Little City

What Little City does

Little City Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1959 and headquartered in Palatine, Illinois, that provides a comprehensive continuum of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), foster youth, and Medicaid-eligible families across the Chicago metropolitan area. Its service portfolio spans residential services (16 Community Integrated Living Arrangement homes plus the six-home Duffy Family Children's Village), a Therapeutic Day School with a THRIVE program for highest-need students, Community Day Services (Autism Program, Arts Center, Horticulture, Life in Motion, Recreation & Fitness), Employment Services through the Center for Employment & Business Opportunities (CEBO), Foster Care & Adoption Services with a dedicated permanency department, Clinical Services including a Behavioral Health Clinic, and Recreation Services including Special Olympics programming across 11 sports. The organization holds CARF accreditation, DCFS and DHS contracts, and a Medicaid Community Mental Health Center designation, and operates from physical sites in Palatine, Chicago, Matteson, Countryside, and Inverness.

The organization's business model is a hybrid of Medicaid and government reimbursement (for residential, clinical, foster care, and day-program services), philanthropic contributions (individual donations, Circle of Love recurring giving, planned giving, signature events such as the Hero Walk and Big Dreams Gala), corporate partnerships (Zurich, EY, IKEA), and foundation grants (Coleman Foundation for IDD Navigator, Illinois DHFS for the Chicago Behavioral Health Clinic, state grants for the Bell Family Arts Center). Private-pay revenue is limited primarily to the Life in Motion program at $150 per day with a 1:4 staff-to-participant ratio. Go-to-market is largely community- and event-driven rather than commercial, with advocacy in Springfield and Washington D.C. on Medicaid and DSP wage policy forming a strategic pillar. In August 2025, Little City launched the IDD Navigator, a digital resource hub connecting families to over 550 service providers, which had reached more than 10,000 users by November 2025 and was recognized by Governor Pritzker with an 'IDD Navigator Month' declaration. The organization serves nearly 1,000 individuals directly and 10,000+ families through IDD Navigator, employs 251–500 staff, and is led by CEO Rich Bobby (appointed March 2024) and Board Chair Greg Burns.

Name

Little City

Legal name

Little City Foundation

Website

https://littlecity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Little City Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1959 that delivers residential, educational, clinical, vocational, recreational, and foster care services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Medicaid-eligible families across Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palatine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary revenue stream through one-time and recurring donations from individuals. The Circle of Love monthly giving program provides predictable recurring revenue. Donors can give via check, donor-advised fund, stock donations, or securely online.
2. Monthly Giving (Circle of Love): Recurring monthly donation program where donors commit to small monthly contributions. In appreciation, donors receive gifts from Little City participants (farm boxes, horticulture products).
3. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through bequests (will/trust), retirement beneficiary designations, life insurance policies, real estate donations, donor-advised funds, and stocks/securities. Part of the Abraham & Judith Bohrer Heritage Society.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate giving including direct sponsorships, matching gift programs, volunteer grants, and workplace giving programs. Companies like Zurich and EY recognized as key partners.
5. Government Grants and Contracts: Medicaid funding for disability services. Grants from Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for behavioral health center expansion. State and federal funding supports various programs though funding gaps exist.
6. Program Service Fees: Life in Motion private-pay program charges $150/day for recreational services. Clinical services accept Medicaid/Managed Care insurance and private pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Little City is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive programs and services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Core offerings include residential services (24-hour CILA homes), therapeutic day school, community day services, employment services, foster care and adoption, clinical/behavioral health services, and recreation programs including Special Olympics. Programs are delivered across multiple Illinois locations with services funded primarily through Medicaid, government grants, donations, and private pay.

Product overview

Little City is a comprehensive social services organization offering a multi-module portfolio of programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), foster care and adoption services, and community behavioral health services. The organization operates as a unified platform with interconnected programs including Residential Services, Therapeutic Day School, Community Day Services (encompassing Autism Program, Arts Center, Horticulture, Life in Motion, Recreation & Fitness), Employment Services through CEBO, Foster Care & Adoption Services, Clinical Services with a Behavioral Health Clinic, and Recreation Services including Special Olympics. The recent addition of the IDD Navigator Platform (August 2025) extends reach digitally to families navigating I/DD services. Programs are delivered across multiple Illinois locations (Palatine, Schaumburg, Grayslake, Chicago, and Matteson) with facilities including the Bell Family Arts Center, Dorothy Rose Horticulture Center, Ethel B. and Joel H. Sharenow Center for Fitness and Recreation, and the Duffy Family Children's Village.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Services 24-hour residential support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 16 Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) homes on campus plus the Duffy Family Children's Village for children with disabilities with varying levels of independence needs.
• Therapeutic Day School

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 youth permanencies achieved in 2023 through Foster Care & Adoption program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• EY (Ernst & Young)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026EY was recognized as Little City's 2026 Corporate Volunteer of the Year for outstanding corporate volunteer contributions to the organization.
• Julie Bell and Bell FamilyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Julie Bell, longtime Little City Board Member, provided leading support for the Bell Family Arts Center groundbreaking. The center honors her father's legacy and provides dedicated studios for painting, textiles, digital art, plus a public-facing gallery and café.
• IKEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025IKEA provided an above-and-beyond furniture donation to furnish the entire Bell Family Arts Center facility, supporting the arts program for individuals with disabilities.
• Illinois State Rep. Michelle MussmancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State Representative Michelle Mussman provided a generous grant that made construction of the Bell Family Arts Center possible.
• Inverness Fire Protection DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Chief Richard Kurka and the Inverness Fire Protection District partnered with Little City's Center for Employment & Business Opportunities to provide vocational skill-building experiences. Participants help with cleaning, kitchen duties, and office maintenance at the station. Relationship has grown to potentially include paid employment opportunities.
• ZurichflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Zurich was named Little City's 2024 Corporate Partner of the Year. The company demonstrates exceptional commitment through giving time, talent, and treasure to move the mission forward for individuals with disabilities. Zurich participates in workplace giving, matching gifts, and volunteer programs.
• Chicago BlackhawksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Chicago Blackhawks took over Little City's campus in June 2024, with defenseman Alex Vlasic, Tommy Hawk, and team members hosting a fun day for residents and participants.
• Motorola and DiscoverminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Volunteers from Motorola and Discover provided support for Field Day activities before the new school year at Little City's Center for Education.
• WGN-TVminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024WGN-TV's Ana Belaval visited Little City for an exciting live segment highlighting the mission and important work done at the organization.
• Joliet SlammersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Joliet Slammers baseball team has been helpful collaborators with Little City's Foster Care & Adoption program, supporting youth in the Joliet area through various initiatives and donations.
• Governor PritzkercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernor Pritzker declared August 2025 as 'IDD Navigator Month' to recognize the launch of Little City's new platform connecting families with IDD resources.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing disability services, including residential, day programs, employment, and clinical supports to individuals with I/DD and other disabilities. Directly comparable to Little City's full-service model and serves as the most prominent national scale peer for I/DD services.
• The Arc of Illinois: Statewide I/DD advocacy and service organization in Illinois providing family support, case management, residential, and day services. Operates in the same Illinois I/DD ecosystem with comparable Medicaid-funded service lines and state advocacy posture.
• Clearbrook: Illinois-based nonprofit providing residential, day, employment, clinical, and family support services to children and adults with I/DD. Highly comparable footprint in suburban Chicago and statewide, with similar CILA home model and advocacy focus.
• Maryville Academy: Illinois nonprofit serving children and families including those with developmental disabilities, providing residential, foster care, clinical, and community-based services. Comparable in foster care, clinical, and residential service mix and DCFS contracting model.
• Helping Hand Center: Illinois-based nonprofit serving children and adults with I/DD through residential, day, employment, and clinical services. Highly comparable scope and Midwest footprint, with overlapping program structure and CARF accreditation.

Regional players

• Shriners Children's: Specialty pediatric healthcare network with Chicago-area presence serving children with complex medical and developmental needs. Comparable in mission-driven specialized pediatric services and nonprofit funding model, though more medically oriented.
• AbilityLab (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab): Chicago-based rehabilitation hospital and research center serving individuals with disabilities including I/DD. Comparable in CARF accreditation and rehabilitation focus, with stronger clinical/rehab emphasis versus Little City's community service mix.

Broad incumbents

• The MENTOR Network (Sevita Health): Large national operator of residential, day, and clinical I/DD and behavioral health services under Medicaid waivers. Comparable in CILA-style residential and day service delivery, with significantly larger national scale and PE-backed ownership history.
• BCFS Health and Human Services: Multi-state nonprofit providing residential, foster care, adoption, and community-based services for children and adults including those with I/DD. Comparable in foster care/adoption plus disability services portfolio and federal contracting model.

Emerging players

• Kaleidoscope Family Solutions: Provider of home- and community-based waiver services for individuals with I/DD across multiple states, focused on self-directed care models. Comparable in Medicaid waiver-funded service delivery to I/DD population, with less residential infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@littlecityfoundation8545
• Facebookfacebook.com/LittleCityOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/little-city-foundation/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/littlecityorg
• Xx.com/littlecityorg

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Little City