773-929-3030
Who We Are
The Vander Weele Group specializes in oversight of large-scale Federal and state grants programs.
We offer traditional grants monitoring, but are passionate about making grants oversight meaningful and mission-based: focusing oversight on enhancing major government programs and improving conditions that affect at-risk populations. We offer fiscal and programmatic monitoring, grant compliance programs, data analytics to detect fraud, forensic audits, and investigative intelligence.
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By engaging the Vander Weele Group, our clients:
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Benefit from deep expertise in Federal grants programs.
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Add capacity to increase federally mandated site visits to grantees.
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Retool grants management and oversight through customized training, business process improvements, and technical tools.
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Learn from fresh perspectives based on national trends.
Notably:
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The Vander Weele Group serves as Integrity Monitor for five large-scale infrastructure projects totaling $551.8 million.
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We serve as Integrity Monitor for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in its oversight of $180 million in grant funds designated to improve air quality and energy performance.
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The State of New Jersey selected our firm to document processes and build a monitoring program for more than $6 billion in Federal grants provided to more than 100 programs.
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In Illinois, we have monitored more than $5.3 billion in COVID relief funding.
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Nine New Jersey agencies have engaged our firm as an Integrity Monitor or grants consultant for 15 engagements, making us one of the most active integrity monitors among eight pre-qualified vendors.
Our History
The Vander Weele Group was founded in 2003 by Maribeth Vander Weele, a former member of the Chicago Public Schools management team, a former Inspector General overseeing a $3.6 billion construction program, and a recognized leader in education reform.
The firm initially provided oversight and investigative services to a diverse clientele, including government agencies, Fortune 500 and mid-level manufacturers, law and financial firms, and even the Government of Indonesia.
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In 2006, the Vander Weele Group designed and executed a Safe Schools programs for the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
In 2011, it developed a nationally recognized grants monitoring program for the BIE, focused on programmatic and fiscal compliance in 183 Native American schools.
In 2018, the firm narrowed its vision to specialize exclusively on grants oversight with an emphasis on grants monitoring. We recruited experienced grant professionals, developed comprehensive training programs for both internal staff and client capacity-building, and built a robust grants management knowledge base.
This strategic shift, along with key leadership additions, facilitated a cultural transformation and fueled significant growth.
Our Competitive Edge
Why Choose the Vander Weele Group?
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We Know the Law.​​ ​Our success depends on deep analysis and current knowledge of federal and state regulatory guidance.
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We're Experts in the Fields We Serve.​​ We hire skilled professionals with firsthand experience in the fields they cover.
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We're Impartial.​​ As outsider observers, we’re incentivized to provide you with only objective, defensible, meaningful information.
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We Take a Comprehensive Approach.​​ Unlike auditing firms, we're more than just accountants. We draw on expertise from multiple professions to ensure robust performance and offer the full spectrum of oversight services.
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We Make Monitoring Meaningful.​​ We believe that oversight should not be punitive, but a meaningful process that improves both program compliance AND quality.
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Our Philosophy:
Meaningful Monitoring
At the Vander Weele Group, our work is guided by a philosophy we call Meaningful Monitoring.
It's a mindset, a skill set, and a strategic approach to grants monitoring that:
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Systematizes compliance processes so leadership can focus on what’s important.
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Identifies program improvements rooted in practitioners’ perspectives.
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Reveals obstacles to success not easily captured by quantitative data alone.
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Promotes technical assistance, grantee training, and non-punitive plans for improvement.*
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Captures and shares best practices, successful strategies, and resources.
*Except in cases of fraud, waste, and abuse or other violations of federal and state law.
Visit our Meaningful Monitoring page to learn more about our philosophy.
Codes and Certifications
GSA
GSA Schedule number: GS-00F-073DA
NAICS Codes
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541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
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561611 Investigation Services
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541219 Other Accounting Services
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541211 Offices of Certified Public Accountants
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541618 Other Management Consulting Services
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541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
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624230 Emergency and Other Relief Services
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611710 Educational Support Services
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561499 All Other Business Support Services
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611430 Professional and Management Development Training
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541199 All Other Legal Services
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541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Certifications
Federal
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Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) – SBA
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Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) – SBA
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Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) – SBA
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DUNS Number: 130389724
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CAGE Code: 3J2X5
State and Local
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Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) – City of Chicago
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Female Business Enterprise (FBE) – State of Illinois
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Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) – Chicago Transit Authority
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Business Enterprise Certification Program (BE BEP) - Illinois
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Certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE) - New Jersey
Corporate
Certified as a WBE by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Licenses
The Vander Weele Group is licensed as a private investigative agency in the State of Illinois. License Number:117-001231 / 118-000306