The Civic Federation

Chicago, IL ยท Founded 1932

Independent research organization promoting efficient and effective government

Primary audience
Researchers
Work area
Research
Topic
Scientific Studies
Contact
Laurence J Msall
Website Contact

About Organization

Based in Chicago, IL, The Civic Federation conducts nonpartisan research and analysis on government finance and public policy issues. Founded in 1894, the organization reported $2.4 million in revenue for 2024, providing independent expertise on tax, budget, and fiscal policy matters affecting Illinois and the Chicago region with 13 employees serving as government watchdog.

What They Focus On

Scientific Discovery

Conducts original research advancing knowledge and understanding through systematic investigation using rigorous scientific methods.

Knowledge Dissemination

Shares research findings through publications, conferences, and presentations contributing to academic discourse and professional practice.

Research Training

Develops next generation of researchers through training programs, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2023)

$1.9M

+7% vs 2022

Expenses (2023)

$1.8M

-5% vs 2022

Assets (2023)

$5.2M

+7% vs 2022

Employees (2023)

16

+0% vs 2022

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2023 $1,870,585 $1,812,863 $5,248,091 16
2022 $1,748,474 $1,908,518 $4,903,101 16
2021 $1,788,754 $1,865,614 $4,522,614 17
2020 $2,283,232 $1,761,892 $5,430,949 14
2019 $1,580,464 $1,818,076 $4,699,869 14
2018 $2,308,116 $1,921,489 $4,794,827 14
2017 $1,652,223 $1,829,091 $4,482,009 14

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Design Studies

    Develop research questions, protocols, and methodologies for scientific investigations addressing knowledge gaps.

  • 02

    Conduct Research

    Execute studies through data collection, experiments, and analysis using rigorous scientific methods and protocols.

  • 03

    Analyze Results

    Evaluate data, interpret findings, and draw conclusions advancing scientific understanding and knowledge.

  • 04

    Share Knowledge

    Publish findings in journals, present at conferences, and disseminate results to academic and professional audiences.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by The Civic Federation

Scientific Research

Conducts original research studies advancing scientific knowledge and understanding in specialized fields.

Training Programs

Provides research training and professional development for scientists, scholars, and research professionals.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind The Civic Federation.

LJ

Laurence J Msall

Former President
Full-time
Compensation: $215,111
JF

Joseph Ferguson

President Starting 1/16/24
Full-time
SJ

Sarah J Wetmore

Interim Pres Thru 1/15/24
Full-time
Compensation: $251,840
LD

Lauracyn Duncan

VP Of Finance Thru 3/15/24
Full-time
Compensation: $129,702

Milestones

1932

Institute Founded

1932

Established to conduct scientific research and advance knowledge through systematic investigation.

2024

Current Research

2024

Operating with $1.9M in revenue and 16 staff conducting scientific studies.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

AH
Aaron Harris Director 1.50 hrs/week
AR
Aaron Rudberg Director 1.50 hrs/week
AM
Adriann Murawski Director 1.50 hrs/week
AI
Adrienne Irmer Director 1.50 hrs/week
AW
Aj Wilhelmi Director 1.50 hrs/week
AJ
Alexa James Director 1.50 hrs/week
AR
Allan R Ambrose Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
AB
Allen B Truesdell Director 1.50 hrs/week
AL
Andrew L Weil Director 1.50 hrs/week
AT
Anthony T Reinhart Director 1.50 hrs/week
AS
Armando Saleh Director 1.50 hrs/week
BD
Barrett Davie Director 1.50 hrs/week
BN
Bert Nuehring Director 2.50 hrs/week
BL
Betty Latson Director 1.50 hrs/week
BM
Brian Murphy Director 1.50 hrs/week
BS
Brian Septon Director/Vice Chair 2.50 hrs/week
CJ
Carl Jones Jr Director 1.50 hrs/week
CG
Carolyn Goldhaber Director 1.50 hrs/week
CG
Charles Gardner Director 2.50 hrs/week
CH
Christa Hamilton Director 1.50 hrs/week
CH
Christine Hoagland Director 1.50 hrs/week
CM
Christine Maki Director 1.50 hrs/week
CF
Clayton Frick Director 1.50 hrs/week
DH
Damion Heron Director 1.50 hrs/week
DS
Dan Salemi Director 1.50 hrs/week
DJ
Daniel J Lynch Director 2.50 hrs/week
DW
Daniel Wagner Director 1.50 hrs/week
DL
Dave Lundy Director 1.50 hrs/week
DJ
David J Vitale Director 1.50 hrs/week
DL
David L Reifman Director 1.50 hrs/week
DP
Donovan Pepper Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
DM
Dorri McWhorter Director 1.50 hrs/week
DO
Douglas O'Brien Director 1.50 hrs/week
EC
Elizabeth Coolidge Director/Treasurer 2.50 hrs/week
GW
Gabriel W Sanders Director 1.50 hrs/week
GD
Gillian Darlow Director 1.50 hrs/week
GJ
Gregory J O'Leary Director 2.50 hrs/week
HJ
Harry J Seigle Director 2.50 hrs/week
JC
Jason Coyle Director 1.50 hrs/week
JC
Jason Cummings Director 1.50 hrs/week
JF
Jennifer Fredericks Director 1.50 hrs/week
JW
Jill Wolowitz Director/Chair 2.50 hrs/week
JP
John P Deblaiso Director 1.50 hrs/week
JC
Jonathan Casiano Director 1.50 hrs/week
JJ
Joseph J Prochaska Jr Director 1.50 hrs/week
JS
Joseph Seliga Director 1.50 hrs/week
JA
Judith A Gold Director 1.50 hrs/week
JH
Julie Hamos Director 1.50 hrs/week
KC
Kandace C Lenti Director/Vice Chair 2.50 hrs/week
KA
Kathy A Thompson Director 2.50 hrs/week
KA
Kent A Swanson Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
LD
Larry D Lewis Jr Director 1.50 hrs/week
LI
Leon I Walker Director 1.50 hrs/week
LA
Lois A Scott Director 1.50 hrs/week
ME
Mark E Taylor Director 2.50 hrs/week
MH
Mark Heckler Director 1.50 hrs/week
MI
Mark Ishaug Director 1.50 hrs/week
ML
Mark Lester Director 1.50 hrs/week
MR
Mark R Davis Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
MB
Matthew Berry Director 1.50 hrs/week
MS
Matthew Simon Director 1.50 hrs/week
MS
Matthew Szafranski Director 1.50 hrs/week
MW
Meghan Woltman Director 1.50 hrs/week
ME
Michael E Murphy Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
MF
Michael F O'Brien Director 1.50 hrs/week
MM
Monica Mueller Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
ME
Murray E Ascher Director 2.50 hrs/week
NJ
Nancy J Clawson Director 1.50 hrs/week
NP
Nicholas P Jordan Director 1.50 hrs/week
OD
Omar Daghestani Director 2.50 hrs/week
PM
Patricia M Bidwill Director 1.50 hrs/week
PL
Paul Lipinski Director 1.50 hrs/week
PL
Paul Luu Director 1.50 hrs/week
PC
Paula Conrad Director 1.50 hrs/week
PC
Peter Coffey Director 1.50 hrs/week
PD
Philip D Hale Director 1.50 hrs/week
PM
Polly M Eldringhoff Director 1.50 hrs/week
RN
Randy Nornes Director 1.50 hrs/week
RL
Rebekah L Kohmescher Director 1.50 hrs/week
RS
Rebekah Scheinfeld Director 1.50 hrs/week
RC
Richard Ciccarone Director 1.50 hrs/week
RB
Robert Blackwell Jr Director 2.50 hrs/week
RB
Roger Bickel Director 1.50 hrs/week
SM
Sarfraz M Taj Director 2.50 hrs/week
SA
Scott A Bremer Director 1.50 hrs/week
SL
Scott L Warner Director 1.50 hrs/week
SM
Scott Metcalf Director 1.50 hrs/week
SS
Scott Saef Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
SZ
Scott Ziomek Director 1.50 hrs/week
SW
Simon Wlodarski Director/Vice Chair 2.50 hrs/week
SB
Stephen B Friedman Director 2.50 hrs/week
SH
Steven H Abbey Director 1.50 hrs/week
SS
Steven Shaw Director 1.50 hrs/week
SH
Susan Hayes Gordon Director 1.50 hrs/week
SM
Suzet McKinney Director 1.50 hrs/week
SP
Sylvia Puente Director 1.50 hrs/week
TE
Thomas E Livingston Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
TJ
Thomas J McNulty Director/Past Chair 2.50 hrs/week
TB
Tim Bresnahan Director 1.50 hrs/week
TE
Timothy E Moran Director 1.50 hrs/week
VC
Victor Chang Director 1.50 hrs/week
VW
Victoria Watkins Director 1.50 hrs/week
WC
Whitney Carlisle Director 2.50 hrs/week
WA
William Abolt Director 1.50 hrs/week
WD
William D MacK Director 2.50 hrs/week
WK
William Ketchum Director 1.50 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2023)

$685K

Highest Paid

$298K

Sarah J Wetmore

Compensated Officers

3

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Sarah J Wetmore Interim PRES Thru 1/15/24 $251,840 $45,831 $297,671 40
Laurence J Msall Former President $215,111 $10,949 $226,060 40
Lauracyn Duncan VP Of Finance Thru 3/15/24 $129,702 $31,124 $160,826 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$409K Grants Received
4 Organizations

Top Funders

4 total
TC
The Chicago Community Trust 2 grants
$165K
RR
Robert R Mccormick Foundation 2 grants
$125K
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$110K
NM
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
$9K
The Chicago Community Trust Robert R Mccormick Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
The Chicago Community Trust Robert R Mccormick Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Northwestern Memorial HealthCare

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with The Civic Federation

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(312) 201-9066

Social

Visit Website
10 N Dearborn Street 800 Chicago, IL 60602