Center for Disability & Elder Law

What Center for Disability & Elder Law does

The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL), founded in 1984, is an Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free legal services to low-income older adults (60+) and people with disabilities residing in Cook County, Illinois. CDEL is headquartered at 205 West Randolph in Chicago and operates a coordinated suite of seven programs covering adult guardianship representation, embedded community clinics, the Early Resolution Program for eviction and consumer debt, the Housing Preservation Program for homeownership protection, Power of Attorney workshops, the statewide Power of Planning ADRD program for individuals with Alzheimer's and related dementias, and the Proud to Thrive program for LGBT+ elders. Services are delivered through neighborhood-based clinics (notably in Auburn Gresham and Austin), help desks at the Daley Center, partner-hosted workshops throughout Cook County, phone intake (312.376.1880), and an online triage partnership with Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Under the hood, CDEL runs no proprietary technology platform; operations rely on third-party intake tools, partner-hosted venues, and a large pro bono volunteer network of 200+ attorneys drawn from major law firms including Baker McKenzie, Venable, Jenner & Block, Greenberg Traurig, Katten, and Kirkland & Ellis alumni. The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (notably via the annual Winter Awards Benefit), planned giving and legacy gifts, Illinois Department of Public Health program funding (for the Power of Planning ADRD initiative), and competitive grants such as the May 2026 $40,000 Merit Award from Impact Grants Chicago. A small sliding-scale fee applies to higher-income Adult Guardianship Representation clients, but the vast majority of services are delivered at no cost to income-eligible households (generally up to 250% of Federal Poverty Level).

CDEL's revenue mechanics are those of a mature, donor-dependent nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise: leadership (Executive Director Michael Stone, Legal Director Stephanie Ridella Vittands, Finance & Operations Director Mike Wyne, Development Director Jeanette Ruby) drives a 2025-2027 Strategic Plan focused on community impact, systemic advocacy, talent investment, and organizational sustainability. Distribution is achieved through partnerships with community-based organizations (BUILD, Center on Cottage Grove, BCBS Blue Door Neighborhood Centers, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Salvation Army Kroc Center, and others) and through a Chicago Marathon charity partnership and Young Professionals Board events. In 2025, CDEL worked 3,073 cases and logged 12,000+ volunteer hours.

Name

Center for Disability & Elder Law

Legal name

Center for Disability and Elder Law, Inc.

Website

https://cdelaw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Disability and Elder Law is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1984 that provides free legal services — including guardianship, estate planning, housing preservation, and eviction defense — to low-income seniors and people with disabilities throughout Cook County, Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals, including one-time and recurring gifts through the Leadership Circle monthly/quarterly/annual giving program
2. Corporate Sponsorship & Grants: Major funding from law firm sponsors at Winter Awards Benefit events, corporate foundations, and grants from organizations like Impact Grants Chicago ($40,000 Merit Award), Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice
3. Planned Giving & Legacy Gifts: Bequests, charitable remainder gifts, life insurance donations, retirement asset beneficiary designations, donor-advised fund contributions through Legacy Gift Circle program
4. Government & Foundation Grants: Funding from Illinois Department of Public Health for Power of Planning ADRD program; support from Cook County for various initiatives
5. Sliding Scale Fees: Adult Guardianship Representation for higher-income households charged on sliding scale based on income. Early Resolution Program accepts clients regardless of income based on available resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CDEL provides free legal services to low-income older adults (60+) and people with disabilities throughout Cook County, Illinois. Its core offering is a coordinated suite of community-based legal programs covering adult guardianship, estate planning (Powers of Attorney, wills, Transfer on Death Instruments), eviction defense, consumer debt, housing preservation, and divorce representation. Services are delivered through embedded neighborhood clinics, courthouse help desks, community workshops, and direct intake, supported by a network of more than 200 pro bono volunteer attorneys.

Product overview

CDEL offers a coordinated suite of community-based legal services for low-income older adults and people with disabilities in Cook County, Illinois. The core offerings include Adult Guardianship services (help desk and full representation), Community Clinics in high-need neighborhoods, the Early Resolution Program for eviction and debt matters, the Housing Preservation Program for homeownership protection, Power of Attorney Workshops, the Power of Planning ADRD program for dementia patients, and the Proud to Thrive program for LGBT+ elders. These programs work together to address legal needs related to financial and housing stability, estate planning, and adult guardianship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Early Resolution Program: Focuses on providing advice to individuals facing eviction or consumer debt issues regardless of income.
• Housing Preservation Program
• Power of Planning ADRD
• Proud to Thrive for LGBT+ Elders

Products and services

• Adult Guardianship Legal services for adult guardianship matters including help desk assistance at the Richard J. Daley Center and full representation in guardianship proceedings; serves low-income older adults, people with disabilities, and families in Cook County. Sliding-scale fees apply for higher-income households.
• Community Clinics Neighborhood-based legal clinics operating in high-need communities throughout Cook County, providing legal information, intake services, and direct legal assistance including Powers of Attorney and estate planning document execution; serves low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
• Early Resolution Program (ERP) Program providing brief legal services to individuals facing eviction or consumer debt issues, regardless of income; serves Cook County residents facing housing instability or debt collection matters.
• Housing Preservation Program (HPP) Program launched in 2019 to preserve homeownership rights for older adults through succession planning, property tax exemption assistance, title correction, foreclosure defense, and Transfer on Death Instrument drafting; serves low-income senior homeowners in Cook County.
• Power of Attorney Workshops Community-based workshops preparing Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Property, as well as Illinois Living Will Declarations for low-income older adults at senior centers throughout Cook County.
• Power of Planning (ADRD Program) Statewide program providing culturally responsive outreach and free legal services for individuals with early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their caregivers, developed in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Legal Aid Online; includes Black American, Hispanic/Latinx American, and LGBT+ community modules.
• Proud to Thrive for LGBT+ Elders Program providing free or low-cost legal services for low-income LGBT+ older adults and persons with disabilities across Cook County, implementing monthly legal clinics in LGBT+-affirming locations; addresses estate planning, housing concerns, and discrimination-related legal issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,073 cases worked in 2025
• +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

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BUILD, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner in Austin neighborhood hosting weekly embedded CDEL community clinic. CDEL staff attorney meets with clients at BUILD location for estate documents and legal assistance.
• Center on Cottage GrovecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Hub for LGBTQ organizations in Woodlawn community serving primarily Black and Brown communities. CDEL holds Power of Attorney workshops honoring LGBT Older Adults Day.
• William Leonard Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Host location for Transfer on Death Instrument workshop in Robbins, IL. CDEL helped clients draft 9 TODIs at this workshop.
• TransunionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Corporate volunteers joined CDEL for POA workshop at Center on Cottage Grove, assisting clients with their documents.
• AccentureminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Pro bono partner that has volunteered with CDEL, contributing attorney time and expertise.
• Greenberg Traurig, LLPminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Pro bono partner law firm providing volunteer attorneys for CDEL programs.
• JPMorgan ChaseminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Pro bono partner contributing volunteer support to CDEL programs.
• Pro Bono NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Organization connecting volunteer attorneys with CDEL opportunities for pro bono legal work.
• Illinois Legal Aid OnlinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Statewide partner collaborating on Power of Planning initiative for dementia patients and caregivers.
• Solutions for CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Nonprofit dedicated to supporting older adults and caregivers. Hosted bilingual pilot of Power of Planning Latino/Hispanic module.
• Bloom Township Senior ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services in suburban Cook County.
• Chicago Methodist Senior ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for senior services in Chicago.
• ECHO Academy for LearningminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services.
• EZRA Multi-Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner host of Ezra Community Clinic where Ankoor Bagchi and Bob Goldman serve as Site Managers.
• Greater Auburn Gresham Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026COVID-19 Crisis Response Center for southside residents, committed to preserving housing stock. Pledged grants for TODI recording during pandemic.
• Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services.
• University of Chicago Law SchoolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Academic partner providing student volunteers and interns for CDEL programs.
• Oak Park Library - Maze BranchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services.
• Dolton Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services.
• Center on AddisonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Community partner for CDEL services.
• Baker McKenzie LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of 2026 Winter Awards Benefit at Baker McKenzie LLP venue.
• United AirlinescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor of 2026 Winter Awards Benefit. Todd Patterson of United Airlines served as Winter Awards Benefit Chair.
• Venable LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20262025 Partner of the Year. Fifteen Venable attorneys volunteered with CDEL, contributing 24 clients served in 2023.
• SAGE (Service and Advocacy for GLBT Elders)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SAGECollab Partner network dedicated to aging programs and advocacy for older LGBT+ communities, particularly BIPOC elders, transgender and non-binary elders, and rural elders.
• Cook County Clerk's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community partner allowing CDEL to serve clients at monthly help desk for real estate records questions.
• BCBS Blue Door Neighborhood CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner for Power of Planning Black American module, coordinating launch in Morgan Park and Pullman communities.
• Center on HalstedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LGBT community center essential in developing culturally relevant Proud to Thrive programming for LGBT+ community.
• Rush Alzheimer's Disease CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Expert partner sharing knowledge on memory loss, dementia treatment, and community connections for Power of Planning program.
• Katten Muchin Rosenman LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Host of 2025 strategic planning summit. Board Executive Member Andy Lillis and his firm provided beautiful space for stakeholder planning day.
• Venable LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Pro bono partner with 15 attorneys volunteering, Foundation funding CDEL since 2023, Board member Jeremy Goldkind on Nominating Committee.
• Pro Bono NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Organization through which many CDEL volunteers, including Tim Divis and Morgan Carr, found CDEL volunteer opportunities.
• Jenner & Block LLPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20242024 Partner of the Year. Provided crucial pro bono and financial support for complex CDEL case; Partners Lina Powell and Andrew Merrick provided trial representation.
• Astellas Pharma UScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20232023 Partner of the Year. Partnered since 2017, participated in PTT training, workshops, and mobile guardianship help desk events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prairie State Legal Services: Statewide Illinois legal aid organization providing free civil legal services to low-income clients across multiple practice areas. Direct peer in free legal services delivery to low-income populations, serving overlapping practice areas (housing, consumer, family) with a broader geographic footprint into northern and central Illinois.
• Legal Aid Chicago: Provides free civil legal services to low-income residents across Chicago on housing, family, public benefits, and consumer matters. Direct peer given shared free legal aid model, overlapping client populations (including seniors and people with disabilities), and identical Cook County footprint.
• Greater Chicago Legal Clinic: Chicago-based legal aid clinic offering free civil legal services to low-income residents of metropolitan Chicago. Direct peer in free legal aid delivery and overlapping practice areas such as housing and consumer matters.
• Illinois Legal Aid Online: Statewide online legal aid portal and triage system that CDEL already partners with to deliver Power of Planning programming. Direct peer and active collaborator serving low-income Illinois residents seeking free legal information and referrals.
• Land of Lincoln Legal Aid: Provides free civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families across central and southern Illinois on housing, consumer, family, and public benefits matters. Direct peer in mission and Illinois footprint, though its geographic focus is south/central rather than metropolitan Chicago.
• Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: Chicago-based legal and advocacy organization addressing civil rights issues including disability rights, housing, and education equity. Direct peer in providing free civil legal services to vulnerable Chicago populations, with overlapping programmatic focus areas.
• Equip for Equality: Independent Illinois nonprofit providing free legal services and advocacy to people with disabilities. Direct peer on the disability-rights legal services dimension of CDEL's work and a regional source of talent (CDEL staff attorney Kate Milvert previously practiced here).
• Chicago Volunteer Legal Services: Chicago nonprofit that connects low-income clients with pro bono attorneys across a range of civil practice areas. Direct peer given its parallel reliance on a pro bono attorney model and free legal services mission in Cook County.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network: National membership network for the federally mandated Protection & Advocacy systems in each U.S. state, providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities. Broader incumbent for the disability legal aid dimension of CDEL's mission, operating at national scale across all 50 states.
• AARP Foundation: National nonprofit providing legal assistance, fraud prevention, and social support to older adults, including elder-law programming. Broader incumbent for the elder-law legal aid dimension of CDEL's work, with national scale and policy reach that exceeds CDEL's regional scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cdelaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CDELTeam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-disability-&-elder-law
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdelaw
• Xx.com/CDEL_Law

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Center for Disability & Elder Law