CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EIN 36-2167004 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A540)

What they do

The Chicago History Museum Strives to Be A Destination for Learning, Inspiration, and Civic Engagement. Through Dynamic Exhibitions, Tours, Programs, Digital Resources, and Special Events, The Museum Connects People to Chicagos History and to Each Other.

Before you give

Are they doing good?

Easy charity check

Good signs so far

The public paperwork has several good signs. Now check whether the charity can show who it helped.

Here is the honest answer: A tax form shows money and paperwork. It cannot prove that people, animals, or the community were truly helped.

Good signs we looked for

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 leaders47 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

$160.69spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

$14.10of every $100 spent went to management and office costsThis number alone does not tell us how much good they did.

$6.63in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

52.7%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 $7,215,200 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $361,936 for DONALD LASSERE (PRESIDENT & CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Good paperwork is a good sign—not proof. The best answer comes when the charity can show what it changed, who it 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.

Money in and money out

Revenue$11,887,827

Expenses$19,103,027

Annual shortfall $7,215,200 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Selected spending reported on the 990

Each amount is compared with total expenses separately. These categories can overlap, so they should not be added together as a pie chart.

Management and general$2,691,808 · 14.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$11,887,827

Expenses$19,103,027

Assets$126,565,181

Income$29,886,123

Contributions$6,265,450

Management and general$2,691,808

Stocks and bonds$57,325,298

Accounting fees$110,490

Investing fees$885,598

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

DONALD LASSEREPRESIDENT & CEO · 35 hrs/week $361,936Base $334,802 · Other $27,134

CHERYL OBERMEYERVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE · 35 hrs/week $232,979Base $216,735 · Other $16,244

MICHAEL ANDERSONVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT · 35 hrs/week $195,664Base $174,657 · Other $21,007

THEMA MCDONALDVICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS · 35 hrs/week $176,437Base $156,529 · Other $19,908

SHATIERRA PARKSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES · 35 hrs/week $138,080Base $119,647 · Other $18,433

STEVEN HOLLOWAYDIRTECTOR OF ACCOUNTING · 35 hrs/week $133,316Base $115,067 · Other $18,249

MARIA DILORENZOGENERAL COUNSEL · 20 hrs/week $108,750

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 (47)

DONALD LASSEREPRESIDENT & CEO

CHERYL OBERMEYERVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE

MICHAEL ANDERSONVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

THEMA MCDONALDVICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

SHATIERRA PARKSSENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

STEVEN HOLLOWAYDIRTECTOR OF ACCOUNTING

MARIA DILORENZOGENERAL COUNSEL

SAMUEL J TINAGLIATRUSTEE

MARY LOUISE GORNOTRUSTEE

MICHAEL BARZYKTRUSTEE

MICHAEL WHITTEDTRUSTEE

MONICA M WEEDTREASURER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PAUL CARLISLETRUSTEE

RALPH G MOORETRUSTEE

RANDYE A KOGANSECRETARY, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ROBERT MANUELTRUSTEE

ROBERT C LEETRUSTEE

SALLIE L GAINESTRUSTEE

MARK POTTERTRUSTEE

SHARON A HWANGTRUSTEE

T BONDURANT FRENCHTRUSTEE

TIMOTHY J GILFOYLETRUSTEE

TOBIN E HOPKINSTRUSTEE

WALTER C CARLSONTRUSTEE

WARREN K CHAPMANCHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

JAMES L ALEXANDERTRUSTEE

ALI VELSHITRUSTEE

ARNALDO RIVERATRUSTEE

DANIEL S JAFFEETRUSTEE

DAVID A MORDINITRUSTEE

DAVID D HILLERTRUSTEE

DIONNE DANNSTRUSTEE

ELIZABETH D RICHTERTRUSTEE

GARY S FEINERMANTRUSTEE

GUILLERMO GARCIATRUSTEE

JAMES DUFFTRUSTEE

MARTIN R CASTROTRUSTEE

JANICE JACKSONTRUSTEE

JENNIFER KIRKTRUSTEE

JOHN N LOWTRUSTEE

JONATHAN SKINNERTRUSTEE

JOSEPH SELIGA2ND VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LAFAYETTE J FORDTRUSTEE

LEI SHENTRUSTEE

MAGGIE M MORGANTRUSTEE

ALEJANDRA GARZATRUSTEE

MARK D TREMBACKI1ST VICE CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1932
Location: 1601 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
County: Cook
In care of: Robert Chmielewski
Primary officer: Robert Chmielewski, Chief Financial Officer

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(312) 642-4600 Officer phone(312) 799-2120

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A540)

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