ILLINOIS STATE PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

ILLINOIS STATE PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC

EIN 36-3673399 · Consumer Protection (W90)

What they do

WHEN CONSUMERS ARE CHEATED or THE VOICES of ORDINARY CITIZENS ARE DROWNED OUT BY SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBYISTS, ILLINOISPIRG SPEAKS UP and TAKES ACTION. WE UNCOVER THREATS to PUBLIC HEALTH and WELLBEING and FIGHT to END THEM, USING THE TIME-TESTED TOOLS of INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH, MEDIA EXPOSES, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, and LITIGATION. THE PURPOSE for WHICH THE CORPORATION is ORGANIZED ARE: SOCIAL WELFARE PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING of SECTION 501C4 of THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. WITHIN THESE GENERAL PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY to ENGAGE IN ANY LAWFUL ACTIVITIES UNDER THE LAWS of ILLINOIS GOVERNING NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE SHALL BE to ENGAGE IN PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH, EDUCATION, and ADVOCACY ON ISSUES AFFECTING THE QUALITY of LIFE of CITIZENS of ILLINOIS and IN OTHER STATES IN AREAS INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL and CONSUMER PROTECTION, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY, and UTILITIES REFORM.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $81.80 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 leaders6 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

77.09%of revenue went to mission work81.8% of expenses · Program services

14.07%of revenue went to fundraising14.9% of expenses

$94.20spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

3.04%of revenue went to management and office costs3.2% of expenses

$5.04in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

82.1%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.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $69,373 for ABRAHAM SCARR (STATE DIRECTOR). 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$649,217

Mission workProgram services$500,47877.09% of revenue81.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$19,7303.04% of revenue3.2% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$91,32414.07% of revenue14.9% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$37,6855.80% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$611,53294.20% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

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: 81.8% mission · 3.2% management · 14.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.20% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 94.1% mission · 1.8% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 151.82% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 64.6% mission · 4.6% management · 30.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 47.10% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 44.2% mission · 10.8% management · 45.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 38.13% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 54.8% mission · 13.7% management · 31.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 38.11% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 67.5% mission · 7.7% management · 24.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 61.15% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 88.6% mission · 4.6% management · 6.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 157.23% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 55.0% mission · 6.8% management · 38.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 76.91% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$649,217

Expenses$611,532

Annual surplus $37,685 Revenue was higher than expenses 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)$500,478 · 81.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$19,730 · 3.2% of expenses

Fundraising$91,324 · 14.9% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$649,217

Expenses$611,532

Assets$3,079,895

Income$649,217

Contributions$532,801

Mission work (program services)$500,478

Fundraising$91,324

Grants given$1,410,000

Average grant$352,500

Management and general$19,730

Accounting fees$6,673

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

ABRAHAM SCARRSTATE DIRECTOR · 20 hrs/week $69,373Base $67,345 · Other $2,028

DIANE BROWNDIRECTOR $11,753Base · Other $11,753

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 (6)

ABRAHAM SCARRSTATE DIRECTOR

DIANE BROWNDIRECTOR

ANDRE DELATTREPRESIDENT

BRIAN IMUSVICE PRESIDENT

GIGI NORCROSSSECRETARY

MARITES VELASQUEZTREASURER (AS OF JUNE 2024)

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1993
Location: 328 S JEFFERSON ST STE 620, CHICAGO, IL 60661-5611
County: Cook
In care of: ABE SCARR
Primary officer: ABE SCARR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(312) 544-4433

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: MERCADIEN PC
NTEE classification: Consumer Protection (W90)
IRS tax category: Consumer Protection
Grant-giving organization: Yes