What New Life Centers does

New Life Centers of Chicagoland, NFP is a 501(c)-class community services nonprofit founded in 2005 as an auxiliary of New Life Community Church (the church itself dates to 1986). It delivers programming across five interconnected service areas — Mentoring, Education, Sports, Peacemaking, and Community Care — to youth and families in five underserved Chicago neighborhoods: Little Village, Humboldt Park, Brighton Park, Midway, and Pilsen. Core programs include Arise Creations (jewelry-based youth entrepreneurship), GEMS and YEP (girls' and youth empowerment mentoring), La Semilla and The Vine (after-school/summer education), Choose to Change and The Heart Project (trauma-informed school-based mentoring), Baseball/Softball, La Villita Basketball, Running Forward, and Open Gym (sports-based youth development), Street Outreach and Resiliency Services (community violence intervention), Juvenile Justice programming in Illinois Youth Corrections facilities, Pan de Vida (weekly food distribution, scaled to 7+ citywide sites and 120,000+ neighbors served in 2025), Community Care Resource Center, New Vecinos (migrant resettlement launched May 2023), Welcome Center (immigrant legal and benefits navigation), and Abundant Life (entrepreneurial support). The organization operates free of charge to participants with all services delivered through community centers, school partnerships (notably Chicago Public Schools), street outreach, and pop-up distribution sites.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial. FY2024 total Support & Revenue was $34,547,378, of which approximately $15.65M (~45%) came from government grants, with the balance from individual contributions, corporate and foundation grants, gifts-in-kind, modest program fees ($184,784), merchandise sales (Arise Creations jewelry, NLC apparel via WooCommerce), and event fundraising (El Grito 5K). Total FY2024 expenses were $32,000,826, split roughly evenly between personnel ($14.26M) and direct program non-personnel costs ($14.20M). Go-to-market is community-led: referrals via churches, schools, and partner organizations; word-of-mouth; volunteer networks (managed through VoMo); and earned media (New York Times Opinion, Chicago Tribune). Pricing is zero for participants. Geographic footprint is single-country domestic (Chicago only), with strategic partnerships including Chicago Cubs ($750K+ park investment over 10 years), AT&T (La Semilla Technology Center), Children's Home & Aid and YAP (C2C), Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the city's SC2 violence intervention initiative. Technology footprint is limited to standard SaaS (VOMO, JotForm, Calendly, WooCommerce, Amazon Wish List) with no proprietary AI/ML, patents, or technology products.

Name

New Life Centers

Legal name

New Life Centers of Chicagoland, NFP

Website

https://newlifecenters.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

New Life Centers of Chicagoland, NFP is a nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers mentoring, education, sports, violence intervention, and community care programs to youth and families across five underserved Chicago neighborhoods (Little Village, Humboldt Park, Brighton Park, Midway, Pilsen), funded primarily through government grants and donations with FY2024 revenue of $34.5M.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• Community violence intervention
• After-school education programs
• Food distribution services
• Community nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Contributions: Donations from individual supporters
2. Gifts In Kind: In-kind donations and goods
3. Corporate/Business Grants: Grants from businesses and corporations
4. Foundation/Trust Grants: Grants from foundations and trusts
5. Nonprofit Organization Grants: Grants from other nonprofit organizations
6. Government Grants: Federal, state, and agency government grants including Support & Revenue totaling $15,650,647 from government sources
7. Program Fees and Other: Program fees and miscellaneous revenue ($184,784)
8. Merchandise Sales: Sales of Arise Creations jewelry and NLC branded merchandise
9. Event Revenue: Revenue from events such as El Grito 5K race

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Life Centers delivers free, community-based social services to youth and families across five Chicago neighborhoods through five integrated program areas: Mentoring, Education, Sports, Peacemaking (violence intervention), and Community Care. Programs include 1:1 and group mentoring, after-school and summer academic enrichment, sports leagues, trauma-informed mentoring in schools, street outreach, restorative justice, weekly food distribution, migrant resettlement support, immigrant legal services, and entrepreneurial mentorship. All services are provided at no cost to participants and funded primarily through donations, grants, and government support.

Product overview

New Life Centers is a community services organization offering a portfolio of five interconnected program areas spanning MENTORING (Arise Creations, GEMS, The Heart Project, Youth Empowerment Program), EDUCATION (La Semilla, The Vine, Choose to Change), SPORTS (Baseball & Softball, La Villita Basketball, Open Gym, Running Forward), PEACEMAKING (Street Outreach, Resiliency Services, Juvenile Justice), and COMMUNITY CARE (Pan de Vida Food Distribution, Community Care Resource Center, New Vecinos, Welcome Center, Abundant Life). The programs are designed to work holistically, addressing the diverse needs of youth and families in Chicago neighborhoods including Little Village, Humboldt Park, Brighton Park, Midway, and Pilsen. Founded in 2005, the organization serves over 5,000 youth and families annually through long-term relationships, with a focus on creating the 'Beloved Community' through life-on-life connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arise Creations Social enterprise jewelry business providing entrepreneurship skills and mentoring for middle and high school girls in Humboldt Park; youth earn educational stipends while creating handcrafted jewelry with biblical inspiration.
• Girls Empowering Meaningful Stories (GEMS) Group mentoring and peer support program for young women in middle and high school in Little Village, focusing on women's empowerment, community building, and leadership development.
• The Heart Project Arts-based mentorship program at Farragut Career Academy providing healing and mental health empowerment through creative art projects with weekly mentor meetings for violence-impacted youth.
• Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) Leadership development program for middle and high school youth in Humboldt Park, focusing on soft skills, life skills, and providing experiences outside their neighborhood.
• Choose to Change (C2C) Trauma-informed mentoring program for youth in Chicago Public Schools, combining intensive wraparound services, group therapy, and advocacy for students impacted by violence and trauma in Little Village. Delivered in partnership with Children's Home & Aid and Youth Advocate Programs.
• La Semilla After-school and summer programming for elementary school students in Little Village, providing nutritious meals, homework help, tutoring, character development, gym time, art, cooking classes, and technology access.
• The Vine After-school and summer programming for children ages 4–18 in Humboldt Park, offering healthy snacks, nutrition training, technology access, recreational activities, faith-based mentoring, and homework help with 1:10 student-to-mentor ratio.
• Little Village Little League (Baseball & Softball) Little Village Little League serving over 300 kids with baseball and softball programming, partnered with the Chicago Cubs; includes Summer Softball violence intervention program and park infrastructure investment at Piotrowski Park.
• La Villita Basketball Basketball league and workouts for high school youth in Little Village, including citywide 'Hoops in the Hood' tournaments, providing positive recreational basketball opportunities.
• Open Gym Safe space for youth in Little Village and Humboldt Park to participate in sports (primarily volleyball and basketball), with check-in circles and sharing circles for youth development.
• Running Forward Running program for youth in Little Village training runners for 5Ks and half marathons including the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, promoting healthier lifestyle and character development.
• Resiliency Services Victim advocacy and case management services for community members in Little Village, Brighton Park, and Pilsen, providing support for individuals and families affected by violence with connections to counseling, court accompaniment, and emergency funds.
• Street Outreach Violence intervention program with 75% of outreach workers living in the community, providing crisis intervention, conflict mediation, restorative justice, and mentoring to 150+ CP4P participants.
• Juvenile Justice Restorative justice programming and reentry support for youth incarcerated at Illinois Youth Corrections facilities in Chicago, St. Charles, and Warrenville, including peace circles, art classes, and family visit transportation.
• Abundant Life Entrepreneurial support program helping local entrepreneurs in Little Village and Humboldt Park launch, grow, and scale sustainable businesses through five stages (Ignite, Ideate, Create, Grow, Scale) with mentorship from business leaders.
• Community Care Resource Center Resource center providing emergency supplies, food boxes, donation sorting, and support for families facing crisis including immigration-related challenges, with agency partnership hub for distribution.
• New Vecinos Migrant resettlement program providing furniture kits to 5,600+ families, distributing 600,000+ essential items, and serving residents at two family shelters with 1,700 total capacity. Has supported 24,000 individuals moving out of shelters.
• Pan de Vida Fresh Market (Food Distribution) Weekly food distribution program providing fresh produce, dry goods, meat, and dairy to families in Little Village and pop-up sites across the city. Served 120,000+ people in 2025, with roots in 2010 starting with 100 families per week.
• Welcome Center (Immigrant Services) Immigrant services center providing immigration support including case updates, work permits, asylum applications, free weekly Legal Clinic, document translation, resume writing, and connections to state benefits and health insurance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65-80% reduction in shootings and homicides in Little Village through community violence intervention
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Chicago CubscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Strong partnership supporting Little Village Little League baseball and softball. Invested over $750,000 in park infrastructure over 10 years. Partnership includes sponsorship, facility improvements, and community programming at Piotrowski Park.
• New Life Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Founded by New Life Community Church, a multi-site church operating at 27+ sites throughout Chicagoland and internationally. New Life Centers is an auxiliary partner organization serving neighbors through health, education, and employment services.
• Chicago Public Schools (CPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership providing in-school mentoring programs including Choose to Change (C2C), The HEART Project, and La Semilla. CPS contracts NLC to provide mentoring to students at schools including Little Village Academy and Farragut High School.
• Children's Home & AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Choose to Change (C2C) program. Led the group cognitive behavioral therapy component while NLC mentors focus on building trusted relationships.
• Youth Advocate Programs (YAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Choose to Change (C2C) program providing mentoring and advocacy services aligned with the C2C framework.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during COVID-19 enabled feeding over 6,000 families (30,000 people) per week through Pan de Vida food distribution program.
• AT&TmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to open new Technology Center at La Semilla, providing technology access and digital literacy resources for students.
• SC2 (Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity initiative expanding support for individuals at highest risk of violence. NLC is one of seven nonprofit organizations working on front lines of peacebuilding in Little Village as part of this comprehensive wraparound team approach.
• Violence Prevention CollaborativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of community organizations, leaders, and businesses working together to reduce violence in neighborhoods through coordinated community violence intervention efforts.
• RJ HubsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working with New Life Centers on community initiatives.
• Chicago Family Christian (CP4P)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community organization partnering with NLC for community programs and initiatives.
• Bethel Evangelical Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacility gifted to New Life Community Church in 2008. The Humboldt Park location at 1410 N. Springfield Ave. was founded in 1898 and served the community for over 100 years before joining the New Life family.
• Beyond the BallmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing coaching, training, and game opportunities for elementary and middle school youth in volleyball, soccer, and basketball through Neighborhood Sports Little Village (NSLV) program.
• Chicago Adventure TherapymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing adventure therapy activities including biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and white water rafting for GEMS program participants.
• Illinois Youth Corrections (IYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState facilities in Chicago, St. Charles, and Warrenville where NLC provides restorative justice programming, conflict mediation, and reentry services.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Large Chicago-based human services organization operating across housing, health, immigrant services, and violence prevention — overlaps with NLC's community care, migrant resettlement, and peacemaking programs as a broader portfolio incumbent.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Regional food bank partner and supporter of NLC's Pan de Vida food distribution; operates broader hunger-relief programming across Chicagoland — comparable on the Community Care program area but with a wider food-focused mandate.
• CeaseFire Illinois: Public-health approach violence intervention organization recognized NLC as Faith-Based Partner of the Year (2011); directly comparable to NLC's peacemaking/Street Outreach portfolio as a peer violence prevention entity in Chicago.

Direct peers

• Communities In Schools of Chicago: Embeds student support coordinators inside Chicago Public Schools to deliver mentoring and case management — closely comparable to NLC's Choose to Change and HEART Project school-based mentoring partnerships with CPS.
• Children's Home & Aid: Co-implementer of the Choose to Change (C2C) program alongside NLC, providing youth and family services including counseling and case management across Illinois — directly comparable to NLC's mentoring and violence intervention programs.
• Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago human services nonprofit providing family counseling, youth programs, mental health, and community-based support across multiple neighborhoods — closely comparable to NLC's family-facing, neighborhood-rooted wraparound delivery model.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Operates neighborhood-based community centers across Chicago offering youth mentoring, after-school programming, sports leagues, and food distribution — directly comparable to NLC's five-program wraparound model and neighborhood-center delivery model.
• Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: Chicago nonprofit serving immigrant and Latino communities with workforce development and family support — directly comparable to NLC's New Vecinos migrant resettlement program and Welcome Center immigrant services in Little Village.
• After School Matters: Chicago-based nonprofit delivering after-school and summer programming for teens across the city — directly comparable to NLC's La Semilla, The Vine, and Choose to Change after-school programs serving CPS students.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Provides youth development programming in Chicago neighborhoods including mentoring, education, sports, and teen services — directly overlapping with NLC's MENTORING, EDUCATION, and SPORTS program areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nlcenters
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewLifeCenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newlifecenters
• Instagraminstagram.com/newlifecenters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 New Life Centers