Circle Urban Ministries

What Circle Urban Ministries does

Circle Urban Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Dr. Glen and Lonni Kehrein, headquartered on a 14-acre campus at 118 N. Central Avenue in Chicago's Austin community. The organization operates as a comprehensive community development entity delivering services across four pillars: education and youth development, housing and stability, health and wellness, and arts and culture. Programs are delivered directly and through 25+ co-located partner organizations, including Catalyst Schools (a K-12 charter school with 520 students and a 95%+ high school graduation rate), Rock of Our Salvation Church, Maryville Academy, Thresholds (mental health services reaching 3,000+ individuals annually), and PCC Wellness Center (12,000+ patient visits annually). Circle's own direct programs include after-school services with a 100% graduation rate among participants, the Our Daily Bread Food Pantry distributing 100,000+ pounds of food monthly, recovery housing (12 mothers and 36 children supported), the Kehrein Center for the Arts, Music Makers, and spiritual/chaplaincy services.

The business model is donation-funded. Circle reports FY2024-2025 total revenue of $1,322,846, with 89% directed to programs and 74% of expenses classified as program expenses. Revenue is sourced from individual, corporate, and foundation donations, monthly recurring gifts (with a $25 minimum introduced as a subscription tier), and signature fundraising events such as the Kehrein Memorial Golf Classic (2026 goal: $329,003) and the Kehrein Awards Dinner. Donation tiers are explicitly tied to program outcomes (e.g., $100 funds a month of food for a family of four; $1,000 supports a month of recovery housing with childcare and job training).

The organization does not operate a technology platform, app, or proprietary software product; service delivery is conducted in person on the central campus. The organization employs 11-50 staff, is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors with 100% board giving participation, and is led by Executive Director and CEO Dr. James Borishade alongside a senior team that includes a COO, a Chief Property & Asset Management Officer, an SVP of Programs, and Directors of Philanthropy and After-School Programs. Active multi-year capital projects (Project 130, a 10-unit transitional housing development targeted for Spring 2026, and Project 843, a single-family home development targeted for Fall 2025) plus the Seed 2 Success freight-farming initiative indicate ongoing programmatic expansion within the existing single-geography footprint.

Name

Circle Urban Ministries

Legal name

Circle Urban Ministries

Website

https://circleurban.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circle Urban Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that operates a 14-acre campus on Chicago's West Side delivering integrated education, housing, health, and arts programs to 17,000+ Austin community residents annually through 25+ partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Youth education programs
• Affordable housing development
• Food assistance programs
• Mental health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Circle Urban Ministries generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization reported total revenue of $1,322,846 for FY2024-2025, with 89% of every dollar going directly to programs.
2. Special Events Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including the Kehrein Memorial Golf Classic and Kehrein Awards Dinner generate revenue through participant fees, sponsorships, and auction proceeds. The 2026 golf outing has a goal of $329,003.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Circle Urban Ministries is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit that operates an integrated 14-acre community campus on Chicago's West Side, delivering services across four pillars: education and youth development, housing and stability, health and wellness (including food assistance), and arts/culture and spiritual development. Programs include after-school and summer programming, charter school education, transitional and affordable housing development, mental health and primary care referrals, a 100,000-pound-per-month food pantry, music and theater programming, and spiritual care services, serving more than 17,000 people annually.

Product overview

Circle Urban Ministries operates as a comprehensive community development organization offering an integrated ecosystem of programs across four core pillars: Education and Youth Programming (after-school programs, summer camp, junior leadership), Housing and Stability (Project 130 transitional housing, Project 843 single-family homes), Health and Wellness (mental health services, primary care referrals, food pantry), and Arts/Culture and Spiritual Development. The organization serves Chicago's West Side through a 14-acre campus that houses multiple partner organizations, providing education, healthcare, housing support, and social services in one integrated location. Key programs include the After-School Programs (100% graduation rate), Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, Kehrein Center for the Arts, Rock of Our Salvation Church, and Seed 2 Success freight farming initiative. The portfolio includes construction housing projects (Project 130 and Project 843) and various community service programs serving 17,000+ people annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education and Youth Programming Comprehensive education programming serving Austin community youth from kindergarten through high school, including after-school programs, summer camp, and the Junior Leadership Program, with 100% graduation rates among after-school participants.
• Housing and Stability Programs Affordable housing, transitional housing, and recovery housing initiatives providing safe, stable homes and pathways to homeownership for families rebuilding their lives, including Project 130 transitional housing and Project 843 single-family home development.
• Health and Wellness Programs Comprehensive health services addressing physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through on-campus clinic partnerships including Thresholds mental health services and PCC Wellness Center primary care, dental, and behavioral health referrals.
• Our Daily Bread Food Pantry On-campus food pantry distributing essential groceries and nutritious food to families facing food insecurity, open weekly (Wednesdays 9AM-11AM and Thursdays 12PM-2PM), distributing 100,000+ pounds of food monthly.
• Arts and Culture Programs Comprehensive arts programming including the Kehrein Center for the Arts (professional arts education and performance space serving 200+ students), Music Makers program (150+ musicians), community theater productions (50+ performers), and film and digital media programs (75+ creators).
• Spiritual Development Programs Nurturing spiritual growth through Rock of Our Salvation Church worship services, one-on-one mentorship relationships (100+ mentees), and 24/7 chaplaincy pastoral care for individuals and families in crisis or transition, grounded in 50 years of faith-based community development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ high school graduation rate at Catalyst Circle Rock charter school (vs. under 60% in Austin community)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Catalyst SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-performing charter school serving 520 students K-12 with 95% college acceptance rate. Operates on Circle's campus and represents the education pillar of the four-pillar community transformation model.
• Rock of Our Salvation ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChrist-centered spiritual community on Circle's campus offering Sunday and Wednesday services that nurture spiritual growth, connection, and renewal for families on Chicago's West Side.
• Maryville AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential treatment and support services for youth and families in crisis, providing 200+ youth and families with critical intervention services.
• ThresholdscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health and substance abuse services providing comprehensive behavioral healthcare to 3,000+ individuals annually through on-campus clinic.
• PCC Wellness CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center offering primary care, dental, and behavioral health services with 12,000 patient visits annually.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago: Youth development nonprofit offering after-school, summer, and leadership programming across Chicago — directly comparable to Circle's after-school programs, summer camp, and Junior Leadership programs.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit developer of affordable housing with strong service-enriched housing model; comparable to Circle's integrated housing plus wraparound-services approach across Recovery Housing and Project 130/843.
• Lawndale Christian Health Center: Faith-based Chicago health center providing integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health services on the West Side; parallels Circle's partnership model with PCC Wellness and Thresholds on the health pillar.
• Habitat for Humanity Chicago: Chicago-based affordable housing developer offering homeownership pathways on the West Side; directly comparable to Circle's Project 843 single-family homeownership model and broader 500+ unit housing portfolio.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Regional food bank serving the Chicago area including Austin — comparable to Circle's Our Daily Bread Food Pantry which distributes 100,000 lbs of food monthly.
• The Resurrection Project: Faith-based Chicago community development nonprofit that builds power and wealth on the West Side through community organizing, housing, and civic engagement — operates in the same geography and mission space as Circle Urban Ministries.

Broad incumbents

• Chicago Community Trust: Regional community foundation serving metropolitan Chicago; comparable as a funder and convener for the same nonprofit ecosystem in which Circle Urban Ministries operates.
• LISC Chicago: Local Initiatives Support Corporation's Chicago office — a major community development financial institution with a much larger footprint that also funds and convenes West Side housing and small business programs.

Emerging players

• Esperanza Health Centers: Federally Qualified Health Center network on Chicago's Southwest Side providing primary care, behavioral health, and community programming — comparable to the PCC Wellness Center partnership Circle enables on its campus.

Regional players

• West Side Health Authority: Chicago West Side community health and economic development organization that, like Circle, focuses resources on the Austin neighborhood and operates faith-aligned social service programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/circleurban
• Facebookfacebook.com/CircleUrban
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circle-urban-ministries

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Circle Urban Ministries