HANA Center

What HANA Center does

HANA Center is a Chicago-based non-profit community organization that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate social services to Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities across Chicagoland. Formed in February 2017 through the merger of Korean American Community Services and the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center, the organization operates from two physical locations (4300 N California Ave, Chicago, and 664 N Milwaukee Ave, Prospect Heights) under the Chicago affiliate charter of NAKASEC. It runs eight core program areas: Community Education (ESL, citizenship classes, digital literacy), Immigration & Legal Services (DOJ Recognized Organization status with support for Adjustment of Status, DACA, U-VISA, T-VISA, VAWA, asylum, removal defense), Community Wellness (multilingual counseling and domestic violence advocacy), Senior Services & Public Benefits (public benefits enrollment serving 3,250+ limited-English-speaking seniors annually), Housing Services (HUD-certified counseling for foreclosure, eviction, rental, and pre-purchase support), Workforce Empowerment, Community Organizing & Civic Engagement, and Youth Empowerment. It also manages two Section 8 subsidized senior housing properties: Moogoong Terrace (74 one-bedroom units) and Koram Senior Housing (58 units, including 7 wheelchair-accessible).

HANA Center's underlying technology stack is composed of standard non-profit service delivery infrastructure rather than proprietary product. Case management runs on Salesforce (used in the Senior Services & Public Benefits program) and Charity Tracker, online intake is handled via Microsoft Forms, donation and email outreach use EveryAction, virtual workshops run on Zoom, scheduling leverages Google Calendar with .ics downloads, and immigration support uses an adapted CitizenshipWorks online platform. Multilingual content (English, Korean, Spanish) is delivered through the website (hosted on Squarespace), a monthly newsletter, and an annual report. No AI/ML capabilities, no mobile apps, and no public APIs were identified.

The organization's revenue model is grant-funded and donation-supported rather than commercial. Primary funding sources include government grants (HUD Section 8 housing programs, Illinois Department of Human Services) and foundation grants for social services, immigration legal services, and community organizing. Individual donations provide supplemental support, and program fees are nominal with a maximum charge of $50 per immigration application. Subscription-style program revenue is not in use. HANA Center distributes services directly through its two offices, virtually via Zoom, and through coalition partner venues (e.g., the 40th–42nd Annual Health Fairs hosted at Swedish Covenant Hospital). Customers/beneficiaries are segmented into Korean/Asian American immigrants, low-income seniors, undocumented and DACA-eligible immigrants, women and families, and high-school and college-aged youth. Coalition distribution extends through NAKASEC affiliates, ICIRR, and 50+ partner organizations for advocacy campaigns.

Name

HANA Center

Legal name

HANA Center

Website

https://hanacenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HANA Center is a Chicago-based non-profit community organization formed in 2017 that delivers culturally and linguistically appropriate immigration legal services, HUD-certified housing counseling, public-benefits enrollment, workforce empowerment, and senior services to Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities in Chicagoland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant and Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ), Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Housing counseling
• Senior public benefits
• Workforce empowerment
• Community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: HANA Center operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants from government agencies (HUD Section 8 housing programs, Illinois Department of Human Services), foundations, and institutional funders for social services, immigration services, and community organizing programs.
2. Individual Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals, community members, and supporters to fund critical social services and community programs.
3. Program Revenue: Some services such as citizenship workshops and housing counseling are offered at free or low-cost rates, with maximum charges up to $50 for immigration application preparation. Benefits enrollment assistance and legal clinic services are provided free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HANA Center is a community-based non-profit organization that provides multilingual social services to Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core offerings span DOJ-recognized immigration legal services (citizenship, adjustment of status, DACA, U-VISA, VAWA, asylum), HUD-certified housing counseling and senior housing management, public benefits enrollment (SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid, LIHEAP), workforce empowerment and job placement, multilingual counseling and domestic violence advocacy, ESL/citizenship/digital literacy education, and youth leadership and civic engagement programs.

Product overview

HANA Center is a community-based non-profit organization offering social services through multiple interconnected program areas rather than a unified software product. Core services include Community Education (ESL, citizenship classes, digital literacy), Immigration & Legal Services (DOJ-recognized, citizenship applications, free legal clinic), Community Wellness (multilingual counseling, domestic violence support), Senior Services & Public Benefits (serving 3,250+ annually), Housing Services (HUD-certified counseling), Workforce Empowerment (job placement with computer labs), Community Organizing & Civic Engagement, and Youth Empowerment. The organization also operates two senior housing properties (Moogoong Terrace with 74 units and Koram Senior Housing with 58 units). Communication channels include monthly newsletters and annual reports available in multiple languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NAKASEC (National Korean American Service & Education Consortium): HANA Center is the Chicago affiliate of NAKASEC, part of a national network for Korean American community organizing
• Citizenship4All
• A4CDA (Asian American and Arab American Collaboration for Deferred Actions)

Products and services

• Community Education English language learning, citizenship classes, computer literacy training, and cultural programs for immigrant communities. Includes 1:1 tutoring, citizenship exam preparation, and digital skills workshops.
• Immigration & Legal Services DOJ-recognized organization providing citizenship applications, adjustment of status, family petitions, DACA assistance, and a free legal clinic with volunteer attorneys serving in Korean, Spanish, and English.
• Community Wellness Multilingual, confidential counseling services offering case management, individual counseling, domestic violence advocacy, and crime victim support for immigrant individuals and families.
• Senior Services & Public Benefits Assists low-income and limited English-speaking community members with enrollment in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, and other public benefits. Serves over 3,250 individuals annually.
• Housing Services HUD-certified housing counseling providing no-cost one-on-one counseling, foreclosure prevention, eviction prevention, rental assistance application help, and pre-purchase homeownership education.
• Workforce Empowerment Job placement and retention services including job counseling, training, placement, resume writing workshops, and a resource room with computer labs offering basic and intermediate computer classes.
• Community Organizing & Civic Engagement Immigrant justice campaigns, civic engagement programs, voter outreach, coalition building, and advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform and social justice issues.
• Youth Empowerment & Organizing Leadership development, critical thinking, emotional awareness, and creative expression programs for high school and college-aged youth, including Arts for Justice and Suburban Youth Council.
• Moogoong Terrace Section 8 subsidized housing property at 4848 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, with 74 independent one-bedroom units for low-income seniors (62+) and persons with disabilities.
• Koram Senior Housing Section 8 subsidized housing at 4444 N. Harding Ave., Chicago, with 58 units (44 one-bedroom, 14 studio, 7 wheelchair accessible) for seniors 62+ managed by HANA Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,250+ limited-English-speaking community members assisted annually with public benefits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Albany Park Community CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2019Co-host of Northside Diversity Job Fair bringing together employers across Chicago suburbs and providing free services including childcare and job fair preparation workshops.
• Indo-American CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 May 2019Co-host of Northside Diversity Job Fair serving Chicago's diverse immigrant communities with multi-language support.
• Healing to ActionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2018Co-host of workshops on addressing sexual violence in the workplace and gender justice, part of a 3-part listening session series.
• Apna GharminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2018Partner in workshops addressing sexual violence and gender justice in immigrant communities.
• KAN-WINminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2018Partner in gender-based violence prevention work with Korean American communities.
• UIC School of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2018Academic partner in workshops on gender justice and sexual violence prevention.
• Chicago Foundation for WomenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2017Partner in TRUTH + DARE domestic violence awareness campaign. HANA community member Ines shared her story through the campaign raising awareness about domestic violence in immigrant communities.
• Swedish Covenant HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2017Venue partner for annual health fairs since 2017. Hospital provides space for HANA's 40th-42nd Annual Health Fairs where 559+ in-language health screenings were provided to Korean American community members.
• 5K Run for Love FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2017Beneficiary partner of the Run for Love 5K run/1K walk event supporting community wellness and raising awareness for children and families struggling with health needs, domestic violence, and immigration issues.
• NAKASEC (National Korean American Service & Education Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHANA Center is the Chicago affiliate of NAKASEC, coordinating on national immigrant justice campaigns including Citizenship for All, DACA advocacy, and AAPI mobilization. Participates in NAKASEC's network campaigns and shares best practices.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of ICIRR, Illinois's largest immigrant rights coalition, participating in advocacy campaigns, coalition actions, and sharing resources and best practices for immigrant services.
• Chicago Cultural AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Drumming Up Power' project bringing together young people from across Chicago through drumming, in partnership with Southside Together Organizing for Power and Lawndale Christian Legal Center.
• Korean Resource Center (KRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner in the Journey to Justice bike tour from Seattle to San Diego, a 37-day 1700-mile campaign launching the Citizenship for All immigrant justice campaign.
• National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Fair Housing PSA campaign producing resources in English, Korean, and 14 other AAPI languages to promote housing rights.
• UndocuBlack NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member in 'Woori Ujima' (Our Collective Work & Responsibility) conference bringing together immigrant communities to build intersectional solidarity for shared liberation.
• Advancing Justice-Chicago (PAVE Collaboration)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of PAVE Collaboration, a coalition working on Asian American advocacy and civil rights issues.
• Chicago Board of ElectionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWorks closely with Chicago Board of Elections to combat voter suppression and increase immigrant voter access, providing translation support and voter education.
• Cook County Clerk's OfficemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to release Korean Sample Ballot for November 2018 elections, improving Korean-speaking voters' access to civic participation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR): Statewide immigrant rights coalition of which HANA Center is a member. Comparable immigrant advocacy mission at a larger scale; coalition umbrella rather than direct service provider, but represents the funding and policy ecosystem in which HANA operates.
• National CAPACD: National coalition of Asian Pacific American community development organizations focused on fair housing advocacy. Direct partnership on Fair Housing PSA campaign with HANA Center; broader national scope and policy-oriented mandate rather than direct service delivery.

Direct peers

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago: Chicago-based Asian American civil rights organization providing immigration legal services, policy advocacy, and civic engagement. Comparable in advocacy focus and Asian American community service; complements HANA Center's direct-service model with broader litigation and policy work as a PAVE Collaboration partner.
• Korean American Community Services (KACS): Chicago-area Korean American social services organization (formerly Korean American Senior Services). HANA Center was formed through the 2017 merger of KACS and Korean American Resource & Cultural Center; comparable pre-merger service portfolio for Korean American seniors and immigrants in Chicagoland.
• Indo-American Center: Chicago-based nonprofit providing immigration legal services, senior services, and workforce empowerment to South Asian immigrant communities. Direct co-host of the Northside Diversity Job Fair with HANA Center; nearly identical programmatic portfolio serving Chicago's diverse immigrant population.
• Chinese American Service League (CASL): Chicago-based Asian American nonprofit delivering immigration, senior services, workforce development, and housing to Chinese American immigrants. Comparable service breadth, geographic market (Chicago), and community-based delivery model; differs by ethnic focus (Chinese vs. Korean).
• Albany Park Community Center: Chicago-based multi-ethnic community center serving immigrant and refugee populations in the Albany Park neighborhood with workforce development, immigration, and social services. Comparable neighborhood-level community service delivery and co-hosts the Northside Diversity Job Fair with HANA Center.
• Korean Resource Center (KRC): Los Angeles-based Korean American community organization providing immigration legal services, civic engagement, and community organizing for Korean immigrant communities. Directly comparable as a NAKASEC-affiliated organization delivering the same trilingual service stack (immigration, education, organizing) with similar grant-funded nonprofit model.

Emerging players

• Korean American Coalition: Los Angeles-based Korean American civic engagement and advocacy organization. Similar Korean American community focus with comparable organizing and civic engagement mission; smaller direct service portfolio than HANA Center.
• Apna Ghar: Chicago-based nonprofit providing domestic violence and gender-based violence services to immigrant communities. Overlapping clientele (immigrant women) and partnership history (gender justice workshops with HANA Center); narrower service scope focused on DV advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hanacenterchicago
• Xx.com/hanacenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 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 HANA Center