Joliet Area Historical Museum, Building | http://s645124617.onlinehome.us/
Joliet Area Historical Museum, Building | http://s645124617.onlinehome.us/
The listed appropriations included grants of $3,500,000 and $1,995,000 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 1999 by The City of Joliet, the Joliet Area Historical Society, Joliet Junior College and Joliet citizens, Joliet Area Historical Museum states that its mission is: “The mission of the Joliet Area Historical Museum is to promote awareness, understanding, and preservation of the Joliet area's diverse history.”
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 $2,043,310 in total revenue. Of that, $1,196,500 came from government grants including federal, state, or local sources, making up 58.6% of total revenue.
The nonprofit listed $1,375,110 in contributions overall. It also reported $178,609 categorized under other contributions, which may include restricted donations, pledges, or bequests.
In terms of staffing, the organization spent $95,000 on salaries and reportable employee compensation in 2024.
Combined, these totaled $95,000 in staff-related costs, which equates to 4.6% of total reported revenue.
At the beginning of 2024, Joliet Area Historical Museum had $1,772,870 in assets. By the end of 2024, that figure had changed to $1,516,330, indicating a 14.5% decline in overall holdings.
According to its filing, public funding to Joliet Area Historical Museum surged in the last year. The group received $551,234 in government grants in 2023, compared to $1,196,500 in 2024—an increase of 117.1% year-over-year.
However, a Chicago City Wire analysis found that IRS filings frequently contain discrepancies when compared with publicly disclosed government grant reports and budgets.
Joliet Area Historical Museum 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 | 2 | $5,495,000 |
| Term | Name | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2024 | Dale T Evans | Treasurer |
| 2024-2024 | David Gomez | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Don Govani | Vice President |
| 2024-2024 | Gloria J Dollinger | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Gregory Thomas Peerbolte | Executive Director |
| 2024-2024 | Hudson T Hollister | Secretary |
| 2024-2024 | Hugh O'Hara | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Jayne Marie Bernhard | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Kevin J Hegarty | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Laura Daley | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Monica Bibian | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Nicholas S Macris | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Quinnlin X Adamowski | President |
| 2024-2024 | Roberto Navarro | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Sherri Reardon | Board Member |
| 2024-2024 | Virginia L Ferry | Director Emeritus |
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