The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois

What The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois does

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers nutrition services to older adults and individuals with disabilities across four counties in northern Illinois: suburban Cook (excluding the City of Chicago), Grundy, Kendall, and Will. The organization was created in March 2025 through the official unification of the Community Nutrition Network & Senior Services Association (CNNSSA), the operating arm founded in the 1970s and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2000, and the Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois (MOWFNI), the fundraising and public-awareness arm established in 2001. Together they operate three interconnected programs: home-delivered Meals on Wheels (hot meals delivered five days a week to homebound seniors with a daily wellness check), 22 Community Café group-dining sites, and the Dine Around Town program that partners with local restaurants for off-premise dining at a suggested $6.00 donation.

The operating model is community-led: clients are identified and enrolled through Care Coordination Unit partners in each township, with referrals flowing from social service agencies, healthcare providers, and word-of-mouth. Service delivery relies on a volunteer workforce managed through the Better Impact platform; in 2021, 55,655 volunteer hours supported the program. There is no proprietary technology platform; the stack is limited to Better Impact for volunteer management, Bloomerang for donor email, and a Sharepoint-based board portal. The organization holds Charity Navigator 2025, Candid (GuideStar) Gold Seal 2025, Meals on Wheels America 2025 membership, and SAGECare Platinum Credential.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable mechanisms: individual donations, corporate giving and matching gifts, planned giving/bequests, stock gifts, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund grants, and — most materially — federal Older Americans Act funding distributed via AgeOptions, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois, and the Illinois Department on Aging, supplemented by grants from local United Way chapters, health and private foundations (including Westlake Health Foundation, Helen Brach, Turano, RRF, Bramsen, Andreani, Community Memorial, Brunner, Sharp foundations), and corporate partners such as Meijer and Ecolab. All meal services are provided at no charge, with voluntary contributions requested but never required, and expense allocation is 91% programs, 5% administration, and 4% fundraising.

Name

The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois

Legal name

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois

Website

https://mowfni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers home-delivered meals, operates 22 group-dining Community Cafés, and runs the Dine Around Town restaurant program for adults aged 60+ and individuals with disabilities across suburban Cook, Grundy, Kendall, and Will counties in northern Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Nutrition Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Preparation, Nutrition Support & Feeding Assistance (HLADAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meals, Nutrition & Congregate Dining Day Programs (HSABANAM), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Senior meal services
• Home-delivered meals
• Community nutrition programs
• Group dining services
• Senior nutrition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Riverside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, with various giving methods including one-time gifts, monthly giving, and tribute gifts (in honor or memory of someone). EIN 36-4394010.
2. Corporate Giving and Matching Gifts: Corporate donations, matching gift programs, and employee giving programs where companies double the impact of employee donations.
3. Planned Giving and Bequests: Legacy giving through wills, trusts, and estate planning. Language provided for attorneys to include MOWFNI in client estate plans.
4. Stock Gifts: Donors can contribute appreciated stocks directly, potentially avoiding capital gains taxes while receiving a charitable deduction. Stock DTC information provided for Charles Schwab.
5. Qualified Charitable Distribution (IRA): Donors age 70½ or older can transfer up to $100,000 tax-free directly from their IRA to MOWFNI.
6. Donor Advised Funds: Donors can grant funds from their donor-advised funds to MOWFNI using Tax ID 36-4394010.
7. Federal Funding (Older Americans Act): Funding is provided in whole or in part by AgeOptions, AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois, and the Illinois Department on Aging through the Older Americans Act. CNNSSA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2000 to receive and manage federal and state funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The organization provides nutritious meals and wellness support to adults aged 60+ (and eligible individuals with disabilities and their caregivers) across suburban Cook, Grundy, Kendall, and Will counties in Northern Illinois. Its core offerings are home-delivered Meals on Wheels five days a week, 22 Community Café group-dining sites, and the Dine Around Town restaurant-partner meal program — all provided free of charge with voluntary contributions requested.

Product overview

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois operates as a nonprofit senior nutrition services organization offering three interconnected meal programs: (1) Home-Delivered Meals via the Meals on Wheels program—delivering hot nutritious meals directly to seniors' doors five days a week with wellness checks; (2) Community Cafés—22 group-dining sites providing sit-down or grab-and-go meals for adults 60+; and (3) Dine Around Town—partnering with local restaurants to serve dietitian-approved meals. The organization also runs a volunteer program supporting meal delivery and senior engagement. Services are provided free of charge with voluntary contributions requested, serving suburban Cook, Grundy, Kendall, and Will Counties in northern Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meals on Wheels (Home-Delivered Meals)

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 450,000 seniors in Illinois face food insecurity, and MOWFNI's services help delay the need for long-term care or assisted living, allowing seniors to remain healthier and more independent in their own homes.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgeGuide Northeastern IllinoiscoreOthersRegional planning agency that distributes federal Older Americans Act funding to local organizations. Monitors service quality and ensures resources are used responsibly. Serves more than 520,000 adults aged 60 and older across its eight-county region.
• AgeOptionscoreOthersRegional agency helping older adults in suburban Cook County live their lives to the fullest by empowering them with information and resources. Partners with a network of nonprofit community-based organizations serving older adults.
• Illinois Department on AgingcoreOthersState agency that helps older people live independently in their own homes and communities. Provides funding through the Older Americans Act.
• Meals on Wheels AmericacoreOthersNational organization dedicated to supporting local Meals on Wheels programs. Provides resources, advocacy, and represents the network of senior meal providers.
• Community Nutrition Network & Senior Services Association (CNNSSA)coreOthersThe operational arm of the organization. CNNSSA operates the 22 group-dining sites and 19 meal distribution hubs. MOWFNI serves as the fundraising, community outreach, and public awareness component. Both entities officially united under the Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois name in March 2025.
• Solutions for Care (Cook County - Berwyn, Cicero, Proviso Townships)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• Aging Care Connections (Cook County - Lyons, Leyden Townships)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• Pathlights (Cook County - Worth, Lemont Townships)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• North Shore Senior Center (Cook County - Maine Township)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• Catholic Charities Northwest (Cook County - Wheeling Township)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• South Suburban Senior Services of Catholic Charities (Cook County - Calumet, Bloom Townships)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner that helps determine eligibility and coordinates services for seniors in specific townships.
• Grundy County Health DepartmentcoreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner for all townships in Grundy County. Also provides direct services at Saratoga Towers location.
• Senior Services Associates (Kendall County)coreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner for all townships in Kendall County. Operates the Beecher Center central site.
• Will County SeniorscoreOthersCare Coordination Unit (CCU) partner for all townships in Will County. Coordinates home-delivered meal services.
• Clayton's Rail & The Alley (Morris, IL)minorOthersRestaurant partner for the Dine Around Town program where registered seniors can purchase meals.
• Clayton's Tap (Morris, IL)minorOthersRestaurant partner for the Dine Around Town program where registered seniors can purchase meals.
• Planet Pizza (Plano, IL)minorOthersRestaurant partner for the Dine Around Town program where registered seniors can purchase meals.
• Tacos Before Vatos (Crest Hill, IL)minorOthersRestaurant partner for the Dine Around Town program where registered seniors can purchase meals.
• Two Partners Café Family Restaurant (Plano, IL)minorOthersRestaurant partner for the Dine Around Town program where registered seniors can purchase meals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project Angel Food: Los Angeles nonprofit providing home-delivered meals and nutrition services to seniors and critically ill individuals. Comparable model combining home delivery, group dining support, donor fundraising, and volunteer-driven distribution.
• Open Hand Atlanta: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing home-delivered meals and nutrition services to seniors and individuals with chronic illnesses. Comparable donor-funded meal delivery and nutrition support mission.
• Feed More: Central Virginia nonprofit operating a Meals on Wheels program alongside a food bank. Directly comparable home-delivered meal program for seniors with similar funding mix of federal grants and charitable donations.
• God's Love We Deliver: New York-based nonprofit that cooks and home-delivers medically tailored meals to people living with serious illness, including seniors. Comparable mission-driven, donor-funded meal delivery model with strong volunteer and federal-program funding mix.
• Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland: Regional Meals on Wheels affiliate delivering home-delivered meals and group dining to seniors in central Maryland. Closely comparable operating model to MOWFNI including home delivery, group dining, and donor-funded structure.

Broad incumbents

• Meals on Wheels America: National membership organization for the Meals on Wheels network. Directly comparable as the parent association of which MOWFNI is a member, providing advocacy, training, and brand standards to local senior meal programs.

Regional players

• Citymeals on Wheels: New York City-based nonprofit funding home-delivered meals for homebound elderly. Comparable mission and donor-supported home delivery model, serving an urban geography that contrasts with MOWFNI's suburban Illinois footprint.
• Meals on Wheels of San Francisco: San Francisco-based Meals on Wheels affiliate providing home-delivered meals and congregate dining to seniors. Highly comparable service model but operating in a different geography from MOWFNI.

Others

• AgeOptions: Suburban Cook County Area Agency on Aging that administers Older Americans Act funding to MOWFNI. Comparable in the broader aging-services ecosystem and is a critical funding and referral partner.
• AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois: Area Agency on Aging serving an eight-county region including the counties where MOWFNI operates. Distributes Older Americans Act funding and is a core funding partner, making it a peer organization in the senior services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MealsOnWheelsNI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meals-on-wheels-for-northern-illinois
• Instagraminstagram.com/mealsonwheels_ni/?hl=en
• Xx.com/MealsonWheelsNI

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois