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: Verified by RoundPaper

FY 2023

Verified NonprofitLast Filed 2023EIN 23-7376023

Forefront

CHICAGO, ILNTEE: T50ZFounded 1974Website

mission statement

To build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of illinois.

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Total Revenue

$8.5M

FY 2023

Program Spending

91.9%

of total expenses

Known Funders

107

2019–2024 filings

Key Metrics (FY 2023)

The Numbers

$12.2M

Total Assets

$9.1M net

5.73 mo

Operating Reserves

FY 2023

Active Programs

FY 2023

Total Employees

FY 2023

Funding Track Record

Backed by 107 Institutional Funders

$54.6M raised across 412 grants · +$2.6M committed (2019–2024 filings)

Funder Geography

Funders across 15 states (2019–2024 filings)

Institutional Funding by Year

PaidCommittedBoth

Funder	Location	Total Awarded
The Chicago Community Trust	CHICAGO, IL	$16,800,475
The Builders Initiative Inc	BENTONVILLE, AR	$12,280,000
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago	CHICAGO, IL	$4,063,333
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation	CHICAGO, IL	$3,587,500 +$2,213,000 committed
The Lumpkin Family Foundation	MATTOON, IL	$2,417,849
Walder Family Foundation	Wilmington, DE	$1,925,700
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial	CHICAGO, IL	$1,245,000
Grand Victoria Foundation	CHICAGO, IL	$1,188,719 +$150,000 committed
The Christopher Family Foundation	Westmont, IL	$986,917
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation	NEW YORK, NY	$875,900

Total tracked: $54,605,789 across 412 grants · +$2,628,700 committed across 17 commitments (2019–2024 filings)

Totals reflect grants as reported on funder tax returns. Timing may not match recipient revenue: funder and recipient fiscal years often differ, and grants paid by a funder in one year may be recognized by the recipient in a different year.

Programs (FY 2023)

What They Do

$11.7M in expenses

Fresh taste is a sponsored project of forefront. It is a staffed funder initiative formed in 2002 by a group of illinois-based foundations and chicago city officials interested in changing how food is produced for, and processed and consumed in the chicago region.

$4.7M in expenses

Forefront leverages the collective power of philanthropy and nonprofits to improve lives and strengthen communities. Founded in 1974, forefront is the only membership association in illinois for funders and nonprofits of all kinds, as well as their advisors and consultants. Some 1,100 individuals and institutions belong to forefront, and thousands more benefit from its resources, some of which are free. Forefront is based in chicago but serves the entire state. It is a hub for connection and collaboration as well as a source of research, programs, publications, and other tools, including a free library, that strengthen the effectiveness of philanthropy and nonprofits. Through public policy advocacy and media relations, forefront also serves as a leader and voice for philanthropy and nonprofits, protecting and promoting their critical missions and work.

$460K in expenses

Converge consulting is a social enterprise owned and managed by forefront that delivers financial, accounting, and administrative solutions to nonprofits and foundations so that they can focus on their mission. We work with organizations to address their specific needs onan interim or continuing basis.

$673K in expenses

Public policy, illinois black advocacy initiative (ibai), entrepreneurship leadership development institute (edli), chicago african americans in philanthropy (caaip), others.

Financial History