Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Form 990, Part III, Line 1 | Organization's Mission THE COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO (THE CLUB) WAS FOUNDED IN 1877 TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF CHICAGO. ORIGINALLY FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF 17 BUSINESSMEN WHO BELIEVED CHICAGO NEEDED A STRONG AND COHESIVE CIVIC FORCE TO HELP SHAPE THE COURSE OF THE CITYS DEVELOPMENT, TODAY THE CLUB IS AN ORGANIZATION COMPRISED OF 500 SENIOR BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LEADERS WHO SEEK TO ADDRESS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE CHICAGO REGION. THE CLUB HOLDS TEN MONTHLY MEETINGS DURING THE YEAR TO HEAR SPEAKERS DISCUSS KEY ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE CHICAGO REGION. IN 1983, THE CLUB COMMISSIONED A STUDY OF THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT CHICAGO WAS EXPERIENCING A GRADUAL EROSION OF ITS ECONOMIC VITALITY. IN RESPONSE, THE CLUB FORMED ITS CIVIC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS TO BOLSTER CORE INDUSTRIES AND PURSUE NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE REGION. THE CIVIC COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF 90 SENIOR EXECUTIVES IN THE CHICAGO REGIONS LEADING BUSINESS, EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ITS MISSION IS TO STIMULATE THE GROWTH OF THE AREAS ECONOMY AND ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR ITS PEOPLE. THE CLUB AND THE CIVIC COMMITTEE HAVE CREATED AND SUPPORTED AFFILIATED AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN POLICY AND OPERATIONS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND SURROUNDING REGION AND THE STATE OVER ITS HISTORY. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THESE ORGANIZATIONS CURRENTLY INCLUDE CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE (CCA), ILLINOIS IS BROKE (IIB) AND NEW SCHOOLS FOR CHICAGO (NSC). Form 990, Part III, Line 4 Other Program Services Educational Reform - This program focuses on developing policies to reform the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the State of Illinois Pre-school - 12 educational system, including educational choice, standards, assessment and accountability, and teacher/principal preparation. Veterans Working Group - This program focuses on engaging major Chicago-area employers to hire, support and retain returning veterans. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 1a | Committees of the Governing Body The Executive Committee shall have general control of the affairs of the club. The Executive Committee shall have power, by unanimous vote of the entire Committee, to discipline or expel any Club member whenever in its judgment such action is advisable. A Program Committee, consisting of a Chairman and six other members shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee. In addition, the Chairman, Vice Chairman and President shall be ex-officio members of the Program Committee. Its duties shall be to plan and oversee the forum events and other meetings to be held each Club year and to act in a general way as the hosting members of the Club, subject to the direction of the Executive Committee. A Membership Committee, consisting of a Chairman and five members, shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for terms of two years (three of the members shall be appointed at the end of each Club Year). Its duties shall be to identify and recommend to the Executive Committee candidates for membership, to see to the orientation of new members, and to identify and bring to the attention of the Executive Committee the names of members who have repeatedly failed to attend meetings or participate in projects of the Club and to whom an appropriate communication should be sent as to the expectations of membership. The Chairman, with the advice and approval of the Executive Committee, shall select a Nominating Committee of five members and announce their names at a regular meeting. Such committee shall recommend a list of candidates for the various offices of the Executive Committee, and file the same with the Secretary at least twenty days before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall mail such list to each member at least two weeks before the Annual Meeting in preparation for the annual election. A Civic Committee, whose responsibilities shall be to consider needs and plans for the development of the Chicago metropolitan area, shall be appointed annually by the Executive Committee based on recommendations from the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Club. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 6 | Members or Stockholders The Commercial Club of Chicago is a membership organization. Members nominate and vote on the election of the Executive Committee. The Exectuive Committee employs a president who then manages the day to day operations of the Club. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 7a | Members Who May Elect One or More Members of the Governing Body The Commercial Club of Chicago is a membership organization. Members nominate and vote on the election of governing board members. Form 990, Part VI, Line 8B Committees There were no committees with the authority to act on behalf of the governing body during the year. Form 990, Part VI, Line 7b Governance decisions by persons other than the governing body The bylaws may be altered or amended at any Commercial Club meeting by a majority vote of the Active and Life Members present at the meeting. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b | Review of Form 990 The Form 990 was prepared by a national public accounting firm in conjunction with Management and staff of the Organization. A draft was then provided to Management. Management and the Treasurer reviewed a draft version of the Form 990. Subsequent to their review, Management and the Treasurer, along with the organization's VP, Finance & Admin discussed the draft versions with the tax preparers including any questions or necessary revisions. Based on feedback from that meeting, the Form 990 was revised as necessary. The Board of Directors received a copy of the Form 990 prior to filing with the IRS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12b | Director Conflict of Interest Policy NO DIRECTOR OR MEMBER OF ANY COMMITTEE SHALL DERIVE ANY PERSONAL PROFIT OR GAIN, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY REASON OF HIS OR HER MEMBERSHIP ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR A COMMITTEE. IF A DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER IS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY A PARTY TO ANY TRANSACTION CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR A COMMITTEE, THE DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER SHALL DISCLOSE THE MATERIAL FACTS OF THE TRANSACTION AND THE DIRECTOR'S INTEREST OR RELATIONSHIP PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL OR RATIFICATION OF THE TRANSACTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR COMMITTEE, AND SHALL NOT VOTE ON THE APPROVAL OR RATIFICATION OF THE TRANSACTION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c | Monitoring Conflict of Interest TRANSACTIONS THAT INVOLVE A BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER ARE ASSESSED TO DETERMINE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS. THE DECISIONS REGARDING IF A CONFLICT EXISTS IS DETERMINED BY THE GOVERNING COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION. IF A CONFLICT IS IDENTIFIED, THE MEMBER THAT IT RELATES TO IS ASKED TO ABSTAIN FROM THE CONVERSATION AND ANY RELATED DECISIONS MADE. ALTHOUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ANNUAL COMPLETION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT, EACH OFFICER, DIRECTOR, AND KEY EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ON A CONTEMPORANEOUS BASIS WHEN A CONFLICT ARISES. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Lines 15a and 15b | Compensation Approval The club uses the following to establish compensation for all employees: A compensation committee, independent compensation consultant, Form 990 of other orgnaizations, compensation survey, and approval by the board and compensation committee. The president last received a raise in July 2015. Compensation is contemporaneously documented by the compensation committee. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 | Documents Available to the Public No documents available to the public. |
| FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G | DESCRIPTION:BENEFITS SERVICE FEE TOTAL FEES:5876 |
| FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G | DESCRIPTION:IT CONSULTING TOTAL FEES:234842 |
| FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G | DESCRIPTION:HONORARIUM TOTAL FEES:98000 |
| FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G | DESCRIPTION:TEMPORARY HELP TOTAL FEES:49844 |
| FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G | DESCRIPTION:PROFESSIONAL FEES - OTHER TOTAL FEES:18200 |
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