Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, that serves as a bridge between state government and community legal aid organizations. Founded in 1999 and established as a tax-exempt organization in 1986, IEJF distributes state appropriations to effective nonprofit legal aid organizations throughout Illinois. The organization operates with a small staff of 4-7 employees and functions as a strategic grantmaker dedicated to expanding access to civil legal services for low-income residents.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.6M
-2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.4M
+10.8% YoY
Grant Count
49
+32.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$272K
-16.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation funds civil legal aid in Illinois to champion the rights of those burdened by barriers to justice, with a vision of equitable access to and navigation of the Illinois civil legal system.
Primary Focus Areas:
IEJF supports innovative, cost-effective civil legal aid programs that help people in crisis address life-changing problems. The foundation funds programs offering:
- Legal representation to people who cannot afford a lawyer
- Easy-to-understand legal forms and information
- Access to legal aid hotlines
- Legal self-help centers that help people understand their rights
- Mediation services that help people resolve conflicts and avoid court
To maximize impact, IEJF funds both large organizations that provide a breadth of legal aid services and community-based groups that bring legal assistance to where people live. The foundation currently manages three state appropriations for civil legal aid, in addition to two state contracts for housing legal services.
Populations Served: Low-income families, victims of domestic violence, veterans, seniors, and those impacted by cannabis-related convictions.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $4,068,346.
Review Cycle
in 2000, IEJF has awarded more than $95 million in state grants to support struggling families, seniors, veterans, and those impacted by cannabis-related convictions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Illinois, with particular emphasis on serving residents throughout the state through both statewide organizations and community-based groups.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $14,626,159
- Total Expenses: $14,305,194
- Total Assets: $10,634,259
- Total Liabilities: $3,130,000
Historical Context: The organization has maintained consistent financial operations, with revenues and expenses remaining relatively stable in recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,634,259 | $10,852,879 | $9,055,531 |
| Revenue | $14,626,159 | $14,304,848 | $13,205,429 |
| Expenses | $14,305,194 | $13,089,609 | $10,715,854 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $102,536 | $46,813 | $1,803 |
| 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
161 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Civil Legal Aid Grants
ILLINOIS EQUAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies by organization
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Domestic Violence Legal Services: Legal Information for the Public
ILLINOIS EQUAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Domestic Violence Legal Services: Self-Help Legal Assistance Projects Grant
ILLINOIS EQUAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION
Amount
US $1,380,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Leslie Corbett Chenoweth
Board Structure: The foundation is governed by a twelve-member board appointed by the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, reflecting a model of cooperation between the two bar associations.
Key Staff: Allison Zidek (Finance Director)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENDRIC COBB | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KEITH EMMONS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DOROTHY CAPERS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| HON PATTI BELLOCK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SUHEILY NATAL DAVIS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SHANIN FARMER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RYAN GAMMELGARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAUREN MEACHUM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NICHOLAS A GOWEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NATHAN B HINCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KENNETH M KIRKWOOD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SOOK LEE | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| HON VIVIANA MARTINEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GRAY MATEO-HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FAIQ MIHLAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CRISTINA NUTZMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HAROLD B OAKLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HON JEFFREY SCHOENBERG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TOBIN TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LESLIE CORBETT CHENOWETH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $158,868 |
| ALLISON ZIDEK | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $87,120 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation has continued to expand its grantmaking reach and impact. Recent grant announcements include awards to organizations supporting civil legal aid, domestic violence legal services, eviction prevention, veterans' legal assistance, and cannabis-related conviction relief through the New Leaf Illinois Network.
Civil Legal Aid Grants | Illinois Equal Justice FoundationThe foundation's work is grounded in the Illinois Equal Justice Act (30 ILCS 765/1 et. seq.), passed in 1999 with overwhelming legislative support. The Act affirmed that "equal justice is a basic right that is fundamental to democracy in this state, and the integrity of this state's justice system depends on protecting and enforcing the rights of all people."
Civil Legal Aid Grants | Illinois Equal Justice FoundationData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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