What Chinese Mutual Aid Association does

Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that provides wraparound social services to low-income immigrants and refugees across the Chicagoland area, including Elgin. Its core service portfolio spans Adult Education (ESL and literacy for 300+ learners), Citizenship and Immigration legal support, Employment Services/Workforce Development, In-Home Services for elderly and disabled clients (via nearly 300 homecare aides), multilingual Social Services in five languages (English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Burmese), Youth Programs (Young Women Warriors and Young Men Making Moves mentorship), a Golden Age Club for seniors, and an Economic Development Center for small business support.

The organization's underlying delivery infrastructure is conventional nonprofit service provision — physical offices, multilingual staff, and community-based outreach — supplemented by virtual services (Zoom citizenship classes) and a fee-based sub-brand, Tiger Tutor, offering SAT/ACT test preparation. CMAA does not operate proprietary technology platforms, mobile applications, or AI-driven tooling; its competitive position rests on place-based multilingual capacity and long-tenured community trust.

CMAA's revenue model is a hybrid typical of community-based nonprofits: the vast majority of services are free to clients and funded by a diversified mix of government grants (Chicago Department of Family & Support Services, federal Community Development Block Program, Illinois DCEO), foundation and corporate grants (Asian Giving Circle/Chicago Community Trust, Julian Grace Foundation, Discover/APAD, McDonald's AMOA, BCBSIL, Fifth Third Bank, Wintrust, American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, United Way), individual donations via the GiveLively platform, and modest fee revenue from Tiger Tutor and merchandise. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Dennis Mondero, with 101-250 employees operating across four Chicago-area locations, including a recently opened West Ridge Office as of December 2024.

Name

Chinese Mutual Aid Association

Legal name

Chinese Mutual Aid Association Inc.

Website

https://chinesemutualaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chinese Mutual Aid Association is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 that provides ESL, citizenship, workforce development, in-home care, and youth services to low-income immigrants and refugees across five languages in the Chicagoland area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Refugee Social Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Citizenship Test Preparation (Civics & Interview) (EDAAADAA), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved) (EDAAABAI), Family & School System Navigation (Parent Engagement, Youth Services) (EDAAADAH)

Keywords

• Immigrant social services
• Adult ESL education
• Citizenship immigration assistance
• Workforce development programs
• In-home elderly care

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Contracts: CMAA receives federal, state, and local government funding including support from the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services and Community Development Block Program to fund workforce development and social service programs.
2. Foundation & Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations such as the Julian Grace Foundation, Discover's Brighter Futures Fund, Asian Giving Circle, and corporate sponsors for specific programs including youth mentorship, workforce development, and community events.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting CMAA's mission to serve immigrants and refugees, facilitated through online donation platforms.
4. Fee-Based Services (Tiger Tutor): Tiger Tutor provides fee-based SAT and ACT test preparation services, generating modest revenue through tutoring classes and individual sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CMAA provides free, multilingual community-based services to low-income immigrants and refugees across Chicagoland, including adult ESL education, citizenship and immigration legal support, workforce development and job placement, in-home care for elderly and disabled clients, multilingual social services, youth mentorship programs, senior support, and small business development. The fee-based Tiger Tutor SAT/ACT test preparation offering is the only direct paid service; all other core services are funded by grants and donations and delivered free of charge to clients.

Product overview

Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA) offers a comprehensive portfolio of social services for immigrants and refugees in Chicagoland. The organization provides a unified platform of interconnected programs including Adult Education (ESL and literacy), Citizenship & Immigration services, Employment Services/Workforce Development, In-Home Services (elderly/disabled care), Social Services (multilingual support), Youth Programs (mentorship including YWW and YMM), Golden Age Club (senior services), and an Economic Development Center (small business support). Additional offerings include the Tiger Tutor test preparation sub-brand, the annual Dim Sum & Then Some 5K fundraising event, newsletters, and merchandise. The organization has served over 1.3 million people over 40 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Women Warriors (YWW): Mentorship program for young women aged 12-18
• Young Men Making Moves (YMMM)
• Tiger Tutor
• Dim Sum & Then Some 5K

Products and services

• Adult Education Free ESL and adult literacy programs with volunteer tutor matching, serving over 300 adults learning English, designed to help immigrants gain English proficiency for daily life, employment, and citizenship.
• Citizenship & Immigration Free immigration legal support including naturalization assistance, green card renewal, citizenship exam preparation (with Zoom-based citizenship classes), and fee waiver support for low-income immigrant clients.
• Employment Services / Workforce Development Free job placement assistance including resume building, interview coaching, individualized career counseling, and post-employment support for adult job seekers, including those with limited English proficiency. Reported outcomes include 52 clients hired annually and a $21.14 average starting wage for placed clients.
• In-Home Services Free homecare services for elderly and disabled individuals, providing basic needs assistance such as bathing and meal preparation, delivered by nearly 300 CMAA homecare aides through the Community Care Program with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois support.
• Social Services Free multilingual social services supporting immigrant families in English, Burmese, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, including benefits assistance, case management, and referrals to community resources.
• Youth Programs Free youth mentorship and after-school programs including Young Women Warriors (YWW) for ages 12-18 and Young Men Making Moves (YMM) for ages 12-18, plus K-8 after-school programs, serving middle school, high school, and college students from immigrant families.
• Golden Age Club Free senior services program providing support and community engagement activities for elderly immigrants in Chicago.
• Economic Development Center Free small business development support and economic empowerment services for immigrant entrepreneurs, including access to capital facilitated through partnerships such as Fifth Third Bank.
• Tiger Tutor Fee-based SAT and ACT test preparation service providing individual tutoring and small group classes, with 5 full scholarships available annually for qualifying students from non-selective enrollment CPS schools in specific zip codes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.3 million people served since 1981
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asian Professionals at Discover (APAD)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscover's APAD ERG has over 1,500 employee members across six chapters. Through Discover's Brighter Futures Fund, APAD made a large contribution to CMAA's Workforce Development program. APAD supports cultural events including South Asian Celebration and Lunar New Year.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBCBSIL has been an instrumental partner administering the Community Care Program, wherein nearly 300 CMAA homecare aides provide in-home services to elderly and disabled. BCBSIL employees also volunteer their time and resources to support CMAA.
• Asian McDonald's Operator AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAMOA supported CMAA's Galas, sponsored the Dim Sum 5K Race, and nominated CMAA for the McDonald's Corporate Chicago Community Impact Fund resulting in $50,000 grant for youth programs. AMOA also helped CMAA purchase its first van for client transportation.
• Fifth Third BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFifth Third Bank has supported CMAA with corporate sponsorships, pandemic grants, and Giving Tuesday donations. Currently helping CMAA's SBDC clients access capital and obtain financing.
• First Midwest BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Midwest Bank has been a community partner supporting CMAA's mission through corporate sponsorships and community engagement.
• Viceroy Hotel ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerViceroy Chicago partnered with CMAA's Workforce Program to meet hospitality hiring needs, with CMAA providing qualified candidates who exemplify the hotel's 'We Are Hosts First and Always' ideology.
• Chinatown Parking CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished 1984, Chinatown Parking Corp partners with the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce to distribute parking lot proceeds back to the community, supporting organizations like CMAA.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGCFD is part of a network of 700+ food pantries and programs addressing food insecurity. CMAA receives food assistance support for clients through this partnership.
• The Buddhist Temple of ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of Chicago's oldest Buddhist temples, BTC welcomes diverse membership and supports CMAA's community mission.
• Lao American Organization of ElginminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMAA launched an ESL program in partnership with Lao American Organization of Elgin, with coverage in the Daily Herald newspaper.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Casa Central: Large Chicago Latino immigrant-services nonprofit offering wraparound programs across youth, adult education, workforce, and senior care — comparable scale and full-lifecycle model serving a different immigrant community.
• Indo-American Center: Chicago nonprofit serving South Asian immigrants with ESL, citizenship, workforce, youth, and senior services — explicitly collaborating with CMAA on the Pan Asian Center development, indicating direct comparability.
• Japanese American Service Committee (JASC): Chicago-based AAPI nonprofit offering senior services, ESL, citizenship support, and youth programs — closely comparable wraparound model with a different ethnic-community focus.
• Hana Center: Korean American immigrant-services nonprofit in Chicago providing ESL, citizenship, advocacy, and youth programming — directly comparable Asian-American community-services peer in the same geography.
• Chinese American Service League (CASL): Chicago-based AAPI-serving nonprofit offering comparable wraparound services including ESL, citizenship, workforce, youth, and senior care to the Chinese American community — the closest functional peer to CMAA.
• RefugeeOne: Chicago refugee resettlement agency providing reception, ESL, employment, and case management to newly arrived refugees — directly comparable refugee-services mission with similar funding profile.
• Apna Ghar: Chicago-based immigrant-services nonprofit focused on South Asian and other immigrant women and families, co-developing the Pan Asian Center with CMAA and Indo-American Center.
• Asian Human Services: Chicago-area AAPI-focused nonprofit delivering family services, ESL, workforce development, behavioral health, and youth programs — directly comparable service portfolio and demographic focus.

Emerging players

• Center for Refugee Services: Chicago-area refugee-serving nonprofit providing case management and integration services — overlapping mission in refugee resettlement and integration support.

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Major Chicago-based human-services organization with significant refugee resettlement, immigrant legal services, and workforce programming — broader portfolio but overlapping refugee/immigrant service lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmaachicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmaachicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmaachicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chinese-mutual-aid-assocaiton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chinese Mutual Aid Association