Sonia Ivanov, Executive Director at Northwest Compass, Inc. | www.linkedin.com
Sonia Ivanov, Executive Director at Northwest Compass, Inc. | www.linkedin.com
The listed appropriations included grants of $500,000 and $250,000, along with four additional grants totaling $805,000, 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 1985, Northwest Compass Inc states that its mission is: “We enhance our community by providing emergency services, education and empowerment which foster personal responsibility for those who are vulnerable or in crisis.”
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 $2,843,000 in total revenue. Of that, $1,904,170 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 67% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $2,794,000 in contributions overall. It also reported $476,820 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $889,837 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Northwest Compass Inc had $2,227,900 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $2,112,240, indicating a 5.2% decline in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Northwest Compass Inc declined in the last year, falling from $2,195,380 in 2023 to $1,904,170 in 2024—a decrease of 13.3% 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.
Northwest Compass Inc 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 | 6 | $1,555,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Brian R Freiman | Chair |
| 2024-2024 | Christopher Karsten | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dustin Wayne Korbus | Vice President |
| 2024-2024 | George Sachs | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Jennifer Hare | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Lorena Duenez | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Michele Kathleen Petrie | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Rebecca J Froman Freiman | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Sonia Ivanov | Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Steve Gootee | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Wayne T Lofthouse | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ashley Elizabeth Spies | Case Management Intern | - |
| 2024 | Elizabeth C Forde | Career Coach | - |
| 2024 | Joel S Frankel | Office Assistant Internship | - |
| 2024 | Marcos A Cabral | Case Manager | - |
| 2016 | Kelly M Hindle | Liheap Program Specialist | - |
| 2016 | Shawn V Varghese | Social Work Intern | - |
| 2015 | Cameron Michael Jordan | Chief Executive Officer | - |
| 2015 | Jaykumar Mukundlal Jayswal | Program Specialist | - |
| 2015 | Kelsey Anne Fritz Gordon | Affordable Care Act Navigator | - |
| 2015 | Lisa J Forde | Program Specialist And Career Coach | - |
| 2015 | Pamela A Berg | Social Work Intern | - |
| 2014 | Jamie Diamond Schwartz | Board Member | - |
| 2011 | Anna Klimkowicz | Program Manager, Housing Counseling And Assistance And Transitional Living | - |
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