The Commercial Club Foundation
The Commercial Club Foundation is a Chicago-based public charity incorporated in 1985. It funds activities of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and related and affiliated organizations working to make the Chicago region a better place to live, work, and do business.
The Commercial Club Foundation at a glance
In short: The Commercial Club Foundation gave $15.3M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $2.2M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,280,757
- +125.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,182,965
- +92.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,860,000
- Total assets
- $44,423,153
- +53.6% vs 2024
- 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.
How to apply to The Commercial Club Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 190 South Lasalle Street 39Th Floo, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 853-1200
Website: https://commercialclubchicago.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Commercial Club Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Commercial Club of Chicago ($7.4M). Together the top 7 received $15.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 41 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The Foundation’s stated activities and legislative work concern the Chicago region, the city of Chicago, and the state of Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Commercial Club Foundation gives
- Giving grew 193% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.4M (2021) to $15.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $15.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,423,153 | $21,521,271 | $16,091,681 | $15,280,757 | 7 | $218,647 |
| 2024 | $28,921,873 | $31,548,553 | $7,197,654 | $6,788,671 | 6 | $163,828 |
| 2023 | $3,639,028 | $6,183,004 | $5,615,868 | $5,179,592 | 7 | $177,325 |
| 2022 | $3,172,793 | $4,783,742 | $5,470,756 | $5,213,424 | 9 | $117,498 |
| 2021 | $4,089,317 | $4,426,689 | $4,684,781 | $4,428,739 | 12 | $84,221 |
| 2020 | $4,192,737 | $4,365,753 | $4,928,706 | $4,685,045 | 10 | $87,520 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to fund the Civic Committee and affiliated organizations in their work to make the Chicago region a better place for everyone to live, work, and do business. Its website identifies work across areas including public safety, education, state finance, technology, transportation and infrastructure, criminal justice, and economic vitality.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working on civic and regional issues. For example, Civic Consulting Alliance describes its mission as bringing together staff and the business community to provide pro bono expertise and get big things done for the Chicago region. P33 describes its mission as transforming Chicago into a tier-one technology and innovation hub and promoting inclusive economic growth. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation says it invests in organizations building thriving communities where people have resources and opportunities to succeed.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported seven grants totaling $15,280,757. Grant amounts ranged from $8,695 to $7,433,903, with a median grant of $1,860,000. The largest grants were $7,433,903 to The Commercial Club of Chicago, $2,535,050 to University of Chicago Crime Labs, $2,000,000 to the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, $1,860,000 to Chicago Community Trust, and $1,243,109 to Civic Consulting Alliance. Each was listed for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Derek RB Douglas, Director/President; Jennifer Scanlon, Director/Chairman; Michael O’Grady, Director/Vice Chairman; Steve Koch, Secretary; and Scott Swanson, Treasurer. Other listed staff are Cordelia C Meyer, Executive Vice President; Sarah Powell, Accounting Manager; Nika Levando Birman, Chief of Staff; and Suzanne Fisher, VP, Finance & Administration.
The Commercial Club Foundation is led by Derek Rb Douglas, Director & President on every filing since 2023; 5 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Derek Rb Douglas
Director & President
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$57K (2023) → $156K (2025)
Jennifer Scanlon
Director & Chairman
Director & Chairman → Director & Vice Chairman, 2023
Director & Vice Chairman → Director & Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael O'Grady
Director & Vice Chairman
Director & Chairman → Director & Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cordelia C. Meyer
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $56K (2025)
Suzanne Fisher
Vice President, Finance & Administrator
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $24K (2025)
Nika Levando Birman
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$9K (2025)
Sarah Powell
Accounting Manger
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$11K (2025)
Scott Swanson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Koch
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Poethig Erika (2024) — Executive Vice President for Strategy & Planning
- Former: Jay L. Henderson (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Kelly R. Welsh (2020–2023) — Director & President · Filing note: Thru 7/2022
- Former: E. Scott Santi (2020–2022) — Director & Vice Chairman
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 $156K, to Derek RB Douglas (Director/President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Commercial Club Foundation
How much does The Commercial Club Foundation give each year?
The Commercial Club Foundation gave $15.3M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.8M across 6 grants.
What is The Commercial Club Foundation's typical grant size?
The Commercial Club Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,860,000, and its average grant was $2,182,965, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Commercial Club Foundation give grants?
The Commercial Club Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does The Commercial Club Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Commercial Club Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Commercial Club Foundation's largest grantees?
The Commercial Club Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Commercial Club of Chicago ($7,433,903), University of Chicago Crime Labs ($2,535,050) and Robert R McCormick Foundation ($2,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Commercial Club Foundation?
The Commercial Club Foundation reported $44.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.5M.
What does The Commercial Club Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to fund the Civic Committee and affiliated organizations in their work to make the Chicago region a better place for everyone to live, work, and do business. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Commercial Club Foundation?
The Commercial Club Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check commercialclubchicago.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
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 December 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Commercial Club Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-commercial-club-foundation-morg_c28259167a6d49e69ede5afeea761b77
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363406446_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Commercial Club Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-commercial-club-foundation-morg_c28259167a6d49e69ede5afeea761b77},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 The Commercial Club Foundation'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.
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