GOLD2023

Project Onward

Chicago, IL   |  http://projectonward.org

Mission

Project Onward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting career development for artists with mental and developmental disabilities. Operating as a studio and gallery, Project Onward provides access to workspace, art materials, and professional opportunities to artists who have exceptional abilities but face challenges ranging from autism to mental illness. Project Onward believes that artists with special needs deserve a voice in the world of art and ideas, and that their extraordinary work has a universal audience.

Ruling year info

2013

Executive Director

Nancy Gomez

Main address

1200 West 35th Street 4th Floor

Chicago, IL 60609-1305 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

45-5187731

NTEE code info

Visual Arts Organizations (A40)

Arts Service Activities/Organizations (A90)

Autism (G84)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Our mission requires us to provide artists with disabilities the opportunity to create their work in a safe, supportive studio environment, with access to work space, materials, and professional guidance without being encumbered by cost; connect artists with disabilities with the arts community and the general public, by holding professional exhibitions and selling their work. Additionally, public programs have been designed that promote audience participation; and inspire change by using art to promote empathy and reduce the stigma of mental illness and developmental disabilities. We seek to improve the self-image of artists by emphasizing the social and economic value of their work. This will cultivate new audiences in the art market by increasing awareness of, and generating demand for artwork created by peoples with disabilities.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Project Onward Art Studio

The studio program provides a range of services to visual artists living with mental and/or developmental disabilities, including access to workspace and free art materials, and individualized guidance from a team of professional artists. The studio program serves over 55 artists and is intended to facilitate the creation of a meaningful body of work for each individual, representing both artistic excellence and a source of income. Studio facilitators work with each artist to develop a business plan that addresses the individual's strengths and interests, includes measurable goals, and promotes access to the same professional opportunities as a typical working artist.

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Adults

The exhibitions program showcases artwork by Project Onward artists in order to to raise visibility, generate income, and promote individual, foundation, and corporate giving for the organization. Exhibitions mounted in-house at the Project Onward Gallery, with numerous traveling and site-specific exhibitions taking place throughout the year. Free public programs (lectures, performances, film screenings) in conjunction with exhibitions to increase visibility, attract audience and expand donor base

Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Adults

Where we work

Affiliations & memberships

Charity Navigator 4 Star Rating 2023

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Inspire change by using art to promote empathy and reduce the stigma of mental illness and developmental disabilities. We seek to improve the self-image of artists by emphasizing the social and economic value of their work. This will cultivate new audiences in the art market by increasing awareness of, and generating demand for artwork created by peoples with disabilities.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Project Onward
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Project Onward

Board of directors
as of 07/21/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Robert Darnell

Project Onward

Term: 2020 - 2021


Board co-chair

Marsha Woodhouse

Wanda Lenoir

Robert Darnall

Bonnie McGrath

Carlos Maxwell

Velda Davino

Patricia Courson

Roark Frankel

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/10/2020
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/10/2020

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.