Nonprofit · EIN 47-2843650
THE POLICY CIRCLE CO
Tax-exempt · WILMETTE, IL 60091
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $3,566,182 | $3,089,215 | $476,967 | $1,575,975 | $72,055 | $1,503,920 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,855,244 | $2,281,267 | $573,977 | $1,094,451 | $67,473 | $1,026,978 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $2,323,914 | $2,464,522 | -$140,608 | $634,252 | $183,845 | $450,407 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $3,545,697
- Program service revenue
- $16,241
- Investment income
- $2,681
- Royalties
- $1,563
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $2,562
- Other revenue
- $1,563
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $345,725
- Other salaries and wages
- $981,404
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,525,252
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $17,186
- Accounting fees
- $61,830
- Travel
- $127,845
- Program services (functional)
- $2,319,478
- Management and general (functional)
- $565,703
- Fundraising (functional)
- $204,034
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,094,451
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,575,975
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $72,055
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,503,920
- Publicly traded securities
- $480,681
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,104,266
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $399,654
- Gross receipts
- $3,566,182
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 45
- Year formed
- 2015
- State of legal domicile
- IN
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTY KUNA | CHIEF STRATEGY & OPERATION Officer | 40 | $180,000 | $9,925 |
| ERICA SHOE | DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $175,000 | $10,050 |
| STACY BLAKELEY | PRIOR CEO (ENDING FEB 2025) Officer | 40 | $152,500 | $3,300 |
| SARA HILL | DIRECTOR OF CIVIC IMPACT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,000 | $7,992 |
| KRISTEN WILLIAMSON | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $123,242 | $2,634 |
| ANGELA BRALY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHY HUBBARD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| SYLVIE LEGERE | BOARD CHAIR & INTERIM CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| BABARA STEWART | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CATHY CRANBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH FOWLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHY CROW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA COX KAPLAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STACY BLAKELEY | CEO Officer | 40 | $298,600 | $4,667 |
| KRISTY KUNA | CHIEF STRATEGY & OPERATION Officer | 40 | $158,102 | $4,725 |
| SARA HILL | DIRECTOR OF CIVIC IMPACT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $108,084 | $1,801 |
| SYLVIE LEGERE | BOARD CHAIR & INTERIM CEO Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHY HUBBARD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ANGELA BRALY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA COX KAPLAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CATHY CRANBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH FOWLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| BABARA STEWART | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHY CROW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STACY BLAKELEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $231,100 | $29,196 |
| KRISTY KUNA | CHIEF STRATEGY & OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $145,800 | $4,407 |
| NICOLE CLINE | DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY Highest-paid employee | 40 | $124,700 | $11,128 |
| SAVANNAH LANE | DIR. OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,400 | $4,924 |
| SYLVIE LEGERE | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHY HUBBARD | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| ANGELA BRALY | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| LAURA COX KAPLAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROL GREENE RESIGNED SEPT 2023 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1189 WILMETTE AVENUE BOX 210, WILMETTE, IL 60091-2719
- In care of
- % C T CORPORATION SYSTEM
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- REBECCA PAINTER, 1189 WILMETTE AVENUE BOX 210, WILMETTE, IL 60091
- Signed the 990
- REBECCA PAINTER, CEO
- Phone
- (214) 247-6008
- Website
- WWW.THEPOLICYCIRCLE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BARNES DENNIG & CO LTD
Mission
THE POLICY CIRCLE IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION THAT INFORMS, EQUIPS, AND CONNECTS WOMEN TO BECOME MORE IMPACTFUL CITIZENS AND INFLUENTIAL LOCAL LEADERS. THE POLICY CIRCLE SERVES AS A LAUNCHPAD FOR WOMEN TO REACH POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE SO THEY CAN SHAPE POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS ROOTED IN ECONOMIC AND PERSONAL FREEDOM. THE POLICY CIRCLE'S MODEL INCLUDES THREE CORE COMPONENTS: 1. POLICY BRIEFS AND CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCES THAT MAKE COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES ACCESSIBLE AND ACTIONABLE. THESE BRIEFS SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING, DISCUSSION, AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE POLICY CIRCLE'S PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CIRCLE CONVERSATIONS. 2. CIRCLES, EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT CIVIC-MINDED WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, THOUGHTFUL POLICY CONVERSATIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 3. THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT ROADMAP (CLER), THE POLICY CIRCLE'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS WOMEN
Program accomplishments
- CIRCLES, EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EXPERIENCES THE POLICY CIRCLE CONNECTS CIVIC-MINDED WOMEN THROUGH CIRCLES, EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER THOUGHTFUL POLICY CONVERSATIONS, TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, AND DEEPER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. CIRCLES ARE SMALL GROUPS OF WOMEN WHO MEET TO DISCUSS POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES, USING THE POLICY CIRCLE'S BRIEFS AND DISCUSSION RESOURCES AS A FOUNDATION. IN 2025, THE POLICY CIRCLE STRENGTHENED ITS CIRCLE MODEL THROUGH NEW LEADER RESOURCES AND A NEW DIGITAL COMMUNITY PLATFORM. SINCE 2025, MORE THAN 350 CIRCLES HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING 18 NEW CIRCLES IN 2025. THE ONLINE COMMUNITY LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2025 AND ENGAGED MORE THAN 300 WOMEN. THE 2025 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT CONVENED IN PHOENIX, AZ AND WELCOMED MORE THAN 300 ATTENDEES, 38 SPEAKERS, 19 SESSIONS, AND 36 SPONSORS. THE 2025 SUMMIT THEME, "NAVIGATING LEADERSHIP IN THE AGE OF INTELLIGENCE," FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.Expenses $1,133,028 · revenue $16,241
- POLICY BRIEFS AND CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCES THE POLICY CIRCLE INFORMS WOMEN THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, NONPARTISAN CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCES THAT MAKE COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, DISCUSS, AND APPLY. POLICY BRIEFS AND INSIGHTS SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR CIRCLE CONVERSATIONS, LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, VIRTUAL EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN 2025, THE POLICY CIRCLE OFFERED MORE THAN 70 POLICY BRIEFS AND INSIGHTS IN THE POLICY HUB AND CREATED OR UPDATED MORE THAN 20 POLICY INSIGHTS. POLICY BRIEFS RECEIVED MORE THAN 200,000 VIEWS IN 2025 AND SURPASSED 1 MILLION ALL-TIME BRIEF VIEWS. KEY TOPICS INCLUDED LITERACY, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FOSTER CARE, SOCIALISM, INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.Expenses $687,684
- CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THE POLICY CIRCLE EQUIPS WOMEN TO LEAD THROUGH THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT ROADMAP (CLER), A THREE-MONTH CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WITH TRACKS FOCUSED ON LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND EDUCATION. THROUGH CURRICULUM, COACHING, PEER GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ASSIGNMENTS, CLER HELPS WOMEN BUILD POLICY KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP CONFIDENCE, CIVIC SKILLS, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL LEADERS. IN 2025, CLER HAD 98 GRADUATES, CELEBRATING AN 88% GRADUATION RATE. TO DATE, CLER HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN 340 COURSE COMPLETIONS, WITH 30% OF ALUMNAE MOVING INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES AND 86 ADVOCACY EFFORTS LED BY CLER GRADUATES. FIFTEEN ALUMNAE FROM THE 2025 COHORTS WERE APPOINTED TO BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS OR ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE. IN 2025, THE POLICY CIRCLE ALSO LAUNCHED THE CIVIC COACHING FELLOWSHIP, A NEW INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO EXPAND COACHING AND MENTORSHIP CAPACITY FOR CLER COHORTS. THE FELLOWSHIP TRAINED 14 CLER ALUMNAE TO SERVE AS CIVIC COACHES, PROVIDING PEER MENTORSHIP, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT TO FUTURE PARTICIPANTS WHILE HELPING THE PROGRAM SCALE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE PERSONALIZED SUPPORT THAT DRIVES PARTICIPANT SUCCESS.Expenses $498,766
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 47-2843650
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2015
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Social science (V20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,575,975
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,566,182
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $3,566,182 | $3,089,215 | $1,575,975 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,855,244 | $2,281,267 | $1,094,451 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $2,323,914 | $2,464,522 | $634,252 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,135,968 | $2,033,696 | $640,499 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.
Questions about THE POLICY CIRCLE CO
- What is the EIN of THE POLICY CIRCLE CO?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE POLICY CIRCLE CO is 47-2843650.
- Is THE POLICY CIRCLE CO tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
- Are donations to THE POLICY CIRCLE CO tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE POLICY CIRCLE CO file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE POLICY CIRCLE CO due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE POLICY CIRCLE CO last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE POLICY CIRCLE CO?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names REBECCA PAINTER.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE POLICY CIRCLE CO?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $180,000 (KRISTY KUNA, CHIEF STRATEGY & OPERATION).
- How much revenue does THE POLICY CIRCLE CO have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $3,566,182, expenses of $3,089,215 and total assets of $1,575,975 at year end.
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