Carole Robertson Center for Learning
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers Head Start-funded early childhood education (ages 0-5), youth development programs (ages 5-17), home visiting, and family support services across 27+ communities through three flagship sites, micro-centers, and a family child care network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carole Robertson Center for Learning does
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning (CRCL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 in Chicago, Illinois, that delivers early childhood education and youth development programs to families on Chicago's West Side and surrounding communities. The organization operates three flagship sites in North Lawndale, Little Village, and Albany Park, offering year-round programming for children from birth through age 17, including infant-toddler care (6 weeks-3 years), preschool/pre-kindergarten (ages 3-5), and after-school and summer day camp (ages 5-17). It also runs home visiting services for expectant mothers and families with young children across 18 Chicago communities, micro-centers staffed by CRCL teachers at partner schools (Legacy Charter and KIPP Ascend Primary), and a Family Child Care Network that provides curriculum and technical assistance to licensed home-based providers.
The Center's service delivery is people-intensive rather than technology-driven; there are no proprietary AI/ML or software platforms supporting its core programs, and only one third-party administrative integration (Pie for Providers for CCAP billing). Program quality is supported by NAEYC accreditation (Albany Park newly accredited, Little Village reaccredited) and partnerships with Illinois Action for Children, Metropolitan Family Services, Erie House, KIPP Ascend Primary, Legacy Charter School, and several other community-based delegate and partner organizations.
The business model is that of a federally funded Head Start grantee with diversified private fundraising. Revenue is sourced primarily from federal Head Start grants (a 5-year award totaling $103 million plus a separate $20 million federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families), state appropriations (e.g., $450,000 secured by State Senator Ram Villivalam for Albany Park capital improvements), private foundation grants ($1.15 million Little Village renovation, $750,000 from We Rise Together), corporate sponsorships (Adams Street Partners, Robert R. McCormick Foundation), and individual donations and events (E3 Gala raised $269,000 in 2023). Programs are offered at no cost or on a sliding scale to eligible families based on Head Start eligibility rules, with tuition not publicly disclosed. The Center has no parent company or subsidiaries and is governed by a Board of Directors that includes current and former parents and alumni.
Carole Robertson Center for Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carole Robertson Center for Learning
- Legal name
- Carole Robertson Center for Learning
- Website
- https://carolerobertsoncenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Carole Robertson Center for Learning is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers Head Start-funded early childhood education (ages 0-5), youth development programs (ages 5-17), home visiting, and family support services across 27+ communities through three flagship sites, micro-centers, and a family child care network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Carole Robertson Center for Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Carole Robertson Center for Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Federal Head Start Funding: The Center receives significant federal funding through the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This includes multi-year awards such as a 5-year Head Start award totaling $103 million and a $20 million federal grant from the Administration of Children and Families. These grants support early childhood education programs for children from birth to age 5.
- Private Grants and Donations: The Center receives grants from private foundations and organizations. Notable grants include $1.15M for Little Village flagship site renovation, $750,000 from We Rise Together for capital improvements, and $450,000 in state funding secured by State Senator Ram Villivalam for Albany Park capital improvements. The organization also receives corporate sponsorships and individual donations.
- Individual Donations and Fundraising: The Center conducts annual fundraising events including the E3 Gala (Educate, Enrich, Empower), which raised $269,000 in 2023. Individual donors contribute through the Learning Fund and other giving programs. The organization also runs campaigns like the Pack-to-School Challenge.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Carole Robertson Center for Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
No factual product/service description was evidenced in the provided source material; the input contained no extractable statements with resolvable source identifiers.
Product overview
The Carole Robertson Center for Learning operates a comprehensive suite of early childhood education and youth development programs organized as multiple delivery models. The core offerings include Early Care and Education programs (Infant Toddler Development for ages 6 weeks-3 years, and Preschool/Pre-Kindergarten for ages 3-5), Youth Development programs (After-School and Summer Day Camp for ages 5-17), and Home Visiting Services for expectant parents and families with young children. Programs are delivered through three flagship sites (North Lawndale, Little Village, Albany Park), micro-centers at partner schools (Legacy Charter School, KIPP Ascend Primary), a Family Child Care Network, and community-based partnerships. The organization also provides provider training and technical assistance through its Community Partnerships division.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves 15,000 children and adults annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Carole Robertson Center for Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Carole Robertson Center for Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Illinois Action for ChildrencoreCommunity Partner since 2001. Provides training, resources, and technical assistance to child care professionals, center-based teachers, family child care home providers, and staff assistants. Training service area includes west and southwest side of Chicago and western suburbs.
- KIPP: Ascend Primary ChartercorePartner school hosting Micro Centers with pre-K education for children 3-5 years. Carole Robertson Center teachers staff the program using the same curriculum as flagship sites. Located at 1440 S. Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60623.
- Metropolitan Family Services – Learning and WellnesscoreDelegate Organization and community partner providing Early Head Start | Head Start services for children 6 weeks to 5 years. Located at 5338 South Loomis Blvd., Chicago, IL 60609.
- Legacy Charter SchoolcorePartner school hosting Micro Centers with pre-K education. Two additional classrooms staffed by Carole Robertson Center teachers. Located at 3318 Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL.
- Erie House – West TowncoreDelegate Organization and community partner. Located at 1701 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL 60622. Receives resources, training, and technical support from the Center.
- Serving All Families Everywhere 2secondaryHead Start partner providing services for children. Located at 2141 W 79th St., Chicago, IL 60620.
- Positive Attitudes WorkingsecondaryPartner providing services for children 3-5 years. Located at 757 N. Austin Blvd., Chicago, IL 60644.
- House of KiddssecondaryPartner providing early childhood care for children 6 weeks to 5 years. Located at 3800 W 84th St., Chicago, IL 60652.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carole Robertson Center for Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago-based multiservice nonprofit that is one of CRCL's Head Start delegate agency partners. Operates Early Head Start and Head Start programs (0-5) plus youth and family services across Chicago, directly competing for the same federal funding streams and overlapping catchment communities.
- Erie Neighborhood House: Chicago-based Head Start delegate agency and CRCL delegate partner offering early childhood education, youth development, and adult education on the West Side. Directly competing for Head Start funding and serving overlapping West Town/Lawndale communities.
- Children's Home & Aid (now Brightpoint): Illinois-headquartered nonprofit providing early childhood services, family support, and youth development statewide, including Head Start. Comparable mission, blended public-private funding model, and 0-17 service continuum similar to CRCL.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Chicago nonprofit providing after-school and youth development programming for school-age children and teens (5-18), overlapping directly with CRCL's youth development segment across similar Chicago neighborhoods.
- Casa Central: Chicago-based Latino-serving multiservice nonprofit offering early childhood education, youth development, and family services in the same West Side communities as CRCL, providing similar program mix and overlapping donor/funder relationships.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Large Chicago nonprofit delivering early childhood education, after-school, and youth programming across multiple sites citywide. Broader portfolio and brand than CRCL but overlapping school-age and early-childhood service offerings.
Others
- National Head Start Association: National membership and advocacy organization representing Head Start grantees including CRCL. Provides policy advocacy, training, and federal funding defense that directly affects CRCL's largest revenue stream.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carole Robertson Center for Learning social profiles
Digital presenceCarole Robertson Center for Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carole Robertson Center for Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Carole Robertson Center for Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Carole Robertson Center for Learning M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Carole Robertson Center for Learning
What does Carole Robertson Center for Learning do?
No factual product/service description was evidenced in the provided source material; the input contained no extractable statements with resolvable source identifiers.
Is Carole Robertson Center for Learning a public or private company?
Carole Robertson Center for Learning is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Carole Robertson Center for Learning founded?
Carole Robertson Center for Learning was founded in 1976. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Carole Robertson Center for Learning based?
Carole Robertson Center for Learning is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carole Robertson Center for Learning make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal Head Start Funding is the primary driver. The others are private Grants and Donations and individual Donations and Fundraising.
Who are Carole Robertson Center for Learning's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Metropolitan Family Services, Erie Neighborhood House, Children's Home & Aid (now Brightpoint), Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago and Casa Central. YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is listed as a broad incumbent. National Head Start Association is listed as an others.
Does Carole Robertson Center for Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carole Robertson Center for Learning.