Illinois DOGE Profile: Richland Community College

Richland Community College, a tax-exempt nonprofit that receives significant public funding to perform services also offered by the state, was approved to receive five grants totaling $15,147,800 in FY2024, 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 $12,827,700 and $1,500,000, along with three additional grants totaling $820,047, 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 1986, Richland Community College states that its mission is: “Our mission is to support the College by strengthening connections to the community, promoting excellence in teaching, and providing access to student success.”

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 $6,253,160 in total revenue.

The nonprofit listed $3,564,090 in contributions overall. It also reported $22,370 in non-cash contributions, such as donated goods or services, and $3,564,060 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.

In terms of staffing, the organization spent $110,815 on salaries and reportable employee compensation in 2024, along with $27,691 in additional non-salary compensation such as retirement benefits, housing allowances, or travel stipends.

Combined, these totaled $138,506 in staff-related costs, which equates to 2.2% of total reported revenue.

At the beginning of 2024, Richland Community College had $19,744,300 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $24,070,600, indicating a 21.9% 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.

Richland Community College 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.