(The Center Square) – A local nonprofit CEO says controls are in place for proper use of taxpayer dollars and she has never felt political pressure connected with Illinois budget appropriations, even in a state known for pay-to-play politics.
The fiscal year 2026 Illinois state budget includes two line items totaling $1 million for United Way of Rock River Valley.
The organization’s president and CEO, Julie Bosma, said she wasn’t aware that state funds had been allotted to her organization this year.
“I didn’t know we got some. We have been distributing some, unless this is kind of leftovers. We were contacted by [state] Sen. [Steve] Stadelman, pre-COVID, to help distribute dollars, and so we’ve been doing that for quite a while now,” Bosma told The Center Square.
Bosma said the line item might be a rollover of unused funds from last year’s budget. She said United Way of Rock River Valley received Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grants in 2020 and 2021.
“Things like the Rockford museum center, where the Discovery Center is, they needed roof repairs. I think there was HVAC. The YWCA needed help with a parking lot resurfacing. It’s gone to veterans centers, to overnight missions facilities, so really to a lot of different organizations that we vet out in the community,” Bosma said.
In addition to United Way’s internal controls, Bosma said the state requires compliance to ensure monies are distributed properly.
“Yes, correct, so there’s a lot of hoops that we have to jump through. When you’re talking about capital grants, because it has to be approved, there have to be architectural renderings, there has to be all of the requirements for any capital grant through the state. There’s a lot of responsibility on our part to make sure that all of that happens, that all of the paperwork is in alignment,” Bosma said.
Bosma said Stadelman, D-Rockford, also helped secure taxpayer-provided operating funds for nonprofit groups.
“This past year, he secured some initiative money for operating for nonprofits, and so we’ve been doing that as well. We’ve been kind of that watchdog, so to speak, and that distributor of money,” Bosma explained. “It’s my taxpayer dollars, too. I don’t want them just going anywhere. Our organization takes it very seriously. Does everybody? I don’t know. I would hope so, but I know we do.”
Bosma said she has not been pressured to support politicians who secure funding for the United Way.
“That’s a really interesting question. I’ve never been asked that. I will say, unequivocally, no, I have never felt that pressure from any of them. When it’s voting time or anything, I’ve never gotten a call that said, ‘Hey, don’t forget that we helped you out,’” Bosma said.
Bosma said she never experienced quid pro quo or pressure by lawmakers from any party during more than 30 years of working in nonprofits.
United Way of Will County is slated to receive $500,000 in the current state budget. At the time of publication, United Way of Will County’s president and CEO had not responded to requests for comment.
Hundreds of other organizations, including several local United Way affiliates, have received funding from state taxpayers.
The Illinois Department of Human Services awarded 2025 Healing Illinois grants for racial healing activities to well over 100 organizations, including United Way of Champaign County, United Way of Central Illinois, United Way of Greater McHenry County, United Way of Northwest Illinois, United Way of Rock River Valley and United Way of South Central Illinois.
