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
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include The Commercial Club of Chicago ($7,433,903), University of Chicago Crime Labs ($2,535,050), Robert R Mccormick Foundation ($2,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,433,903 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LABS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,535,050 |
| ROBERT R MCCORMICK FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000,000 |
| CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,860,000 |
| CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,243,109 |
| P33 CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| CIVIC COMMITTEE ACTION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,695 |
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.
Pritzker Traubert Foundation Awards First-Ever $5 Million Chicago TalentFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Commercial Club Foundation fund?
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…
How do I apply for a grant from The Commercial Club Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $44,423,153 (2025) • Total revenues: $21,521,271 (2025) • Total expenses: $16,091,681 (2025) • Total giving: $15,302,123 **Grant Activity:** Recent grants include: • The Commercial Club of Chicago: $7,433,903 (General Support, 2025) • The University of Chicago: Gene-related grant (2025, amount not fully specified in sources) Typical award range: $5,150–$7,433,903 **Historical Grant Examples:** The Foundation has supported various initiatives over time, in…
Where does The Commercial Club Foundation make grants?
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on the Chicago region, with particular emphasis on: • City of Chicago • State of Illinois • Metropolitan Chicago area
What size grants does The Commercial Club Foundation award?
In 2025, The Commercial Club Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $15.3M — an average of about $2.2M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Commercial Club Foundation's EIN?
The Commercial Club Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3406446. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Commercial Club Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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