Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center

What Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center does

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (ZCenter) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that provides trauma-informed counseling, medical and court advocacy, prevention education, and 24/7/365 crisis response to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. The organization operates two physical offices — a full-service site in Gurnee (Lake County) and a counseling-only site in Skokie (Northern Cook County) — and dispatches advocates to partnering hospitals and police departments around the clock. Core services are delivered free of charge to survivors, with the 24-hour crisis line (847-872-7799) as a central access point.

ZCenter's product portfolio spans direct survivor services (counseling, medical and court advocacy, 24-hour support line), prevention programming delivered through the Zacharias Education Network and school-based curricula, professional CEU training ($10 per one-hour session), and ancillary donor and awareness programs including the Here to Healing podcast and the Survivor Superhero recurring giving program. A newer offering, the TIERRA mental health intervention developed in partnership with Brushwood Center, provides a 9-week, research-based cohort program. Annual flagship fundraising events include the Spring Luncheon and the Race to Zero 5K.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, grants, events, and nominal training fees. Funding sources are diversified across individual donations, recurring Survivor Superhero gifts, foundation grants (Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County matching grant), corporate sponsors (Medline, Planet Fitness, DoubleTree North Shore), and event proceeds. The organization holds GuideStar's Gold Seal of Transparency, is registered as a 501(c)(3) with EIN 36-3314976, and operates within a network of 31 designated rape crisis centers in Illinois, coordinating with DCFS, county prosecutors, and Children's Advocacy Centers.

Name

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center

Legal name

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center

Website

https://zcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (ZCenter) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers free trauma-informed counseling, 24/7 crisis response, medical and court advocacy, and prevention education to sexual abuse survivors across Lake and Northern Cook County, Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sexual Assault Survivor Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

Keywords

• Sexual assault services
• Crisis intervention
• Trauma counseling
• Prevention education
• Victim advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurnee

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations from community members supporting sexual abuse survivor services and prevention education programs. Includes one-time and recurring donation options.
2. Survivor Superhero Monthly Giving Program: Monthly recurring donation program starting at $5 per month. Provides ongoing support for art therapy supplies, phone line access, self-care kits, and counseling services for survivors.
3. Annual Events and Fundraisers: Revenue from annual events including Spring Luncheon and Race to Zero 5K run/walk. These are significant fundraising opportunities for the organization.
4. CEU Training Fees: Monthly one-hour continuing education unit trainings for licensed professionals at $10 per session. Also includes specialized training for salon professionals to meet IDFPR sexual assault continuing education requirements.
5. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from healthcare foundations such as the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, as well as other grant sources to support operations and programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (ZCenter) provides free, trauma-informed crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, medical and court advocacy, and prevention education programs to survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through office locations in Gurnee and Skokie, Illinois, a 24-hour crisis support line, and on-site response at partnering hospitals and police departments. The organization also delivers school-based prevention education and CEU training programs for licensed professionals.

Product overview

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center (ZCenter) is a nonprofit rape crisis center providing a comprehensive suite of trauma-informed survivor services and prevention education programs across Lake County and Northern Cook County, Illinois. The organization operates two physical locations (Gurnee and Skokie) and offers services 24/7 through partnerships with local hospitals and police departments. Core service programs include survivor counseling and advocacy (medical and legal), a 24-hour crisis support hotline, and the Zacharias Education Network delivering school-based and community prevention education. The organization also provides professional continuing education trainings for licensed practitioners and hosts community awareness events including the annual Race to Zero fundraiser and Spring Luncheon. Additional programs include the Here to Healing podcast, the Survivor Superhero monthly giving program, and the TIERRA research-based mental health intervention developed in partnership with Brushwood Center. The organization maintains 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and is registered with EIN 36-3314976.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Here to Healing Podcast: A monthly podcast featuring stories from the front line of healing, bringing awareness to sexual violence and survivor journeys.
• Survivor Superhero Program

Products and services

• Survivor Services Program Comprehensive trauma-informed support for survivors of sexual violence, including crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, medical advocacy, and legal advocacy available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through hospital and police department partnerships.
• 24-Hour Support Line Round-the-clock crisis hotline (847-872-7799) providing immediate emotional support and resource connection for survivors of sexual abuse and assault, available 24/7/365.
• Zacharias Education Network Prevention education programs delivered to schools and community organizations to raise awareness about sexual violence, promote healthy relationships, and support prevention strategies.
• School-Based Prevention Programs Age-appropriate sexual violence prevention education curriculum delivered directly in K-12 school settings to children and adolescents.
• Continuing Education Training Monthly one-hour professional development and CEU trainings for licensed practitioners on trauma-informed care, EMDR, and supporting survivors, including specialized IDFPR-approved sessions for salon professionals at $10 per session.
• TIERRA Program A research-based mental health intervention program developed in partnership with Brushwood Center, offering weekly 2-hour sessions over 9 weeks focused on cultivating wellbeing through connections to self, community, and nature using Acceptance-based practices for adults aged 18 and older.
• Community Awareness Programs Community-wide awareness initiatives including Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities, Standing Silent Witness events, Communi-Tea gatherings, and film screenings to promote understanding and solidarity around sexual violence prevention.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brushwood CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for TIERRA program - a mental health intervention offering tools and strategies for cultivating wellbeing through connections to self, community, and nature. Weekly 2-hour sessions over 9 weeks for adults 18+.
• Partnering Hospitals and Police DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 response capability - ZCenter advocates meet survivors at any of their partnering hospitals or police departments, 365 days a year.
• Lake County Children's Advocacy CentercoreOthersReferral partner for child sexual abuse cases in Lake County, providing coordinated response services.
• Chicago Children's Advocacy CentercoreOthersReferral partner for child sexual abuse cases in Chicago area, coordinating response and services.
• Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS)coreOthersGovernment partner for child protection referrals and coordinated response to child abuse cases.
• Lake County State's Attorney's OfficecoreOthersCoordination for court advocacy services for survivors pursuing legal proceedings.
• Cook County State's Attorney's OfficecoreOthersCoordination for court advocacy services in Cook County for survivors pursuing legal proceedings.
• DoubleTree North Shore (Skokie)minorOthersVenue host for annual Spring Luncheon fundraising events in Skokie.
• Planet FitnessminorOthersProvided pre-race stretching and warm-up at past Race to Zero events, partnering with Danni Allen (NBC's The Biggest Loser Season 14 winner).
• MedlineminorOthersCorporate partner that recognizes outstanding volunteers through annual Volunteer of the Year award program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Safe Horizon: Large New York City-based victim services organization offering counseling, advocacy, and 24-hour hotlines for survivors of sexual assault and other crimes. Comparable as a multi-service rape/crime victim support organization with significantly larger scale.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): National umbrella organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and supporting a network of local rape crisis centers. Comparable as the leading US sexual violence response organization; broader national scope, while ZCenter operates direct service locally.

Direct peers

• Between Friends: Chicago-area nonprofit providing counseling, advocacy, and 24-hour crisis response for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Directly comparable as a Chicago-region rape/domestic violence crisis center with similar free service and advocacy model.
• Center for Prevention of Abuse: Peoria, Illinois-based nonprofit providing sexual assault and domestic violence crisis response, counseling, and advocacy. Comparable as an Illinois-based rape crisis center operating the same free counseling, 24-hour hotline, and advocacy service model as ZCenter.
• Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE): Chicago nonprofit addressing sexual violence through direct services, advocacy, and prevention. Comparable as a Chicago-area sexual violence service and prevention organization with overlapping counseling, advocacy, and education programs.
• Resilience (formerly Rape Victim Advocates): Chicago-based nonprofit providing counseling, medical and legal advocacy, and 24-hour crisis response for sexual assault survivors. Most directly comparable peer — same service model, adjacent Illinois geography, similar hospital/police partnership structure.

Regional players

• YWCA Evanston/North Shore: Regional YWCA chapter providing sexual violence and domestic violence services in Evanston/North Shore suburbs. Comparable as a suburban Chicago sexual violence service provider overlapping with ZCenter's Northern Cook County footprint.
• Mutual Ground: Kane and Kendall County, Illinois nonprofit providing sexual assault and domestic violence services, counseling, and 24-hour crisis response. Comparable as a suburban Illinois rape crisis center with similar free service model and hospital/police advocacy partnerships.

Others

• Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA): Statewide coalition of Illinois rape crisis centers (including ZCenter) providing training, funding distribution, and policy advocacy. Indirect peer — ZCenter is a member center; ICASA administers funding and standards for the network of 31 centers.
• Porter-Starke Services: Indiana-based community mental health provider offering outpatient counseling and crisis services. Comparable as a community-based outpatient mental health provider with trauma and crisis response capabilities, though broader than pure sexual violence services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/zcenter1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zacharias-sexual-abuse-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/zachariascenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center