What Breakthrough Urban Ministries does

Breakthrough Urban Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992 and headquartered in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood, where it delivers integrated social services across six physical facilities (FamilyPlex, Men's Center, Women's Center, Violence Prevention Center, Fresh Market, and an affiliated health clinic operated by Lawndale Christian Health Center). Its programmatic surface spans Education and Youth Development (preschool, K-8 enrichment, STEAM, sports leagues, high school and post-secondary support), Economic Opportunity (employment services, financial coaching, small business development), Housing (daytime support, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing of 43 single apartments and 11 family units), Health and Wellness (clinic, client-choice food pantry, community health, behavioral health, fitness center), Violence Prevention, and optional Spiritual Formation. In FY2025 it reported a $5.3M operating budget, 50 staff, 1,368+ volunteers, 7,200+ engaged participants, and 20,000+ residents served annually, with measurable outcomes including a 26% reduction in shooting victimizations in East Garfield Park and 87% kindergarten readiness among exiting preschool students.

Name

Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Legal name

Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Website

https://breakthrough.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Breakthrough Urban Ministries is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering integrated education, housing, health, and violence prevention services to residents of Garfield Park through six facilities, with a $5.3M FY2025 budget and 20,000+ residents served annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Affordable housing
• Youth education
• Violence prevention
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Government grants and contracts representing 38% of revenue, supporting housing, violence prevention, and community development programs.
2. Foundations & Corporations: Corporate and foundation donations representing 35% of revenue, including major donors like JPMorgan Chase, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Chicago Community Trust, and others.
3. Individual Donors: Individual donations representing 19% of revenue, supported through direct mail, events, and online giving.
4. Gifts in Kind: In-kind donations representing 6% of revenue, including food, clothing, and other essential items.
5. Church Partnerships: Church donations and support representing 1% of revenue.
6. Fitness Center Memberships: Monthly auto-pay memberships for fitness center access, ranging from $9-13.50/month plus enrollment fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Breakthrough Urban Ministries partners with people affected by poverty to build connections, develop skills, and open doors of opportunity, delivering integrated social services across education, housing, health, economic opportunity, violence prevention, and spiritual formation in Chicago's Garfield Park community. Programs are delivered primarily free of charge through multiple physical facilities, with one paid Fitness Center membership tier, and are funded through government grants, foundation and corporate donations, individual giving, gifts in kind, and church partnerships.

Product overview

Breakthrough Urban Ministries operates as a comprehensive community services organization providing integrated social services in Chicago's Garfield Park community. The organization offers multiple program areas including Education & Youth Development (Breakthrough Beginners preschool, Nettie Bailey Student Achievement Program, London Johnson Arts & Technology Academy, Sports & Fitness Academy, and Breakthrough Beyond), Economic Opportunity (Community Economic Development), Housing (Daytime Support Center, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing), Health & Wellness (Breakthrough Clinic, Fresh Market, Community Health, Behavioral Health, and Fitness Center), Violence Prevention, and Spiritual Formation. These programs are delivered through several physical facilities including the FamilyPlex, Men's Center, Women's Center, Violence Prevention Center, and Fresh Market locations, serving over 20,000 residents annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breakthrough Beginners Preschool Licensed preschool for children ages 2–5 providing literacy, math, science, and social studies instruction aligned with Illinois Learning Standards, plus full-day care with before- and after-program options for Garfield Park families.
• Nettie Bailey Student Achievement Program (NBSAP) Year-round academic enrichment for Kindergarten through 8th grade students, offering homework support, tutoring, social-emotional learning, literacy, arts, science, and sports activities for Garfield Park youth.
• London Johnson Arts & Technology Academy (LJATA) STEAM education program for youth ages 6+ featuring digital arts, visual arts, culinary arts, music, communications, robotics, and skill-based clubs and camps at the FamilyPlex.
• Sports & Fitness Academy Year-round sports leagues for youth ages 6–18 offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced teams with weekly training and competitive games on seasonal schedules.
• Breakthrough Beyond High school and post-secondary support for youth ages 14–24 featuring teen nights, mentoring, EQUIP workshops, college and career support, and the Back to Our Future re-engagement initiative with Chicago Public Schools.
• Community Economic Development Workforce and economic opportunity program for adults ages 18+ providing employment assistance, financial coaching, income support, housing counseling, and small business development, including partnerships with BMO, Wintrust, Inspiration Kitchens, The Hatchery, LISC Chicago, and Revolution Workshop.
• Daytime Support Center Daytime resource center for adults ages 18+ providing food, safe space, showers, laundry, clothing, computer access, notary services, medical and mental health referrals, employment training, and housing assistance at the Men's Center and Women's Center.
• Transitional Housing Shelter program for individuals experiencing homelessness offering extended stays, housing-first trauma-informed care, dedicated beds, care coordination, and housing retention support, serving 241 individuals in FY25.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Long-term housing for individuals and families ages 18+ providing stable housing with case management, managing 43 single apartments and 11 family units, with a 44% housing retention rate over the year for permanent supportive housing guests.
• Breakthrough Clinic On-site healthcare clinic at the FamilyPlex operated by Lawndale Christian Health Center, offering Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Prenatal Care for Garfield Park residents.
• Fresh Market Food Pantry Client-choice food pantry providing high-quality fresh foods to residents in zip codes 60612 and 60624 twice monthly, distributing 426,589 pounds of food to 17,568 families in FY25 through partnerships with Greater Chicago Food Depository, Target, Trader Joe's, ALDI, Google, and Chicago Meat Collective.
• Community Health Non-clinical health improvement program with Community Health Workers providing education, resource connections, and barrier removal for diabetes, hypertension, mental health, and substance use across multiple Chicago zip codes.
• Behavioral Health Behavioral wellness program for individuals ages 5+ providing on-site medical and mental health care, trauma-informed care, self-management skills, and resources for healthy behaviors, serving 290 individuals in FY25.
• Fitness Center Memberships Subscription fitness facility at the FamilyPlex offering cardio, weight machines, free weights, stretch areas, open gym time, fitness classes, and locker rooms with showers. Individual memberships are $13.50/month and senior (55+) memberships are $9.00/month, both plus a $10 one-time enrollment fee; annual/semi-annual options are $100–$150/year.
• Violence Prevention Comprehensive violence reduction program for adolescents and adults ages 13+ offering prevention, intervention, and restoration through outreach, conflict mediation, street-level intervention, victim services, and case management, contributing to a 26% two-year reduction in shooting victimizations in East Garfield Park and 400+ mediations in 2024.
• Spiritual Development Optional spiritual growth program offering devotionals, Bible studies, prayer, and spiritual direction for Breakthrough participants, staff, and volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26% two-year cumulative reduction in shooting victimizations in East Garfield Park
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Lawndale Christian Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLawndale Christian Health Center operates a 10-exam room satellite clinic at the Breakthrough FamilyPlex, providing Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Prenatal Care services for the community.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partner providing food products for the Fresh Market client-choice pantry operation.
• TargetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Fresh Market food distribution operations.
• Trader Joe'ssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery partner providing food donations for Fresh Market operations.
• ALDIsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery partner providing food donations for Fresh Market operations.
• GooglesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Fresh Market operations.
• Chicago Meat CollectivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood partner providing protein products for Fresh Market.
• Metropolitan Family Services - Communities Partnering 4 PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCP4P is a city-wide violence reduction strategy creating a multi-disciplinary, community-based response to gun violence in Chicago. Breakthrough is a key implementation partner.
• Inspiration KitchenssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic opportunity partner for employment and workforce development.
• The HatcherysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall business development partner supporting entrepreneurs.
• LISC ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and economic development partner.
• BMOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner supporting economic opportunity programs.
• WintrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner for financial coaching and homeownership programs.
• Chicago Jobs CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner for employment services.
• Revolution WorkshopsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce training partner for career development.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-12 education partner for Breakthrough Beyond high school programs and Back to Our Future re-engagement program.
• Back 2 Our FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPS re-engagement program partner for disconnected youth returning to education.
• Chicago BearssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports team partnership supporting youth programs and community events.
• Chicago Blackhawks FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports team foundation providing grant support for youth programs.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth insurance partner supporting health and wellness programming expansion.
• JPMorgan ChasesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate foundation providing grant support for economic opportunity programs.
• United Way of Metro ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner providing funding and community resource coordination.
• DeloittesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing volunteer support and grants.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• La Casa Norte: Chicago-based nonprofit serving homeless and housing-insecure youth and families with integrated housing, education, and health programs. Highly comparable to Breakthrough's housing-plus-support-center-plus-education model in a Chicago urban-core context.
• New Moms: Chicago nonprofit providing housing, job training, and family support for young mothers and their children — directly analogous to Breakthrough's family housing, transitional housing, and community economic development program lines.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty nonprofit delivering integrated housing, health care, human services, and economic opportunity programs. Comparable to Breakthrough in its multi-vertical anti-poverty model and Chicago operating geography.
• Inspiration Kitchens: Chicago workforce development nonprofit offering culinary training and employment services for adults facing barriers — directly overlaps with Breakthrough's Community Economic Development employment-services program.
• Revolution Workshop: Chicago nonprofit providing workforce training and career pathway programs to adults with barriers to employment. Listed as a Breakthrough partner; comparable in mission and target population to Breakthrough's Community Economic Development line.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Family Services: Large, multi-site Chicago-area human services nonprofit providing counseling, housing, education, and violence prevention programming — already a Breakthrough partner through Communities Partnering 4 Peace. Operates a much broader footprint than Breakthrough but overlaps heavily on integrated family services.
• Lawndale Christian Health Center: Federally qualified health center that operates the Breakthrough Clinic inside FamilyPlex, delivering primary care, pediatrics, and OB/GYN services. Comparable as a community-based health services provider serving the same Garfield Park population.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago-area membership organization providing youth sports, fitness, and community programming. Directly comparable to Breakthrough's Sports & Fitness Academy and Fitness Center membership operations, but at significantly broader geographic scale.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Multi-site youth development nonprofit providing afterschool, sports, and education programming to Chicago youth. Closely comparable to Breakthrough's NBSAP, LJATA, and Sports & Fitness Academy but with citywide presence rather than single-zone focus.

Others

• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Regional food bank that supplies Breakthrough's Fresh Market client-choice pantry. Not a direct competitor but a critical infrastructure partner in food distribution; provides sector benchmarks for food access programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brkthru
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/breakthroughchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breakthroughchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/breakthroughchicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Breakthrough Urban Ministries