What Springfield Urban League does

Springfield Urban League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, founded in 1926 as an affiliate of the National Urban League. It provides a portfolio of community-based social services for low-income individuals, families, and youth in central Illinois, serving 25,000 or more people annually with a staff of 51 to 100 employees. Programming spans early childhood education (Head Start), K-12 youth development (including a CDF Freedom School and Camp Nkiru), workforce development and economic empowerment, a Financial Opportunity Center, health initiatives and a Community Health Training Center, and cultural programming delivered with partners such as the UIS Performing Arts Center and the National Park Service.

Service delivery is people-intensive rather than technology-driven; there is no proprietary software platform, and the organization's technology footprint is administrative and communications-oriented. Operations rely on classroom instruction, case management, credentialed training, and partner-mediated community outreach. The organization is approaching its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Revenue is generated through a mix of government grants (Head Start/OHS, USDA/WIC, and state workforce funding), foundation grants, corporate partnerships (PNC Bank, Verizon, Heartland Bank, Hickory Point Bank), United Way allocations, and individual charitable donations. The model is grant- and donation-dependent, with annual revenue tied to federal and state appropriations, competitive grant cycles, and fundraising outcomes. Leadership comprises President & CEO Marcus E. Johnson, Director of Health Initiatives Tatyana Gardner, Director of Workforce and Economic Empowerment Jonathan Barnett, and Director of Education and School Age Youth Ashley Moore. The organization has earned the Silver Circle of Quality designation and multiple "Best of Springfield" community awards in 2024 and 2025.

Name

Springfield Urban League

Legal name

Springfield Urban League Inc.

Website

https://springfieldul.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Springfield Urban League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1926, delivering Head Start, workforce development, health, youth, and financial capability services to 25,000+ low-income residents of central Illinois annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Community Housing Services (62422), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Early childhood education
• Community health programs
• Youth development programs
• Financial literacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Springfield Urban League is a nonprofit human service corporation and direct service organization that delivers community-based programs in workforce development, early childhood education (Head Start and Early Head Start), health initiatives, school-age youth programs, financial coaching, and emergency assistance to underserved urban communities in Central Illinois.

Product overview

Springfield Urban League is a non-profit human service organization offering a portfolio of community programs focused on workforce development, early childhood education, health initiatives, youth development, and emergency assistance. Rather than a unified technology product, it operates as a direct service organization providing social services including Head Start/Early Head Start, workforce training, financial coaching, and youth programs like the Project Ready Mentor Program and CDF Freedom School. The organization also operates a Community Health Training Center offering professional certifications for healthcare workers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Initiatives Community health programs including health insurance enrollment assistance through Get Covered Illinois, maternal health support, and sexual health screenings and navigation services aimed at improving health outcomes in urban communities.
• Workforce Development Job training, employment connections, career readiness, and economic empowerment services helping community members gain employment and advance their careers, delivered through the Workforce and Economic Empowerment Center at 512 S. 11th Street, Springfield, IL.
• Pre-School & Head Start Early childhood education program serving children and families through Head Start and Early Head Start services, awarded the Silver Circle of Quality by ExceleRate Illinois for meeting quality early childhood education standards.
• School-Age Youth Programs Youth development programs including Project Ready Mentor Program (achieving 100% graduation rate and 100% college-bound outcomes for Class of 2025), 21st Century After School program, and various enrichment activities for school-age children.
• Community Health Training Center (CHTC) Training center providing professional development courses for healthcare workers including WIC Peer Counselor training, Certified Lactation Specialist courses, and other health-related certifications.
• Emergency Assistance Crisis support and emergency resources for community members in need, including the Thanksgiving basket initiative serving 250+ families annually.
• CDF Freedom School Free six-week summer camp program providing academic enrichment, cultural activities, and youth development for children.
• Camp Nkiru Summer Leadership Academy Free leadership development program for grades 9-12 offering academic enrichment, community service, entrepreneurship training, weekly field trips, and leadership activities.
• Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) Financial coaching and education services including budgeting, debt reduction, credit improvement, and financial literacy workshops offered in partnership with financial institutions such as Heartland Bank and Hickory Point Bank.
• G.B. Winston Scholarship Educational scholarship for students headed to college, university, trade, or vocational school, recognizing academic achievement, leadership, community service, and financial need.
• Community Development Corporation Properties Property and real estate initiatives supporting community development and economic growth in urban areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate and 100% college-bound outcomes for Project Ready Mentor Program Class of 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, significant and core.

• Heartland BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Financial institution partner providing Financial Literacy workshops at the Workforce and Economic Empowerment Center. Workshops teach budgeting, investing, borrowing, and saving skills.
• Hickory Point BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Financial institution partner providing Financial Literacy workshops covering budgeting, investing, borrowing, and saving to achieve long-term financial stability.
• VerizonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Verizon Skill Forward program provides free tech-based courses blended with leadership and management skills from top universities. The Springfield Urban League hosts Verizon Skill Forward Orientation sessions at its Workforce Center.
• PNC BanksignificantGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Generous supporter of Head Start cultural programming. PNC Bank, through its PNC Grow Up Great initiative, provides funding for arts and cultural experiences for young learners including the African folktale performance at UIS Performing Arts Center.
• University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts CentersignificantGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 May 2025Partner in providing cultural enrichment experiences for Head Start students. The UIS Performing Arts Center provides creative talent and venue for live performances exposing children to arts and diverse cultural narratives.
• Orland Park Dental Services (OPDS)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 April 2025Provides free on-site dental screenings for Head Start children. The dental team transforms what could be a nerve-wracking experience into a positive visit for young learners, supporting the Head Start program's commitment to early intervention and healthy habits.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2024Collaboration on the Freedom Project to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage, including designation of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site as a National Monument. The partnership aims to provide educational opportunities and community engagement around this significant historical site.
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2024Partner in the Freedom Project collaboration with National Park Service. IDNR works with the Springfield Urban League to preserve cultural heritage and provide educational programming around historical sites.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Springfield Public Schools District 186: Local education authority providing K-12 services in the same Springfield geography that SUL's Head Start, Early Head Start, and youth programs feed into. Functionally adjacent as an education-and-youth services provider and a frequent referral partner rather than direct competitor.
• Springfield NAACP: Local Springfield branch of the NAACP, another civic and civil rights organization serving overlapping urban and African American communities in the same geography. Comparable as a regional nonprofit focused on equity, advocacy, and community services, though with a stronger advocacy/policy emphasis and weaker direct service delivery.

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of Springfield: Large regional social services nonprofit delivering comparable programs (emergency assistance, workforce, family support, housing navigation) in the same geography. Operates a similar wraparound model and draws from the same federal/state grant pools and United Way funding in Springfield.
• Boys & Girls Club of Central Illinois: Direct peer in after-school and youth development services in the same Springfield geography. Offers school-age programming, summer camps, and college/career prep that directly overlaps with SUL's Project Ready Mentor, 21st Century After School, and Camp Nkiru programs, competing for the same youth participants and grant pools.
• Chicago Urban League: Larger Urban League Movement affiliate serving the Chicago metro area with the same portfolio of workforce, youth, health, and equity-focused programs. Operates the same affiliate model, brand, and program frameworks as Springfield Urban League but at materially larger scale.
• YWCA of Springfield: Regional community-services nonprofit serving similar populations in Springfield with workforce development, youth programs, and family services. Operates as a comparable wraparound community-services model and competes for similar state, federal, and United Way funding.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: The national umbrella organization of the Urban League Movement, of which Springfield Urban League is an affiliate. Operates the same mission and program categories (workforce, education, health, housing, justice) at national scale and provides branding, advocacy, and capacity support to local affiliates like SUL.

Emerging players

• Springfield Housing Authority: Public housing agency in Springfield that intersects with SUL's Community Development Corporation properties, financial coaching, and family self-sufficiency services. A referral and partnership counterpart rather than a competitor, but with overlapping family-housing service mandates in the same region.

Others

• United Way of Central Illinois: Springfield Urban League's funding partner and one of the largest community impact funders in the region. Comparable as a civic and social services organization but acts more as an umbrella funder/distributor than a direct service provider, making it ecosystem-adjacent rather than directly competitive.
• Illinois Workforce Innovation Board: State-level workforce development oversight and funding body that channels federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) dollars to local providers like SUL's Workforce and Economic Empowerment Center. Acts as an upstream funding and policy counterpart rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/springfieldul
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpringfieldUL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/springfield-urban-league-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/springfieldurbanleague

Compliance3 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 Springfield Urban League