Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois

What Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois does

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois (CCCS) is a nonprofit financial counseling organization founded in 1980 and headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois, with a secondary office in Elgin. The organization delivers HUD-approved housing counseling, U.S. Trustee-approved pre-bankruptcy and pre-discharge education, and NFCC-certified credit, debt, and student loan counseling to individuals across Northern Illinois, primarily in McHenry County. Its service portfolio spans six core offerings — Credit Report Analysis, Student Loan Counseling, Financial Counseling, Housing Counseling, a Debt Management Program (DMP), and Bankruptcy Services — supplemented by community workshops and online courses delivered through a partnership with Framework Homeownership.

CCCS employs 11–50 staff including HUD-, NFCC-, and HECM-certified counselors and bilingual personnel, delivering services through one-on-one sessions both in-person and virtually. The underlying technology is minimal — there is no proprietary platform, API, or AI component; service delivery depends on certified human counselors and standard web/contact infrastructure.

The revenue model combines modest transaction-based fees (e.g., $25 for credit report analysis, a $50 DMP startup plus monthly fees of 10–20% of creditor payments, and $25–$75 for bankruptcy courses) with grant funding from entities including the McHenry County Mental Health Board, Illinois Housing Development Authority, FHLB Chicago, and the Community Foundation for McHenry County, plus voluntary contributions from participating creditors. Many core counseling services are provided free or at reduced rates for households below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. The organization is governed by an independent volunteer board and has no parent company or external shareholders.

Name

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois

Legal name

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois

Website

https://illinoiscccs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CCCS of Northern Illinois is a nonprofit, HUD- and NFCC-certified financial counseling organization serving individuals in Northern Illinois through housing, debt, bankruptcy, student loan, and credit counseling delivered via certified counselors in person and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Service Fees: Modest fees for specific services including credit report analysis ($25), debt management program start-up ($50) and monthly fees (20% of payments for IL, 10% for WI), bankruptcy counseling courses ($40-$75). Many core counseling services are free or reduced based on grants and ability to pay.
2. Grants and Donations: Funded by private and governmental grants including McHenry County Mental Health Board and Illinois Housing Development Authority. Voluntary contributions from creditors participating in debt management program. Accepts tax-deductible donations.
3. Creditor Contributions: Voluntary contributions from creditors who participate in the debt management program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CCCSNI is a nonprofit financial counseling agency delivering one-on-one and group counseling in credit report analysis, student loan management, debt management program enrollment, housing (pre-purchase, default intervention, reverse mortgage), and pre-bankruptcy and pre-discharge education. Services are delivered by HUD-approved and NFCC-certified counselors in person and virtually, and most core counseling is offered free or at reduced cost through grant funding.

Product overview

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois offers a comprehensive suite of nonprofit financial counseling services organized around six core offerings: Credit Report Analysis, Student Loan Counseling, Financial Counseling, Housing Counseling, the Debt Management Program (DMP), and Bankruptcy Services. These services are designed to address the full spectrum of financial challenges individuals face, from improving credit scores and managing student loans to preventing foreclosure and navigating bankruptcy. The organization also provides educational workshops and courses as supplementary offerings. Services are delivered through one-on-one counseling sessions with certified counselors, both in-person and virtually, and most counseling services are provided free of charge when grant funding is available. The Debt Management Program and certain education courses have nominal associated fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Credit Report Analysis
• Student Loan Counseling
• Financial Counseling
• Housing Counseling
• Debt Management Program (DMP)
• Bankruptcy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced monthly payments and interest through debt management program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Partner BanksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the partner banks collaborated with CCCS to help clients Angela & Luis achieve homeownership through the housing counseling program.
• Participating CreditorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreditors who participate in the debt management program and may provide voluntary contributions. Most creditors work with CCCS and some provide financial assistance to support the program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Money Management International (MMI): One of the largest nonprofit credit counseling agencies in the U.S., providing debt management, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and financial education. Directly competes with CCCS in DMP services and HUD-approved housing counseling.
• InCharge Debt Solutions: Nonprofit credit counseling organization providing debt management programs, housing counseling, and financial education. Comparable service mix with both virtual and in-person delivery to individuals nationwide.
• GreenPath Financial Wellness: National nonprofit HUD-approved credit counseling agency offering debt management programs, housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, and student loan counseling. Most directly comparable competitor with same service mix, certifications, and nonprofit funding model.
• Apprisen (now part of MMI): Nonprofit HUD-approved credit counseling agency offering debt management, housing counseling, and financial education. Recently merged into MMI, demonstrating consolidation dynamics in the credit counseling sector relevant to CCCS's strategic positioning.
• Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions: Nonprofit HUD-approved credit counseling agency offering debt management, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and bankruptcy education. Comparable service portfolio with virtual and in-person delivery models.
• Take Charge America: Nonprofit credit counseling agency offering debt management, student loan counseling, housing counseling, and bankruptcy services. Directly comparable HUD-approved nonprofit counseling provider.
• MoneyFit by American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC): Nonprofit credit counseling agency offering debt management, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and bankruptcy education. Comparable service portfolio serving individuals across multiple states.

Others

• Framework Homeownership: Technology partner of CCCS providing online pre-purchase homebuyer education courses. Comparable as an enabling technology provider in the housing counseling ecosystem and a potential competitor for online-only counseling delivery.
• Catholic Charities USA: Large nonprofit social services organization offering financial counseling and emergency assistance among broader social services. Comparable as a faith-based/social-service nonprofit competing for similar grant funding pools and serving low-income community members.

Broad incumbents

• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): National umbrella organization for nonprofit credit counseling agencies. CCCS counselors hold NFCC certifications; NFCC provides training, standards, and brand network that frames CCCS as part of a broader national counseling infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CCCSIllinois
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consumer-credit-counseling-service-of-northern-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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 Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois