Top Chicago Nonprofit Leaders Discuss Current State of Fundraising

The Greater Chicago metro area is home to more than 50,000 nonprofit organizations, making it one of the largest nonprofit hubs in the country. Chicago’s nonprofit industry is a critical barometer for the challenges and innovations affecting mission-driven work.

2025 has brought with it many challenges for nonprofits to navigate. Fewer donations. Federal funding cuts. Economic stability.

TrueSense’s Co-Presidents Marcy Auman and Shawn Reed sat down with Alison Friduss, Executive Director of Development at The Salvation Army, North & Central Illinois Division, Rhett Lindsay, Vice President, Mission Advancement at Anti-Cruelty, and Reshelle Scheffler, Senior Director of Director Response and Annual Giving at the Greater Chicago Food Depository to discuss the current state of the nonprofit industry.