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Nonprofits in Illinois

What the IRS records say about tax-exempt organizations in Illinois.

Tax-exempt organizations
74,757
Revenue in a year
$188.2 billion
on 28,144 e-filed returns
Assets
$501.4 billion
Employees
894,121
People paid $1 million or more
518
Typical top pay
$84,000
median, best-paid person per organization

Illinois rankings

Tax-exempt organizations
74,757
Of which 501(c)(3)
59,033
File the 990-N (receipts ≤ $50,000)
36,588
File Form 990 or 990-EZ
18,959
Filed a 990-N (latest e-Postcard on record)
48,556
Exemption automatically revoked (all years)
45,437

Largest nonprofits in Illinois by revenue

Top 5s in Illinois

From each organization's latest e-filed Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF.

Highest-paid people

Compensation from the organization and related organizations, including other pay

  1. 1James SkogsberghChief Executive Officer · Advocate Aurora Health Inc · OAK BROOK, IL$30.9M
  2. 2Dean M HarrisonSee Schedule O · Northwestern Memorial Healthcare · CHICAGO, IL$10.8M
  3. 3Kim KeckPresident and CEO · Blue Cross Blue Shield Association · CHICAGO, IL$8.4M
  4. 4Howard B Chrisman MDSee Schedule O · Northwestern Memorial Healthcare · CHICAGO, IL$8.2M
  5. 5William SantulliPresident · Advocate Aurora Health Inc · OAK BROOK, IL$7.9M
The full top 10 →

Most raised in gifts and grants

Contributions, gifts and grants received in the year

  1. 1Feeding AmericaCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Jun 2025$4.8B
  2. 2University of ChicagoCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Jun 2025$2.6B
  3. 3The Chicago Community TrustCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Sep 2025$1.7B
  4. 4Paul M Angell Family FoundationCHICAGO, IL · 990-PF, year ended Dec 2024$862.4M
  5. 5Fermi Forward Discovery Group LLCBATAVIA, IL · 990, year ended Sep 2025$645.3M
The full top 10 →

Largest reserves

Net assets (fund balance) at year end

  1. 1Northwestern UniversityEVANSTON, IL · 990, year ended Aug 2025$16.2B
  2. 2Central States Southeast & Southwest Areas Health & Welfare FCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Dec 2024$13.1B
  3. 3Northwestern Memorial HealthcareCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Aug 2025$11.5B
  4. 4University of ChicagoCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Jun 2025$9B
  5. 5John D & Catherine T Macarthur FoundationCHICAGO, IL · 990-PF, year ended Dec 2024$8.7B
The full top 10 →

Biggest employers

Employees reported for the calendar year

  1. 1Northwestern Memorial HealthcareCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Aug 202538,962
  2. 2Advocate Health and Hospitals CorporationDOWNERS GROVE, IL · 990, year ended Dec 202430,638
  3. 3University of ChicagoCHICAGO, IL · 990, year ended Jun 202529,117
  4. 4Northwestern UniversityEVANSTON, IL · 990, year ended Aug 202528,548
  5. 5Osf Healthcare SystemPEORIA, IL · 990, year ended Sep 202521,945
The full top 10 →

By city

By category

Category (NTEE)Organizations
Education6,069
Human services4,652
Philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations4,139
Arts, culture and humanities3,897
Recreation and sports3,007
Religion-related2,709
Community improvement and capacity building2,454
Youth development2,160
Health care1,338
Public and societal benefit1,000
Animal-related992
Housing and shelter810
Mental health and crisis intervention796
Food, agriculture and nutrition682
International, foreign affairs and national security601
Environment595
Employment542
Voluntary health associations and medical disciplines484
Crime and legal-related482
Mutual and membership benefit477
Civil rights, social action and advocacy356
Public safety, disaster preparedness and relief345
Medical research294
Unknown207
Science and technology175
Social science65