Gilda’s Club of Chicago

What Gilda’s Club of Chicago does

Gilda's Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, legally domiciled in Illinois (Federal EIN 36-4115144), founded in 1998 and headquartered at 537 North Wells Street in Chicago's River North district. The organization provides free emotional and social support services to individuals and families impacted by cancer across the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core service portfolio spans support groups, healthy lifestyle activities (yoga, tai chi), educational lectures, creative arts expression, individual counseling, social events, and age-appropriate child, teen, and family programming — delivered across eight service pillars through a hybrid model of in-person sessions, virtual activities, and on-demand video content. Membership and programming are provided at no cost, with the organization funded entirely by charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

The organization's distribution footprint combines one Downtown Clubhouse (offering more than 300 free programs per month) with four hospital-embedded satellite locations: the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Mount Sinai Hospital (with bilingual English/Spanish programming), and Advocate Christ Medical Center / Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn. Technology underpins the hybrid delivery model through a member portal (members.gildasclubchicago.org), a community calendar, an on-demand video library, and a Bonfront merchandise storefront. Donor and payment infrastructure runs on Giveffect CRM and Stripe. The organization operates as a Chicago-area affiliate of the national Cancer Support Community network, participates in its Grassroots Advocacy Group and Cancer Policy Institute, and offers a Spanish-language programming track to extend reach into underserved communities.

Name

Gilda’s Club of Chicago

Legal name

Gilda's Club Chicago

Website

https://gildasclubchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gilda's Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free emotional and social cancer support — including support groups, counseling, wellness programming, and pediatric services — to individuals and families across the Chicago metropolitan area via one clubhouse and four hospital-embedded satellite locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Senior/Low-Impact Group Fitness (HSADABAI)

Keywords

• Cancer support services
• Psychosocial oncology support
• Community cancer programs
• Family cancer care
• Pediatric oncology support

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Gilda's Club Chicago is entirely funded by charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and community supporters. All programs and services are provided free of charge to members. The organization runs fundraising events, corporate sponsorship programs, and a Red Door Society donor recognition program.
2. Merchandise Sales: GCC operates a merchandise store (on Bonfire) where purchases support the organization's mission, generating supplemental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Gilda's Club Chicago provides free emotional and social support services for individuals and families impacted by cancer. Its core offerings span support groups, healthy lifestyle activities (yoga, tai chi), educational lectures, creative arts expression, individual counseling, social events, and child/teen/family programming, delivered in person, virtually, and on-demand across its Downtown Clubhouse and four hospital-based satellite locations. All programming is provided at no charge and is inclusive of all ages, cancer types, gender identities, ethnicities, and religious beliefs.

Product overview

Gilda's Club Chicago operates as a nonprofit cancer support organization offering a unified portfolio of free emotional and social support services for individuals and families impacted by cancer. Its core offerings span in-person, virtual, and on-demand modalities, organized around eight service pillars: Support Groups, Healthy Lifestyle Activities, Educational Lectures, Creative Arts Expression, Individual Counseling, Social Events, and Child/Teen/Family Activities. The organization delivers nearly 300 activities per month across its Downtown Clubhouse and five hospital-based satellite locations, supported by a digital Member Portal and an on-demand Video Library. All programming is provided free of charge and is inclusive of all ages, gender identities, ethnicities, cancer types, and religious beliefs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Support Groups

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 activities offered per month in person, virtually, and on-demand

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCC embeds its free supportive care programming (mind-body workshops including chair yoga, relaxation/meditation, art/jewelry making, one-on-one art therapy, caregiver support group) within the Lurie Cancer Center. The Lurie Cancer Center is one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Illinois, providing GCC direct access to a high-volume cancer patient population. GCC is physically located within the Galter Pavilion and other Northwestern Memorial Hospital facilities.
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCC provides programming at Lurie Children's Hospital, including GCC @ School — a free school-based educational program for students with cancer or with cancer in the family. Lurie Children's treats more children with cancer than any other hospital in Illinois (220 new patients/year), ranked 11th in the nation by U.S.News & World Report. GCC's presence at the hospital serves children at point of care.
• Mount Sinai HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCC offers programming at Mount Sinai Hospital's Oncology Department (6th floor, Oling-Sang Building), including networking, gentle yoga, stress relief, various art classes, and game time. Activities are facilitated in both English and Spanish. Outpatient and inpatient activities are available, expanding GCC's reach to diverse populations on Chicago's West Side.
• Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCC operates a satellite location including a Noogieland area at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, bringing free cancer support to the south suburbs. The hospital's Cancer Institute sees more than 2,000 newly diagnosed cancer cases per year. The proximity to Advocate Children's Hospital (25+ childhood cancer cases/year) enables GCC to serve pediatric patients at point of care.
• Cancer Support CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGilda's Club Chicago is a registered affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, a national cancer support network. GCC participates in the Cancer Support Community's Grassroots Advocacy Group and Cancer Policy Institute, connecting local programming to national advocacy efforts and best practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cancer Support Community: National parent network of which Gilda's Club Chicago is an affiliate. Operates the same cancer support model (free psychosocial programming, hospital and community-based delivery) at scale across the U.S. and is the most direct comparable organization.
• Imerman Angels: Chicago-based nonprofit providing one-on-one cancer peer mentorship and community support for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. Directly comparable target population (cancer-impacted individuals and families) and free, community-led delivery model.
• Gilda's Club New York City: Flagship Gilda's Club affiliate serving the NYC metro area with the same model of free cancer support programming, clubhouse locations, and hospital partnerships. Direct network peer with near-identical service portfolio.
• CancerCare: National nonprofit providing free support services including counseling, support groups, education, and financial assistance to people affected by cancer. Direct comparable in psychosocial support delivery and free service model, though with broader geographic reach.
• Gilda's Club Twin Cities: Minnesota-based Gilda's Club affiliate delivering the same free psychosocial support, healthy lifestyle, and educational programming for cancer patients and families. Direct network peer with overlapping service mix and operating model.
• Stupid Cancer: National nonprofit providing community, support, and education programs specifically for adolescents and young adults affected by cancer. Comparable in offering free psychosocial support and community-driven programming, with a narrower demographic focus.

Regional players

• Wellness House: Hinsdale, IL-based nonprofit offering free psychosocial support, exercise, nutrition, and education programs for people impacted by cancer. Operates in the greater Chicago region with overlapping service pillars (support groups, healthy lifestyle, education) and a comparable free-of-charge model.

Broad incumbents

• American Cancer Society: Largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to cancer, with a national network providing patient support, research funding, and advocacy. Overlaps with Gilda's Club Chicago on patient support services but operates as a broad incumbent across research, prevention, and policy in addition to direct psychosocial support.
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: National nonprofit funding blood cancer research and providing free patient support, including peer-to-peer programs and educational resources. Comparable in serving cancer patients with free support services, but specialized to hematologic cancers and operating at significantly larger scale.
• Livestrong Foundation: National nonprofit historically focused on supporting cancer survivors with navigation, education, and community programs. Directly comparable mission (serving cancer-impacted individuals and families) and free service model, though broader in scope and well-resourced on brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@gildasclubchi
• Xx.com/gildasclubchi
• Facebookfacebook.com/gildasclubchi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gilda’s Club of Chicago