Goodcity

What Goodcity does

Goodcity is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that supports social entrepreneurs operating in under-resourced Chicago communities. It works with both nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises through a three-pronged model (Begin, Build, Connect) intended to incubate new ventures, build organizational capacity, and convene public/private partnerships. The organization operates five interconnected service lines: Fiscal Sponsorship (enabling new programs and organizations to launch under Goodcity's charitable umbrella), Management Services (fiscal management, IT, and communications back-office support for small to mid-size nonprofits and for-profits), Consulting Services (strategic planning, leadership development, advancement and funding, and communications), a one-year cohort-based Incubator Program, and Workshops leading to a Certificate in Nonprofit Essentials delivered in partnership with the Chicago Public Library.

The underlying technology stack is effectively nil: Goodcity is a service delivery nonprofit rather than a software platform, with no proprietary technology described in the source material. Distribution is regional, concentrated in the Chicagoland area, and proceeds through direct engagement, applications to the incubator and fiscal sponsorship programs, workshops at Chicago Public Library branches, and referral channels via community partner organizations and word of mouth.

Revenue is generated through a mix of professional services fees (management and consulting), subscription/recurring arrangements (fiscal sponsorship, incubator program), and program/workshop fees. No pricing is publicly disclosed. The customer base is highly diversified across social entrepreneurs in arts, education, healthcare, community development, youth development, and social services, with no disclosed enterprise anchor clients or concentration in any single relationship.

Name

Goodcity

Legal name

Goodcity

Website

https://goodcitychicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Goodcity is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1985 that supports social entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities through fiscal sponsorship, management services, consulting, an incubator program, and workshops. It serves both nonprofit and for-profit social enterprises in the greater Chicagoland area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise Development and Nonprofit Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Nonprofit support services
• Fiscal sponsorship programs
• Social enterprise incubation
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Community development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Management Services: Goodcity provides high quality administrative services at a reasonable cost to small to mid size nonprofit and for profit organizations working to make a social impact. Services include fiscal management, IT administration, and communication/social media services.
2. Fiscal Sponsorship: Fiscal sponsorship provides a cost effective way for individuals to implement new programs and start new organizations. Goodcity provides receipt of charitable deductions, accounting and bookkeeping services, annual audits, and pro bono consulting.
3. Consulting Services: Consulting and capacity services work with small to mid size organizations in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development, advancement and funding, and communications and marketing.
4. Incubator Program: One-year incubator program that works with individuals and organizations in building a foundation and launching their start-up organization. The program provides essential support and technical services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Goodcity is a nonprofit organization that identifies, incubates, and grows social entrepreneurs in under-resourced Chicago communities. It sells a portfolio of services to social-purpose organizations: Fiscal Sponsorship, Management Services (fiscal, IT, communications), Consulting Services (strategic planning, leadership development, advancement and funding, communications and marketing), a one-year Incubator Program, and Workshops leading to a Certificate in Nonprofit Essentials delivered in partnership with the Chicago Public Library.

Product overview

Goodcity is an organization focused on identifying and supporting high-potential community-based entrepreneurs making a difference in under-resourced Chicago communities. The organization operates as a service provider rather than a software product company, offering a portfolio of five interconnected programs: Fiscal Sponsorship (for starting new organizations), Management Services (administrative support), Consulting Services (capacity building), the Incubator Program (one-year cohort accelerator), and Workshops (certificate programs for nonprofit professionals). These services work together to support social entrepreneurs from ideation through sustainable operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fiscal Sponsorship A cost-effective service that enables individuals and emerging social-purpose projects to implement new programs and start new organizations under Goodcity's tax-exempt umbrella. Provides receipt of charitable deductions, accounting and bookkeeping services, annual audits, and pro bono consulting for sponsored projects.
• Management Services High-quality administrative services provided to small to mid-size nonprofit and for-profit social-impact organizations. Includes fiscal management, information technology administration, and communications/social media services. Delivered by a team with over 75 years of combined nonprofit professional leadership experience.
• Consulting Services Capacity-building consulting engagements that work with small to mid-size nonprofit and for-profit organizations in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development, advancement and funding, and communications and marketing.
• Incubator Program A one-year cohort-based program designed to accelerate the growth and success of social entrepreneurial organizations. Works with individuals and emerging organizations to build a foundation and launch their start-up organization through essential support and technical services, with the goal of long-term sustainability.
• Workshops / Certificate in Nonprofit Essentials Individual professional workshops leading to a Certificate in Nonprofit Essentials, covering nonprofit fundamentals, strategic planning, board development, and marketing and communications. Offered through the Chicago Public Library, serving Chicago-based nonprofit professionals and community leaders.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Austin Coming TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization focused on community development in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. Goodcity partners with local organizations to equip and empower them to serve under-resourced communities.
• 24CashTodayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayday loan organization that Goodcity brings together with government partners, corporate partners, and funders to create effective public/private models for community benefit.
• IAMWE CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization that Goodcity sponsors and partners with to support their mission and community impact.
• Monster Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational foundation partner that Goodcity collaborates with to support community development initiatives.
• MReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing relief services that Goodcity sponsors and partners with for community support.
• Yellow Tractor ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner focused on development initiatives that Goodcity supports through partnership.
• Shoe HealsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization that Goodcity sponsors and partners with to support their mission.
• Urban Threads StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts-focused community partner that Goodcity supports through partnership and capacity building.
• Chicago Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Public Library collaborates with Goodcity on the Certificate in Nonprofit Fundamentals program. Workshops are held at Woodson Library and other CPL locations, providing participants with insight into core areas of nonprofit planning and management.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF): NFF is a national nonprofit CDFI that provides fiscal sponsorship, consulting, and capacity-building services to nonprofits and social enterprises. It directly overlaps Goodcity's fiscal sponsorship and management services, with a broader geographic footprint.
• Amalgamated Foundation: Amalgamated Foundation provides fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking, and capacity-building services to nonprofits and social enterprises. It competes directly for the same fiscal-sponsor and incubator customer segment.
• Forward Cities: Forward Cities supports social entrepreneurs and place-based economic development, including incubation and capacity building for under-resourced communities — a closely aligned mission and service mix to Goodcity's.

Regional players

• Braven: Braven is a national nonprofit focused on supporting underrepresented young leaders through career and leadership programming — partially comparable to Goodcity's youth-serving incubated projects (e.g., OYIN, Youth & Community Empowerment Coalition) but operating at larger scale.

Emerging players

• Common Future (formerly BALLE): Common Future is a network and capacity-building organization for local social entrepreneurs and community wealth builders. It overlaps with Goodcity's incubator and consulting offerings, with a broader rural/urban footprint.
• Social Enterprise Alliance: Social Enterprise Alliance supports and advocates for social enterprises through education, networking, and consulting — adjacent to Goodcity's consulting and incubator services.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): LISC is a major national community development intermediary providing financing, capacity building, and program support to local nonprofits — comparable to Goodcity at much larger scale and with capital deployment capabilities.
• Chicago Community Trust: The Chicago Community Trust is a regional community foundation serving the Chicago area with grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship, and donor advisory services. It is the most direct Chicago-focused incumbent comparable to Goodcity's community-based model.
• Tides Foundation: Tides is one of the largest fiscal sponsors and philanthropic intermediaries in the U.S., offering services very similar to Goodcity's fiscal sponsorship, grantmaking, and consulting — but at national scale and with broader program areas.

Others

• The Foundation Center (now Candid): Candid provides data, training, and research infrastructure for the nonprofit sector, including guidance on starting and managing nonprofits — overlapping with Goodcity's workshops and consulting services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goodcitychicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodcity-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles33 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 Goodcity