State-funded Nonprofit Spotlight: Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action

Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive two grants totaling $790,010 in FY2024 for community action, 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 $788,500 and $1,510 if two, each 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 1968 by Claude Porter, Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action states that its mission is: “Promoting community development and empowering people through education, training and supportive services.”

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 $10,692,200 in total revenue. Of that, $8,681,240 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 81.2% of total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $9,928,310 in contributions overall. It also reported $1,247,070 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

At the beginning of 2024, Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action had $11,348,400 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $11,841,900, indicating a 4.3% growth in overall holdings.

However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.

Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action 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.