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The 990 read · EIN 36-2167000 · IL · Fiscal year FY ending Sep 2025

The Chicago Community Trust

The Chicago Community Trust: CEO salary, finances and where donations go

In its own words

“The Chicago Community Trust and The Chicago Community Foundation (the Trust) bring together donors, nonprofits, civic and business leaders, and community members to improve the lives of people in metropolitan Chicago and beyond.”

Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.

Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated

Top pay
$624K Andrea Saenz, 0% of spending
Revenue
$2.14B 79.4% from donations and grants
Spent
$1.27B 97.8% on programs, as reported
Net assets
$7.05B end of FY ending Sep 2025
Savings
66.6 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
People
150 employees, 17 volunteers
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X
01 · Red flags

No red flags in its latest filing.

We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.

No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.

02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Sep 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 97.8¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.
97.8¢
Programs, $1.24B
0.4¢
Fundraising, $4.8M
1.9¢
Admin, $23.8M
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part IX, line 25
Cost to raise $1
0¢
as reported

For each dollar donated, The Chicago Community Trust spent 0¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $1.70B contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX
03 · The savings

Net assets: $1.93B to $7.05B in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions
1925
2115
2123
2344
2627
3073
3189
3542
4727
4271
4485
7048
Form 990 history via ProPublicaForm 990 (FY ending Sep 2025)
04 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Sep 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

Andrea Saenz
President & CEO
$623,862
Jessica Strausbaugh
Chief Financial Officer (until 3/25)
$326,218
Sylvia Garcia
Chief Operating Officer
$325,903
Sheila Cawley
Chief Philanthropy Officer
$306,215
Clothilde a Ewing
VP Strategic Communications
$269,293
Marisa Novara
VP Community Impact
$266,816
Lisa Jericho
VP Innovation & Technology
$263,265
Amy Pena
Gen. Counsel & Secy. (until 6/25)
$243,747
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VII, Section A
Largest outside contractors
ContractorServicePaid
Northern Trust CompanyAdvisory services$4,438,559
Bank of AmericaAdvisory services$1,188,755
Clarity Partners LLCConsulting services$1,040,958
Boston Consulting GroupConsulting services$1,000,000
Jp Morgan ChaseAdvisory services$735,318
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VII, Section B
05 · Questions

The questions people ask about the The Chicago Community Trust.

Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.

How much does the The Chicago Community Trust CEO make?

Andrea Saenz, President & CEO, received $623,862 in reportable compensation in FY ending Sep 2025, 0% of The Chicago Community Trust's $1.27B in spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VII

What percentage of The Chicago Community Trust donations go to programs?

The Chicago Community Trust reported 97.8% of FY ending Sep 2025 spending as programs, 0.4% as fundraising and 1.9% as management.

Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part IX

How much money does The Chicago Community Trust have?

Net assets were $7.05B at the end of FY ending Sep 2025, about 66.6 months of spending.

Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part X

Does The Chicago Community Trust have any red flags in its filing?

Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.

Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025)
06 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

  1. The Chicago Community Trust Form 990, FY ending Sep 2025 (IRS e-file)
  2. The Chicago Community Trust Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page

Amir Arani, “The Chicago Community Trust: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/the-chicago-community-trust/