The Commercial Club Foundation
The Commercial Club Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1985 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The Foundation funds activities of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and its related and affiliated organizations. It operates as a subordinate organization under the Commercial Club of Chicago, a business and civic organization founded in 1877.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$44.4M
+53.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.3M
+125.1% YoY
Grant Count
7
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.2M
+92.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to enhance economic growth and livability in Chicago by funding activities that make the Chicago region a better place for everyone to live, work, and do business.
Primary Program Areas:
- Funding activities of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and affiliated organizations
- Pursuing legislative actions on behalf of affiliated organizations in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois
- Supporting policy initiatives addressing key regional challenges
NTEE Classification: Community Service Clubs (S80)
Grantmaking
Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on the Chicago region, with particular emphasis on:
- City of Chicago
- State of Illinois
- Metropolitan Chicago area
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2025):
- Total assets: $44,423,153
- Total revenues: $21,521,271
- Total expenses: $16,091,681
- Program expense ratio: 96.80% (indicating that a significant portion of funds is directed toward charitable programs)
Staffing:
- 10 employees (2025)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $44,423,153 | $28,921,873 | $3,639,028 |
| Revenue | $21,521,271 | $31,548,553 | $6,183,004 |
| Expenses | $16,091,681 | $7,197,654 | $5,615,868 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $218,647 | $163,828 | $177,325 |
| 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 7 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEREK RB DOUGLAS | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT | 6 | $155,824 |
| JENNIFER SCANLON | DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL O'GRADY | DIRECTOR/VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| STEVE KOCH | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SCOTT SWANSON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CORDELIA C MEYER | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | $55,940 |
| SARAH POWELL | ACCOUNTING MANGER | 3 | $10,716 |
| NIKA LEVANDO BIRMAN | CHIEF OF STAFF | 2 | $8,523 |
| SUZANNE FISHER | VP, FINANCE & ADMIN | 4 | $23,764 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Public Safety Initiative (2024-Present):**
In 2024, the McCormick Foundation launched a five-year partnership with the Commercial Club Foundation to support the Civic Committee's Public Safety Task Force. The Task Force aims to make Chicago the safest big city in America through two primary strategies:
[PDF] 990-PF - MacArthur FoundationCommunity Violence Intervention (CVI) programs, with a goal of serving 75% of the population identified as highest risk
Workforce Development projects
**Partnership Details:**
McCormick Foundation match: 50 cents on the dollar
Total funding to date: $3 million in grants paid
Average grant size in 2025: $1 million
3 nonprofit organizations benefitted in 2025
Partnership established: 2024
The Foundation is also working with Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago (SC2), a collaborative effort involving community-based organizations, citywide partners, and city, county, and state governments.
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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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