Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet

What Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet does

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is a faith-based nonprofit charitable organization (Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Inc.), founded in 1962 and headquartered in Crest Hill, Illinois. It delivers 33 distinct service programs across seven counties in northeastern Illinois (Will, Kankakee, Grundy, Ford, Iroquois, Kendall, and DuPage), serving low-income individuals and families, older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities (18+), and children from birth through age five. Core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start (operating five centers across Joliet, Bolingbrook, and Rockdale), aging and disability services (Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent, Friendly Visiting, Senior Health Insurance Program, transportation, nutrition, Adult Protective Services, care coordination), counseling, mobile food pantries, the Doula Program, and housing services (transitional, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive, plus the 24/7/365 Daybreak Center emergency shelter and Kathy Paulsen Hope House in DuPage County).

The organization operates without proprietary technology infrastructure; its stack consists of a WordPress website, Paylocity recruiting, and standard productivity tools. Distribution is hybrid: fixed facility-based delivery at nine named sites, mobile food pantry distribution across the region, in-home and community-based services, and a small layer of virtual groups (Healthy Relationships for Youth, Kindred Spirits, prenatal classes). Revenue is not fee-based — clients receive services at no charge — and is instead funded through government grants and contracts (notably U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Head Start grant 05CH013019, Illinois Department on Aging, AmeriCorps), institutional philanthropy (United Way, AgeGuide, DuPage Foundation), individual donations and planned giving (including an anonymous matching Angel Appeal up to $50,000), and in-kind volunteer contributions (some stipended through AmeriCorps Senior Corps).

Operationally, the organization runs with 251-500 employees under the governance of a Board of Directors within the Catholic Diocese of Joliet structure. Notable strategic activity includes the expansion of housing services into DuPage County via Kathy Paulsen Hope House, the launch of the Doula Program and prenatal offerings in Will County, and an Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship partnership with Joliet Junior College funded by a $194,270 grant covering October 2025 through June 2027 (55 apprentices, 40 pre-apprentices) to address post-COVID early childhood educator shortages. The go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth, parish and school referrals, social-service agency partnerships, and dedicated recruitment events for Head Start enrollment.

Name

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet

Legal name

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Inc.

Website

https://catholiccharitiesjoliet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is a faith-based nonprofit providing 33 social-service programs — Head Start early childhood education, senior and disability services, counseling, mobile food pantries, doula/prenatal care, and emergency housing — across seven northeastern Illinois counties for low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and young children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Early childhood education
• Homeless shelter services
• Senior care programs
• Community counseling support

Headquarters

HQ city

Crest Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Contracts: Catholic Charities receives federal and state grant funding, notably from the Office of Head Start (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), Illinois Department on Aging, and AmeriCorps to fund specific programs including Head Start, Early Head Start, Senior Companion, and Foster Grandparent programs.
2. Donations & Fundraising: The organization raises funds through direct donations, planned giving, event-based fundraising (e.g., annual golf outing), and matching donation appeals. No fee is charged for most services provided to clients.
3. Volunteer Contributions: Catholic Charities leverages volunteer labor across programs including Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent, Friendly Visiting, and Shepherd's Table meal services. Volunteers receive stipends in some programs (e.g., income-eligible Senior Companion volunteers), while others serve without compensation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is a faith-based nonprofit organization that delivers comprehensive social services across seven northeastern Illinois counties. Its core offerings include federal early childhood education programs (Head Start and Early Head Start), emergency housing and homeless sheltering, mobile and on-site food pantries, senior and disability support services, mental health counseling, housing programs (transitional, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive), and volunteer-based companion programs for isolated older adults. Services are provided free of charge to eligible clients and funded through federal/state grants, charitable donations, and volunteer labor.

Product overview

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is a faith-based social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community programs rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include early childhood education programs (Head Start, Early Head Start, Home Based Head Start, and Expectant Mothers Initiative), community services (food pantries, emergency assistance), aging and disability services (care coordination, senior nutrition, transportation), mental health counseling, housing programs (transitional, rapid rehousing, emergency shelter), and volunteer-based companion programs. The organization serves multiple counties (Will, Grundy, Kankakee, DuPage, Kendall, Iroquois, Ford) across the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois, primarily funded through federal grants (including Head Start), state programs, and charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start / Early Head Start Federal early childhood education programs serving children from birth to age five from low-income families, offering educational activities, medical and dental care, healthy meals, safe play environments, and family support services.
• Community Services Provides case management, educational and employment support, financial assistance for basic needs, and food pantry access to individuals and families in need.
• Aging & Disability Services Support services including counseling, information assistance, care coordination, crisis intervention, and volunteer opportunities for older adults and people (18+) with disabilities, as well as caregiver programming.
• Counseling Services Professional outpatient mental health counseling offering individual therapy, family counseling, couples therapy, group therapy, and specialized services like anger management and prevention programs.
• Mobile Food Pantries Drive-through food distribution bringing free healthy food directly to communities throughout the Diocese of Joliet, providing convenient food access to families and individuals facing food insecurity.
• Doula Program Birth support and childbirth education services in Will County, providing expectant mothers with certified lactation counselors and prenatal classes.
• Expectant Mothers Initiative Program providing information and services for women in Will County who are expecting, including health and educational support for pregnant women.
• Housing Programs Includes transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and emergency shelter services (Daybreak Center) to help families build self-sufficiency.
• Daybreak Center Emergency housing and supportive services facility operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing shelter to homeless individuals and families, located at 611 E. Cass Street, Joliet, IL.
• Senior Transportation Program Provides safe, free rides to help older adults (age 60+) get to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, senior centers, and social activities.
• Senior Nutrition Program Provides home-delivered meals for homebound seniors and community dining programs offering healthy meals in safe, welcoming locations throughout the community.
• Shepherd's Table Free daily midday meals for hungry individuals, also operating as an emergency warming and cooling center during extreme weather conditions.
• Adult Protective Services Provides trained professionals to help determine services needed to stop neglect and abuse for vulnerable adults in Grundy, Kankakee, Ford, and Iroquois Counties.
• Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN) Information and assistance program providing linkage to services and benefits available to older adults and persons with disabilities in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.
• Friendly Visiting Program Connects older adults with volunteers through weekly telephone conversations that foster connection and reduce isolation in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.
• Senior Companion Program Volunteer program for adults age 55+ providing friendly visits to socially isolated homebound peers, with income-eligible volunteers receiving stipends and mileage reimbursement.
• Foster Grandparent Program Volunteer program allowing adults 55+ to make a positive difference in the lives of children in schools throughout Will County.
• Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Free Medicare counseling program providing personalized assistance with health insurance questions, run by state-trained counselors in Will, Kankakee, and Grundy Counties.
• Senior Care Coordination Case management services offering frail older adults and their families assistance in assessing care needs and coordinating services in Kankakee County.
• Kathy Paulsen Hope House Housing and supportive services facility in DuPage County for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
• Memory Café Supportive gatherings for individuals living with memory changes and their caregivers, providing a relaxed environment to connect and build community in Grundy County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 distinct programs delivered across 7 counties in northeastern Illinois

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Joliet Junior CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoliet Junior College expanded its Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program through a partnership with Catholic Charities' Head Start program, allowing students to work as mentors while attending classes. The program addresses teacher shortages that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. A grant of $194,270 was awarded to serve 55 apprentices and 40 pre-apprentices from October 2025 through June 2027.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Food bank serving the same 13-county northeastern Illinois region, sourcing and distributing food to partner pantries including those operated by Catholic Charities. Key supplier/partner relationship in mobile food pantry operations.
• Community Action Agency of Will County (now Cornerstone Services): Regional Community Action Agency serving low-income populations in the same Will County geography with case management, housing, and early childhood services. Competes directly for Community Services Block Grant and similar public funding.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella network for Catholic Charities agencies. Provides centralized disaster response, advocacy, and shared best practices while member agencies like Joliet retain local operational autonomy.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Regional food bank serving the same northeastern Illinois geography. Functions as a wholesale supplier and partner to Catholic Charities' mobile food pantry program, while also distributing food directly through partner pantries.
• Salvation Army (Metropolitan Division): National faith-based social services organization operating emergency shelters, food programs, senior services, and disaster response. Competes for similar donor funding and government grants across overlapping service categories in Illinois.

Direct peers

• PADS of Will County (now Hesed House): Local emergency shelter and social services provider based in Aurora, serving overlapping Will/Kane/DuPage County homeless populations. Directly competes for emergency shelter funding and homeless service contracts.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Direct peer operating as a Catholic-affiliated social services nonprofit in the greater Chicago region. Offers Head Start, senior services, housing, food assistance, and counseling — highly comparable service mix and target populations in an adjacent Illinois territory.
• United Way of Will County: Local United Way affiliate operating in the same Will County service area, distributing funds to social services programs and partnering with many of the same agencies. Functions as both a funder of and competitor for community charitable dollars in the region.
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois: Faith-based statewide nonprofit providing senior services, counseling, foster care, and Head Start-like programs in Illinois. Direct competitor for state aging contracts and federal early childhood grants.
• Volunteers of America Illinois: National faith-affiliated nonprofit with Illinois operations providing senior services, housing, and Head Start programming. Directly competes for the same federal, state, and county grant funding streams.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ccjoliet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-diocese-of-joliet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet