State-funded Nonprofit Spotlight: Ctf Illinois

Ctf Illinois, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive a $250,000 grant in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly’s FY2024 budget (Public Act 103-0006).

This appropriation represents state-level funding authorized by lawmakers, reflecting what was approved in the budget, not necessarily disbursed. The funds cover only State of Illinois support and exclude federal, local, or other public sources.

Founded in 1971 by Charley Smith, Ctf Illinois states that its mission is: “Our mission is to empower the people we support to live the life they want to live. We believe that together, our Communities can Transform Futures for people with disabilities. We believe in individuality and hands-on learning, and create person-centered plans of service for each person we support.”

You can learn more about the organization at its website.

In its most recent IRS Form 990 filing filing for tax year 2024, the organization reported $26,831,100 in total revenue. Of that, $175,142 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 0.7% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $691,522 in contributions overall. It also reported $181,527 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

In terms of staffing, the organization spent $59,374 on salaries and reportable employee compensation in 2024, along with $91,874 in additional non-salary compensation such as retirement benefits, housing allowances, or travel stipends.

Combined, these totaled $151,248 in staff-related costs, which equates to 0.6% of total reported revenue.

At the beginning of 2024, Ctf Illinois had $14,323,600 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $19,000,300, indicating a significant 32.7% growth in overall holdings.

According to its filing, public funding to Ctf Illinois declined in the last year, falling from $2,431,110 in 2023 to $175,142 in 2024—a decrease of 92.8% year-over-year.

However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.

Ctf Illinois is one of hundreds of nonprofits across Illinois that receive substantial support from state taxpayers while also fundraising privately.

In 2025, Illinois lawmakers introduced House Bill 1266, also known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Act. The proposal would create a new oversight body within the Office of the Auditor General tasked with identifying cost-saving measures, reviewing agency performance, and advising on audit priorities. If passed, DOGE could bring additional scrutiny and performance evaluation to taxpayer-funded organizations.

According to ProPublica, Illinois has more than 78,000 active tax-exempt organizations, including nearly 60,000 classified as charitable nonprofits. In their most recent IRS filings, these groups reported a combined revenue exceeding $156 billion.