Alive Center
Alive Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three free drop-in teen centers in Chicago's western suburbs — Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park — serving grades 5-12 through a proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven model of peer-led programming, tutoring, mentoring, and leadership, supplemented by grants, donations, and a 2025-launched social franchise arm.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersNaperville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Alive Center does
Alive Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a network of three physical teen drop-in centers in Chicago's western suburbs — Naperville (headquarters at 500 W Fifth Avenue), Aurora (inside New England Congregational Church), and Hanover Park (inside Greenbrook Tanglewood Community Center) — serving youth in grades 5-12. Founded in 2012 by Kandice Henning, the organization is differentiated by its proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven (TLTD) methodology, a registered trademark in which teens design, govern, and facilitate their own clubs, mentoring relationships, and community programs rather than receiving adult-directed instruction. Cumulative reach since founding is reported at 8,000+ unique teens impacted and 85,000+ visits.
The core service offering is free after-school and summer drop-in access across the three sites, supplemented by free K-12 tutoring, signature teen-initiated clubs (Junior High Mentoring, Girl Empowerment Club, STEM Exploration Club, Robotics, Excel Service Club, Media Team, "Alive Center with Pride"), intergenerational programs (Teen Tech Tutors and Senior Simulators VR), summer programs such as the Amatones Choir Camp, and signature fundraising/community events (e.g., Mardi Gras Gala, S.T.E.M. Exploration Day). Operational technology stack consists of Dash/RecDesk for centralized registration and check-in and vCRM for donor engagement; there is no proprietary AI/ML or platform technology.
The revenue model is donation-driven with a minor earned-revenue overlay. Funding sources include individual contributions (with a Donor Honor Roll for $1,000+ gifts and up to $100,000 in bequest/DAF dollar-for-dollar matching), foundation and corporate grants (DuPage Foundation, AT&T), modest program fees (e.g., $25 Amatones Choir Camp), and facility rentals. Adult services are tier-priced with financial aid. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the three physical centers, with go-to-market reliant on community/school partnerships, organic social media, email newsletter, and word-of-mouth referrals. In June 2025, Alive Center launched the Come Alive Institute, a social franchise model that licenses the TLTD methodology to new communities. The leadership team comprises a Founder/CEO (Kandice Henning, ex-Accenture/IBM), an Executive Director (Amanda McMillen, MSW, Allstate Nonprofit Leadership alum), a Director of Finance, a Director of Marketing & Development, a Grants Manager, location managers for each site, an Events Manager, and a Teen Program Lead.
Alive Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alive Center
- Legal name
- Alive Teen Center, NFP
- Website
- https://alivecenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Alive Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three free drop-in teen centers in Chicago's western suburbs — Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park — serving grades 5-12 through a proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven model of peer-led programming, tutoring, mentoring, and leadership, supplemented by grants, donations, and a 2025-launched social franchise arm.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alive Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Alive Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Naperville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Alive Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Individual Contributions: Individual donors contributing $1,000+ recognized on annual Donor Honor Roll. Bequest and donor-advised fund (DAF) gifts with dollar-for-dollar matching up to $100,000. Annual Giving Tuesday campaigns targeting $100,000.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Received $25,000 Community Impact Grant from DuPage Foundation. AT&T grants for Teen Tech Tutors program. DuPage Foundation grants for programs like Amatones Choir Camp.
- Program Fees: Free drop-in hours after school and during summer. Some paid programming including ATI Summer Programs, Amatones Choir Camp ($25). Adult services charged at cost with free/reduced options for underserved.
- Space Rentals: Facility rentals help fully utilize space while allowing community to support local teens.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Drop-In Services - After-school and summer drop-in hours at all three locations |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Amatones Choir Camp - Summer music program for youth ages 8-15 |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Adult Services - Meditation, dance, cooking, art classes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Alive Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alive Center operates free, supervised drop-in teen centers in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park, Illinois, providing after-school and summer programming for youth in grades 5th–12th, including mentoring, K-12 tutoring, clubs, life-skills classes, leadership opportunities, and signature events. Programming is delivered through the proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven (TLTD) Teen Initiate model and supplemented by initiatives such as Teen Tech Tutors (senior-living technology assistance), Senior Simulators (VR experiences for seniors), the Amatones Choir Camp, and ATI Summer Programs, with expansion supported through the Come Alive Institute social franchise.
Product overview
Alive Center is a nonprofit teen center organization offering a network of physical drop-in centers across Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park, Illinois, for teens in grades 5th–12th. The core offering consists of free drop-in centers, supplemented by structured programs including the Teen-Led Teen-Driven (TLTD) Teen Initiate program, ATI Summer Programs, Teen Tech Tutors, and the teen-led Senior Simulators VR initiative. The organization supports its mission through the Come Alive Institute (franchising arm), the Alive Link Alumni Program, and signature events like the Mardi Gras Gala fundraiser. The organization operates as a collection of physical centers and programs rather than a software technology product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Teen Initiate (ATI): Teen-Led, Teen-Driven (TLTD) program providing teens with support and space to innovate and lead while empowering younger teens and tweens
- Teen Tech Tutors
- Senior Simulators
- Come Alive Institute
- Alive Link Alumni Group
Products and services
- Alive Center Drop-In Centers Free after-school and summer drop-in centers in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park serving youth in grades 5th-12th with access to facilities, activities, tutoring, clubs, and events.
- Teen Initiate (TLTD) Program Teen-led, teen-driven program in which teens create, lead, and facilitate their own clubs and mentoring activities across multiple focus areas including mentoring, STEM, media, and service.
- Amatones Choir Camp Affordable ($25 per camper) summer choir camp for youth ages 8-15 in DuPage County focusing on vocal technique, confidence, communication, and collaboration.
- Senior Simulators Teen-led program that uses virtual reality technology to bring immersive experiences (travel, art, cultural exploration) to seniors living in assisted living facilities.
- Teen Tech Tutors Teen-led technology tutoring service in which Alive Naperville Teen Advisory Board members assist older adults at senior living communities, funded by AT&T.
- ATI Summer Programs Affordable Alive Teen Initiative (ATI) summer programs offering teen-led activities focused on leadership, mental health, STEM, and creativity during the summer season.
- Free Tutoring Services Free weekly tutoring available at all three Alive Center locations, open to students in grades K-12, including Homework Cafe and dedicated tutoring sessions.
- Come Alive Institute (Social Franchise) Social franchise program that supports communities in opening new Alive Center locations using the proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven methodology, brand, and program framework.
- Facility Space Rentals Facility rental service making Alive Center spaces available to community groups, supporting full utilization of space and supplemental revenue.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8,000+ unique teens impacted since 2012
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Alive Center
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Alive Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Alive Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- Belgio's CateringminorCatering partner for Donor & Alumni Appreciation Event (January 2026), providing food for community celebration.
- DeEtta's BakeryminorBakery partner for Donor & Alumni Appreciation Event (January 2026), providing desserts for community celebration.
- New England Congregational Church (Aurora)majorCurrent host location for Aurora Alive Center, operating five days a week as of 2026 to serve Aurora teens and families.
- Greenbrook Tanglewood Homeowners Association (Hanover Park)majorHost location for Hanover Park center at 1211 Catalina Drive. Partnership enabling free teen programming for Hanover Park community.
- Community Christian Church (Aurora)majorHost location for Aurora satellite center. Provides space for free teen drop-in hours serving 6th-12th graders in the Aurora community.
- NaperBridge (Merged)coreStrategic merger in January 2015 that fortified ALIVE's teen program and enhanced community impact. Combined resources and mission to strengthen services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alive Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- iMentor: Nonprofit providing mentoring partnerships for high school students from underserved communities. Comparable in mentorship-driven youth development model and grant-funded nonprofit structure.
- Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit for young adults transitioning from school to careers. Comparable mission around youth empowerment and life skills, but focused on older youth (18-24) and workforce placement rather than middle/high school drop-in services.
Broad incumbents
- 4-H (National 4-H Council): Largest U.S. youth development organization, offering STEM, leadership, and life skills programs to school-age youth. Overlaps with Alive's leadership and STEM programs but is a much broader, federally-supported portfolio rather than a drop-in center model.
Others
- KIPP Foundation: National charter school network serving underserved communities with extended-day programming and leadership development. Adjacent rather than directly competing; overlaps in mission to empower underserved youth but operates formal schools rather than drop-in centers.
Direct peers
- Girls Inc. National nonprofit empowering girls through after-school programming, mentoring, and life skills. Comparable target demographic, free programming model, and reliance on foundation/corporate grants.
- Police Athletic League (PAL): Network of youth centers offering free after-school programs, mentoring, and life skills to at-risk youth. Comparable drop-in center model, teen demographic, and prevention-oriented programming.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National network of youth and teen centers offering after-school drop-in programming, mentoring, and life skills. Directly comparable in target audience (school-age youth) and core service (free/subsidized drop-in centers) and competes for the same corporate and foundation funding.
- After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs to youth in underserved communities. Comparable free, drop-in-style programming for school-age youth with similar funder base (corporate sponsors, foundations).
- YMCA of the USA: Community-based nonprofit operating youth centers, after-school programs, and teen leadership initiatives across the U.S. Highly comparable mission, drop-in model, and reliance on donations/grants; the local Fox Valley YMCA overlaps Alive's Naperville/Aurora service area.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships. Comparable target demographic (at-risk youth), mentoring core service, and nonprofit funding model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alive Center social profiles
Digital presenceAlive Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alive Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Alive Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alive Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alive Center
What does Alive Center do?
Alive Center operates free, supervised drop-in teen centers in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park, Illinois, providing after-school and summer programming for youth in grades 5th–12th, including mentoring, K-12 tutoring, clubs, life-skills classes, leadership opportunities, and signature events. Programming is delivered through the proprietary Teen-Led, Teen-Driven (TLTD) Teen Initiate model and supplemented by initiatives such as Teen Tech Tutors (senior-living technology assistance), Senior Simulators (VR experiences for seniors), the Amatones Choir Camp, and ATI Summer Programs, with expansion supported through the Come Alive Institute social franchise.
Is Alive Center a public or private company?
Alive Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Alive Center founded?
Alive Center was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Alive Center based?
Alive Center is headquartered in Naperville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alive Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Individual Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, program Fees and space Rentals.
Who are Alive Center's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are iMentor and Year Up. 4-H (National 4-H Council) is listed as a broad incumbent. KIPP Foundation is listed as an others. Direct peers are Girls Inc., Police Athletic League (PAL), Boys & Girls Clubs of America, After-School All-Stars, YMCA of the USA and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Does Alive Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alive Center.
What industry is Alive Center in?
Alive Center's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills), with a secondary code of EDAAAOAD, Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8200.