The 100 Club of Illinois

What The 100 Club of Illinois does

The 100 Club of Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 36-6158087) founded in 1966 and headquartered at 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1351, Chicago, Illinois. The organization provides financial assistance, educational support, wellness resources, and professional services to families of first responders killed in the line of duty and to active-duty first responders across all 102 counties of Illinois. Its core programs include the Family Assistance Program (providing up to $50,000 within 24 hours of a line-of-duty death), the Educational Assistance Program (scholarships for surviving spouses and dependents), the First Responder Programs portfolio (Department Days, Valor Awards, Wellness First Training, Emergency On-Call Response, Frontline Funding grants), and the Frontline Resource Network — a statewide directory of vetted mental health, peer support, and crisis resources accessible through a free mobile application.

The organization funds its mission through seven revenue streams: individual donations, tiered annual memberships ($50 Bronze through $5,000 Lifetime, plus Business and Department/Local tiers), monthly recurring memberships ($5-$20), specialty license plates via the Illinois Secretary of State, fundraising events (galas, golf outings, watch parties, BBQ cook-offs), corporate and charitable grants, planned giving, and matching gift programs. Since inception, the organization has provided more than $18 million in cumulative benefits to over 330 families, and the Educational Assistance Program has supported 405 scholars in conferring 487 degrees with over $9 million in educational support. Pro bono professional services are delivered through a Gold Shield Partners network comprising Mesirow Financial, Motorola Solutions, Clifford Law Group, and CuraLinc, with 25+ Illinois universities providing a scholarship pipeline.

The organization is led by CEO Caitlyn Brennan alongside Chief Development Officer Kelsey Tomko and Chief Program Officer Meg Krase, supported by a team of 15 employees. It is governed by a Board of Directors and operates as a standalone entity with no parent company, subsidiaries, or public listing. The 60th anniversary in 2026 is being marked with a "Toast to Hope" celebration, the annual Frontline Convention continues to scale with presenting sponsor InTheCommunity, and a Young Professional Board has been established to broaden the donor pipeline. The stated mission is to ensure that first responders and their families are "never alone in their time of need," with services extending across federal, state, county, and local sworn personnel stationed in Illinois.

Name

The 100 Club of Illinois

Legal name

100 Club of Illinois

Website

https://100clubil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The 100 Club of Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1966 that provides financial assistance, educational scholarships, wellness resources, and professional services to families of fallen first responders and active-duty first responders across all 102 counties of Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit First Responder Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

Keywords

• First responder support services
• Line of duty death benefits
• Public safety charity
• First responder wellness programs
• Survivor educational scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, IL

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support the mission of providing for families of fallen first responders and active duty first responders across Illinois. Donations can be made as one-time or recurring gifts.
2. Annual Memberships: Annual membership programs at various levels ($50-$5,000) provide ongoing financial support. Membership levels include Bronze ($50), Silver ($200), Gold ($500), Lifetime ($5,000), Business ($1,000+), and Department/Local ($250-2,500). Monthly recurring membership options range from $5-$20 per month.
3. Specialty License Plates: Illinois specialty license plates for vehicles and motorcycles featuring the 100 Club of Illinois logo are available through the Illinois Secretary of State. A portion of each plate fee goes back to support the organization.
4. Events and Fundraisers: The organization hosts events throughout the year including galas, golf outings, partner events such as Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity, rooftop events, Cubs/WHITE SOX watch parties, BBQ cook-offs, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.
5. Corporate and Charitable Grants: Funds are raised through charitable and corporate grants in addition to individual and corporate memberships.
6. Planned Giving: The organization accepts bequests through wills or trusts, allowing donors to leave lasting legacies supporting the mission.
7. Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs allow donors to double their contributions to the organization.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The 100 Club of Illinois provides immediate financial assistance (up to $50,000 within 24 hours), educational scholarships for dependents, wellness training, mental health resources, and ongoing support to families of first responders killed in the line of duty and to active-duty first responders across all 102 Illinois counties. Programs include Family Assistance, Educational Assistance, First Responder Programs, the Frontline Resource Network, a mobile app, and the Gold Shield Partners pro bono professional services network.

Product overview

The 100 Club of Illinois is a non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of support programs for first responders and their families. The core offerings include the Family Assistance Program (immediate and ongoing financial support for families of fallen heroes), Educational Assistance Program (scholarships for dependents), and First Responder Programs (wellness training, grants, recognition). The organization operates the Frontline Resource Network as its digital hub, accessible via a mobile application that provides resources, vetted professionals, and crisis support. Additional programs include the annual Frontline Convention wellness conference, Wellness First training series, Valor Awards recognition, Gold Shield Partners professional services, Young Professional Board, Specialty License Plate Program, and various membership tiers. These offerings work together to provide comprehensive support spanning financial assistance, education funding, mental health resources, professional development, and community recognition for Illinois first responders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Assistance Program Financial assistance and resources provided to families of fallen first responders, including immediate financial support within 24 hours of a line-of-duty death and ongoing support services.
• Educational Assistance Program Financial aid for dependents and spouses of fallen first responders for undergraduate, vocational, and graduate studies, including partnerships with 25+ universities providing full scholarships and over $9 million in support.
• First Responder Programs Comprehensive support including Department Days visits, Valor Awards recognition, Wellness Training series, Emergency On-Call Response, and Frontline Funding grants for active-duty first responders and departments.
• Frontline Resource Network Statewide initiative connecting first responders to mental health resources, peer support, training opportunities, and confidential referrals through vetted clinicians and peer supporters.
• 100 Club of Illinois Mobile App A free, confidential mobile application providing wellness and resilience resources for first responders, including educational materials, 24/7 peer support and crisis hotlines, vetted professional directories, and access to 100 Club programs.
• Frontline Convention Annual two-day wellness conference for first responders featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and therapy K9s, covering topics including resilience development, wellness, peer support, and department programming and culture.
• Membership Programs Annual membership tiers (Bronze $50, Silver $200, Gold $500, Lifetime $5,000, Business $1,000+, Department/Local $250-2,500) and monthly recurring memberships ($5-$20) providing ongoing support for first responder families with associated benefits.
• Gold Shield Partners Program Network of businesses providing pro bono professional support including counseling, legal services, financial planning, and educational assistance to families of fallen first responders.
• Specialty License Plate Program Illinois specialty license plates for vehicles and motorcycles featuring the 100 Club of Illinois logo, available through the Illinois Secretary of State with proceeds supporting the organization.
• Young Professional Board A dedicated group of individuals ages 25-40 who support first responders and fallen hero families through fundraising, outreach, event support, and network expansion with quarterly gatherings and exclusive events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 330+ families served since 1966 with over $18 million in total benefits
• +5 more outcomes

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

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• Mesirow FinancialcoreOthersMesirow Financial serves as a Finance Partner in the Gold Shield Partners Program, providing pro bono professional support to families of fallen first responders in the area of financial decision-making.
• Motorola SolutionscoreOthersMotorola Solutions serves as an Education Partner in the Gold Shield Partners Program, providing pro bono professional support to families of fallen first responders in the area of education.
• Clifford Law GroupcoreOthersClifford Law Group serves as a Legal Partner in the Gold Shield Partners Program, providing pro bono legal support to families of fallen first responders.
• CuraLinccoreOthersCuraLinc serves as a Counseling Partner in the Gold Shield Partners Program, providing pro bono counseling support to families of fallen first responders.
• Benedictine UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• College of Lake CountysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Columbia College ChicagosupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• DePaul UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Dominican UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Drake UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Elmhurst CollegesupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Illinois Institute of TechnologysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Indiana Tech UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• John Marshall Law SchoolsupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Judson UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Kent College of LawsupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Lewis UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Loras CollegesupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Loyola University ChicagosupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Northeastern Illinois UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Northwestern UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Robert Morris UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Roosevelt UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• St. Xavier UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• UAB School of Health ProfessionssupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• University of ChicagosupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• University of Illinois - ChampaignsupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• University of Illinois - SpringfieldsupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Valparaiso UniversitysupportOthersUniversity Partner providing up to two full scholarships for 100 Club Scholars each year as part of the Educational Assistance Program.
• Frontline Care CentersupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a support services organization in the Frontline Resource Network, providing mental wellness and resiliency resources for first responders.
• InTheCommunitycoreOthersPresenting Sponsor of the Frontline Convention, supporting the annual wellness conference for first responders.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Badge of Life Mental Health Foundation: Nonprofit focused specifically on first responder mental health, suicide prevention, and peer support—directly overlapping the Frontline Resource Network and Wellness First Training offerings but with a narrower mental-health-only mandate.

Direct peers

• 100 Club of Houston: Texas-based 100 Club affiliate following the same charter model (originally founded 1953 in Detroit), serving families of fallen officers with comparable benefits—closest peer in the 100 Club network.
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: National nonprofit that provides immediate and long-term support to families of fallen firefighters, plus survivor benefits and memorial programs—directly parallel to 100 Club's Family Assistance Program and Fallen Heroes tribute.
• Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS): National nonprofit dedicated to supporting families of officers killed in the line of duty—directly comparable mission to the survivor-assistance pillar of the 100 Club of Illinois, operating at a national rather than state level.
• Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation: Grantmaking foundation funding first responder equipment, training, and wellness—directly comparable mission of supporting first responders and departments through grant funding and training resources.
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Major national charity supporting families of first responders and military lost in the line of duty, providing mortgage payoffs and financial assistance—competes for the same donor base and addresses the same beneficiary need set as 100 Club.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Large national foundation supporting first responders, veterans, and their families through financial grants, wellness programs, and entertainment—directly comparable beneficiary population and program mix (grants, wellness, family support).
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund: National nonprofit honoring fallen law enforcement officers through memorials and officer-of-the-month programs, with adjacent survivor-support programming—directly comparable fallen-officer focus and donor demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Police Benevolent Association: Large national labor and advocacy organization for law enforcement with broader scope including legal defense and benefits—but its member-benefit and survivor-support functions overlap with 100 Club's offerings.

Others

• Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP): National database honoring fallen U.S. law enforcement officers—adjacent to 100 Club's Fallen Heroes memorial and survivor-support mission, providing infrastructure the organization could partner with for family outreach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/100ClubIllinois
• Facebookfacebook.com/100clubofIllinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-100-club-of-illinois
• Instagraminstagram.com/100clubillinois

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The 100 Club of Illinois