GREAT LAKES AND ST LAWRENCE CITIES INITIATIVE Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

GREAT LAKES AND ST LAWRENCE CITIES INITIATIVE

EIN 20-1628958 · Alliances & Advocacy - Community Improvement (S01)

What they do

HAVE THE MAYORS WHOSE POPULATION and TOWNS (AND ECONOMY) THAT RELY ON THE GREAT LAKES WATER to FORM A BI-NATIONAL COALITION and WILL ACTIVELY WORK WITH FEDERAL, STATE and PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS to ADVANCE THE PROTECTION and RESTORATION of THE GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM THROUGH DEVELOPMENT and IMPLEMENTATION of A COMPREHENSIVE GREAT LAKES PROTECTION and RESTORATION PLAN. MAYORS WILL BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN GREAT LAKES ISSUES RELATING to GOVERNANCE, ECONOMICS and SCIENCE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $73.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

82.07%of revenue went to mission work73.5% of expenses · Program services

8.38%of revenue went to fundraising7.5% of expenses

$111.71spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

21.26%of revenue went to management and office costs19.0% of expenses

$0.39in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

99.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $170,258 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $197,979 for JONATHAN ALTENBERG (PRESIDENT/CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$1,453,373

Mission workProgram services$1,192,73582.07% of revenue73.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$309,05821.26% of revenue19.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$121,8388.38% of revenue7.5% of expenses

Total expenses$1,623,631111.71% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 73.5% mission · 19.0% management · 7.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.71% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 76.5% mission · 14.7% management · 8.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.77% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 81.4% mission · 15.3% management · 3.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 129.93% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 77.7% mission · 17.2% management · 5.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 52.57% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 70.8% mission · 21.9% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 129.49% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 71.5% mission · 22.9% management · 5.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.78% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 63.4% mission · 24.6% management · 12.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 79.52% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 61.8% mission · 30.4% management · 7.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 266.43% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$1,453,373

Expenses$1,623,631

Annual shortfall $170,258 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$1,192,735 · 73.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$309,058 · 19.0% of expenses

Fundraising$121,838 · 7.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$1,453,373

Expenses$1,623,631

Assets$630,567

Income$1,453,373

Contributions$1,438,976

Mission work (program services)$1,192,735

Fundraising$121,838

Management and general$309,058

Executive compensation (total)$138,544

Accounting fees$21,117

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

JONATHAN ALTENBERGPRESIDENT/CEO · 40 hrs/week $197,979Base $192,213 · Other $5,766

BRDIGET BROWNCHIEF OPS AND PROGRAMS OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $113,266Base $111,045 · Other $2,221

TRAVIS WHEELERCHIEF POLICY OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $113,266Base $111,045 · Other $2,221

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (25)

JONATHAN ALTENBERGPRESIDENT/CEO

BRDIGET BROWNCHIEF OPS AND PROGRAMS OFFICER

TRAVIS WHEELERCHIEF POLICY OFFICER

WARDEN MATRASOVSDIRECTOR

TRIBAL CHAIRMAN JOEY AWONHOPAYDIRECTOR

REEVE BERT LIVERANCEDIRECTOR

MAYOR VALERIE PLANTESECRETARY

MAYOR SANDRA EASTONDIRECTOR

MAYOR RYAN SORENSONCO-CHAIR

MAYOR OLIVIA CHOWDIRECTOR

MAYOR MIKE DUGGANDIRECTOR

MAYOR MAT SISCOTREASURER

MAYOR KEN JOHNSONDIRECTOR

MAYOR JUSTIN BIBBDIRECTOR

MAYOR JEROME PRINCEDIRECTOR (TERMED 12/24)

MAYOR GINO MORETTICO-CHAIR

MAYOR EDDIE MELTONDIRECTOR

MAYOR DARRIN CANIFFDIRECTOR

MAYOR CAVALIER JOHNSONDIRECTOR

MAYOR CAROLYN PARRISHDIRECTOR

MAYOR BRUNO MARCHANDDIRECTOR

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSONDIRECTOR

MAYOR BILLY MCKINNEYPAST CHAIR

MAYOR BILL BAZZIDIRECTOR

LINDA DESBASSIGEDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2006
Location: PO BOX 1332, NEW LENOX, IL 60451-6332
County: Will
In care of: % JOHN T DICKERT
Primary officer: JON ALTENBERG, PRESIDENT/CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(312) 201-4518

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: WIPFLI ADVISORY LLC
NTEE classification: Alliances & Advocacy - Community Improvement (S01)
IRS tax category: Alliances & Advocacy - Community Improvement