Landmarks Illinois

Name

Landmarks Illinois

Legal name

Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois

Website

https://landmarks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Advocacy

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

Keywords

• Historic preservation advocacy
• Preservation grant programs
• Low-interest preservation loans
• Preservation resource directory
• Endangered historic places

Headquarters

HQ city

Michigan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Membership-based organization with 2,500 members who pay annual dues to support the organization's preservation work statewide
2. Grants and Philanthropy: Receives grants from foundations such as the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation ($1 million grant received in 2023) and administers grant programs for community preservation projects
3. Donations: Individual and corporate donations support the organization's mission-driven work

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as Illinois' leading voice for historic preservation. It delivers advocacy, technical assistance, grant funding, low-interest preservation loans, preservation easements, awards, and educational resources (e.g., the Most Endangered Historic Places list, the Relevancy Guidebook, Illinois Restoration Resource Directory) to communities, building owners, and stakeholders statewide.

Product overview

Landmarks Illinois is a membership-based nonprofit organization that serves as the state's leading voice for historic preservation. Rather than offering a unified tech platform, the organization provides a portfolio of advocacy programs, grant funding, technical resources, and educational tools. Core offerings include the annual Most Endangered Historic Places list (since 1995), the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards, the Reinvestment Program (low-interest loans for preservation), Preservation Easements, and grant programs. Additional resources include the Illinois Restoration Resource Directory, The Relevancy Guidebook (a toolkit for inclusive preservation), surveys and databases, and The Arch newsletter. The organization also hosts events including the Legendary Landmarks Celebration gala and serves as local partner for Congreso (Latinx Heritage Leadership Summit).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois Annual advocacy program identifying and raising awareness about culturally and architecturally significant Illinois sites facing threats of deterioration, demolition, or disinvestment; the organization's largest and longest-running program.
• Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence in historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse projects throughout Illinois.
• Landmarks Illinois Reinvestment Program Low-interest loan program offering flexible, below-market interest loans to support historic preservation projects and community revitalization in Illinois.
• Preservation Easements Program enabling property owners to protect historic properties through legal easements that preserve their significant features in perpetuity.
• Landmarks Illinois Grants Grant funding programs (Preservation Heritage Fund; Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois) providing seed funding for community-led preservation efforts targeting culturally and historically significant buildings at risk.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saved countless architectural and historic treasures throughout the state over 40+ years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2026Landmarks Illinois is serving as the local partner for Congreso 2026: Latinx Heritage Leadership Summit, a national gathering held every two years. LHC is the national leader in protecting Latinx heritage and works to strengthen education, conservation and leadership development across the country.
• Village of Brooklyn, IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Landmarks Illinois and the Village of Brooklyn, Illinois are hosting a Route 66 Centennial event to dedicate and install signage officially recognizing Brooklyn as part of the historic highway's legacy. The event celebrates America's oldest Black-incorporated town through sign dedication, self-guided tours, and newly curated history exhibits.
• St. Clair County Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Partnered with Landmarks Illinois and the Village of Brooklyn to develop newly curated history exhibits for the Route 66 Centennial Event celebrating Brooklyn's historic significance.
• Illinois State Archaeological SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Partnered with Landmarks Illinois to develop newly curated history exhibits for the Route 66 Centennial Event at Brooklyn, Illinois.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The U.S. national nonprofit for historic preservation, with a far larger budget and nationwide reach. Comparable to Landmarks Illinois in mission and programmatic structure (advocacy, endangered places lists, grants, awards) but operating at national scale rather than a single state.

Direct peers

• Preservation League of New York State: A statewide nonprofit preservation advocacy organization for New York, offering advocacy, technical assistance, and an endangered properties program. This is the closest structural peer to Landmarks Illinois — a state-level nonprofit with similar programmatic offerings and revenue mix.
• California Preservation Foundation: Statewide preservation nonprofit for California, providing advocacy, education, and recognition programs. Comparable in mission and state-level scope to Landmarks Illinois, though operating in a higher-cost media market.
• New York Landmarks Conservancy: A nonprofit providing technical and financial assistance, including a revolving loan fund, for preservation projects in New York. The Reinvestment Program model at Landmarks Illinois most closely resembles the Conservancy's loan fund structure.
• Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia: Regional preservation nonprofit serving the greater Philadelphia area with advocacy, technical assistance, and grants. Comparable as a regional/state-scale advocacy nonprofit with similar member-based structure.

Emerging players

• Partners for Sacred Places: National nonprofit focused on preservation of historic religious properties, providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy. Comparable in grant and technical-assistance offerings, though narrower in scope (religious properties only).
• Latinos in Heritage Conservation: National organization protecting Latinx heritage sites, partnering with Landmarks Illinois on Congreso 2026. Comparable in mission focus on equity and inclusive preservation but operating at national scale and narrower ethnic scope.

Others

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: U.S. federal independent agency advising on preservation policy. Not a peer in the traditional sense but adjacent — influences the federal policy and regulatory environment in which Landmarks Illinois operates.
• Illinois State Historic Preservation Office: State government entity administering National Register nominations, surveys, and federal preservation incentives in Illinois. Complements rather than competes with Landmarks Illinois — together they form the state's preservation ecosystem.
• Richard H. Driehaus Foundation: Major Chicago-based foundation funding preservation, the built environment, and traditional building arts. Direct funder of Landmarks Illinois ($1M grant in 2023) and a strategic partner whose priorities materially shape LI's program design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/landmarksill
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIcpR1hAOtveLC8K5W86Otg
• Facebookfacebook.com/landmarksill
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landmarksillinois
• Instagraminstagram.com/landmarksillinois

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments5 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Landmarks Illinois