Government-backed nonprofit Dupage Pads profiled

Dupage Pads, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive four grants totaling $1,030,000 in FY2024, according to passed legislation data extracted from the Illinois General Assembly‘s FY2024 budget (Public Act 102-6 0698).

The listed appropriations included grants of $500,000 and $250,000, along with two additional grants totaling $280,000, 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, Dupage Pads states that its mission is: “The mission of DuPagePads is to end homelessness in DuPage County, Illinois. Our signature year-round programs feed and shelter individuals and families who are homeless, connect them to case management and other services that can address the underlying cause of their homelessness.”

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 $8,457,000 in total revenue. Of that, $4,169,760 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 49.3% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $8,225,800 in contributions overall. It also reported $300,298 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $3,625,630 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, Dupage Pads had $16,069,900 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $15,832,500, indicating a 1.5% decline in overall holdings.

According to its filing, public funding to Dupage Pads declined in the last year, falling from $5,335,290 in 2023 to $4,169,760 in 2024—a decrease of 21.8% 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.

Dupage Pads 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.