Tanya Jenkins, Executive Director at Curt's Cafe | https://curtscafe.org/
Tanya Jenkins, Executive Director at Curt's Cafe | https://curtscafe.org/
The listed appropriations included two grants of $250,000, plus an additional grant of $100,000, 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 2011 by Susan Garcia Trieschmann, Curt's Cafe states that its mission is: “To provide inspiration, leadership, life and job skills, training and job placement for youth re-entering the community after incarceration and at-risk young adults. Training will be in the restaurant industry as well as life and experiential training and support.”
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 $1,252,140 in total revenue. Of that, $202,399 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 16.2% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $1,211,800 in contributions overall. It also reported $957,661 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
At the beginning of 2024, Curt's Cafe had $1,440,750 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,363,400, indicating a 5.4% decline in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding remained fairly steady year-over-year, changing from $211,035 in 2023 to $202,399 in 2024 (a difference of 4.1%).
However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.
Curt's Cafe 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 | $600,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Allie Payne | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Audrey L French | Vice President |
| 2024-2024 | Constance Blade | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Dana Peral | Director |
| 2024-2024 | David F Graham | Director |
| 2024-2024 | David Griffin | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Dietrich Horsey | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Eric C Marsh | President |
| 2024-2024 | Jeff Mackevich | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Pat Tatarek | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Patti M Anderson | Director |
| 2024-2024 | Rich Amend | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | Tanya Jenkins | Secretary |
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