Membership

Overview

In 2024, the Civic Federation celebrated our 130th anniversary—a milestone that not only speaks to the importance of our work but also prompts us to look to the future. As we look ahead, we invite you to partner with us to advance our non-partisan government research that strengthens Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the region we call home. 

Join a network of civic, business, and nonprofit leaders who are shaping the future of Chicago and Illinois. Our members bring deep expertise across a wide range of sectors—and a shared passion for civic engagement, collaboration, and driving real change.

Membership includes access to a series of exclusive programs and events held throughout the year, connecting you directly with Civic Federation staff, public officials, subject-matter experts, and fellow leaders. These gatherings spark dynamic conversations, foster new partnerships, and turn bold ideas into actionable solutions for our region’s most pressing challenges. We offer several levels of membership, thoughtfully calibrated to organization type and size, individual needs, and the desired level of engagement and impact.

Reach out to us to learn more or consider making a contribution to the Civic Federation to help empower our work.

Chicago’s future will be decided by the work we do today to build the City we need tomorrow, even as we address the challenges inherited from the past. Visioning and building that City of tomorrow will require the energy, creativity, and commitment of a new generation of civic leaders and investors who appreciate the unique platform the Civic Federation provides as a neutral broker advancing evidence-based analysis.

The Federation’s founding mission is still relevant today as it was over 130 years ago to address concerns about the city’s economic and social challenges: Promote the responsible, effective delivery of government services. Now Chicago stands at another crossroads that calls for deep generational re-assessment of the priorities and commitments needed for building a 21st century infrastructure.

The 2037 Society is the Federation’s answer to this challenge. As we approach the bicentennial, the Society will provide strategic counsel to the Federation on key research and pressing issues that are necessary to our city’s success, such as promoting a city charter, comprehensive pension reform, recalibration of the region’s tax structure, and regional governance for critical infrastructure. Society members will also benefit from exclusive access to Federation leadership, special projects, and private briefings on our budget analyses.

Society members commit to a multi-year investment, participate in relevant meetings, events, and working groups, and help identify other leaders and funders to join this important effort.

We invite you to join our efforts to ensure a generative, self-sustaining, and equitable future for Chicago. Learn more by submitting a membership information request.

 

Members

Elizabeth Q. Betten
Jim Blair
Leslie Bluhm
Bob Casey
Barbara Stewart
Robert J. Buford
Lew Collens
Daniel P. Kearney
William C. Kunkler, III
Sanford E. Perl
Gil C. Quiniones
Michael J. Sacks
Maurice Smith
Jennifer W. Steans
Frederick H. Waddell
Kristopher Anderson
Ed Bachrach
Erik Cempel
Alexander Cestero
Erik Colon
Robert W. Crawford, Jr.
Omar Daghestani
Duane DesParte
Raymond Drake
Martin Eisenberg
Peter G. Glick
Donald Haider
M. Hill Hammock
Lori H. Igleski
Robert Johnson
Rahul Kalsi
James H. Kane
Karen Kane
Rick Mattoon
Fred Montgomery
Michael O'Brien
Liza Pappas
Anthony Pascente
Carol Portman
Scott Solotorovsky
Robert Stanek
Joseph B. Starshak
Ralitza Todorova
Matthew D. Tully
Thomas Vanden Berk
Jerrold Wolf
Tim Liston
Lisa Abdullah
Neil Bouhan
Andrew Davis
Anne Kavanagh
Christopher Sell
Rhett Bomher
Scott Gregus+
Jack Hartwell
Reginald McCoy, Jr.
Ethan Retcher
Alberto Rivera+
Jack Shadid
Judson Smith+
Nick Tiniakos+
 
+Nominated member of the Council of Advocates