Illinois DOGE Deep Dive: Avenues To Independence

Avenues To Independence, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive four grants totaling $195,000 in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly’s FY2024 budget (Public Act 102-6 0698).

The listed appropriations included grants of $70,000 and $50,000, along with two additional grants totaling $75,000, 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 1953, Avenues To Independence states that its mission is: “Avenues to Independence empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live the lives they choose through personalized support, advocacy and community engagement.”

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 $7,407,020 in total revenue. Of that, $4,219,300 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 57% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $5,892,040 in contributions overall. It also reported $76,859 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $707,155 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, Avenues To Independence had $1,105,190 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,949,470, indicating a significant 76.4% growth in overall holdings.

According to its filing, public funding to Avenues To Independence increased in the last year. The group received $3,421,040 in government grants in 2023, compared to $4,219,300 in 2024—an increase of 23.3% 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.

Avenues To Independence 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.