Illinois AEYC

What Illinois AEYC does

Illinois AEYC (Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children), founded in 1969 and headquartered in Vienna, Illinois, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that operates as the official Illinois state affiliate of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). The organization's mission is to facilitate the optimal development of young children, their families, and their communities in Illinois through professional development, accreditation support, public policy advocacy, and community building among early childhood educators and child care programs.

The organization's core product portfolio includes: (1) joint NAEYC/ILAEYC membership providing dual national and state benefits, (2) the annual Growing Futures Conference held in Springfield, IL, (3) the SAM Project (Statewide Accreditation Mentoring), a fee-based service supporting child care programs pursuing NAEYC accreditation through on-site consultation and quality improvement cohorts, (4) a public policy and advocacy program including action alerts and legislative engagement, (5) the Play Chapter advocacy initiative promoting play-centered early childhood education, and (6) a network of 5 chartered local chapters and 15 regional delegate structures. The underlying technology is limited to a basic website-based membership management and event registration platform (with conference ticketing via Eventbee); no proprietary AI, ML, or software products are operated.

Revenue is generated through three streams: membership dues (administered through NAEYC), conference registration fees, and SAM Project professional service fees. The organization employs a small staff of approximately 5 (1 Executive Director plus 4 SAMentors) and is governed by a statewide Board of Directors. Strategic funding partnership exists with the Illinois Department of Human Services for the SAM Project. The customer base consists primarily of individual early childhood educators, licensed child care centers, and family child care providers across Illinois, with secondary engagement from policy makers, legislators, and families with young children.

Name

Illinois AEYC

Legal name

Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children

Website

https://illinoisaeyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Illinois AEYC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization and official Illinois state affiliate of NAEYC, serving early childhood educators, child care programs, and advocates in Illinois through joint membership, the annual Growing Futures Conference, SAM Project accreditation support, and public policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Professional Association

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Support (NAEYC/NECPA/State) (EDACAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Professional development
• Membership organization
• Accreditation support
• Public policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues that provide access to state and national benefits including reduced conference rates, committee participation, advocacy involvement, and professional development opportunities.
2. Conference Registration: Registration fees for the annual Growing Futures Conference and related professional development events.
3. SAM Project Services: Fee-based accreditation support services including on-site mentoring and consultation for child care programs seeking NAEYC accreditation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Illinois AEYC (Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that serves as the Illinois state affiliate of NAEYC. It provides membership benefits, the annual Growing Futures Conference, the Statewide Accreditation Mentoring (SAM) Project for child care programs pursuing NAEYC accreditation, professional development resources, public policy advocacy, and a network of local chapters across Illinois.

Product overview

Illinois AEYC (ILAEYC) is a membership organization affiliated with NAEYC that provides a portfolio of programs and services for early childhood education professionals in Illinois. The core offerings include membership with national and state benefits, the annual Growing Futures Conference, the SAM (Statewide Accreditation Mentoring) Project for accreditation support, NAEYC accreditation guidance, professional development resources, a Play Chapter advocacy initiative, public policy and advocacy programs, and a network of local chapters across the state. The organization does not operate as a software product company but rather as a professional association offering conferences, educational resources, advocacy services, and membership benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAEYC/ILAEYC Combined Membership Combined national and state membership providing access to over 100,000 early childhood professionals, discounted conference rates, voting rights in national initiatives, reduced rates for ILAEYC events, eligibility for Children's Champion Award, and participation in state committees and advocacy efforts.
• ILAEYC Growing Futures Conference Annual statewide conference bringing together early childhood educators, leaders, and advocates for professional development and networking focused on the care, education, and well-being of young children.
• SAM Project (Statewide Accreditation Mentoring) Program providing support and assistance to child care/early education programs engaged in quality improvement to achieve NAEYC accreditation. Includes on-site consultation visits and quality improvement cohorts delivered by SAMentors.
• NAEYC Accreditation Support Support for programs pursuing NAEYC accreditation through the three-tiered model (Recognition, Accreditation, Accreditation+) including guidance on NAEYC's 10 program standards covering relationships, curriculum, teaching, assessment, health, staff competencies, families, community relationships, physical environment, and leadership.
• Local Chapter Network Network of local chapters including Chicago Southland, DuPage, Heart of Illinois, Southern Illinois, Spirit of Illinois, and East Central, providing regional networking, professional development, and advocacy opportunities for early childhood professionals across Illinois.
• Public Policy and Advocacy Program Coordinated advocacy efforts including action alerts, public policy committee activities, legislative education, and partnerships with early childhood organizations to advance policies supporting children, families, and early childhood educators in Illinois.
• Professional Development Resources Collection of professional development opportunities and resources including links to NAEYC webinars, Early CHOICES inclusion modules, IRIS Center training modules, Council for Exceptional Children Learning Library, AFIRM autism-focused modules, Understood resources, Illinois SLD Support Project, and STAR NET workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,500 programs hold NAEYC accreditation nationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAEYC is the national parent organization of Illinois AEYC. All Illinois AEYC members receive automatic NAEYC membership, providing access to national conferences, publications, voting rights, and a network of over 100,000 professionals. Illinois AEYC serves as the state affiliate representing NAEYC in Illinois.
• INCCRRA (Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization partnering with 16 member CCR&R agencies. INCCRRA works with Illinois AEYC on the SAM Project funded by Illinois Department of Human Services, providing professional development, consultation, and resources for early childhood professionals.
• Action for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllinois Action for Children has championed quality child care and early education for 37+ years. Partners with Illinois AEYC in advocacy coalition providing access to resources, community engagement, and policy advancement for children and families throughout Illinois.
• Start EarlycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly known as the Ounce, Start Early is a champion for early learning and care from a child's first moments. Participates in early childhood coalition advocacy group with Illinois AEYC to advance policies benefiting children and families in Illinois.
• Voices for Illinois ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization working across issue areas to improve lives of children throughout Illinois. Participates in early childhood coalition with Illinois AEYC for unified policy advocacy.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreOthersState agency providing funding for the SAM Project (Statewide Accreditation Mentoring) in cooperation with INCCRRA. Partners on early childhood workforce development initiatives.
• Illinois State Board of EducationminorOthersState education agency partnered for Early CHOICES Inclusion Initiative promoting quality inclusive early care and education for children birth to age 5.
• ReadyNation IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness leader coalition working to strengthen early childhood education. Member of early childhood coalition advocacy group with Illinois AEYC.
• Illinois Early Literacy CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on early literacy initiatives. Member of early childhood coalition advocacy group with Illinois AEYC.
• Illinois Department of Children and Family ServicesminorOthersState agency referenced as resource for families and child care providers. Illinois AEYC provides information and links to DCFS resources on website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): National parent organization of Illinois AEYC and the dominant US professional body for early childhood educators. Operates the accreditation framework (10 program standards) that Illinois AEYC's SAM Project supports at the state level, and administers the joint membership structure Illinois AEYC depends on.
• Zero to Three: National nonprofit focused on infants and toddlers (0-3) within the broader early-childhood field. Comparable in mission scope — professional development, policy advocacy, and resource provision for ECE professionals — but operates at a national rather than state level.

Direct peers

• NAFCC (National Association for Family Child Care): National association representing family child care providers — a population Illinois AEYC's family child care members are part of. NAFCC provides an alternative accreditation pathway that Illinois AEYC references on its site as part of its broader accreditation navigation support.
• Action for Children Illinois: Illinois advocacy and resource organization that has championed quality child care and early education for 37+ years. Co-partners with Illinois AEYC in the early-childhood advocacy coalition and serves overlapping Illinois ECE professional and family audiences.
• INCCRRA (Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies): Statewide Illinois organization partnering with Illinois AEYC on the SAM Project funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Both organizations serve Illinois early-childhood professionals through CCR&R agencies and joint professional development, consultation, and accreditation support.
• Start Early (formerly The Ounce): Illinois-based national organization championing early learning and care from a child's first moments. Member of the early-childhood coalition advocacy group with Illinois AEYC and works on overlapping Illinois ECE policy, family, and professional-support initiatives.
• Voices for Illinois Children: Illinois advocacy organization participating in the same early-childhood coalition as Illinois AEYC. Both organizations work on unified policy advocacy for Illinois children and families across overlapping issue areas including ECE funding and access.

Others

• Illinois State Board of Education: State education agency partnered with Illinois AEYC on the Early CHOICES Inclusion Initiative for children birth to age 5. A regulatory and funding counterpart in Illinois's ECE ecosystem rather than a competitor, but a relevant comparable given shared ECE audience and policy work.

Regional players

• ReadyNation Illinois: Business-leader coalition working to strengthen early-childhood education in Illinois. Member of the early-childhood coalition advocacy group alongside Illinois AEYC, sharing the Illinois ECE policy-advocacy mission though from a business-led perspective rather than a professional-membership perspective.

Emerging players

• Council for Exceptional Children: National organization serving professionals working with children with disabilities and gifts. Illinois AEYC explicitly partners with and references CEC's Learning Library as a professional development resource, indicating shared audience overlap in special-needs-inclusive ECE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/illinoisaeyc
• Facebookfacebook.com/IllinoisAEYC
• Instagraminstagram.com/ILAEYC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Illinois AEYC