Midwest Asian Health Association

What Midwest Asian Health Association does

Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community health organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood. It provides culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate health services — in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish — to medically underserved, low-income Asian American and broader minority populations across the Midwest. MAHA operates a portfolio of approximately 15 program lines spanning mental health counseling, health education and screening, immunization outreach, substance abuse prevention, gambling support, Alzheimer's and caregiver services, health insurance navigation, family advocacy, housing support, employment assistance, and bullying/suicide prevention, all delivered through five physical offices (Chinatown HQ, Bridgeport, Uptown, Naperville) and partner locations.

The organization has notable first-mover positioning: it opened the first non-profit mental health clinic in Chicago Chinatown in 2016, holds CARF accreditation (2018), and has received research and program funding from PCORI, SAMHSA, CDPH, IDPH, CDC Foundation, and AARP. Its underlying 'technology' is a community-based service delivery platform that combines multilingual clinical staff, culturally adapted outreach, and a dense network of partnerships with academic institutions (Northwestern, UI Health, Midwestern University), hospital systems (Sinai Health, Cook County Health), payors (Blue Cross Blue Shield IL), and national advocacy bodies (AAPCHO, IPHA). It is not a technology company; rather, its differentiation rests on community trust, cultural competence, and 22 years of operating history.

MAHA's revenue model is grant-dependent: it is funded through a diversified base of federal, state, municipal, and private foundation grants supplemented by donations, annual galas, and fundraising events. Services are provided free or at low cost to eligible participants; there is no commercial pricing model. The organization serves over 18,000 medically underserved individuals annually and operates with 11-50 staff. Its primary customer segments are Asian Americans (core), elderly populations, youth and families, and individuals with mental health needs, all reached via community-led go-to-market through health fairs, cultural events, partner referrals, and direct outreach.

Name

Midwest Asian Health Association

Legal name

Midwest Asian Health Association

Website

https://maha-us.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Midwest Asian Health Association is a non-profit community health organization founded in 2003 that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate health, mental health, and social services in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish to medically underserved Asian American and minority populations across the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Mental health clinic
• Health insurance navigation
• Substance abuse prevention
• Asian American health

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: MAHA operates primarily through government and foundation grants from organizations including SAMHSA, CDPH, IDPH, CDC Foundation, and PCORI to fund specific health programs and community initiatives.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through annual galas, concerts, community events, and direct donations to support programs serving the medically underserved.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community health organization that delivers culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate health services to medically underserved Asian American and low-income populations in the Midwest. It operates a Community Mental Health Clinic, a Community Health Center providing education/screening/immunization, a Health Insurance Navigator Program, and multiple prevention programs addressing substance abuse, gambling, bullying, Alzheimer's, and trauma-informed care.

Product overview

Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community health organization established in 2003 that provides a comprehensive suite of culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate health services. The organization operates as a multi-service platform offering mental health counseling through its Community Mental Health Clinic, health education and screening via the MAHA Community Health Center, health insurance enrollment assistance through its Navigator Program, and specialized prevention programs including substance abuse prevention (McK-UDOS Coalition), gambling support services, Alzheimer's awareness, and trauma-informed care. Additional services include employment assistance (Smart Match), family advocacy, bullying prevention, immunization outreach, and in-home support services, all designed to reduce health disparities for medically underserved, low-income populations in the Midwest Asian American community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAHA Community Health Center: Provides comprehensive health education, screening, and immunization to Asian American clients who have no health insurance.
• MAHA Housing Center
• MAHA Community Mental Health Clinic

Products and services

• Community Mental Health Clinic Promotes public awareness about mental health problems in Asian American populations and provides community support, counseling services, and therapy with multilingual support.
• MAHA Community Health Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 18,000 medically underserved populations annually

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)coreOthers · 1 January 2020IDPH provides funding through the Elimination of Immunization Disparities Program (EIDP) to create targeted interventions addressing racial and economic disparities related to vaccination coverage in children, adolescents, and adults.
• Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)coreOthers · 1 January 2020CDPH awarded MAHA a Trauma-Informed Mental Healthcare grant and works with MAHA on various public health initiatives including suicide prevention and COVID-19 response.
• UI HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System partners with MAHA for healthcare referrals, research collaboration, and student training opportunities.
• Sinai Health SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSinai Health System collaborates with MAHA on healthcare initiatives serving the underserved Chicago community.
• Northwestern UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthwestern partners with MAHA on research, community health initiatives, and healthcare workforce development.
• Midwestern University College of PharmacymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for pharmacy student training and health professions education supporting MAHA's community health programs.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield IllinoismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCBSIL partners with MAHA to improve health access and outcomes for Asian American communities through community health initiatives.
• Asian American Pacific Islander Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing AAPI community health centers; MAHA collaborates on advocacy, best practices, and shared health initiatives.
• Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPHA partners with MAHA on the Alzheimer's Disease Early Detection & Awareness Campaign to provide comprehensive services for Alzheimer's disease.
• Gilead SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company partner supporting health initiatives, particularly related to hepatitis and infectious disease prevention.
• Cook County HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCook County Health awarded MAHA the Stronger Together Grant to support community health initiatives and health equity programs.
• Strengthening Chicago Youth (SCY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCY partners with MAHA for the Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention to address youth mental health and prevent tragedies through community action.
• Dongfang Performing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts organization co-presenting cultural events with MAHA, including concerts celebrating cultural heritage and raising awareness for health issues.
• Chicago Chinese Culture & Arts SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization partnering with MAHA for events that celebrate Asian American heritage while supporting health awareness campaigns.
• Pui Tak CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnering with MAHA on gambling awareness programs and gambling problem assessments for the Illinois community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Charles B. Wang Community Health Center: A large NYC-based FQHC serving predominantly Chinese American populations with multilingual primary care, mental health, and social services — directly comparable to MAHA in target community and culturally-competent service model.
• Asian Health Services: A federally qualified health center in Oakland, CA serving Asian and Pacific Islander communities with multilingual, culturally-competent primary care, mental health, and enabling services — directly comparable mission and operating model to MAHA.
• International Community Health Services: A Seattle-based FQHC serving Asian Pacific Islander communities with multilingual primary care, behavioral health, and enabling services — comparable in mission, community focus, and care delivery model.
• Pui Tak Center: A Chicago Chinatown-based community center serving Chinese American immigrants with social services, education, and health programming — directly comparable to MAHA's Chinatown community-based service model. MAHA already partners with Pui Tak on gambling awareness.
• Chinese American Service Center: A Midwest-based (Chicago) community organization serving Chinese American populations with social services, health navigation, and culturally-specific programs — directly comparable to MAHA in geography, target population, and service mix.
• HOPE Clinic: A Houston-area FQHC serving Asian American and other underserved populations with multilingual primary care, mental health, and enabling services — comparable in target community and culturally-competent care delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO): A national AAPI community health organization network that includes MAHA as a partner. Directly comparable as a federally-funded AAPI health equity intermediary serving medically underserved Asian American populations.
• Heartland Alliance: A large Chicago-based nonprofit providing health, housing, and human services to underserved populations including immigrants and refugees — comparable in Chicago geography, immigrant-serving mission, and multi-program community health model, though at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Korean American Community Services: A Chicago-area nonprofit serving Korean American and broader AAPI populations with health, social, and cultural services — comparable to MAHA as a regional AAPI community service intermediary in the same geography.

Others

• Greater Chicago Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Health Forum: A national AAPI health policy and advocacy organization — comparable to MAHA's advocacy and health-equity mission at the policy level, though operating more as an umbrella/advocacy body than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mahahongliu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Midwest Asian Health Association