To improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity.
Key facts about Women Employed
In short: Women Employed gave $176K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-2969526
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $175,600
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- Average grant
- $25,086
- Median grant
- $27,175
- Total assets
- $1,776,611
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Next open deadline
- March 31, 2027 (The Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
-20.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$176K
+71.2% YoY
Grant Count
7
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+71.2% YoY
About Women Employed
Based on IRS filings
Women Employed is a public charity focused on Employment, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $176K. Net investment income was $14K.
Focus Areas
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Women Employed
Ready to take the next step with Women Employed?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $103K (2024) to $176K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $176K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rush University Medical Center ($54K). Together the top 7 received $176K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $54,375 |
| Instituto Del Progreso Latino Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $40,775 |
| Esperanza Health Centers Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $27,175 |
| Health and Medicine Policy Research Group Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $27,175 |
| Erie Neighborhood House Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $10,000 |
| Center for Changing Lives Chicago, IL | Various Program Stipends | $8,100 |
| Kan-Win Park Ridge, IL | Various Program Stipends | $8,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,776,611 | $2,238,893 | $2,033,113 |
| Revenue | $1,797,220 | $3,945,101 | $3,487,962 |
| Expenses | $3,318,453 | $3,409,429 | $3,361,329 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,842 | $95,943 | $43,359 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 9, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Women Employed is led by Ellens Cherita, President & CEO since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 27 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellens Cherita
President & CEO
CEO → President & CEO, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $211K (2025)
Watkins-Asiyanbi Lynn
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Warden Christina
Director of Policy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Loeb Marjorie
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mason Jennifer
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mentor-Truppa Ambar
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alfaro Cynthia
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Attea Kate
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Badower Sepora
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becvar Teresa
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dodds Shawna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Garcia Palmer Carrie
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Garcia-Goyette Ausannette
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greenberg Caroline
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Haney Pamela
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kiselyk Kate
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mathis Nia C.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Panagopoulos Katina E.
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharpe Diana
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Smith Lauren
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trotter Joanna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Majmudar Sharmili
Executive Vice President O
Interim CEO → Executive Vice President of Policy & Organizatio, 2020
Executive Vice President of Policy & Organizatio → Executive Vice President O, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$125K (2019) → $134K (2025)
Cunneen Elizabeth
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$114K (2025)
Bartecki Holly
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Burrell Nakita
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shehorn Meghan
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Everson Kate
Board Fellow
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (58)
- Former: Ambar Mentor-Truppa (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Cherita Ellens (2021–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Diana Sharpe (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Holly Bartecki (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Jennifer Mason (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Katina E. Panagopoulos (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Lynn Watkins-Asiyanbi (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Marjorie Loeb (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Meghan Shehorn (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Nakita Burrell (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Sharmili Majmudar (2021–2024) — Executive Vice President O
- Former: Carrie Garcia Palmer (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Christina Warden (2022–2024) — Director of Policy
- Former: Elizabeth Cunneen (2022–2024) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Kate Attea (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Ausannette Garcia-Goyette (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Caroline Greenberg (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Cynthia Alfaro (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Joanna Trotter (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Kate Kiselyk (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Lauren Smith (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Nia C. Mathis (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Pamela Haney (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Shawna Dodds (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Teresa Bevcar (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Mary Kay Devine (2024) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Sepora Badower (2024) — Director
- Former: Barbara Barreno-Paschall (2023) — Director
- Former: Sepora Makabeh (2023) — Director
- Former: Anjali Reddy (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Beata Kirr (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Elena Robinson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Johanna Danz (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Leslie Darling (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Battisfore (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lydia Bueschel (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Pattis (2021) — Director
- Former: Manjari G. Malkani MD (2021) — Director
- Former: Rachelle Whitacre (2021) — Director
- Former: Bueschel Lydia (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Danz Johanna (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Golden Deb (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Hannon Nancy (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kenefick Elizabeth (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Kirr Beata (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Reddy Anjali (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Robinson Elena (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Snow Lisa (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Darling Leslie (2020) — Director
- Former: Panagopoulos Katina (2020) — Director
- Former: Pattis Lisa (2020) — Chair
- Former: Thorne Deborah (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Boege Kate (2019) — Director
- Former: Bridges-Mansfield Tameshia (2019) — Director
- Former: McMahon Jennifer (2019) — Director
- Former: Mendelsohn Susan (2019) — Director
- Former: Pattis Lisa J. (2019) — Chair
- Former: Thorne Deborah L. (2019) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $211K, to Ellens Cherita (President & CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Women Employed
How much does Women Employed give each year?
Women Employed gave $176K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $103K across 7 grants.
What is Women Employed's typical grant size?
Women Employed's median grant in 2025 was $27,175, and its average grant was $25,086, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Women Employed give grants?
Women Employed 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 (6 grants).
Does Women Employed give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Women Employed's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various Program Stipends" (7 grants).
Who are Women Employed's largest grantees?
Women Employed's largest 2025 grantees include Rush University Medical Center ($54,375), Instituto Del Progreso Latino ($40,775) and Esperanza Health Centers ($27,175), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women Employed?
Women Employed reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What is Women Employed?
Women Employed is a public charity focused on Employment, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Women Employed's EIN?
Women Employed's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2969526. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Women Employed by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Women Employed's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc
Chicago, IL
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago funds nonprofit work on basic needs and community-led efforts, including healthcare, housing, food assistance, early learning, safety, legal services, and workforce development across greater Chicago and the surrounding region. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,002 to $2,038,325, with a median of $25,000; the current Impact Grants cycle is closed to new applicants and limited to current partners, and the BridgeBuilders application is also closed.
Assets
$48.8M
Grants
331
Total Given
$22.8M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds nonprofits addressing economic mobility, wealth gaps, and urgent community needs, with priorities including homeownership, small businesses, education, quality jobs, and investment in underinvested communities. Its 2025 itemized grants had a median of $26,500, though awards vary widely; grants generally benefit Chicago-region residents, and the Trust directs applicants to open opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Lloyd a Fry Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation funds Chicago nonprofits working in arts learning, education, and employment, with emphasis on opportunities for low-income residents and students. Its 2025 grants ranged from $125 to $250,000, with a median of $5,000. It recommends a letter of inquiry for preliminary feedback; for employment grants, this is highly recommended for some applicants but not required before submitting a proposal.
Assets
$208.2M
Grants
394
Total Given
$9.3M
Grand Victoria Foundation
Chicago, IL
Grand Victoria Foundation funds community power-building and systemic racial justice work, especially Black-led efforts and organizations accountable to Black communities and other communities of color. It focuses on Illinois and gave a median grant of $25,000 in 2024, with awards ranging from $300 to $555,150. It accepts requests through a Letter of Inquiry when the process is open, but says it is paused until October 2026.
Assets
$180.9M
Grants
114
Total Given
$6.5M
Julian Grace Foundation
Highland Park, IL
The Julian Grace Foundation supports U.S.-based nonprofits working in immigration and human rights, cultural heritage, health, education, and environmental protection; it is not currently inviting new organizations in education. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $310,000, with a median of $60,000, and most funding went to Illinois organizations. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests; applications are by invitation, though organizations may send a brief introduction.
Assets
$87.0M
Grants
105
Total Given
$8.1M
Retirement Research Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Retirement Research Foundation funds work to improve older adults’ quality of life, including advocacy, direct services, research, knowledge sharing, and organizational capacity building, with priorities such as caregiving, housing, economic security, age equity, and social connection. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $143,626, with a median of $16,113; it supports national-scope advocacy, research, and knowledge sharing, and Illinois-based direct services and capacity building. A Letter of Inquiry is required before consideration.
Assets
$146.5M
Grants
256
Total Given
$7.8M
Robert R McCormick Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation funds education, community development and economic opportunity, journalism and government accountability, and support for service members, veterans, and their families. It focuses community investments on Chicago’s South and West Sides, especially Englewood and Little Village, while also supporting initiatives across the region; its 2024 median grant was $50,000.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
255
Total Given
$106.1M
Unidosus
Washington, DC
UnidosUS funds organizations working to create opportunities for Latinos, including in housing and financial empowerment, education and workforce development, and related community and advocacy work. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $63,000, with awards ranging from about $5,500 to $1.54 million, primarily across the United States and Puerto Rico; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$125.8M
Grants
198
Total Given
$19.8M
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Owings Mills, MD
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation funds direct services, programs, general operations, and capital projects in housing, health, jobs, education, and aging for low-income and vulnerable people. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000; its Small Grants Program offers up to $50,000 over two years, with funding focused on Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. It awards grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
872
Total Given
$127.8M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation funds a broad range of work, including journalism, arts, Chicago communities, climate and clean energy, homelessness, human rights, and criminal justice reform. Its 2024 grants had a median of $160,000, with awards ranging from $450 to $21 million; funding is nationwide, with the largest shares going to New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Application rules vary by program: some accept self-nominations or Letters of Inquiry, while others generally do not fund unsolicited proposals.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans services, disaster relief, and community projects, primarily through Elks Lodges and state associations in communities across the United States where Elks live and work. Its 2025 grants had a median of $8,500, though amounts varied widely; the listed Beacon and Freedom Grants are limited to Elks Lodges. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
More Funders in Illinois
Women Employed down — hundreds of funders to go?