Citizen Action/Illinois

What Citizen Action/Illinois does

Citizen Action/Illinois is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit progressive political coalition founded in 1975 and headquartered at 2229 S. Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois. The organization operates as a statewide membership-based coalition with a 50-member Policy Council (including elected officials, affiliate organization representatives, and individual leaders) and a 10-member Board of Directors responsible for financial and administrative affairs. Citizen Action/Illinois mobilizes Illinois residents around progressive policy priorities including healthcare affordability, economic justice, voting rights, environmental protection, public education funding, and social justice, while also conducting candidate forums, electoral endorsements, and legislative advocacy. The organization is governed as an independent entity with an affiliated 501(c)(3), the Public Action Foundation, which conducts research and public education on consumer and family issues.

The organization's core "products" are advocacy programs and civic engagement tools rather than technology products. These include the Healthcare Action Institute (a training program graduating 22 advocates per cohort from 15+ Illinois zip codes), the Illinoisans for Healthcare Action statewide initiative, the 2026 State Legislative Scorecard (an interactive legislative accountability tool), the Campus Vote Fellows Program (a student relational organizing program that engaged 1,400+ voters at ISU and expanded to WIU in 2024), and the Rx Resolution campaign advocating for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The Civics in Prison program has trained 270+ incarcerated peer educators and 5,000+ course participants since 2020. Distribution occurs through digital platforms (website, email alerts, ActBlue donations, MobilizeUS events), grassroots events (lobby days, rallies, candidate forums), and coalition partnerships with 20+ allied organizations including AARP Illinois, SEIU, Illinois Education Association, and Planned Parenthood Illinois.

Revenue is generated through membership contributions and donations, primarily processed via the ActBlue online donation platform, supplemented by grants routed through the affiliated 501(c)(3) Public Action Foundation. The organization employs approximately 7 core staff (with a broader team of 10-15) led by Executive Director Anusha Thotakura, and functions as a community-led GTM motion where members are financially engaged and activated to take direct action on policy issues. No revenue figures, pricing, or financial details are publicly disclosed.

Name

Citizen Action/Illinois

Legal name

Citizen Action/Illinois

Website

https://citizenaction-il.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Citizen Action/Illinois is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit progressive political coalition founded in 1975, headquartered in Chicago, that mobilizes Illinois residents on healthcare affordability, economic justice, voting rights, and social justice through grassroots organizing, candidate endorsements, and legislative advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Progressive Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy (BPAGAFAK), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

Keywords

• Progressive policy advocacy
• Community organizing
• Healthcare advocacy
• Voter engagement
• Policy coalition

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. Membership Contributions: Members are asked to financially support the organization through contributions. Individual members are also contacted for action on issues such as contacting key members of Congress or writing lawmakers.
2. Public Action Foundation (501(c)(3)): The Public Action Foundation, a 501(c)(3) affiliated with Citizen Action/Illinois, conducts research and public education on pressing consumer, family, and Illinois resident issues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Citizen Action/Illinois is a nonprofit progressive policy coalition that organizes Illinois residents and members around state-level advocacy priorities including healthcare access and affordability, voting and civic engagement, and consumer protection. It delivers this through issue-specific programs such as the Healthcare Action Institute, Illinoisans for Healthcare Action, Rx Resolution, and the Campus Vote Fellows initiative, alongside annual legislative scorecards and candidate endorsement activity.

Product overview

Citizen Action/Illinois operates as a progressive policy coalition offering advocacy programs and tools rather than a traditional product company. The organization provides civic engagement through its Campus Vote Fellows Program, legislative accountability via the 2026 State Legislative Scorecard, and healthcare advocacy through the Healthcare Action Institute training program and Illinoisans for Healthcare Action coalition. The Rx Resolution campaign focuses on prescription drug affordability advocacy. These programs work together to advance progressive policy goals in Illinois through grassroots organizing, voter engagement, and legislative advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Healthcare Action Institute: Program that trains advocates in storytelling, healthcare policy, and advocacy skills. Cohort members come from Chicago, Rockford, Springfield, Carbondale, Quad Cities, and Downstate IL.
• Illinoisans for Healthcare Action

Products and services

• Healthcare Action Institute Program of Citizen Action/Illinois focused on healthcare policy advocacy in Illinois, providing a structured vehicle for members and partners to engage on healthcare access and reform issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22 advocates trained per cohort through Healthcare Action Institute from 15+ zip codes across Illinois
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Illinois Alliance for Retired AmericanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host organization for candidate forums and collaborative advocacy on issues affecting Illinois residents including healthcare and economic justice.
• Illinois Education AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and collaborative work on public education policy and advocacy.
• Personal PACcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host organization for candidate forums, collaborating on progressive electoral engagement.
• Chicago VotescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and democracy/voting rights advocacy collaboration.
• Housing Action IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and collaborative housing justice advocacy.
• SEIU HCIIMKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and healthcare worker advocacy collaboration.
• Illinois Environmental CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and environmental protection policy advocacy.
• Illinois Coalition on Immigration and Refugee RightscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and immigration justice advocacy.
• Environmental Law and Policy CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and environmental law advocacy.
• Equality IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and LGBTQ+ rights advocacy.
• Illinois Federation of TeacherscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and education policy advocacy.
• Rainbow PUSHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and social justice advocacy.
• Access LivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and disability rights advocacy.
• Shriver Center on Poverty LawcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and poverty law advocacy.
• Indivisible IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and progressive grassroots advocacy.
• She Votes ILcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and women's voting rights advocacy.
• Illinois NOW Women's AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and women's rights advocacy.
• Chicago League of Women VoterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and voting rights advocacy.
• Arc of IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and disability advocacy.
• The People's LobbycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and progressive organizing.
• Chicago Women Take ActioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and women's advocacy.
• Sunrise Movement ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and climate justice advocacy.
• Democratic Women of the South SuburbscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host for candidate forums and suburban women's political engagement.
• AARP IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner supporting Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation. AARP represents 1.7 million members in Illinois.
• Small Business Advocacy CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner supporting Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation, representing small business concerns about healthcare costs.
• AIDS Foundation of ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner supporting Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation and healthcare access advocacy.
• Planned Parenthood IllinoiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner supporting Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation and reproductive healthcare access.
• Protect Our Care ILcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide coalition of healthcare advocates, providers, consumers, small business advocates, and workers committed to healthcare coverage and access.
• Illinois PIRGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner advocating for consumer protection and opposing harmful mergers like Capital One-Discover.
• Americans for Financial Reform Education FundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoalition partner on financial consumer protection issues and antitrust concerns.
• Communication Workers of America, District 4coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor union partner supporting CFPB protections against predatory paycheck advance products.
• National Association of Social Workers, Illinois ChaptercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association partner supporting consumer protections and worker rights.
• Legal Action ChicagocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal services partner supporting consumer financial protection efforts.
• Illinois AFL-CIOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState labor federation partner on worker rights, healthcare advocacy, and budget protection campaigns.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ProgressNow: State-level progressive advocacy network with affiliated state organizations running digital communications, rapid-response advocacy, and policy campaigns. Closely comparable structure and mission to Citizen Action/Illinois as a state-based progressive communications and advocacy hub.
• Illinois PIRG: State-level public interest research group focused on consumer protection and advocacy. Listed as a Citizen Action/Illinois coalition partner on financial consumer protection issues, with directly comparable consumer advocacy mission (antitrust, predatory lending, healthcare costs).
• Common Cause: National nonpartisan government accountability and voting rights advocacy organization with state chapters. Both organizations run legislative scorecards, voter mobilization campaigns, and democracy reform advocacy, making them directly comparable in mission and operating model.
• Indivisible: Progressive grassroots advocacy organization running local Indivisible chapters across all 50 states. Comparable in mission (resisting conservative policy, building progressive power) and grassroots organizing methodology, with overlapping coalition partners like Indivisible Illinois.
• ACLU of Illinois: State affiliate of the national ACLU running civil liberties, voting rights, and social justice advocacy in Illinois. Co-hosts candidate forums with Citizen Action/Illinois (per partnerships data) and shares overlapping issue priorities including LGBTQ+ rights and criminal justice reform.
• State Voices: National coalition of state civic engagement tables coordinating voter mobilization and civic participation programs. Operates comparable state-level infrastructure for advancing voting rights and civic participation, with similar coalition-building methodology.
• League of Women Voters of Illinois: State chapter of the League of Women Voters running nonpartisan voter education, candidate forums, and voting rights advocacy. Listed as a coalition partner (Chicago League of Women Voters), with directly comparable civic participation and voter engagement programming.

Emerging players

• Public Citizen: National nonprofit consumer and public interest advocacy organization founded by Ralph Nader. Comparable in consumer protection and democracy reform advocacy, though operates at national rather than state level with comparable membership-based advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• People's Action: National progressive organizing network of which Citizen Action/Illinois is historically affiliated. Operates as a parent coalition structure with state-level affiliates running similar grassroots advocacy, voter mobilization, and policy campaigns on healthcare, economic justice, and democracy issues.
• MoveOn: Large national progressive advocacy organization focused on digital mobilization, electoral engagement, and policy campaigns. Comparable in advocacy methodology (email action alerts, petition drives, electoral endorsements) and issue priorities, though operates at significantly larger scale nationally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CitizenActionIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citizen-action-illinois

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Citizen Action/Illinois