Alignment Collaborative for Education

What Alignment Collaborative for Education does

Alignment Collaborative for Education (ACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded around 2018 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, that operates as a convening body between regional employers, four public school districts (U-46, 300, 301, and 303), and community partners to deliver work-based learning and career readiness programming. Its core offerings include a paid Summer Internship Program placing high school students with local employers across healthcare, manufacturing, IT, and other sectors; an annual Regional Job Fair hosted at Elgin Community College; the Explore career expo for eighth graders; resume and interview workshops; career panels and industry tours; and supporting initiatives including a Teacher Pipeline Initiative and the Elgin Neighborhood Network focused on youth mental health. ACE does not develop proprietary technology; its "product" is the orchestration of relationships among a 30-member governing board, 200+ business and community partners, and approximately 55 employer hosts, with programs delivered free of charge to students.

The organization operates as a grant-funded nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise, deriving revenue from foundation grants (Seigle Foundation $47,250/year, Hoffer Foundation $25,000/year), municipal support (Elgin Township grants that grew from $9,600 in 2022 to $21,600 in 2026), and United Way Metro Chicago funding, supplemented by smaller corporate donations. Student reach tripled from less than 5,000 in 2021 to over 15,000 in 2026, with internship applications rising from 65 in 2022 to 1,006 in 2025 and internship placements scaling from 52 to 243. Operations are led by a small 1-10 person staff under Executive Director Nancy Coleman, who in 2026 received the State of Illinois IACTE Carl Perkins Community Service Award.

Name

Alignment Collaborative for Education

Legal name

Alignment Collaborative for Education

Website

https://align4edu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alignment Collaborative for Education is a nonprofit that convenes regional employers, four Northern Kane County school districts, and community partners to deliver paid summer internships, career fairs, and work-based learning programs to over 15,000 middle and high school students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Education Partnerships for Equity, Inclusion & Gender (EDADALAF)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Student internship programs
• Career readiness education
• School business partnerships
• Youth career exploration

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: ACE operates as a non-profit organization that receives grants and donations from foundations, government entities, and community organizations to fund its educational programs and student internship stipends. Funding sources include Seigle Foundation ($47,250 annual grant), Hoffer Foundation ($25,000 annual gift), Elgin Township grants, and other community partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alignment Collaborative for Education is a nonprofit that convenes business, education, and community partners to deliver work-based learning and career readiness programs for middle and high school students across four Northern Kane County school districts. Its core offerings include paid summer internship placements with 100+ employer hosts, an annual Regional Job Fair, an Explore career expo for eighth graders, resume and interview workshops, career panels, industry tours, and Postsecondary Day events. Programs are delivered at no cost to students and funded through foundation grants, corporate donations, and community partnerships.

Product overview

Alignment Collaborative for Education (ACE) is a nonprofit educational organization that operates as a partnership-driven workforce development model rather than a traditional software product. The organization offers a portfolio of career readiness programs including summer internship placement, annual job fairs, career expos, resume workshops, and postsecondary planning events. Core programs include the Summer Internship Program connecting students with over 100 host companies, the Regional Job Fair attracting 600+ students and 80+ businesses, and the annual Explore event serving 2,300+ eighth graders. Supporting initiatives include the Academic and Career Readiness Initiative, Teacher Pipeline Initiative, and Neighborhood Network Initiative focused on youth mental health. The organization mobilizes business and community partnerships to expand equitable career pathways for students across school districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 in the greater Elgin, Illinois area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Internship Program Paid summer internship placement service connecting high school juniors and seniors from Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303 with local employer hosts across healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, IT, and other industries. In summer 2026 the program placed more than 300 students at over 100 host company locations, with stipends totaling approximately $240,000.
• Regional Job Fair Annual career fair event organized in partnership with Northern Kane County Region 110 and hosted at Elgin Community College, connecting students from multiple school districts with 81+ local businesses and community organizations. The 2026 job fair attracted 600+ students from 11 high schools.
• Explore Event (Annual Career Expo) Annual career exploration expo for eighth grade U-46 students showcasing career pathways and connecting students with industry professionals. The U-46 Explore event serves over 2,300 students annually.
• Resume and Interview Workshops Career readiness workshops providing students with resume building, cover letter development, interviewing skills, and job application preparation support. Delivered in partnership with Junior Achievement and other community organizations.
• Postsecondary Day Postsecondary planning events connecting high school students with college admissions counselors, financial aid information, and postsecondary pathway resources. Delivered in both virtual and in-person formats.
• Academic and Career Readiness Initiative Strategic initiative focused on ensuring students graduate academic and career ready through work-based learning opportunities, employer engagement, and industry partnerships. Anchors ACE's programming across Districts U-46, 300, 301, and 303.
• Teacher Pipeline Initiative Program designed to build the future teacher workforce by providing pathways for students interested in education careers, partnering with universities and school districts to support future educators through education day events and career exploration.
• Neighborhood Network Initiative Community coordination initiative focused on connecting families with behavioral health resources, youth mental health support, and human services. Operated in partnership with United Way Metro Chicago, Kenneth Young Center, Ecker Center, and NAMI KDK.
• Career Panels Industry-specific career exploration panels featuring professionals from healthcare, manufacturing, finance, real estate, and other fields who share career insights and guidance with high school students.
• Industry Tours Guided tours of local businesses and manufacturing facilities allowing students to experience workplace environments and explore career pathways firsthand across regional industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student internship placements increased from 52 to 243 over recent years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• National Campaign for Grade Level ReadingsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2018ACE joined 11 community partners in submitting a letter of intent to the National Campaign for Grade Level Reading, aligning around a shared Community Action Plan addressing early education from birth to age 8.
• Alignment USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE is a member of Alignment USA communities of collaboration and collective impact, providing access to a national network of alignment initiatives and best practices for education-business partnerships.
• School District U-46coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary education partner serving families in 11 communities including Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood. District encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley and includes more than 39,000 pre-K through 12th graders.
• Northern Kane County Region 110coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational education region that partners with ACE to deliver the Regional Summer Internship Program, Job Fair, and other career and technical education initiatives serving students across four school districts.
• Elgin Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECC serves as a key educational partner hosting the Regional Job Fair, providing college transfer pathways, and participating in career panels and education day events for future teachers and students exploring postsecondary options.
• Advocate Sherman HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare partner hosting medical rotation internships, pharmacy technician internships, and Northern Illinois Medical Scholars program. Provides hands-on clinical experiences for high school students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Hoffer PlasticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing partner that offered the first engineering and manufacturing rotational internship for students. Company has served for a decade on Alignment's Governing Board, contributing corporate leadership to shape future workforce development.
• Elgin Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner that recognizes Alignment with awards, facilitates business engagement, and supports workforce development initiatives across the greater Elgin area.
• Elgin Neighborhood Network (ENN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way Metro Chicago-funded initiative focused on youth mental health, behavioral health support, and community-wide resources. Workgroup maps referral pathways and provides resource directories for families.
• School Districts 300, 301, and 303coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school districts alongside U-46 participating in the Regional Summer Internship Program, job fairs, career panels, and other work-based learning initiatives serving students across the Northern Kane County region.
• Kenneth Young CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health partner providing Teen Mental Health First Aid training certifications to summer healthcare interns from partner school districts.
• Ecker CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health center partnering with ACE and the Elgin Neighborhood Network to launch the first behavioral health internship program for high school students.
• Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education partnership focused on kindergarten readiness. EPEL has opened laundromat learning spaces and coordinates early learning initiatives with Alignment.
• Wintrust BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial services partner providing credit information workshops and financial literacy presentations for students at career resource events.
• Junior AchievementsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partnering with ACE to provide resume and cover letter development assistance and career readiness support for STEM Academy students.
• NAMI KDK (National Alliance on Mental Illness)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health advocacy organization delivering Ending the Silence training sessions to freshmen and sophomores on recognizing warning signs of mental health conditions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement of Chicago: Delivers career readiness, resume and interview workshops, and work-based learning to K-12 students through school-employer partnerships. ACE explicitly partners with Junior Achievement for resume and cover letter support, indicating direct program overlap.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): Operates career-themed academies and work-based learning pipelines inside high schools connecting students to industry mentors and paid internships. Highly comparable model of school district-employer career pathway coordination.
• Genesys Works: National nonprofit that places high school students from under-resourced communities into paid corporate internships with intensive career readiness training. Closest direct operational peer to ACE's summer internship program.
• Communities In Schools of Chicago: Nonprofit embedding school-based coordinators and external partners into public schools to connect students to career pathways, employers, and postsecondary support. Same school-district-anchored partnership model as ACE.

Broad incumbents

• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit delivering career and technical education, industry-credentialed training, and work-based learning for middle and high school students, with strong employer engagement. Comparable mission and student segments to ACE.
• Alignment USA: National umbrella network of local alignment initiatives. ACE is a member; Alignment USA codifies and propagates the same education-business-community partnership model to cities across the U.S., making it the most directly comparable organization.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Regional workforce development board funding and operating career pathways, internships, and employer partnerships across the Chicago metro area. Comparable workforce intermediary role but at much larger geography and budget scale.

Emerging players

• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit providing young adults with training, corporate internships, and job placement. Comparable employer-paid internship model but focused on older youth (18-24) rather than high schoolers.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Club of Elgin: Local youth-development nonprofit serving Elgin-area teens with career exploration, workforce readiness programming, and employer engagement. Same geography and overlapping student population as ACE.
• Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL): Elgin-area early childhood education collaborative coordinating school, family, and community partners. ACE is a documented partner; both are local nonprofit collaboratives operating in the same Elgin education ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/align4edu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alignmentcollaborativeforeducation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Alignment Collaborative for Education