Theodia Gillespie, President u0026 CEO at Quad County Urban League | LinkedIn
Theodia Gillespie, President u0026 CEO at Quad County Urban League | LinkedIn
The listed appropriations included grants of $275,000 and $270,000, along with two additional grants totaling $255,901, all designated for programs or services funded by the State of Illinois.
These appropriations represent 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 1975 by Diverse group of local leaders, Quad County Urban League states that its mission is: “The Quad County Urban League (QCUL) supports racial justice, civil rights and economic empowerment for African Americans and others within the Quad Counties (DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will) of Illinois. As an advocate for educational excellence and economic self-reliance; we develop programs and services to empower children, youth and adults.”
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 $3,417,570 in total revenue. Of that, $1,646,780 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 48.2% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $3,130,330 in contributions overall. It also reported $1,483,560 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Quad County Urban League had $3,921,850 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $4,110,400, indicating a 4.8% growth in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Quad County Urban League surged in the last year. The group received $886,455 in government grants in 2023, compared to $1,646,780 in 2024—an increase of 85.8% 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.
Quad County Urban League 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.
| Fiscal Year | Total Grants/Contracts | Total Taxpayer $$ |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | $800,901 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Aaron Anderson | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Carla Dennis | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dianne Engram | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Greg Williams | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Gregory W Bush | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Joe Boyle | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Kaleshia Page | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Karen Smith Wells | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Matthew Turk | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nina Hunter | Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Paul Labonne | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Stephen Morcos | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Teresa Dench | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Theodia Gillespie | President & Ceo |
| 2024-2024 | Tremese Davis | Director |
| 2024-2024 | William Parrish | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ashura R Jenkins | Event Planning And Marketing Assistant | - |
| 2024 | Cheyenne Williams | Development And Marketing Intern And Urban Garden Supervisor | - |
| 2024 | Tasha S Mazique | Counselor Advocate Case Manager | - |
| 2017 | Danata R Andrews | Chief Operating Officer | - |
| 2016 | Brysen Williams | Summer Youth Leadership Program Facilitator | - |
| 2016 | Melissa J Ibarra | Finance Assistant | - |
| 2015 | Donald C Sumbry | - | |
| 2014 | Emmanuel D King | Teacher | - |
| 2014 | Nina Hunter | Board Chair | - |
| 2012 | Clayton M Pryor | Workforce Development | - |
| 2012 | Katherine Williams | Director Of Workforce Development And Adult Learning | - |
| 2012 | Katherine Elaine Smith | Director Of Workforce Development And Adult Learning | - |
| 2011 | Kelly Marie Grill-Cooper | Therapist | - |
| 2010 | Deborah L Chima | Speaker | - |
| 2009 | Angela Lynn Mcdaniel | Development And Marketing Consultant | - |
| 2009 | Jacquie Y Sanders | Office Manager | - |
| 2008 | Sharilyn Freeman | Ged Instructor | - |
| 2008 | Tanechia T Wright | Permenant Substitute Teacher | - |
| 2006 | Elliott Andre Charles | Middle School Teacher | - |
| 2004 | Marcus W Jones | Teacher Assistant | - |
| 2002 | Jon William Leonard Patterson | Educational Assistant | - |
| 2000 | Karissa Comeneci Reliford | Employement Specialist And Education Coordinator | - |
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