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Pikturna
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Linda Zekas (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Prestina Singleton (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Kaely Pandy (2023) — Director
- Former: Chris Setti (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Chantelle Porter (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lillian Gonzales (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Stanley Moore (2022) — Director
- Former: Christopher Monroe (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Cici Fisher Chalus (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Leyda Garcia-Greenawalt (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gloria Kelley (2020) — Director
- Former: Katherine Buchanan (2020) — Vice President
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 $190K, to Mari Christopherson (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates
How much does Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates give each year?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates gave $5.9M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.3M across 30 grants.
What is Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's typical grant size?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's median grant in 2025 was $165,262, and its average grant was $196,089, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates give grants?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pass Thru IL DCFS & Cesf Grant" (30 grants).
Who are Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's largest grantees?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's largest 2025 grantees include CASA of Southwestern Illinois ($573,200), Macon County CASA ($386,313) and Advocacy Network for Childrencasa of Adams County ($365,440), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.0M.
What does Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates fund?
The organization’s mission is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. It supports local CASA programs and their work advocating for children’s best interests in the juvenile court system. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check illinoiscasa.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's EIN?
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3906070. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
Seattle, WA
The National CASA/GAL Association funds development and expansion of court-appointed volunteer advocacy programs serving children who have experienced abuse or neglect. In 2024, its 32 pass-through grants ranged from $5,235 to $23,277, with a median of $10,150, and went to programs in multiple states across its 49-state network. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.9M
Grants
32
Total Given
$348K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Raymond C and Linda M Stachowiak
St Charles, IL
The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, with most of its giving going to Illinois and a small share to Indiana. In 2024, its 19 grants ranged from $600 to $50,000, with a median of $7,500. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.4M
Grants
19
Total Given
$221K
Kreiling Family Foundation
Hawthorn Woods, IL
The Kreiling Family Foundation supported health care coordination, food education, arts and culture, and other charitable work; most of its 2023 giving went to organizations in Illinois, with some grants in California, Florida, Virginia, and Nevada. Its 22 grants ranged from $27 to $32,836, with a median of $1,776. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$588K
Grants
22
Total Given
$98K
Edward & Wanda Jordan Family Foundation
Glen Ellyn, IL
The foundation funds education, scientific research, and spiritual ministries, with particular emphasis on children and youth; its 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $74,885, with a median of $13,750. Most funding went to Illinois, with some grants elsewhere in the U.S. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$18.5M
Grants
50
Total Given
$826K
George M Eisenberg Foundation
Arlington Heights, IL
The foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations in areas including health care, disability services, youth services, and hunger relief, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Illinois and the rest to Minnesota. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $1,000 to $1,275,000. It accepts requests by letter rather than a formal application; requests are due by April 30 for consideration the following calendar year.
Assets
$39.8M
Grants
150
Total Given
$4.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/illinois-association-of-court-appointed-special-advocates-morg_6ec1c6297f5844deb74f83a0e466b385
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363906070_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/illinois-association-of-court-appointed-special-advocates-morg_6ec1c6297f5844deb74f83a0e466b385},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates'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.
Illinois Association of Court Appointed Special Advocates down — hundreds of funders to go?