Our Supporters
Together, we challenge power and power answers for the people of Illinois.
The Better Government Association is a nonprofit, independent investigative and solutions-focused news organization and public advocate. We work every day for a more transparent, equitable, and accountable government — for the benefit of all the people of Illinois.
Without journalism, there can be no accountability.
Without public accountability, action falls short.
Your partnership fuels investigations, policy reform, and community-led action — creating lasting impact across our state.
Thank you for standing with us in pursuit of a more transparent and just Illinois.
Because when power is unchecked, democracy is undone. We are grateful to the following individuals and institutional donors whose philanthropic support of $250 or more powered our work in 2024.
Second Century Council: $100,000+
Rita and John Canning
Edwardson Family Foundation
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust and Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
Mary and Paul Finnegan
Jim and Karen Frank
The Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation
Joe Mansueto
Steve Miller
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
GCM Grosvenor
Heather Steans and Leo Smith
Benefactor: $50,000
Alvin H. Baum Family Fund
Gary Elden and Phyllis Mandler
The Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Patron: $25,000+
Anonymous
Susan Anderson and Bob Arthur
Ed Bachrach
Prue and Frank Beidler
Chicago Cubs
Robert W. Crawford, Jr., NEL – (Neighborhood Entrepreneurship Lab)
Henry Crown & Company
The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc
D. Carroll Joynes and Abby McCormick O’Neil
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Alexandra C. Nichols
Barbara Speer and Chris Noon
Abby McCormick O’Neil, Chauncey & Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation
Jim and Molly Perry
Mark Rust
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Sandlian Realty
Kathleen and Jim Skinner
Ambassador: $15,000+
Anonymous (2)
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
William S. Donnell and Claudia Daly
Google News Initiative
Svoboda Capital Partners, LLC
Partner: $10,000
Phil Calian
The Crown Family
Janet and Craig Duchossois
Alicia Garcia-Abner, Trinal, Inc.
M. Hill Hammock, Verit Advisors
Kovler Family Foundation
Robert and Linda Levin
Peter and Alicia Pond
Sidley Austin LLP
Wade Thomson and Jenner & Block
Nykia Wright
ABC 7 Chicago
Investor: $5,000 – $9,999
Anonymous
Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
Frank Bauer Jr.
BCLP
Charles River Associates
Lewis Collens and Nancy Sindelar
Paulette and James Dodson
Anne Dooley and Kurt Wittenberg
Edelman
Peter and Paula Fasseas Foundation
Jim Gordon, The Edgewater Funds
Cindy and David Greising
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation
David and Amanda Mabie, Chicago Capital
Geeta Malhotra and Zack Christensen
Medill School, Northwestern University
Richard and Martha Melman
Mesirow
Mark and Marcie Peterson
Brian A. Sher
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Christina Schmucker Solomon and Scott Solomon
Transwestern
Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Matthew D. Tully
Fellow: $2,500 – $4,999
William G. Brown
David Coolidge III
Sam Fifer
Sue and Melvin Gray
Emily H. and Robert E. King
Merrillyn Kosier and Jim Kinoshita
Steven Mandell
Ann and Dudley Onderdonk
Roger C. Marquardt & Company
Brian J. Rojanasumaphong
Lynn E. Hauser and Neil Ross
Bruce Sagan
Jennifer W. Steans and James Kastenholz
Robin Steans and Leonard Gai
Leadership Circle: $1,000 – $2,499
Peter M. Ascoli
Norm Bobins
Brodsky Family Foundation
Greg Cameron
Dolores Connolly and Daniel Casey
Thomas Chomicz
William F. Conlon
Thad Davis
Derrick Blakley and Felicia Davis Blakley
Thomas and Barbi Donnelley
Angela J. D’versa
Aviva Futorian
Rick Gray
David D. Hiller
Claudia Jackson
Wendy Schiller and Thomas M. Jones
Kate and Bennett Julian
Vincent A. Kolber
Casey Jones and Reed Kroloff
John Lovaas
Gary E. MacDougal
Amy O’Donnell
Patricia Hurley and Associates, Inc.
Chris Rooney
Lewis Sang
Jeff Shane
Daniel Shapiro
Adele Simmons
Frederick W. Stanton III
James P. Stirling
Richard Thennes
Anne Tobey
Donna and Dirk Vos
Carol S. Wyant and Craig McGrath
Advocate: $500 – $999
Bruce Barron
David J. Berger
Suezette Bettman
Nick Burt
Robert Carson
Timothy Cibulka
Chris Deveny
William Epcke
Stephen M. Fatum
Mary Alice and James R. Fellers
Mary Ann Fischer
Carolyn Fortman
Paul T. Fox
Mark R. Frank
Alison and Tim Franklin
Christopher Girouard
Christie Hefner
Benjamin Heidlage
Joyce and Richard M. Hirsch
Ludwig Kolman
Franco La Marca and David Willborn
Diane and Andrew Lappin
William J. Lawlor III
Anne Lazar
William S. Lear
Lucy and Kenneth Lehman
Michael Lufrano
Anuj Marfatia
John W. McCarter Jr. and Judith McCarter
Sarah Mirkin
Sue Kiner and Jack F. Modzelewski
Michelle and Fred Montgomery
Bruce Nesbitt
Diane Pascal
James Peterson
Donald Rose
Janet Rotner
The Shaffer Family Legacy Fund
Robin Drayer and Stephen J. Siegel
Merrill Smith
Natalie Spears
Scott Stein
Noren Ungaretti
Susan Walker
Marilyn Mead and James Whitehead
Collaborator: $250 – $499
Richard P. Bail
Laura Battigelli
Frank Beal
Adam Bossov
Janet Reali and Mitchell Cobey
Kevin Conlon
Cathleen Costello
Travis Cronkhite
Laurie and Bruce Davidson
Shelley Davis
Laurie C. and David M. Farrell
Jay Franke
Robert Galloy
Kenneth Gorenberg
Weiss Grosshandler
Rosemary Gullickson
Linda and Gary Hamburg
Brian Hieggelke
Peter Jacobs
Renee and Melvin Katten
Andrew Keith
Connie and Dennis Keller
Robert Kelter
Helen J. Kessler
Justin Kulovsek
David Lange
Theodore Mazzone
Michael McCluggage
Marvella D. McCutcheon
Elizabeth Mckenna
Evan Meyers
Edward and Sheila Pont
Roxanne Quigley
Bek Rebich
Janet Carl Smith
Pamela and Charles Smith
William So
David Stone
Vivian Vahlberg and Richard Gordon
Jena Valdetero
Nina Vinik
Texie Washington
Susan Weiss
Matthew Werner
