ALS United Greater Chicago

What ALS United Greater Chicago does

ALS United Greater Chicago, operating under the legal name ALS United Illinois, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that serves approximately 500 people living with ALS and their families across Illinois. The organization is part of the national ALS United federation and supports the broader mission by co-funding more than 150 active ALS research projects alongside delivering direct patient services. Core programs include care services for patients and families, advocacy that recently secured $300,000 for ALS care and research, and a community-led fundraising portfolio anchored by Walk ALS, the 20th Anniversary ALS Classic (with The Hartford as presenting sponsor in 2026), Tribute Pages, and the United to Raise DIY fundraising platform.

The operating model is event- and donor-driven rather than technology-driven: revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (with tiered event sponsorships reported up to $40,000), peer-to-peer and DIY fundraising, and advocacy-anchored grant capture. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on grassroots events, peer networks, and cross-chapter collaborations such as the joint Midwest newsletter with ALS United Indiana and ALS United Missouri. The organization is extending its programmatic surface into patient education, including an August 2026 clinical trials navigation webinar.

ALS United Greater Chicago operates with a lean staff of 18 employees out of its headquarters at 5315 N Clark St, #650, Chicago, IL. There is no disclosed use of AI/ML, proprietary technology platform, or external funding rounds; strategic capability is concentrated in brand, federation affiliation, and community engagement rather than technology differentiation.

Name

ALS United Greater Chicago

Legal name

ALS United Illinois

Website

https://alsunitedchicago.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALS United Greater Chicago (ALS United Illinois) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers care services, advocacy, and fundraising for approximately 500 people with ALS and their families across Illinois, as part of the national ALS United federation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ALS Nonprofit Patient Care and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• ALS care services
• Nonprofit patient support
• ALS research funding
• Neuromuscular disease advocacy
• Community fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the ALS cause, with suggested amounts of $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1,000. Monthly, quarterly, and annual sustaining gift options available.
2. Event Fundraising & Sponsorships: Revenue from event participation fees (golf tournaments, walks, marathons) and corporate sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $40,000 for events like The ALS Classic.
3. Tribute & Memorial Gifts: Honor or memorial gifts allowing donors to recognize loved ones while supporting the organization.
4. Volunteer Engagement: Enthusiastic volunteers contributing time, knowledge, skills and leadership to support the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ALS United Greater Chicago provides free professional care coordination and support services to people living with ALS and their families across Illinois, including adaptive equipment lending, online counseling, support and bereavement groups, and respite care. The organization also funds ALS research (over 150 projects) and conducts federal and state advocacy, sustaining its work through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising events such as Walk ALS, Run to Defeat ALS, and The ALS Classic golf tournament.

Product overview

ALS United Greater Chicago offers a comprehensive suite of services for individuals and families affected by ALS. The organization operates as a unified platform combining core services (Care Services, Research Program, and Advocacy) with fundraising products (Walk ALS events, Run to Defeat ALS athletic events, The ALS Classic golf event, Bark ALS, and Tribute Pages). Additional digital tools include the United to Raise DIY fundraising platform. Support services encompass ALS Online Counseling, Respite Care, Adaptive Equipment loans, Support Groups, and Clinical Trials access. All care coordination services are provided free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Care Services
• Research Program
• Advocacy
• Walk ALS
• Run to Defeat ALS
• The ALS Classic
• Bark ALS
• United to Raise (DIY Fundraising)
• Tribute Pages
• ALS Online Counseling Services Program
• Adaptive Equipment Program
• Respite Care Program
• ALS Support & Bereavement Groups
• Clinical Trials Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500 people with ALS and families served across Illinois
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• The HartfordflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Hartford is the presenting sponsor of The ALS Classic golf event, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. As the presenting sponsor, The Hartford receives prominent event signage, recognition, and logo placement on event collateral and website.
• ALS United (National Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALS United Illinois is part of the ALS United national network, collaborating on research initiatives, advocacy efforts, and sharing best practices across chapters. Walk ALS is described as the official walk event for ALS United.
• ALS United Indiana and ALS United MissouricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidwest regional collaboration with sister chapters ALS United Indiana and ALS United Missouri, jointly offering the ALS United Midwest Newsletter covering events and research from all three states.
• Cog Hill Golf & Country ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for The ALS Classic golf event held at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, 12294 Archer Ave, Lemont, IL 60439.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The ALS Association: The largest US ALS-focused nonprofit, providing care services, advocacy, and research funding nationally. Directly comparable mission, service mix, and fundraising model to ALS United Greater Chicago's chapter operations.
• Answer ALS Foundation: ALS research-focused consortium generating large-scale patient data to accelerate treatment discovery. Comparable research-funding and clinical-trial orientation.
• ALS Therapy Development Institute: Biotechnology-focused nonprofit dedicated to discovering and developing ALS treatments. Comparable disease-specific mission with a heavier research orientation than ALS United Greater Chicago's chapter model.
• Les Turner ALS Foundation: Chicago-area ALS nonprofit providing care coordination, support services, and research funding. Most directly comparable local peer, with overlapping Illinois catchment and identical patient population.
• Project ALS: Disease-specific nonprofit funding ALS research and patient-directed programs. Directly comparable mission and donor base, though with a smaller organizational footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): Large voluntary health organization covering ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. Comparable care-coordination, equipment-loan, and research-funding programs, but operates as a multi-disease incumbent rather than ALS-only specialist.

Emerging players

• ALS Hope Foundation: Smaller ALS-focused nonprofit supporting care and research, with comparable patient-services orientation but more limited geographic and programmatic scale.
• American Parkinson Disease Association: Movement-disorder-focused voluntary health organization providing care services, research funding, and advocacy. Compares structurally to ALS United Greater Chicago, with analogous service mix for a related neurodegenerative disease.

Others

• National Health Council: Accrediting umbrella organization for voluntary health nonprofits. ALS United Greater Chicago holds membership, making the NHC a peer/ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
• International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations: Umbrella organization representing ALS/MND associations globally. Comparable ecosystem role to the ALS United network that ALS United Greater Chicago belongs to domestically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ALSUnitedChi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwRiqkCCwFYduIZ1WMwWe4g
• Facebookfacebook.com/alsunitedchi
• Instagraminstagram.com/alsunitedchi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alsunitedchi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ALS United Greater Chicago