SocialWorks

What SocialWorks does

SocialWorks is a Chicago-based nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2016 by Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper to empower youth through arts, education, and civic engagement. The organization operates five core programmatic initiatives: OpenMike (a monthly performing arts platform for young creatives aged 13-21), Warmest Winter (a seasonal homelessness relief initiative including the SocialThreads free clothing pantry), New Chance Fund / SupportCPS (which has delivered $5.6M in $100,000 grants to 56 Chicago Public Schools since inception, impacting over 27,000 students), Kids of the Kingdom (a faith-based performing and literary arts summer camp for children ages 5-13), and My State of Mind (a digital mental health resource guidebook co-created with Illinois DHS, the Chicago Department of Public Health, Cook County Health, and other partners, aggregating thousands of Cook County mental health resources). OpenMike Presents, launched in March 2021, extends the platform into owned visual content with student rights and professional mentorship.

The organization's underlying technology footprint is modest: a Webflow-based website (socialworkschi.org), donation processing via the Zeffy platform, and the My State of Mind digital guidebook represent its primary digital surfaces. There is no proprietary software platform, no AI/ML integration, and no API infrastructure. Operations rely on a small staff of 11-50 employees.

SocialWorks generates revenue exclusively through charitable channels: individual donations (one-time and recurring via Zeffy), corporate and foundation grants (notably Gucci Changemakers $50,000, Intel, NHL/Blackhawks $100,000, CDW), merchandise sales through the SocialWorks shop, and event-based fundraising such as celebrity-driven concerts, the 'A Night at the Museum' gala, and Chance the Rapper's December 2024 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune appearance, which raised $139,300. The Kids of the Kingdom summer camp charges an undisclosed affordable fee; all other programs are free to participants. Marketing relies on organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, X), celebrity-driven earned media, community events, and brand partnerships (Discover Financial, Raising Cane's, CTA). The organization is Chicago-focused with no geographic expansion beyond the Chicagoland market.

Name

SocialWorks

Legal name

SocialWorks

Website

https://socialworkschi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SocialWorks is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 2016 by Chance the Rapper that empowers youth through five programs: OpenMike (performing arts), Warmest Winter (homelessness relief), New Chance Fund (CPS school grants), Kids of the Kingdom (summer camp), and My State of Mind (mental health resources).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Arts education
• School enrichment grants
• Mental health resources
• Homeless services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SocialWorks accepts donations through its website via Zeffy platform, with options for one-time and monthly giving.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Receives grants from corporate partners (Gucci Changemakers $50,000, Intel for diverse learner pods) and foundation partners.
3. Merchandise Sales: Operates SocialWorks shop selling merchandise including My State of Mind branded items.
4. Event-Based Fundraising: Raises funds through benefit concerts, celebrity partnerships (Wheel of Fortune appearance raised $139,300), and community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SocialWorks is a Chicago-based nonprofit that empowers youth through five programmatic initiatives: OpenMike (monthly performing arts platform for young creatives), Warmest Winter (homelessness relief and free clothing pantry via SocialThreads), New Chance Fund ($100,000 grants to Chicago Public Schools for enrichment programming), Kids of the Kingdom (faith-based summer arts camp for ages 5-13), and My State of Mind (digital mental health resource directory). The organization also sells branded merchandise and runs celebrity-led fundraising events.

Product overview

SocialWorks is a nonprofit youth empowerment organization founded by Chance the Rapper in 2016. The organization operates five core programmatic initiatives: OpenMike (a monthly creative platform for young artists), Warmest Winter (homelessness relief and SocialThreads clothing pantry), SupportCPS/New Chance Fund ($100K grants to Chicago Public Schools), Kids of the Kingdom (faith-based summer arts camp for ages 5-13), and My State of Mind (mental health resource directory). Together these programs focus on arts, education, mental health, and civic engagement, contributing $12M to Chicagoland communities and impacting over 50,000 students since inception.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OpenMike: Monthly platform for young creatives to share, express, and network through performing arts
• Warmest Winter
• Kids of the Kingdom (KOK)
• New Chance Fund
• My State of Mind
• SocialThreads

Products and services

• OpenMike Monthly platform for young creatives ages 13-21 to share, express, and network through performing arts, music, spoken word, and other creative mediums. Named in honor of mentor 'Brother Mike' Hawkins. Free to participants.
• Warmest Winter Seasonal initiative alleviating the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness through service, events, and direct support, including the SocialThreads free clothing pantry, coat drives, and holiday toy giveaways. In its 8th year as of 2025.
• New Chance Fund (SupportCPS) Grant program providing $100,000 gifts to Chicago Public Schools to enhance enrichment programming within the school day. Since 2016, SocialWorks has invested over $5.6 million into 56 CPS schools, impacting over 27,267 students. Schools are selected based on criteria including truancy, enrollment, and graduation rates.
• Kids of the Kingdom (KOK) Faith-based, choice-based summer camp focused on performing and literary arts for children ages 5-13. Campers build character, develop social and emotional skills, and choose from over 26 creative classes. Camp is held at Jackson Park, Chicago, and charges an affordable fee to families.
• My State of Mind Digital mental health resource guidebook and directory helping individuals access wellness professionals and programs. Aggregates thousands of mental health resources across Cook County including direct care, referral-based, and educational services. Free to users.
• SocialThreads Clothing Pantry Free clothing pantry operating under the Warmest Winter initiative, providing clothing items to families, professionals, young adults, and individuals experiencing housing insecurity.
• SocialWorks Shop Online merchandise store selling branded items including My State of Mind branded merchandise to support SocialWorks fundraising.
• OpenMike Presents (OMP) Visual content collection subgroup of OpenMike offering students the opportunity to own rights to content, connect with professional partners, and create collaborative portfolio pieces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 56 CPS schools supported with $5.6M through New Chance Fund since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Raising Cane'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 December 2025Fast food chain partnered for bike giveaway, donating 200 branded children's bikes to SocialWorks. Hosted event at Chicago Ridge location with Chance the Rapper.
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Launched 'Enjoy the Ride' campaign featuring Chance the Rapper's voice announcements at train stations.
• Alpha Kappa Alpha SororityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Collaboration for Share the Warmth winter campaign collecting blankets, coats, and winter accessories for SocialThreads clothing pantry.
• Gyrls in the H.O.O.D.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Partner for Share the Warmth winter campaign supporting SocialThreads clothing distribution.
• The Essence of Ivy and Pearls FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Partner for Share the Warmth winter campaign supporting SocialThreads clothing distribution.
• Washington Park Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Partner for Christmas on 55th annual holiday toy giveaway bringing gifts and warm energy to South Side families.
• Discover FinancialminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Partnered for grocery giveaway events and community block parties distributing food to South Side families.
• Conscious AllianceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 November 2025Partner for grocery giveaway events providing food resources to Chicago families in need.
• Children First Fund: The CPS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025Implementation partner for New Chance Fund grants. Children First Fund provides administrative support and helps schools implement funded programs. Fourth cohort announced August 2025 with $500,000 in grants to five CPS schools for career connected learning.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2025CPS is the primary beneficiary of New Chance Fund. Schools are selected based on criteria like truancy, enrollment, and graduation rates. CPS Superintendent Dr. Macquline King has publicly praised the partnership.
• TRAX RecordsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 April 2025Released 'RISING AGAIN' benefiting SocialWorks in April 2025.
• Universoul CircusminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 October 2024Honored SocialWorks at Family & Friends Night in Chicago.
• Sana Vita StudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 October 2023Partner offering free wellness classes in collaboration with SocialWorks.
• WNDR MuseumminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 September 2023Partnership kickoff with Fall Event Series beginning September 2023.
• Kind TravelerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2022Partnership with Virgin Hotel Chicago benefiting SocialWorks.
• Color FactoryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2022Brought together over a dozen Chicago community partners to celebrate the arts.
• The Simple GoodminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 September 2021Eighth Annual City of Big Dreams fundraiser partner.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Co-creator of My State of Mind Guidebook digital mental health resource platform.
• Chicago Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Co-creator of My State of Mind Guidebook digital mental health resource platform.
• Sista AfyacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Co-creator of My State of Mind Guidebook. Sista Afya provides affordable, culturally centered mental wellness care for women of color.
• Cook County Health & Hospital SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Co-creator of My State of Mind Guidebook digital mental health resource platform.
• Juvenile Protective AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2021Co-creator of My State of Mind Guidebook digital mental health resource platform.
• Empowerment PlanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2021Detroit-based organization that manufactures sleeping bag coats from up-cycled materials. Formerly homeless parents produce the coats. Partnership delivered 170 coats to Chicago homeless in March 2021.
• Altitude ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2020Chicago's first indoor trampoline park partnered to support Diverse Learner Pod for students with IEPs during COVID-19 pandemic. Altitude provided space and resources for remote learning pod serving 32 students.
• Top FashionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 November 2020Chicago-area fashion boutique raffled limited-edition Air Jordans to support Warmest Winter initiative. Drop-off location for donation items.
• Taste for the HomelessminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Longtime community partner for homeless support initiatives and Taste for the Homeless pop-up events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DoSomething.org: National youth-empowerment nonprofit engaging 13- to 25-year-olds in social impact campaigns and civic volunteering. Closely comparable to SocialWorks in mission, youth-arts/social-change focus, and event-driven programming, though at national rather than city scale.
• After-School All-Stars: Nonprofit providing after-school enrichment, arts, sports, and academic support to underserved youth. Direct peer to SocialWorks' New Chance Fund and Kids of the Kingdom programming, with a similar focus on K-12 enrichment and partnership with school districts.
• KaBOOM!: Nonprofit building playgrounds and play spaces for children in underserved communities. Comparable to SocialWorks in youth-development mission, corporate partnership model (Citi, Target, etc.), and event-driven fundraising cadence.
• Peace First: Nonprofit investing in young leaders ages 13-25 to build communities and drive social change through grants and tools. Directly comparable to SocialWorks' OpenMike youth-arts platform and similar in age range, civic-engagement orientation, and seed-grant model.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development organization operating after-school programming, arts, sports, and mentoring in 1,100+ clubs. Comparable to SocialWorks' multi-program youth model but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth-mentoring nonprofit pairing children with adult mentors. Comparable to SocialWorks in mission (youth empowerment) and outcomes orientation, but operates a much larger national infrastructure with corporate and federal funding.

Regional players

• Chicago CRED: Chicago-based violence-reduction and youth-opportunity organization focused on engaging at-risk young men. Direct regional peer to SocialWorks in Chicago-specific youth services, with overlapping donor base and civic partnerships.
• My Block, My Hood, My City: Chicago-based nonprofit providing youth enrichment, city exposure, and community programming. Direct regional peer to SocialWorks' New Chance Fund and Warmest Winter, sharing Chicago geography, municipal relationships, and youth-development focus.

Emerging players

• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing underserved students with college-educated mentors for postsecondary success. Comparable to SocialWorks' CPS engagement strategy and career-connected learning investments, with a narrower mentoring-and-college focus.
• JED Foundation: Nonprofit focused on youth mental health, suicide prevention, and emotional-wellness programming for teens and young adults. Comparable to SocialWorks' My State of Mind initiative in mental health resource aggregation for young people.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/socialworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/SocialWorksChi
• Instagraminstagram.com/socialworks_chi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socialworkschi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SocialWorks