Maeven Sipes, CEO of West Suburban Community Pantry Inc | wscpantry.org
Maeven Sipes, CEO of West Suburban Community Pantry Inc | wscpantry.org
The listed appropriations included two grants of $500,000, plus an additional grant of $45,000, 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 1970 by Roger Schmith and Barbara Schmith, West Suburban Community Pantry states that its mission is: “The West Suburban Community Pantry offers food for the hungry and resources to empower persons to improve their quality of life.”
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 $5,794,500 in total revenue. Of that, $115,000 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 2% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $5,768,570 in contributions overall. It also reported $3,938,190 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $5,408,830 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, West Suburban Community Pantry had $2,294,240 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $2,166,470, indicating a 5.6% decline in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to West Suburban Community Pantry surged in the last year. The group received $68,900 in government grants in 2023, compared to $115,000 in 2024—an increase of 66.9% 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.
West Suburban Community Pantry 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.
| Fiscal Year | Total Grants/Contracts | Total Taxpayer $$ |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | $590,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Amit Philip | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dani Brazee | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Gabriel Chavez | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Greg Stientjes | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Jeffery E Seitz | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Jennifer Doherty | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Jonathan Johnson | Director (Former) |
| 2024-2024 | Kelly Jeschke | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Kevin Delano | President |
| 2024-2024 | Kristine Noren | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Leah Margulies | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Lisa Wrezel | Director (Former) |
| 2024-2024 | Lisa Kemper | Director (Former) |
| 2024-2024 | Mary Hutchinson | Vice President |
| 2024-2024 | Mike Olsen | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nicole Szydlowski | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Nicole Edmonds | Director (Former) |
| 2024-2024 | Nikhil Mehta | Director (Former) |
| 2024-2024 | Rachel Ann Lagorio | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Raj Bhagat | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Ripujit Singh | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sharon Brauer | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sherry Sabic | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Sue Armato | Ceo/Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Tom Duffy | Director |
| Year | Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Barbara A Schmith | Board Of Directors | - |
| 2024 | Kerry Wright | Intern | - |
| 2024 | Lisa M Spaeth | Development Manager | - |
| 2024 | Michael Mcdonnell | Chief Executive Officer And Executive Director | - |
| 2012 | Brian Wandtke | Social Media Specialist | - |
| 2011 | Andrea Bradley | Public Relations Student Specialist | - |
| 2008 | Monica Pena | Volunteer | - |
| 2006 | Deborah Lynn Dul | Treasurer | - |
| 2005 | Susan Hammer | Volunteer | - |
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