What Homework Hangout Club does

Homework Hangout Club, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered at 249 S Webster St in Decatur, Illinois, founded in 1991 by Keith and Rosie Anderson. Its mission is to deliver an educational, social, and economic partnership for at-risk youth, young adults, and families in Macon County, Illinois, through coordinated community resources. The organization runs a portfolio of free programs: an original After School Program providing homework help, hot meals, financial literacy, and enrichment; a Youth Employment Program for ages 16-24; YouthBuild, a 2-year DOL-aligned construction trades and GED program; the JTED Program offering 12-month construction skills and 6-month food service management tracks; the CHOICE Program for formerly incarcerated individuals; and a suite of 192-hour pre-apprenticeships in carpentry, electrical, laborer, painting, and plumbing, plus a registered Building Maintenance Repairer apprenticeship.

The underlying "technology" is accredited curriculum and credentialed training infrastructure rather than software. Core technical components include the NCCER Core Construction curriculum (recognized nationally as a baseline construction credential) combined with 320 hours of hands-on residential rehabilitation for low-income housing; OSHA-10 and Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED prerequisite certifications; the YouthBuild USA aligned curriculum; and a 10-module Food Protection Management Training with on-site proctored testing through the University of Illinois Extension Office yielding a five-year certification. The organization holds three significant accreditations: U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs, NCCER accreditation, and approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools.

The business model is grant-funded community services with no participant fees. Revenue streams consist primarily of federal grants (notably U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild funding of $1,500,000 federal / 80% of a $1,875,000 program total), supplemented by state and local government funding, charitable donations via PayPal, and in-kind contributions (facility space, food, transportation) from corporate and institutional partners such as Ameren Illinois and Decatur Memorial Hospital. Customer segments are hybrid — segmented by both persona (at-risk youth 16-24, formerly incarcerated) and geography (Macon County / Decatur residents 18+). Go-to-market is community-led, relying on referrals from schools, churches, hospitals, and social services, with marketing limited to an organic Facebook presence and a Squarespace website. The organization has 1–10 employees and operates from a single Decatur headquarters.

Name

Homework Hangout Club

Legal name

Homework Hangout Club, Inc.

Website

https://hhcdecatur.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Homework Hangout Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 in Decatur, Illinois, providing free youth development, vocational training, and reentry programs — including YouthBuild construction trades, JTED occupational skills, and after-school services — to at-risk youth, adults, and formerly incarcerated individuals in Macon County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Homework Accountability & Homework Club Programs (EDANADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Vocational training services
• Construction apprenticeship training
• Workforce development programs
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Programs are funded through federal, state, and local grants including Department of Labor funding for YouthBuild ($1,500,000 federal, 80% of project) and other government sources. Participants incur no cost.
2. Donations: Accepts charitable donations through PayPal and other channels. The organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Homework Hangout Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free after-school enrichment, youth employment preparation, vocational training in construction trades and food service management, and reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals. All programs are delivered at no cost to participants, funded by federal, state, and local grants along with charitable donations, and combine academic support, hands-on training with industry-recognized credentials (NCCER, OSHA-10, Food Protection Manager), and life-skills development.

Product overview

Homework Hangout Club is a community-based 501(c)(3) organization offering a portfolio of youth and workforce development programs in Decatur, Illinois since 1991. The core offerings include the After School Program (the original flagship service providing homework help, meals, and enrichment), the Youth Employment Program (job training for ages 16-24), the YouthBuild Program (2-year construction trades and GED training), and the JTED Program (occupational skills training for adults including Introduction to Construction Skills and Food Service Management). Additional programs include the CHOICE Program for formerly incarcerated individuals, pre-apprenticeship training in Carpentry, Electrical, Laborer, Painting, and Plumbing (192 hours each), and Building Maintenance Repairer apprenticeship. All programs are free to participants, with costs covered by federal, state, or local grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthBuild Decatur: A 2-year training experience for individuals who need additional skills to get a job in a knowledge-based economy, aligned with YouthBuild USA. Participants gain hands-on experience in construction trades while earning their GED or high school diploma.

Products and services

• After School Program The original flagship program providing homework assistance, hot evening meals, and enrichment activities that develop self-confidence and leadership skills for youth. Has expanded to include financial literacy, cultural programs, and social/emotional support services.
• Youth Employment Program Year-round program providing age-appropriate job training, life skills, counseling, work readiness skills and supervised work experience for youth ages 16-24.
• YouthBuild Program A 2-year training experience aligned with YouthBuild USA for individuals needing skills to enter a knowledge-based economy. Combines hands-on construction trade experience with GED or high school diploma completion, including life skills, financial literacy, and job placement services.
• JTED Program (PBVS) Job Training and Economic Development program providing occupational skills training and work-based learning for adults 18+. Approved by the Division of Private Business Vocational Schools (PBVS) of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
• CHOICE Program Program at MRS K Community Center providing formerly incarcerated persons with skills and confidence to obtain living-wage employment and become leaders in their families and community.
• Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs 192-hour (3-6 months) pre-apprenticeship training programs offered across five skilled trades: Carpentry, Electrical, Laborer, Painting, and Plumbing.
• Building Maintenance Repairer Apprenticeship Registered apprenticeship program for building maintenance repairer training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants earn GED or high school diploma
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Thomas Catholic ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Provided classroom space, gymnasium, kitchen, and dining area for Homework Hangout programs when the organization outgrew its initial location. Enabled growth from 32 to approximately 150 students.
• Decatur Memorial HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Located in immediate area of St. Thomas location, donated all food and a van to support Homework Hangout operations and transportation needs.
• Ameren IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Initial donor providing $1,000 contribution and authorized use of space at 2170 North Edwards Street for a 5-year period at no cost. Keith Anderson became official Community Ambassador for Ameren Illinois of Decatur in 1992.
• YouthBuild USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomework Hangout Club's YouthBuild is a 2-year training experience aligned with YouthBuild USA's international program with specific objectives and curriculum. The program targets at-risk youth who need additional skills to get a job in a knowledge-based economy. Participants gain hands-on experience in construction trades while earning GED or high school diploma. Supported by US Department of Labor funding.
• Hazel's KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food vendor partner where JTED Food Service Management participants complete paid work experience on-site within a working restaurant environment.
• University of Illinois Extension OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site proctored testing for Food Protection Manager Certification. Participants complete testing on-site to obtain their five-year certification.
• Local Food Pantries, Caterers, and RestaurantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating employers for JTED Food Service Management program where participants may complete paid work experience through local food pantries, caterers, and restaurants.
• Private Electrical, Plumbing, Engineering, Carpentry, and Architectural FirmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partners offering internships to well-performing YouthBuild and JTED participants, allowing participants to gain experience beyond entry-level and ensuring actual training is conducted rather than using participants as cheap labor.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YouthBuild USA: National umbrella organization whose curriculum and DOL-aligned framework HHC's YouthBuild program directly implements. Operates the same construction-trades-plus-GED model for at-risk youth aged 16-24, with similar employment outcome objectives.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training, credentials, and corporate internships to low-income young adults ages 18-24. Highly analogous to HHC's Youth Employment Program and YouthBuild in target population and employment outcome model.
• United Way of Decatur and Macon County: Local community-based organization funding and coordinating human services across Macon County, working with overlapping employer, church, and civic partner networks to address poverty and youth outcomes.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology and skilled trades training to adults from underserved communities, with parallel focus on industry-recognized credentials and employer partnerships.
• Goodwill Industries of Central and Southern Illinois: Regional Goodwill affiliate providing vocational training, job placement, and community re-entry services for underserved adults — directly comparable mission to HHC's JTED and CHOICE programs in overlapping central Illinois territory.
• Salvation Army of Decatur: Local Salvation Army chapter providing emergency services, food assistance, and re-entry support to low-income families in Decatur — overlapping mission in basic-needs and family stabilization services with HHC's CHOICE program and meal services.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois: Youth-mentoring nonprofit operating across central Illinois serving at-risk youth with outcomes tied to education, life skills, and economic mobility — directly comparable to the mentoring and life skills components embedded in HHC's After School and YouthBuild programs.
• Boys & Girls Club of Decatur: Local affiliate of the Boys & Girls Club of America operating in the same Decatur, Illinois geography, delivering after-school and youth development programming to overlapping at-risk youth populations in Macon County.
• Catholic Charities of Decatur Diocese: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate providing family support, immigration services, and community assistance across central Illinois — comparable faith-rooted community-services footprint in the same Decatur geography.

Regional players

• Richland Community College: Community college headquartered in Decatur, Illinois delivering adult vocational training, workforce credentials, and continuing education in the same Macon County catchment — a potential adjacent training provider for overlapping adult populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HomeworkHangoutClub

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Homework Hangout Club