Illinois DOGE Profile: North Shore Senior Center

North Shore Senior Center, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive four grants totaling $996,000 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 two grants of $250,000, along with two additional grants totaling $496,000, 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 1956, North Shore Senior Center states that its mission is: “To foster the independence and well-being of older adults, enhance their dignity and self-respect, and promote their participation in and contribution toward all aspects of community life.”

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 $8,635,710 in total revenue. Of that, $311,689 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 3.6% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $2,432,320 in contributions overall. It also reported $825,983 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, North Shore Senior Center had $8,061,570 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $7,738,260, indicating a 4% decline in overall holdings.

According to its filing, public funding remained fairly steady year-over-year, changing from $302,911 in 2023 to $311,689 in 2024 (a difference of 2.9%).

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

North Shore Senior Center 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.