Chicago's nonprofits: Striving, thriving and poised for rebirth

The backbone of any city is its nonprofit community. Nonprofit organizations prop up those in need, give hope to the hopeless and are often the only voices of the people they serve. The services they provide contribute to economic stability, mobility and growth. Chicago is rich in nonprofits and, fortunately, in the number of dedicated supporters too.

According to CauseIQ's business data on nonprofits, there are 50,333 organizations in the greater Chicago metro area, including the cities of Chicago, Bolingbrook, Des Plaines, Elgin, Evanston, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Schaumburg, Skokie, and Gary within the states of Illinois and Indiana. Combined, these Chicago metro nonprofits employ 860,571 people, earn more than $101 billion in revenue each year, and have assets of $277 billion. And, although these are impressive numbers, the pandemic affected them just as it did each one of us.

I spoke to the leaders of several of the area's top charity organizations to learn how they fared during the pandemic, what they had to do to survive and what their goals are moving forward. Please take a moment to read and consider how you might be able to help. You don't have to be Bill Gates to make a difference, it can be as simple as volunteering.

The Service Club of Chicago is one of the oldest charitable organizations in the city, founded in 1890. SC president Sherrill Bodine said, "We survived because we never gave up. If we didn't fulfill our mission to the best of our abilities, we wouldn't be able to fund our grantees. Through the dedication and hard work of the SC ladies, we reached an all time high in our 131 year history for funds raised (over $600,000) to provide grants through our philanthropic grant program." How did you pivot during the pandemic? "Our pivot was to learn how to Zoom and create hybrid events. For me, the zenith of our pivot was our virtual 2020 Day on the Terrace, it was brilliant!" How are you faring now? "We are doing great. We're on track to meet our goal for our Philanthropic Fund and are thrilled for the return of our gala on November 5!" Do you plan any changes moving forward? "No changes, just our motto: 'For no one is greater than the service she renders the world' and my personal motto, 'Never surrender.'" (theserviceclubofchicago.org)

The Joffrey Ballet returned to live performances on October 13 in their new home at the Lyric Opera. Ashley Wheater, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director, said, "The Joffrey survived the disruption of the pandemic in large part because of the support of the people of Chicago. Overnight, our earned revenue disappeared. But our Board and community of supporters generously contributed to keep our doors open. We offered classes online with students clearing the furniture from their living rooms so they could move. In the absence of live performances, we created new work." (joffrey.org

Chef Art Smith, artist Jesus Salgueiro and Linda Novick O'Keefe founded Common Threads in Chicago in 2003. This national nonprofit provides children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits. O'Keefe, said, "At the start of the pandemic, we began offering virtual programming which helped keep our mission alive. Families were facing food insecurity at an unprecedented rate, so we supported a number of food distribution programs that helped generate business for chefs and restaurateurs who were also impacted. Where possible, we helped secure fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins, providing recipes and virtual cooking lessons to help families have access to nutritious foods." How are you faring now? "Common Threads was proud to be able to reach slightly more people in the 2021 program year than we had the previous year." Was there a silver lining? "Virtual education became a necessity with a lot of benefits. We had the opportunity to cook with children and families in their homes through Zoom for the first time and reach many who we might not have been able to participate before." (commonthreads.org)

PAWS Chicago founder Paula Fasseas is proud that the Midwest's largest No-Kill animal shelter has never had to close its doors to pets in need. How did PAWS pivot during the pandemic? "We launched a virtual adoption process allowing prospective adopters to adopt online while sheltering in place. In 2020, we performed 4,100 adoptions and received 50,000 virtual adoption inquiries since March 2020. We created a Crisis Care Foster Initiative, established a mobile Pet Food Pantry, provided Telehealth appointments for pet owners in Englewood, West Englewood and Back of the Yards who would otherwise have no access to veterinary services; offered virtual dog training classes and got creative with our fundraisers. We moved our 2020 Beach Party, 5K run and Fur Ball to a virtual format and developed several new fundraising campaigns and virtual events to make up for lost revenue." How are you faring now? "In June 2021 we moved to an in-person adoption appointment process. We've found homes for 3,130 animals so far this year. In July, we partnered with celebrity wrestler CM Punk and his PAWS dog Larry on a campaign designed to bring attention to the misunderstood dogs at PAWS, known as the Underdogs. We are now back to in-person events and will host this year's 5K, an inaugural golf outing and several adoption events in-person again and are gearing up for our 20th annual Fur Ball at the Drake Hotel on November 12. PAWS recently opened the country's largest and most advanced hospital for homeless pets. Our new state-of-the-art PAWS Chicago Medical Center addresses next-level needs for animals from Chicago Animal Care & Control, our shelter partners in 13 high kill states, and serves Chicago's under-resourced communities." (pawschicago.org

Heather Owen, president and co-founder of One Tail at a Time, an animal rescue in Bucktown, shared, "When the pandemic hit, we immediately went virtual and sent all of our dogs to foster homes so people didn't have to be in our facilities. We wanted to keep saving animals but it was also imperative that none of our staff got sick on the job." How did you have to pivot? "Our team was ready to switch to virtual adoptions so we could continue to keep things moving. Allowing people a safe way to adopt was such a highlight for us. We also saw a big influx of willing fosters and adopters so it allowed us to connect with new shelters and help animals we previously couldn't. How are you faring now? "Still great! The demand has dropped off significantly but, during the pandemic, we created a more solid infrastructure and hired more people so that we could continue to grow. We also continue to do a lot of things virtually and have a more streamlined process which means greater efficiency and more animals saved!" What changes do you plan moving forward? "We will continue to move things virtually including our volunteer orientation and different trainings. Being accessible in different languages and to different demographics is high on our list. We want to reach all of Chicago, not just the people that naturally gravitate toward us." Was there a silver lining? "Absolutely! Shelter pets had a moment! Dogs and cats were flying out the door as people finally had the time to foster and adopt. We saved almost twice as many animals in 2020 as we did in 2019." (onetail.org)

The Chicago Lighthouse president/CEO Dr. Janet Szlyk had this to say about the nonprofit, which since 1906, has provided programs and support for the blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veteran communities. How did the pandemic affect the Lighthouse? When the lockdown started, our I.T. department, which includes several employees who are blind or visually impaired, went into overdrive, setting up a work-from-home model for our staff and creating remote capabilities for our social enterprise Call Centers. Our ability to keep these Call Centers operational enabled many of our employees with disabilities to continue earning paychecks and receiving benefits in a time of heightened stress and uncertainty." How are you faring now? "All of our programs have returned to offering in-person services for those who want them. There are some Children's Development Center students and Birth-to-Three families who are continuing remote education, as their families include medically fragile members. Thanks to vaccines, the adolescents in our Youth Transition Program's Summer in the City experience were able to spend a week exploring Chicago and learning how to get around in a big city. Our seniors with vision impairments have been able to gather in-person to reconnect, share stories and learn new skills. We continue to offer remote services, such as telehealth visits for patients in our Low Vision Clinic." What plans do you have moving forward? "We will continue to develop these hybrid services, as they have enabled us to reach even more individuals who need our critical and life-changing services. Also, we expect to break ground on a new residential building that will provide safe, affordable, accessible housing for the people who depend on us." Was there a silver lining? "We have reinforced that The Chicago Lighthouse is indeed a 'Community of Care.' Our clients, volunteers, donor and staff stepped up in ways they never had before to ensure we were all connected, safe and continued to receive our life-changing services with no interruption." (chicagolighthouse.org)

Lois Gates, assistant executive director of Misericordia, said the past 18 months have been "extremely challenging." Gates helps oversee the support, programs and housing of the over 600 children and adults with intellectual and developmental difficulties who call Misericordia Heart of Mercy home. She said, "Earlier this year, we thought it might have been possible to finally be able to have our fall events in person. However, with the rise of the Delta variant, we decided it was too much of a risk and that pivoting back to a virtual platform was safest for everyone. This was extremely disappointing for us as 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of Misericordia and of our Women's Board." How are you faring now? "We have become experts at pivoting to the virtual format out of the necessity of raising private dollars to ensure our residents continue to receive the highest quality of care. As Sister Rosemary, Misericordia's longtime executive director, says, 'The right people are always here for us at the right time.' We are willing to do whatever it takes to sustain Misericordia for another 100 years." (misericordia.com)

After School Matters, a nonprofit that supports Chicago teens through after-school and summer programs, re-envisioned its model to remote learning. And, in response to needs they saw created by the pandemic, ASM distributed thousands of meals to teens and their families, provided technology to young people and offered access to mental health services for those struggling to cope during the crisis. "We found remote programs removed geographic barriers to participation across the city, allowing teens on the far north side to attend programs with teens on the south side without transportation concerns," said Mary Ellen Caron, ASM CEO. 

Maryville Academy, a child care organization rooted in Catholic social teaching, continued to serve children and families throughout the pandemic. How did you have to pivot? "Our faculty took up the challenge of going from in-person to remote learning. To accommodate this, our I.T. department provided additional Chromebooks to our youth whose school buildings were closed, said Nelia Bernabe, Maryville's communications manager. "Additionally, our residential programs engaged the children and young adults with different educational activities including arts and crafts, brainstorming science ideas, learning the history of the Ferris Wheel in Chicago, playing games and more. Maryville's leadership team, led by Sister Cathy, let the staff members know that no one would be laid off and constantly kept the staff updated on info from Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot. We purchased PPEs, enforced deep cleaning and improved air filtration in our group homes and admin offices at all campuses. The majority of Maryville's staff are vaccinated and we are working on having the youth in our care, ages 12 and older, get vaccinated." What changes do you plan moving forward? "We plan to offer remote learning to students and virtual meetings to staff when needed. Planning for the future includes consideration of what actions we would take in the event of another pandemic. (Maryville offers 17 life-changing programs in Bartlett, Berwyn, Chicago and Des Plaines. maryvilleacademy.org)

Holly Buckendahl, CEO Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, spoke about how the pandemic affected the  nonprofit that provides a "home away from home" for kids dealing with a critical illness and their families. "The organization suspended its volunteer program in March 2020 with a gradual reintroduction in late summer 2020. From the onset of the pandemic through September 2021, we lost over 60,000 hours representing more than $1.7 million worth of volunteer time lost. This required the organization to assume responsibilities usually handled by volunteers and reimagine all fundraising events, including the 2020 May Gala, the organization's largest fundraiser, to a virtual event." How is RMHC-CNI faring now? "Childhood illness doesn't stop due to a pandemic, and neither did we. In 2020, the organization provided over 20,000 nights of care through 5 Ronald McDonald Houses and 3 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, medical care for nearly 2,000 children via 2 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, and thousands of meals for families. Last year, the organization also supported over 1,000 Covid-19 tests when it repurposed its Care Mobiles as mobile testing sites for Advocate Children's Hospital." What plans do you have moving forward? "In May 2021, the org announced the expansion of its services with new program locations inside Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital and Advocate Children's Hospital--Park Ridge through the opening of a new Ronald McDonald House and Family Room. The expansion will enable the org to serve an additional 40,000 individuals and overnight lodging for 2,700 parents of critically ill children each year." Was there a silver lining? "With the help of dedicated frontline workers, volunteers and staff, the organization never shut its doors, nor never turned a family away. While the pandemic was a new health crisis, RMHC-CNI knew that their families were already facing unthinkable challenges due to their child's health." (rmhccni.org)

Nick Pullia, Navy Pier's Executive Director of Communications, Media and Engagement, said, "Navy Pier faced an existential crisis in the wake of the pandemic shutdown. No visitors. No income. If not for our volunteer board of directors stepping up in amazing ways, we wouldn't be here now to tell the tale. They launched a Save the Pier campaign, and our generous donors did just that. What do you do when everything is on fire? Donors, large and small, recognized that amid the great and obvious need for life-sustaining basic essentials like food and shelter, there was also great value in rescuing the cultural institutions that define us. And that's not just art for arts sake. The entertainment and hospitality industry is a crucial economic driver." What changes do you plan moving forward? "Many people do not realize Navy Pier is a nongovernmental nonprofit that depends on support from corporate sponsors and individual donors. Going forward, we need to do a better job of telling that part of our story." Was there a silver lining? "Something extraordinary did happen. At the end of September, Navy Pier hosted 'Chicago Live Again,' what president/CEO Marilynn Gardner called a FIRST-in-a-lifetime event. The two-day festival celebrated the reopening of Chicago's stages by bringing together 50 of the city's most celebrated institutions in back-to-back performances. The event created 100s of jobs." (navypier.org)

Established in 2015, the Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation, a relatively new nonprofit, funds cutting-edge research to fight cancer. Eleni Bousis, founder and chair of HCRF, shared, "As with many medical organizations, we were quite distressed in the number of cancers that may have gone undiagnosed due to the pandemic, fear of going to a hospital and the need to obey lockdown orders." She and the organization are looking forward to their first in-person gala on November 6 and a record-breaking year. (hcrfwingstocure.org)

Sheila Brown is the executive director of CineCares Foundation, a nonprofit that provides adults in underserved communities opportunities to work in TV and film production. During the pandemic, the Foundation hosted Zoom conversations between job trainees and leaders in the film industry. "Those Zoom sessions got them in the room with executives that they would likely not have access to otherwise," she said. Was there a silver lining? "Yes, I think we all realized that the things we take for granted each day are really treasures. When we were able to reconvene, there was more of an appreciation for each other and the great work that we get to do each day." (cinecaresfoundation.org)

Big Shoulders Fund is a charity that provides support and assistance to elementary and high schools that primarily serve students from low-income backgrounds. Josh Hale is its president and CEO. "Big Shoulders Fund had planned to pilot virtual volunteer opportunities in years past and Covid-19 sped up the timing. Moving forward, we anticipate having a hybrid of virtual and in-person volunteering occurring, with even more enhanced digital formats for volunteering, mentorship and other enrichment programs," he said. The nonprofit has had great success hosting its many events virtually with its signature Humanitarian Award Dinner drawing a record number of attendees/viewers and raising $11.2 million. (bigshouldersfund.org)

Josephine Lee is president and artistic director for the Chicago Children's Choir, a nonprofit that inspires children through music. Their recent Red Jacket Optional gala was one of its first in-person events following the pandemic. She said, "When the pandemic started, we didn't miss a beat. We made an immediate turn towards virtual options for our students, providing a crucial sense of stability and connection during what were isolating and uncertain times. That's what our work is all about, bringing youth together to transform their lives through music." How are you faring now? "This year, we're celebrating our 65th anniversary and we're thriving. Our return to in-person rehearsals and performances has been, in a word, healing. We've opened a new Neighborhood Choir in Gage Park, we've expanded our presence in Chicago-area schools and we've made online learning a core part of our programs. We're providing more opportunities for youth to connect through the joy of music than we ever have before. Music is meant to be experienced collectively. For six decades, we've witnessed first-hand music's capacity to unite and inspire people from different backgrounds, and now that we're together in-person again, it feels like we are embarking upon an exciting new chapter." Goals moving forward? "As we look to the road ahead, to the next 65 years, we're focused on using all the tools in our toolbox to build a world where every voice is heard, celebrated, and respected, regardless of circumstance." (ccchoir.org)

For Nancy Wright, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, the pandemic illuminated for her how important the Girl Scout's role is as a champion and advocate for girls. She heard so many stories--a girl whose parents both lost their jobs; girls who lost family members to Covid and weren't able to say goodbye; girls who missed out on milestone events and opportunities. She said, "We are in a state of real crisis among young girls' emotional well-being and we know it's going to take time to heal." Was there a silver lining? "Despite all the challenges facing the world, our girls and families stepped up when others stepped back. The pandemic fueled girls' commitments to serve and be a positive change in the world. In the past year, we've seen our girls paint pictures on a senior center's windows to life their spirits, deliver cookies to frontline workers to thank them, and deliver groceries to vulnerable neighbors. Our members, despite their own struggles and challenges, found the heart and energy to help others in a great time of need. They were resilient leaders and that's what being a Girl Scout is really all about." (girlscoutsgcnwi.org)

Susan Abrams, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center CEO, saw a 41% increase in engagement in 2020 (over 2019) on the Museum's virtual platforms, it was a record year reaching almost 285,000 people on-site and online. IHMEC offered web-based field trips for grades 3-12; student leadership days, teacher training webinars, law enforcement trainings, public programs, group and drop-in virtual tours of the exhibitions and much more. She said, "Though we are seeing some virtual fatigue, we are on track to exceed pre-pandemic audience engagement in 2021, with 151,000 people reached in the first six months, and anticipate this trajectory in 2022 as we continue operating a hybrid model." Was there a silver lining? There were so many silver linings in the virtual format including more opportunities for building community via the chat; more student engagement overall; more creativity in the human rights hashtags using a variety of technology; and brilliant action planning that will make a positive difference in the lives of the students, particularly in these challenging times. Virtual platforms also allowed us to greatly expand the reach of the Museum's Survivor Speakers Bureau. Across all of our initiatives, a total of 92,000 people heard the testimony of our beloved Survivors and their family members." (ilholocaustmuseum.org)

The Happiness Club is a free, year-round performing arts education program serving a diverse group of Chicago kids, largely from Chicago's south and west sides. Many consider the Club their second family. According to Maureen Schulman, THC board chair/president, "Because of the stress Covid had on kids, not attending school, missing meals, staying at home without socialization with the caliber of people found in the group, it was important for us to keep weekly rehearsals intact. We were able to do this with the help of a tech grant from Chicago Community Trust Young Leaders Fund, which supplied the kids with iPads." THC artistic director, Tanji Harper, and THC were named Obama Foundation Change Makers for 2021.  

The Nora Project is a nonprofit that provides training and curriculum to teachers so they can build inclusive classrooms and teach their students about disability. Lauren Schrero is the co-founder and executive director. When the organization had to pivot due to the pandemic, they "were in uncharted territory." But they launched a blog, became proficient in virtual learning tools and video editing and built out virtual classrooms and lessons their teachers and students could use from anywhere. How are you faring now? "Donors were extremely generous last year and, once we moved our fundraising entirely online, we grew our reach significantly. In 2019, we had just over 300 donors participate in our annual gala. In 2020, with everything streaming, we had more than 700 donors participate! Also, we created bite-size programs that focus on friendship, disability and inclusion and these have really taken off. We see a lot of potential there moving forward. A lot of the changes we made to adjust to the pandemic, will stay in place. We've learned that there are many different ways to do things, and different audiences will have different needs." Was there a silver lining? "Absolutely, yes! We grew closer as a team, surprised ourselves with our resilience and capabilities. Even better, we helped support our teachers through the most challenging time in their careers and we connected with students in new and deeper ways that we thought possible." (thenoraproject.ngo)Almost all of the nonprofit leaders I spoke to had found silver linings that came out of the pandemic. They discovered new abilities that most plan on carrying forward. The virtual capabilities opened up whole new worlds and introduced these charities to a much wider audience, in many cases a global audience. Because their top donors knew the nonprofits were being stretched due to lessening resources, they stepped up and, in many cases, made their favorite charities' fundraising efforts record-breaking. Author Roy T. Bennett said, "Challenge and diversity are meant to help you know who you are. Storms hit your weakness, but unlock your true strength." Here's hoping we all find our inner strength as we move out of the darkness and into the light in the coming year.