826CHI

What 826CHI does

826CHI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center serving Chicago youth ages 6-18. Established in 2008 as Chicago's chapter of the 826 National network (founded by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari), 826CHI delivers tuition-free programs including the After-School Writing Lab, Writing Roadshows (field trips to CPS classrooms), Teen Writers Studio, In-School Partnerships, Writing Workshops, and the Eat Your Words Summer Camp. Student publishing is a connective thread across all programs, producing more than 100 unique book volumes, chapbooks, and the biennial 826CHI Compendium annually.

The organization's core technology is the 826 Digital platform (826digital.com), an online standards-based resource hub created by teachers for educators, hosting lessons, projects, writing prompts, and student writing samples. The Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co. serves as both physical retail presence and online store (integrated with bookshop.org) for student publications and merchandise. Volunteer and job scheduling runs on Salesforce, and donor-advised fund contributions are processed through DAFDirect.

826CHI operates on a nonprofit revenue model funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Storable, Ace Hotel Chicago, Jet's Pizza, Sparkling Ice, Imagination), annual fundraising events (Trivia for Cheaters, cocktail galas), retail sales of student publications, and volunteer in-kind contributions. All programs are free to students, and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by Chair Larry Griffin. Leadership transitioned in May 2026 with the appointment of Molly J. Arbogast as Executive Director.

Name

826CHI

Legal name

826CHI

Website

https://826chi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

826CHI is a Chicago nonprofit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center serving youth ages 6-18 with tuition-free programs in schools and community spaces. It operates as a chapter of the 826 National network and publishes over 100 student-authored volumes annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Creative Writing and Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Writing, Journalism & Publishing Camps (EDAMALAM), Middle Grade Publishing (MPAJAFAC)

Keywords

• Youth creative writing
• Writing tutoring programs
• Student publishing services
• After-school writing labs
• Nonprofit literacy education

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations from supporters who believe in the mission of empowering youth through creative writing. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 30-0248920.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events such as Trivia for Cheaters, cocktail galas, and other community fundraisers. The 2025 Trivia for Cheaters event raised funds supporting over 2,000 students.
3. Secret Agent Supply Store: Online store selling student publications, merchandise, and books. Every purchase supports 826CHI's tuition-free programs.
4. Student Publications Sales: Sale of student-authored books and chapbooks through Secret Agent Supply Co. and bookshop.org. Students' work is also featured in Chicago Public Library branches and independent bookstores.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support events and programs. Notable sponsors include Storable (presenting sponsor for Trivia for Cheaters), Jet's Pizza, Sparkling Ice, and Ace Hotel Chicago.
6. Volunteer Services: Volunteers contribute hundreds of hours annually, serving as tutors, workshop leaders, cover artists, editors, translators, and event support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

826CHI is a nonprofit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center that delivers tuition-free programs for Chicago youth ages 6-18, including After-School Writing Labs, Writing Roadshows (field trips), Teen Writers Studio, In-School Partnerships, and community Writing Workshops. All programs culminate in student publishing, producing 100+ unique book volumes annually through chapbooks, the Young Authors Book Project, and the biennial 826CHI Compendium.

Product overview

826CHI is a nonprofit creative writing and tutoring organization offering a comprehensive suite of tuition-free programs for Chicago youth ages 6-18. The core offerings include the After-School Writing Lab, Writing Roadshows (field trips), Teen Writers Studio, In-School Partnerships, and Writing Workshops. Student Publishing is a connective thread across all programs, producing over 100 unique book volumes annually through products like Chapbooks, the Young Authors Book Project, and the biennial 826CHI Compendium. 826 Digital extends the organization's methodology online through a digital resource platform for educators. The Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Store serves as both a physical location and online storefront for purchasing student publications. The organization prioritizes BIPOC youth, LGBTQIA+ students, English language learners, and neurodiverse learners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• After-School Writing Lab

Quantifiable outcome

• 826CHI helps reach over 2,000 students in Chicago each year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Steppenwolf TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner826CHI is 'Partners in Residence' at Steppenwolf Theatre, providing physical office space. For 2025-2026, 826CHI is partnering with Steppenwolf Theatre to support their young adult council teen programs, including the Teen Writers Studio.
• Chicago Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner826CHI has partnered with Chicago Public Library to support the ChiTeen Lit Fest, an annual event providing creative space for young adults to discover their unique voice through literary arts. 826CHI conducts lead-up writing workshops in library branches and student work is featured in CPL branches.
• Ace Hotel ChicagokeyGTM or Marketing PartnerAce Hotel Chicago hosts 826CHI events including the annual 826 Day celebration on their roof. The hotel features student publication books in suites, hosts an annual love-themed print show with local artists inspired by student writing, and employees engage with students through the Speakers & Snacks series.
• Zapata Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor the 2024-2025 school year, 826CHI partners with Zapata Elementary for the After-School Writing Lab program, providing dedicated after-school writing support within the school.
• East Village Youth ProgramkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerYearly collaboration helping students achieve college admission goals, with 826CHI staff and 12 volunteers working with 13 high school seniors on personal statements for college applications. Partnership continues in spring for scholarship applications.
• ImaginationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in fall 2018 with Imagination employees working side-by-side with students during field trips. More than 20 team members support young Chicago authors. Partnership continues with service trips, exemplifying true nonprofit-business community engagement.
• Essay FiestaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly literary salon event held at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square, bringing together Chicago's art and writing communities for first-person non-fiction essays. Hosted by Willy Nast and Karen Shimmin.
• 826 NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner826CHI is Chicago's chapter of 826 National, founded in 2002 by Dave Eggers and Nínive Calegari. The national office provides strategic leadership, administration, and resources. 826CHI is part of a network including 826 Boston, 826 LA, 826 Michigan, 826 NYC, 826 New Orleans, 826 Valencia, 826 DC, and 826 Digital.
• Chicago Literacy AllianceminorOthers826CHI participates in the Chicago Literacy Alliance, a coalition of organizations working to advance literacy and reading across Chicago.
• Madonna MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on 826CHI's community partnerships page, collaborating on youth programming.
• The Posse FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting youth through college access and success programming.
• Graham School at University of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Writers Studio programming.
• Chicago IdeasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth programming partnership through Chicago Ideas organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 826 National: Parent network of all 826 chapters founded by Dave Eggers and Nínive Calegari. 826CHI operates as a chapter under 826 National, sharing brand, methodology, and strategic resources. It is the most direct peer given structural affiliation and shared mission.
• 826 Boston: Sibling 826 chapter serving Boston youth with creative writing, tutoring, and student publishing. Operates with the same network methodology and program structure as 826CHI, making it a directly comparable chapter peer.
• 826 NYC: New York chapter of the 826 Network providing free writing and publishing programs to NYC students. Directly comparable to 826CHI in mission, program design, and youth publishing emphasis.
• 826 LA: Los Angeles chapter of the 826 Network with the same writing-tutoring-publishing model. Comparable peer given identical network affiliation and target audience (school-age youth in a major US metro).
• Young Chicago Authors: Chicago-based nonprofit that teaches creative writing and performance to youth through residencies, workshops, and Louder Than a Bomb, the world's largest youth poetry slam. Directly comparable as a Chicago-focused creative writing nonprofit for youth.
• Chicago Poetry Center: Chicago nonprofit dedicated to poetry education and performance for youth through workshops, school partnerships, and the Louder Than a Bomb festival co-organization. Overlaps directly with 826CHI's Chicago youth writing mission.
• 826 Valencia: Original 826 chapter founded in San Francisco in 2002 by Dave Eggers. Functions as a sister chapter to 826CHI with the same network model and student publishing focus.

Regional players

• InsideOut Literary Arts Project: Detroit-based nonprofit that places writers in schools to lead creative writing workshops and publishes student work. Comparable in model (in-school creative writing + student publication) and serves a similar urban Midwestern youth population, though it does not overlap geographically with 826CHI.
• Writers in the Schools (WITS): Houston-based nonprofit sending professional writers into K-12 classrooms for creative writing instruction and student publication. Comparable model (teaching artists in schools + student publishing), but operates in a different geography from 826CHI.

Broad incumbents

• The Loft Literary Center: Minneapolis-based broad literary arts organization offering classes, workshops, and youth programming across writing genres. Comparable in creative writing education focus but operates at a larger and more diversified scale than 826CHI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/826chi
• YouTubevimeo.com/826chi
• Facebookfacebook.com/826CHI
• Instagraminstagram.com/826chi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 826CHI