Aspire Chicago

Name

Aspire Chicago

Legal name

Aspire

Website

https://aspirechicago.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Support

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Community residential housing
• Employment job training
• Behavioral therapy services
• Developmental disabilities support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Government funding including grants and public programs. Comprises 76.5% of total revenue. Includes the $9.2 million RSA grant for the Employment Training Program.
2. Fundraising and Donations: Individual donations, corporate giving, gift matching, monthly giving, legacy giving, and donor-advised fund contributions. Comprises 12.2% of total revenue.
3. Private Pay: Fees from private individuals paying for services. Comprises 7.5% of total revenue.
4. Social Enterprises: Revenue from Aspire CoffeeWorks (craft coffee roasted and packaged by adults with disabilities working alongside Metropolis Coffee Company employees) and Aspire Art360 (artwork sales by artists with disabilities). Comprises 3.8% of total revenue with 100% of proceeds supporting Aspire's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Aspire Chicago provides disability services across three pillars: Living (Community Homes), Learning (Life Enrichment, Behavioral Therapy, Life Skills Coaching), and Working (Job Support, Job Training, Employment Training Program: Distribution). The organization also operates social enterprises (Aspire CoffeeWorks with Metropolis Coffee Company and Aspire Art) that provide employment opportunities for adults with disabilities while generating earned revenue.

Product overview

Aspire Chicago is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of disability services organized around three pillars: Living (Community Homes), Learning (Life Enrichment, Behavioral Therapy, Life Skills Coaching), and Working (Job Support, Job Training, Employment Training Program: Distribution). The organization operates social enterprises including Aspire CoffeeWorks and Aspire Art (Art360), which provide employment opportunities while generating revenue for the mission. Programs are delivered through dedicated facilities including the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Career Academy, Academy North, and Academy South. The flagship Employment Training Program: Distribution, launched in 2025 with a $9.2M federal grant, provides warehouse and distribution industry training with guaranteed paid internships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aspire CoffeeWorks: Social enterprise coffee roasting and sales operation where adults with disabilities work side by side with employees at Metropolis Coffee Company to roast, package, and deliver craft coffee nationwide.
• Aspire Art
• Aspire Social Club

Products and services

• Community Homes Accessible community housing in Cook and Lake Counties for people with disabilities, featuring fewer residents than traditional group homes, personal growth opportunities, and shared responsibility in a home-like setting.
• Life Enrichment Daytime academy programs offering engaging activities including dance team, choir, Special Olympics, volunteering, arts, gardening, and community involvement for adults with disabilities at multiple Chicagoland locations.
• Behavioral Therapy Applied behavior analysis services using behavior therapists and board-certified behavior analysts to help people build skills, create routines, and improve social interactions and relationship maintenance.
• Life Skills Coaching One-on-one personalized coaching for independence, covering life skills, health and wellness, transportation, budgeting, time management, social skills, and community connections for people with disabilities.
• Job Support (Career Support) Career placement services connecting people with disabilities to competitive job opportunities, including career exploration, resume support, application practice, interview training, and ongoing coaching.
• Job Training In-person academy-based job training focusing on hands-on and soft work skills, career interests, fitness, and strength across multiple industries including food service, hospitality, healthcare, IT, office management, retail, warehouse, and commercial laundry.
• Employment Training Program: Distribution A 10-week employment training program for people with disabilities in the warehouse and distribution industry, including 3 days onsite at the Weinberg Career Academy and 1 day at partner distribution centers, followed by a guaranteed 8-week paid internship. Funded by a $9.2 million federal grant.
• Aspire CoffeeWorks Social enterprise coffee roasting operation partnering with Metropolis Coffee Company where adults with disabilities work alongside coffee roasters to create craft coffee sold nationwide, with 100% of proceeds supporting Aspire's mission.
• Aspire Art (Art360) Art program selling artwork created by artists with disabilities, with commissions from sales supporting Aspire's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of people who enter the Job Support program are placed into jobs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Van LinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 December 2025National Van Lines partnered with Aspire to deliver holiday gifts to individuals with disabilities in community homes. Employees and agents participated in donating and delivering presents during the holiday season.
• InfioscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 October 2025Infios, a global leader in intelligent supply chain execution, donated software to create Aspire's state-of-the-art simulated warehouse training environment as part of the $9.2M job training initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Parts TowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Parts Town is a key employment partner in Aspire's $9.2M Employment Training Program. They provided equipment and team member time to build Aspire's simulated warehouse environment and invested in the on-site training center. Parts Town has hired multiple Aspire graduates as full-time employees and participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Employment Training Program.
• WescocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Wesco is a major employment partner providing internships and full-time warehouse positions for Aspire trainees. They contributed equipment and team member time to establish Aspire's simulated warehouse training environment. Wesco VP Wilfred Rivera stated pride in partnering with Aspire to build a stronger, more inclusive workforce.
• KeHEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025KeHE provided financial support to help fund the build-out of Aspire's simulated warehouse training environment as part of the $9.2M Employment Training Program.
• HolmancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Holman is listed as a job-shadowing and internship partner in the Employment Training Program, providing real-world experience opportunities for Aspire trainees in the warehousing and distribution industry.
• Metropolis Coffee CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2009, Metropolis Coffee Company has partnered with Aspire to operate Aspire CoffeeWorks. Adults with disabilities work side-by-side with Metropolis employees to roast, package, and deliver craft coffee nationwide, with 100% of proceeds supporting Aspire's mission.
• DisneycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDisney partnered with Aspire to promote workplace inclusion, with Aspire appearing on Good Morning America to share their mission with over 3 million viewers nationwide.
• National Gift Annuity FoundationminorOthersNational Gift Annuity Foundation has established a strategic partnership with Aspire to provide unique expertise for creating estate gift options that align with personal and philanthropic goals.
• Charitable Giving Resource CenterminorOthersCharitable Giving Resource Center partners with Aspire to help donors with estate planning and charitable giving strategies that support Aspire's mission.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aspireorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnHpxrJqHmq8plFvJ6Y3RQA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AspireChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aspire-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/aspirechicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aspire Chicago