BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION INC

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1923

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

CHRISTOPHER SHOUP

Phone

3124278330

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION INC, founded in 1923, is a community nonprofit in the Public & Societal Benefit sector that reported $4.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024.

Mission

THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") WORKS TO FIGHT WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, IN ILLINOIS BY USING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TECHNIQUES, LITIGATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES TO EXPOSE PROBLEMS, INFORM CITIZENS ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $2,143,426

INVESTIGATIVE: THE BGA'S TEAM OF AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISTS EXAMINES THE USE AND MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN CHICAGO, THE SUBURBS, AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. IT EXPOSES MISCONDUCT, HYPOCRISY AND...

INVESTIGATIVE: THE BGA'S TEAM OF AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISTS EXAMINES THE USE AND MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN CHICAGO, THE SUBURBS, AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. IT EXPOSES MISCONDUCT, HYPOCRISY AND WASTE WHILE ALSO BREAKING DOWN COMPLEX ISSUES THROUGH IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, DETAILED EXPLANATORY PIECES, AND POLITIFACT FACT-CHECKS. IT WORKS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BGA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS.

Program 2

Expenses: $628,697

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: IS A VITAL CONDUIT BETWEEN THE NEWSROOM, POLICY TEAM AND THE PUBLIC BY INITIATING AND PARTICIPATING IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS AND FOSTERING ALLIANCES WITH LOCAL...

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: IS A VITAL CONDUIT BETWEEN THE NEWSROOM, POLICY TEAM AND THE PUBLIC BY INITIATING AND PARTICIPATING IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS AND FOSTERING ALLIANCES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHILE CHALLENGING AND DISMANTLING BREAKDOWNS IN GOVERNMENT AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY.

Program 3

Expenses: $610,706

POLICY TEAM: THE BGA'S POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY REFORMS. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' FREEDOM OF...

POLICY TEAM: THE BGA'S POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY REFORMS. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TO PROPOSE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY, AND WASTE IN GOVERNMENT. THE POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT ACROSS ILLINOIS BY CRAFTING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE TRACK TRENDS AND RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES IN GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLISH ANALYSES AND PERSPECTIVES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WITH MEDIA PARTNERS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,311,332

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $355,599

Other Revenue $-118,384

TOTAL REVENUE $4,548,547

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $3,684,574

Fundraising Expenses $805,391

Program Expenses $3,382,829

Other Expenses $1,031,462

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,716,036

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$4,548,547	$4,347,030	+0.0%
Expenses	$4,716,036	$4,415,988	+0.1%
Net Income	$-167,489	$-68,958	+1.4%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$630,634

Total Directors

Key Employees

$615,291

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ANNE DOOLEY	DIR. UNTIL 11/24, THEN VICE CHAIR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
D CARROLL JOYNES	DIR. UNTIL 11/24, THEN VICE CHAIR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEVE MILLER	VICE CHAIR - UNTIL 12/24	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
HEATHER STEANS	VICE CHAIR UNTIL 11/24, THEN CHAIR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT LEVIN	TREASURER - UNTIL 12/24	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
NYKIA WRIGHT	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JORGE CABRERA	DIRECTOR - UNTIL 06/24	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PHIL CALIAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KEVIN COOK	DIRECTOR - UNTIL 12/24	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FELICIA DAVIS-BLAKELY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PAULETTE DODSON	CHAIR UNTIL 11/24, THEN DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TIM FRANKLIN	DIRECTOR - UNTIL 06/24	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ALICIA GARCIA-ABNER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
HILL HAMMOCK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GEETA MALHOTRA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JACK MODZELEWSKI	DIRECTOR - UNTIL 12/24	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JESSICA NOLAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS ROONEY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARK RUST	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN SHER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SCOTT SOLOMON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN SVOBODA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WADE THOMSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARYANN WARYJAS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JILL WINE-BANKS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID GREISING	PRESIDENT & CEO	40.00	Officer	$387,058	$14,696	$401,754
CHRISTOPHER SHOUP	VP OF OPERATIONS	40.00	Officer	$222,500	$6,380	$228,880
RUBY BAILEY	EDITOR IN CHIEF	40.00	Key Emp	$211,108	$15,835	$226,943
BRYAN ZAROU	VP OF POLICY	40.00	Key Emp	$185,000	$9,097	$194,097
AMBER BEL CHER	VP, DEVELOPMENT	40.00	Key Emp	$185,000	$9,251	$194,251
STEVE WARMBIR	INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR	40.00	Highest	$151,688	$32,655	$184,343
MADISON HOPKINS	SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER	40.00	Highest	$135,400	$2,156	$137,556
PETER NICKEAS	INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER	40.00	Highest	$113,922	$19,158	$133,080

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	$4,548,547	$4,716,036	$5,353,536	$-167,489
2023	$4,347,030	$4,415,988	$3,981,316	$-68,958
2022	$4,237,511	$3,978,600	$3,893,947	$258,911
2021	$3,042,344	$2,881,625	$3,907,227	$160,719
2020	$2,792,855	$2,722,959	$4,071,643	$69,896
2019	$2,240,121	$2,984,355	$3,316,642	$-744,234
2018	$2,974,078	$3,530,523	$3,866,610	$-556,445