Chicago Youth Centers

What Chicago Youth Centers does

Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by Sidney Epstein and Elliott Donnelley, operating a network of 20 centers and partner sites across Chicago's South and West sides. The organization serves nearly 1,500 youth and 1,100 families annually, providing Early Learning programming for children ages 15 months to 5 years, Out-of-School Time enrichment for ages 5-18, eight-week Summer Fun day camps, Family Engagement workshops (including Parent University in partnership with the Illinois Afterschool Network), and a Senior Wellness Program for adults aged 55 and older launched at CYC-Calumet Heights. Programming operates five days a week, 48 weeks a year, and is delivered through both dedicated center facilities (such as CYC-Rebecca K. Crown, CYC-Sidney Epstein, CYC-Calumet Heights, CYC-Dorothy Gautreaux, and CYC-George E. Taylor) and 8 school-based CYC on Campus sites operating in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and charter schools.

The underlying technology is not a software platform; rather, CYC's intellectual and physical infrastructure comprises dedicated Maker Labs (3D printing, coding, robotics, music production, fashion design), computer labs, multi-purpose gyms, outdoor playgrounds, a community garden, and a music recording and editing studio. Local Advisory Boards at each center personalize programming to neighborhood needs, and a Junior Staff program trains up to 9 young people ages 16-24 in workforce skills at CYC-Crown.

CYC's revenue model is donation-led, with four primary streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring, including the Summer FUNd campaign targeting $100,000), corporate sponsorships and employer matching gifts (named sponsors include Wintrust Bank, RR Donnelley, Acxiom, Polk Bros. Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Cognizant, and Reva and David Logan Foundation), signature fundraising events (the annual Believe in Kids Dinner raised over $573,000 in 2026; the Shake & Stir cocktail party draws 500-600 young professionals), and sliding-scale program fees adjusted to family income with childcare subsidies accepted. Go-to-market is community-led: enrollment is driven by direct outreach at centers, online enrollment surveys, school-based partnerships, word-of-mouth (many parents are program alumni), and Local Advisory Board referrals. Tina Ayala, a 29-year CYC veteran, has served as Interim President and CEO since August 9, 2024.

Name

Chicago Youth Centers

Legal name

Chicago Youth Centers

Website

https://chicagoyouthcenters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chicago Youth Centers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 that operates 20 centers and school-based sites across Chicago's South and West sides, providing early learning, out-of-school time, summer programming, and family engagement services to approximately 1,500 youth and 1,100 families annually, ages 15 months to 18 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs (EDAAAMAB)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Early childhood education
• After-school programs
• STEAM maker education
• Community family engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CYC relies heavily on individual donations, ranging from one-time gifts to monthly recurring contributions. The website promotes a Summer FUNd campaign targeting $100,000 and notes that $1,500 covers one child's entire summer program.
2. Program Fees (Sliding Scale): CYC charges program fees on a per-family basis determined by age and income eligibility. Childcare subsidies are accepted, indicating fee-for-service revenue blended with subsidy funding.
3. Employer Matching & Corporate Sponsorship: CYC promotes employer matching gift programs and corporate sponsorships, including at annual events. Named corporate sponsors at events have included RR Donnelley, Acxiom, Polk Bros. Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, and others.
4. Annual Fundraising Events: Signature events including the Believe in Kids Annual Dinner and the Shake & Stir Auxiliary Board cocktail party generate revenue through ticket sales, silent auctions, and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chicago Youth Centers delivers community-based youth development programming for children ages 15 months to 18 years through Early Learning classrooms, Out-of-School Time (OST) enrichment, Summer Fun day programming, CYC on Campus school-based after-school enrichment at eight sites, Family Engagement and Parent University workshops, Maker Lab/STEAM education, College and Career Readiness, and a Junior Staff workforce development program. Programs run 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year across 11 center-based locations and 8 school-based partner sites on Chicago's South and West sides. The organization also operates a Senior Wellness Program at CYC-Calumet Heights for adults 55+.

Product overview

Chicago Youth Centers operates a multi-site youth development organization with center-based programming at multiple locations across Chicago's South and West sides, plus eight school-based CYC on Campus sites. The core portfolio includes Early Learning (ages 15 months-5 years), Out-of-School Time (ages 5-18), CYC on Campus after school enrichment, Family Engagement, and Summer Fun programs. STEAM education is delivered through dedicated Maker Labs featuring hands-on technology, engineering, and creative projects. Supporting programs include College and Career Readiness, the Junior Staff workforce development initiative, Parent University workshops, and a Senior Wellness Program at Calumet Heights. The organization serves nearly 1,500 youth and 1,100 families annually through a network of Centers and Partner Sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CYC on Campus: School-based after school enrichment program operating at eight school-based sites across Chicago
• Early Learning Program
• Out-of-School Time (OST) Program
• Summer Fun
• Junior Staff Program

Products and services

• Early Learning Program Structured early childhood education for children ages 15 months to 5 years covering literacy/language, science/technology/math, social-emotional development, and family engagement. Accepts children of varying abilities and dual language learners; classroom divisions include 15 months-2 years and 3-5 years. Costs based on age and income eligibility; childcare subsidies accepted.
• Out-of-School Time (OST) Program After-school enrichment for children ages 5-18 including academic time, snacks/meals, Social-Emotional Learning, STEAM clubs, holistic well-being, sports, and field trips. Operates 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year across 11 program locations, with Safe Passage transportation from schools to Centers.
• CYC on Campus - After School Enrichment School-based after-school enrichment delivered on-site at eight Chicago Public Schools and charter school partner sites, providing academic support, enrichment experiences, and social-emotional growth at partner schools including A. Philip Randolph Elementary, Ida B. Wells Preparatory Elementary Academy, Sherman School of Excellence, Perspectives High School of Technology, and Minnie Miñoso Academy.
• Family Engagement Program Workshops, mentoring, and one-on-one meetings with parents/caregivers supporting children's cognitive and behavioral milestones; includes Parent University monthly workshops, Parent Policy Committee, family events, wellness expos, and connections to social service agencies. Offered at all CYC locations.
• Summer Fun Program Eight-week full-day summer programming for children of all ages, packed with learning, laughter, and adventure, including 82 annual field trips to destinations such as the Chicago Botanic Garden and Museum of Science and Industry; addresses summer learning loss through cognitive, academic, and social-emotional activities.
• Education Support Initiative (ESI) Program providing educational support and resources for youth in care as part of CYC's comprehensive approach to serving children across multiple settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,760 hours of summer programming delivered across 8 weeks
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KPMG (Family for Literacy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPMG distributed nearly 500 books to CYC children through KPMG Family for Literacy (KFFL), supporting summer reading programs. KFFL's mission is to put books in the hands of Chicago's readers and increase home book ownership.
• University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Women's BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a partnership with UIC, Calumet Heights children met and learned from the UIC Women's Basketball team. UIC conducted workshops at the center and provided tickets for children to attend a UIC Flames Women's Basketball game, supporting sports and wellness programming.
• AqualogueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAqualogue, a nonprofit based in Chicago's Ukrainian Village, partnered with CYC to provide aquaponics gardening classes, teaching children about sustainable agriculture and ecosystems.
• Illinois Afterschool NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYC partnered with the Illinois Afterschool Network to launch Parent University classes in January 2023, a monthly workshop series on childcare and parenting topics running for 6-8 months.
• Old NavyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Old Navy locations sponsored holiday cheer for CYC families by donating gifts and clothing for 10 families at CYC-Sherman School of Excellence, including items from family wish lists.
• The Resurrection ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Resurrection Project set up a hotline to help families affected by ICE raids and hosts bi-weekly virtual Know Your Rights workshops (English on Tuesdays, Spanish on Thursdays), in support of CYC's immigrant families and staff.
• IT BridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT Bridge visited CYC-Sidney Epstein to teach children about technology used in professional sports (bat sensors, wearable transmitters for pitching speed) and connected this to math concepts. The partnership culminated in a private tour of Wrigley Field.
• McDonald'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDonald's supported a CYC event celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy by providing meals for children and families at CYC-Sidney Epstein.
• Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYC leaders Tina Ayala and Piotr Wojnicz were invited as guest lecturers at Augsburg University in Germany to present at a symposium on 'Social Work with Vulnerable Children and Families: Approaches and Experiences from Germany & the United States.' This exchange established the foundation for potential future collaborations with European universities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit operating multiple club sites serving youth ages 5-18 with after-school, summer, and teen leadership programming — the most direct comparable to CYC's center-based OST and Junior Staff model on Chicago's South and West sides.
• Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago social-services nonprofit providing family support, youth programming, and community engagement across multiple city neighborhoods — comparable to CYC's combined Family Engagement, Early Learning, and OST programming mix.
• Horizons for Youth: Chicago-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth in North Lawndale and Belmont Cragin with after-school programs, summer camps, and parent engagement — directly comparable to CYC's neighborhood-anchored, long-tenure service model.
• After School Matters: Chicago Public Schools–affiliated nonprofit providing after-school and summer programming for teens, with a strong STEAM and apprenticeship focus — directly comparable to CYC's OST, Maker Lab, and Junior Staff offerings.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago YMCA delivers after-school care, summer programming, early learning readiness, and teen development across the metro area, serving similar low- and middle-income families with sliding-scale pricing — a near-overlapping service portfolio to CYC.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago youth-mentoring nonprofit serving children and teens with one-on-one and group mentoring — comparable to CYC in serving school-age youth on the South and West sides through workforce-readiness and social-emotional programming.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Chicago Schools: Charter school network serving Chicago's underserved communities with K-12 education and enrichment — comparable target population (South and West side families) and STEAM/college-readiness focus, but operates daytime school rather than OST.
• National 4-H Council: National youth-development organization offering after-school, STEM, and workforce-readiness programming — comparable youth-development mission and STEAM curriculum focus to CYC, though operating at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Chicago Park District (After School Programs): Municipal provider of after-school and summer programming at Chicago parks — competes with CYC for the same families and a comparable programmatic footprint in OST and summer enrichment, though delivered via public funding rather than donor dollars.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National umbrella organization overseeing the Boys & Girls Club network — the national architecture that the local Chicago affiliate of CYC's closest peer sits inside, and the dominant brand for the youth-club nonprofit category CYC operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chicagocyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chicagoyouthcenters7791
• Facebookfacebook.com/chicagoyouthcenters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-youth-centers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Youth Centers