Better Government Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") WORKS TO FIGHT WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND INEFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT, IN ILLINOIS BY USING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TECHNIQUES, LITIGATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES TO EXPOSE PROBLEMS, INFORM CITIZENS ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $401,754, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $2.1 million spent. INVESTIGATIVE: THE BGA'S TEAM OF AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISTS EXAMINES THE USE AND MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN CHICAGO, THE SUBURBS, AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. IT EXPOSES MISCONDUCT, HYPOCRISY AND WASTE WHILE ALSO BREAKING DOWN COMPLEX ISSUES THROUGH IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, DETAILED EXPLANATORY PIECES, AND POLITIFACT FACT-CHECKS. IT WORKS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BGA'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS.
- $628,697 spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: IS A VITAL CONDUIT BETWEEN THE NEWSROOM, POLICY TEAM AND THE PUBLIC BY INITIATING AND PARTICIPATING IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS AND FOSTERING ALLIANCES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHILE CHALLENGING AND DISMANTLING BREAKDOWNS IN GOVERNMENT AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN SOCIETY.
- $610,706 spent. POLICY TEAM: THE BGA'S POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR A MORE TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, AND EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY REFORMS. WE WORK TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN ILLINOIS' FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT AND OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND TO PROPOSE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY, AND WASTE IN GOVERNMENT. THE POLICY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT ACROSS ILLINOIS BY CRAFTING LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE TRACK TRENDS AND RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES IN GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLISH ANALYSES AND PERSPECTIVES ON OUR WEBSITE AND WITH MEDIA PARTNERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1950.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.