Elim

What Elim does

Elim Christian Services is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Crestwood, Illinois, that provides educational, therapeutic, vocational, and community-integration services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. Founded in 1969 to serve graduating students with limited post-school options, Elim now operates two Chicago-area campuses serving more than 220 adults daily and over 500 students and adults combined, with a service continuum that includes Bridges Elementary, Middle School, High School, and the Crossroads Transition Program on the school side, and adult day services, life-skills training, and vocational programming on the adult side. The organization is CARF-accredited and is faith-based, rooted in the Christian Reformed community.

Elim's product surface is service-based rather than technology-based. Core revenue and mission delivery come from School Services and Adult Services, supplemented by HOPE Packs, a social-enterprise program in which adults with disabilities assemble school kits, hygiene kits, military kits, and hunger kits that are distributed nationally and internationally through church and business partnerships. Elim funds its operations through a mix of charitable contributions from individuals, churches, businesses, and grant-making organizations (including the Coleman Foundation), plus service fees for tuition, transportation, lunch, and milk (with a 3% online processing fee). Its GTM is community-led, relying on church networks, volunteer engagement, testimonial storytelling, and events. Operationally, Elim uses standard nonprofit tooling (UKG, TalentLMS, SharePoint, UltiPro) and maintains a formal non-discrimination policy. Strategic relationships include a long-standing partnership with Trinity Christian College through the Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education (CSPED, est. 2006) and a broad network of Chicago-area mission partners.

Name

Elim

Legal name

Elim Christian Services

Website

https://elimcs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Elim Christian Services is a 501c3 nonprofit operating two Chicago-area campuses that provide special education, adult day services, therapy, and vocational programs for over 500 children and adults with developmental disabilities, funded through donations, grants, and service fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Special Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Disability services
• Adult day programs
• Social enterprise
• Nonprofit disability care

Headquarters

HQ city

Crestwood

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Elim operates as a 501c3 nonprofit organization (EIN 36-2276614) relying primarily on donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and grant-making organizations. Donations support educational programs, adult services, and the HOPE Packs initiative.
2. Service Fees: Elim charges fees for certain services including student/client payments for lunch, milk, transportation, tuition, and other services. A 3% processing fee applies to online payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Elim Christian Services provides special education programs (School Services with Bridges Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Crossroads Transition Program) for students with disabilities, adult day services including life skills development, vocational training, and community integration for adults with developmental disabilities, and the HOPE Packs social enterprise that employs adults with disabilities to assemble and distribute school, hygiene, military, and hunger kits.

Product overview

Elim Christian Services operates as a unified nonprofit service organization offering educational programs for students with disabilities (School Services) and day programs for adults with developmental disabilities (Adult Services). The organization also runs HOPE Packs, a social enterprise program where adults with disabilities assemble and distribute various kits (School Kits, Hygiene Kits, Military Kits, and Hunger Kits) to communities in need. The portfolio consists of core service programs rather than a technology platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOPE Packs: A social enterprise program that provides meaningful work opportunities for individuals with disabilities while supplying essential school supplies, hygiene kits, military kits, and hunger kits to students, families, and communities in need domestically and internationally.

Products and services

• School Services Educational programs for students with disabilities including Bridges Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Crossroads Transition Program, providing specialized instruction, individualized therapy services (occupational, physical, speech), and life skills development for children with various disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, and intellectual/developmental delays.
• Adult Services Day programs serving adults with developmental disabilities including life skills development, vocational training, and community integration opportunities at two Chicago-area campuses serving over 220 individuals daily.
• HOPE Packs A social enterprise providing meaningful work for individuals with disabilities while supplying essential kits to communities in need, including school supply kits (pencils, folders, notebooks, glue, markers, erasers, scissors), hygiene kits (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, combs), military snack and supply kits, and hunger kits (protein and nutritious food items) distributed nationally and internationally.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 220 adults served daily at two campuses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trinity Christian College - Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education (CSPED)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Ongoing partnership since 2006 between Elim Christian Services and Trinity Christian College through the Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education. Trinity preservice teachers plan and implement lessons for Elim students, providing real-world teaching experience while serving Elim's student population. Students experience Community Living lessons including library visits, café ordering, wellness activities, and mail center visits on Trinity's campus.
• Chicagoland Prison OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner supporting Elim's community outreach efforts.
• Faith and ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner in Elim's network of ministry partners.
• Christ CaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner serving the broader community through Elim's HOPE Packs program.
• Lampstand MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner in Elim's network of ministry partners.
• YMEN (Youth Ministry Effectiveness Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner serving the Chicago area community.
• Restoration MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner in Elim's network of ministry partners.
• Roseland Christian MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Roseland neighborhood serving the local community through HOPE Packs distribution.
• Circle Urban MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner serving the urban community.
• Break Through Urban MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing community support services.
• ResilientminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving the Chicago community.
• Various Chicagoland ChurchesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurches including Christ Community Church, Faith Christian Reformed Church (Elmhurst), Faith Church Dyer, Hope Christian Reformed Church, Lombard Christian Reformed Church, Munster Church, Village Church Dyer, and others that host HOPE Packs campaigns and support distribution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Little City Foundation: Chicago-area nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, and educational programs. Directly comparable to Elim in mission (faith-adjacent, IDD focus), geography (Chicagoland), and service mix (school + adult services).
• Keshet: Chicago-area nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities through education, adult programming, and community inclusion. Highly comparable to Elim on geography, mission, and participant population.
• Hope Services: California-based nonprofit providing employment, adult day, and housing services for people with developmental disabilities. Comparable to Elim on adult vocational services model and similar programmatic mix, though geographically distinct.
• Judson Services: Cleveland-area faith-based nonprofit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities through education, residential, and adult day programs. Highly comparable to Elim on faith-rooted mission, IDD focus, and lifecycle service model.
• Aspire (Chicago): Illinois-based nonprofit providing services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. Comparable to Elim as a Chicago-area full-lifecycle IDD provider with similar program mix (adult day, employment, residential).
• Giant Steps: Illinois-based nonprofit providing education and therapeutic services specifically for children with autism spectrum disorder. Comparable to Elim's Bridges School and autism programming (Lauren Richmond is Autism Program Coordinator).
• Community Alternatives Unlimited: Chicago-based nonprofit providing adult day services, vocational programs, and community-based supports for adults with developmental disabilities. Directly comparable to Elim's Adult Services division in geography and programming.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing disability services, special education, and vocational rehabilitation across the U.S. Comparable to Elim as a large-scale IDD and special education operator, though broader in scope and not faith-based.
• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and direct-service organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable to Elim's adult services and transition programming mission, with much broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• TouchPoint Autism Services: Chicago-area nonprofit providing ABA therapy and autism services. Comparable to Elim as a regional autism-services provider, though more focused on therapy rather than full lifecycle services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/elimcs
• Facebookfacebook.com/elimcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Elim