Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

What Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago does

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is a nonprofit human services organization founded in 1917, operating with a $180 million budget and approximately 900-1,200 employees across Cook and Lake counties in Illinois. It self-describes as the largest human services provider in the Midwest and serves roughly 300,000-375,000 individuals annually, organized around three impact areas: Immediate Needs (homelessness prevention, food pantries, crisis assistance), Mothers and Families (pregnancy/parenting support, WIC nutrition, domestic violence services, behavioral health), and Seniors and Housing (affordable housing, senior care coordination). Service delivery runs through a physical network of five regional/community centers, 16 WIC Food Centers plus a Mobile Market, 22 affordable housing residences for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, and partnerships with parishes across the Archdiocese. The organization holds Department of Justice immigration accreditation, long-standing HUD partnerships, and contracts with federal and state agencies.

The business model mixes three revenue streams: government grants and contracts funding core programs such as WIC, homeless prevention, senior services, and housing; individual and corporate charitable donations supporting general operations and special initiatives; and subsidized program fees (most prominently for behavioral health counseling, which accepts commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance with income-based fee subsidies). Most services are delivered free of charge to clients. Programming is differentiated by a faith-based mission, a 100+ year operating history, GuideStar Platinum transparency rating, and integrated wraparound case management that connects immediate needs with longer-term stability services (employment, housing, counseling). Notable programs include the nation's first WIC Food Centers (1996), Roseland Manor and Cooke's Manor HUD/VA-affordable housing, the Encompassing Center community counseling clinic, and LOSS suicide survivor support.

Strategically, the organization recently launched Vision 2030, a multi-year strategic plan developed over four years with the Board of Directors to deepen impact in its core counties. Operational expansion has included the Schreiber Center for Human Services in Round Lake, embedded care coordination at Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital, and a 35% year-over-year increase in pantry visits signaling demand pressure. While the organization is financially independent from the Archdiocese, it is closely aligned with it in mission, branding, and access to parish-level volunteer networks and donor constituencies. No proprietary technology products or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

Name

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Legal name

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Website

https://catholiccharities.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is a 1917-founded nonprofit human services organization serving roughly 300,000-375,000 individuals annually across Cook and Lake counties, Illinois, through food, housing, counseling, immigration, and senior care programs funded by government grants, donations, and fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services and Social Assistance

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

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), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)

Keywords

• Human services nonprofit
• Homelessness prevention services
• Affordable senior housing
• Immigration legal services
• Community mental health counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and city government agencies provide grant funding to support key services including homeless prevention, WIC programs, senior services, and housing programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Current period fundraising from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and planned giving programs. Includes annual campaigns, event fundraising, and endowment distributions.
3. Program Fees (Subsidized): User fees for select services such as therapeutic counseling, typically at subsidized cost based on household income and size. Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance plans accepted for counseling services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago provides comprehensive human services to individuals and families in need across Cook and Lake counties in Illinois. Core offerings include food and basic needs assistance (food pantries, community meals, WIC grocery stores), homelessness prevention and housing access services, behavioral health counseling, immigration legal representation, domestic violence support, pregnancy and parenting programs, and affordable senior housing. The organization serves nearly 300,000 people annually through a network of community-based centers, regional offices, and 22 affordable housing residences.

Product overview

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago operates as a comprehensive human services organization offering a broad portfolio of interconnected programs organized around three impact areas: Immediate Needs (homelessness prevention, food pantries, community meals, crisis assistance), Mothers and Families (family support, pregnancy and parenting, WIC nutrition and grocery stores, domestic violence support, behavioral health programs), and Seniors and Housing (affordable housing, senior care, housing access programs). The organization serves nearly 300,000 individuals annually across Cook and Lake counties through programs including behavioral health counseling, immigrant services, LOSS suicide survivor support, the Encompassing Center, transitional housing, and various community support services. Communication channels include Spirit Magazine, Voice of Charity Podcast, and Keenager News. The organization does not offer technology products but provides direct human services to the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spirit Magazine: A triannual publication featuring news, stories, events and information that are examples of their witness, designed to inspire readers and offer a message of mercy and hope.
• Voice of Charity Podcast
• Mercy in Action Stories
• Keenager News
• LOSS - Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide

Products and services

• Homelessness Prevention

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300,000 individuals served annually across Cook and Lake counties
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SVN Chicago CommercialminorOthers · 20 February 2026SVN Chicago Commercial acted as the broker for the sale of a 50,000-square-foot North Side property owned by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities collaborates with IDHS and USDA to operate WIC Grocery Centers and Mobile Markets, ensuring WIC families have access to nutritious food. This partnership began in 1996 when Catholic Charities opened the nation's first WIC food centers.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst senior housing facility, Roseland Manor, opened in conjunction with HUD. Catholic Charities is a recognized expert in developing and managing independent-living senior residences for low-income seniors.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with VA to open Cooke’s Manor veterans housing facility along with additional homes. Veterans Services expanded to include job counseling and support services for veterans and their families.
• U.S. Department of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities Department of Justice-accredited team is authorized to provide legal counseling and representation in immigration processes. Accreditation allows representation at USCIS Chicago Field Office.
• Illinois ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Illinois Extension for virtual cooking school program - a six-class series providing ingredients at no cost to WIC participants with nutrition lessons and recipe preparation.
• UIC ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UIC Chicago for in-person eight-week cooking course focusing on nutrition lessons, cooking demonstrations, and tastings for WIC families.
• WNDZ 750AM RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerVoice of Charity weekly broadcast airs on WNDZ 750AM radio in Chicago with simultaneous livestream on YouTube and Facebook through Archdiocese multimedia department.
• Archdiocese of Chicago Department of CommunicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoice of Charity podcast produced in partnership with Archdiocese multimedia department. Radio and TV content distributed through archdiocese channels.
• Endeavor Health Northwest Community HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Catholic Charities care coordinators based at Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital screen patients transitioning to long-term care and connect them with services through the Community Care Program.
• Arlington Heights Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities Senior Care Coordination team located inside Arlington Heights Senior Center, providing in-home supportive services to seniors in northwest suburbs.
• Lord of Mercy Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParish partner hosting The Shared Table community meal program, providing free hot meals to community members in need every Wednesday night.
• 200+ Home Care AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities care coordinators collaborate with over 200 agencies providing in-home care services, overseeing care to ensure seniors are well taken care of.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities USA: National federation of Catholic Charities agencies. Directly comparable mission, service mix (food, housing, immigration, behavioral health), and faith-based funding model — essentially the parent trade body for the subject organization.
• Feeding America: Largest U.S. hunger-relief nonprofit, operating a nationwide network of food banks. Directly comparable on food pantry and mobile market operations, and a likely upstream donor or supply-chain partner for Catholic Charities' 16 WIC grocery centers and food pantries.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based human services organization focused on housing, immigration legal services, and behavioral health for vulnerable populations. Operates in the same geography with overlapping program mix including DOJ-accredited immigration representation.
• United Way of Metro Chicago: Major Chicago-area human services funding and coordinating body with overlapping donor base and service-partner ecosystem. Comparable scale of community impact and similarly dependent on workplace giving and corporate partnerships.
• Catholic Charities of New York: Archdiocesan-level Catholic Charities agency serving New York City. Same organizational template, same faith-based service portfolio, same funding mix of government contracts and donations — a benchmark peer for scale and program scope.
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois: Faith-based human services organization serving Illinois with comparable programs in senior services, behavioral health, foster care, and immigration. Direct competitor for state and county contracts and for individual/corporate donations in the same geography.
• Mercy Housing: National faith-affiliated nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator. Directly comparable on the 22 affordable housing residences and HUD partnership model, with similar reliance on LIHTC, HUD subsidies, and mission-driven operations.
• Salvation Army Chicago Metropolitan: Faith-based direct-service nonprofit operating in the same Chicago metropolitan area with overlapping programs in food, shelter, emergency assistance, and senior services. Operates with similar funding sources including government grants, donations, and thrift-store revenue.
• Volunteers of America: National faith-affiliated nonprofit delivering housing, behavioral health, and veteran services. Directly comparable service portfolio and federal contracting model, providing a useful benchmark for multi-state scaling potential.

Regional players

• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: Major Chicago-area faith-affiliated social services and funding organization with overlapping donor base and senior services, though with a different religious mission. Comparable scale of community impact and operating footprint in the same metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ccofchicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CCofChicago?feature=mhee
• Facebookfacebook.com/ccofchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-of-the-archdiocese-of-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccofchicago

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago