Better Government Association

What Better Government Association does

The Better Government Association (BGA) is an independent, non-partisan nonprofit government watchdog founded in 1923 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It operates two core divisions: the Illinois Answers Project, an investigative and solutions-focused journalism newsroom publishing in-depth reporting on Illinois government accountability, and BGA Policy, an advocacy division that conducts policy research, budget analysis, and reform campaigns. Together these divisions produce investigative articles, legislative analyses (e.g., Chicago FY2026 budget breakdown), pension research, and policy agendas targeting ethics reform, judicial transparency, and police accountability.

BGA distributes free civic-engagement tools through bettergov.org, including a Bill Tracker and Find My Legislator tool powered by a partnership with FastDemocracy, a Find My Alderperson lookup, FOIA and Open Meetings Act guides (including a 2025 body-camera FOIA guide), and a Pension Hub. Content is amplified via email newsletters, six social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, LinkedIn), and Creative Commons republishing by partner outlets. BGA leads the 12+ organization Court Transparency Coalition and serves as the Illinois affiliate of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, embedding it in the regional civic-ecosystem.

The organization has no proprietary technology products and no commercial pricing — it is funded through foundation grants (most notably a $10 million McCormick Foundation grant in November 2021 supporting the Illinois Solutions Partnership), individual donations, and fundraising events such as the BGA Annual Luncheon. Its 11–50 employees operate under President & CEO David Greising, with VP of Policy Bryan Zarou leading the advocacy division. BGA co-administers the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting, a 20+ year regional recognition program.

Name

Better Government Association

Legal name

Better Government Association

Website

https://bettergov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Better Government Association is a non-partisan, nonprofit government watchdog founded in 1923 in Chicago that combines investigative journalism (Illinois Answers Project) with policy advocacy (BGA Policy) and civic-engagement tools to advance transparency, accountability, and civic participation across Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Accountability Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy (BPAGAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH)

Keywords

• Government accountability
• Investigative journalism
• Civic engagement
• Policy advocacy
• FOIA assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: The organization receives major grant funding from foundations to support investigative journalism and policy programs. In November 2021, BGA announced a $10 million grant from the McCormick Foundation to expand investigative journalism and launch the Illinois Solutions Partnership.
2. Individual Donations and Fundraising: BGA raises funds from individual donors through its donation pages, annual events, and campaigns. The organization solicits contributions from supporters to power its accountability and transparency mission across Illinois.
3. Events and Sponsorships: The organization hosts annual events such as the BGA Annual Luncheon & Celebration and panel discussions, which serve both as community engagement and fundraising mechanisms. Sponsors and attendees support the organization through event participation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Better Government Association is a nonprofit government watchdog that produces investigative journalism through the Illinois Answers Project newsroom, conducts policy advocacy and reform work through BGA Policy, and provides civic empowerment resources via BGA OpenGov, including FOIA and Open Meetings Act guidance. It also operates legislative tracking tools (Bill Tracker, Find My Legislator) and leads the Court Transparency Coalition advocating to extend FOIA to the Illinois judicial branch.

Product overview

The Better Government Association operates two core divisions: the Illinois Answers Project newsroom delivering investigative journalism, and BGA Policy conducting advocacy and reform work. The organization provides citizen engagement tools including Bill Tracker and Find My Legislator (powered by FastDemocracy), along with OpenGov resources for FOIA and government transparency guidance. BGA Policy maintains specialized resources like the Pension Hub and leads the Court Transparency Coalition. Together, these products work to advance government transparency, accountability, and civic engagement across Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BGA Policy: Policy advocacy division focused on government accountability, transparency, and reform in Illinois.
• BGA OpenGov

Products and services

• Illinois Answers Project

Quantifiable outcome

• BGA conducted analysis of all 16 county juvenile detention centers in Illinois, finding that only 3 had completed mandated PREA audits, documenting systemic non-compliance with federal standards.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Freedom of Information CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGA OpenGov serves as the Illinois affiliate of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, a national organization dedicated to promoting public access to government information. This affiliation positions BGA within a broader network of transparency advocates.
• Court Transparency CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGA leads the Court Transparency Coalition, a coalition of 12+ Illinois civic organizations (including The Civic Federation, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago Justice Project, Illinois Justice Project, League of Women Voters of Illinois, Common Cause Illinois, Reform for Illinois, and Cabrini Green Legal Aid) committed to expanding FOIA to cover the judicial branch of Illinois government.
• Illinois Answers ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Illinois Answers Project is BGA's investigative and solutions-focused journalism newsroom, producing in-depth reporting on government accountability, civic issues, and public accountability in Illinois. It operates as part of BGA's integrated mission of journalism and policy advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ProPublica: ProPublica is a nonprofit investigative journalism organization producing accountability reporting, structurally similar to BGA's Illinois Answers Project. Both operate donor-funded newsrooms focused on government and institutional accountability, and ProPublica provides the national benchmark BGA's newsroom aspires to replicate at the state level.
• Center for Public Integrity: Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit investigative news organization that combines data-driven reporting with policy advocacy on government accountability. Its mission, revenue model (foundation + donor), and integrated journalism-plus-advocacy structure closely mirror BGA's combined Illinois Answers Project and BGA Policy approach.
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW): CREW is a nonpartisan government watchdog that conducts investigations and litigation targeting government officials. BGA plays an analogous role for Illinois state and Chicago municipal officials, including filing FOIA-related lawsuits and pushing ethics reform, making CREW the closest national peer.
• Common Cause: Common Cause is a nonpartisan civic accountability organization with state affiliates that advocate for government transparency, ethics, and reform. BGA's Court Transparency Coalition includes Common Cause Illinois, and the two share mission overlap on FOIA expansion, redistricting, and ethics enforcement.
• Sunlight Foundation: Sunlight Foundation is a nonprofit focused on government transparency, open data, and civic technology tools. Both organizations operate civic engagement platforms (BGA's Bill Tracker mirrors Sunlight's legislative tracking legacy) and push for expanded public-records access.
• OpenSecrets (Center for Responsive Politics): OpenSecrets tracks money in U.S. politics and provides transparency data on campaign finance and lobbying. While federal in scope, its nonprofit investigative model, public-records focus, and tool-driven civic engagement approach parallel BGA's Illinois-level transparency work.
• Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: RCFP provides legal support, FOIA resources, and advocacy for journalists' First Amendment and public-records rights. BGA's BGA OpenGov division delivers comparable FOIA guidance and assistance for Illinois reporters and citizens, operating as a state-level analog.
• Reform for Illinois: Reform for Illinois is an Illinois-based nonpartisan organization advocating for transparency, ethics, and campaign-finance reform. It is a direct peer in the same Illinois civic ecosystem and a named member of BGA's Court Transparency Coalition.

Regional players

• Illinois PIRG: Illinois PIRG is a statewide nonprofit consumer and government accountability advocacy organization. It shares BGA's Illinois focus and civic-advocacy model, but its scope extends to consumer issues beyond government accountability.
• Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts: Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts is an Illinois civic organization focused on judicial-branch accountability and fairness, and is a named member of BGA's Court Transparency Coalition. Both organizations advocate for expanding transparency over Illinois courts and share overlapping funder and constituent networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bettergov
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BGAIllinois
• Facebookfacebook.com/bettergov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/better-government-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/bettergov_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Better Government Association