National Institute for Community

What National Institute for Community does

The Institute for Community (IFC), founded in 1997 and headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community development programming across 11 U.S. cities spanning the Midwest and South — Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Louisville, Omaha, Memphis, Dallas, Houston, and Las Vegas — with five additional cities (St. Louis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City) in the expansion pipeline. Its service model is built on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) methodology and is packaged through proprietary frameworks (Wheel of Life, Four Squares, Four Basic Needs) and a Community Life Architects training curriculum, delivered via physical community facilities.

The program portfolio includes the Friendship Centre, Creative Arts Centre, After School Care, Camp Friendship, Youth Network, and the newly opened (2025) arts and youth leadership center, The Underground. All programs are offered free of charge regardless of ability to pay, with scholarships available, meaning the organization is entirely funder-supported rather than fee-supported. The funding base comprises individual donors, foundation and United Way grants (e.g., $10,000 from United Way of Will County in 2024), and a network of 50+ corporate sponsors that includes Marquette Companies, Associated Bank, and Busey Bank. Programmatic partners extend the delivery footprint across faith communities, food banks (West Suburban Community Pantry, Northern Illinois Food Bank), dance and arts academies (Pulse Dance Academy, School for the Arts), and educational organizations (Little Explorers Montessori School).

Leadership is small and stable, with Executive Director Michael R. Vickery anchoring 28 years of continuous operation, supported by an Operations Director, Administrator, and Children's Director. The underlying 'technology' is the codified ABCD curriculum and Community Life Architects training rather than any software platform; no AI/ML, patents, or proprietary data assets are disclosed. Revenue, headcount, and consolidated financials are not publicly disclosed, which constrains the depth of any quantitative assessment.

Name

National Institute for Community

Legal name

The Institute for Community

Website

https://instituteforcommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois, that delivers free Asset-Based Community Development programming — including community centers, after-school care, camps, and youth leadership — across 11 U.S. cities with five more in the pipeline, funded by corporate sponsors, donors, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Asset-based community development
• Youth leadership programs
• Nonprofit community centers
• Social connection programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Romeoville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute for Community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community-building programs including Friendship Centre, Creative Arts Centre, The Underground, After School Care, Camp Friendship summer camp, and Youth Network. Programs are organized around proprietary frameworks—Wheel of Life and Four Squares—applying asset-based community development principles to address social isolation. Services are offered regardless of ability to pay, with scholarships available.

Product overview

The Institute for Community operates as a unified portfolio of community programs and frameworks rather than a technology platform. Its core offerings include the Friendship Centre, Creative Arts Centre, and The Underground (arts and youth leadership center). Supporting programs include After School Care, Camp Friendship Summer Camp, and Youth Network. These programs are connected through conceptual frameworks: The Wheel of Life (balancing Family, Health & Wellness, Spiritual, Education/Career, and Recreation needs) and The Four Squares model (Friendship/Membership for Belonging, Partnership/Ownership for Influence). The organization applies asset-based community development principles to solve problems of social isolation through relationship-building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Underground: Arts and youth leadership center opened in 2025 as part of the Creative Arts Centre.
• Friendship Centre
• Creative Arts Centre
• Camp Friendship
• Youth Network

Quantifiable outcome

• Communities served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Will CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership rooted in shared mission to uplift families, empower youth, and build stronger communities. Received $10,000 grant in 2024 to support Summer Camp and After School initiatives serving children ages 3-12 with leadership, arts, and recreation programming. United Way's commitment to equity, education, and community development aligns with IFC's mission. UWWC participates in annual fundraising campaigns.
• Marquette CompaniescoreOthersCorporate sponsor supporting community programs
• The School for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner offering music and art lessons at The Underground and Creative Arts Centre, encouraging creativity and confidence in youth
• Perricone Center for Counseling and Healing ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of expressive arts, play therapy, counseling for all ages, couples, families, and financial counseling at Creative Arts Centre
• Pulse Dance AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance academy offering beginner through advanced classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, poms, and hip hop from Studio 20 location
• Church of FaithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch meeting at HighPoint facilities on first and third Sundays, offering worship and encouragement
• Little Explorers Montessori SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontessori school (K-Elementary) operating at Friendship Centre location, focused on heart, mind, and spirit development
• West Suburban Community PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood pantry partner delivering food and groceries to HighPoint on second and fourth Tuesdays of each month
• Northern Illinois Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cold lunch and one snack for Camp Friendship Summer Camp Program

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• YMCA of the USA: National federation of community-based YMCAs offering youth development, family programming, arts, recreation, and camp services through facility-based local branches. Directly comparable to IFC's Friendship Centre/Creative Arts Centre/Camp Friendship model, though operating at vastly larger national scale.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization operating local clubs that provide after-school care, summer camp, arts, leadership, and recreation programming for children ages 6-18. Closely comparable to IFC's youth-serving facility programs, with a national footprint and similar mission.
• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development organization delivering leadership, civic engagement, arts, and recreation programming through local clubs and county extensions. Comparable youth-development mission and community-based delivery model to IFC's programs.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Nonprofit that builds community through neighborhood-level affiliate organizations engaging residents, volunteers, and partners to strengthen local communities — philosophically aligned with IFC's ABCD approach, though focused on housing as the community-development lever.
• Points of Light: Nonprofit focused on civic engagement, volunteer mobilization, and community-building programming across U.S. cities. Comparable in its emphasis on community connection and relationship-building as remedies to social isolation — a direct thematic parallel to IFC's mission.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National nonprofit providing one-to-one youth mentoring and community-based programs targeting social isolation, youth development, and family support. Comparable mission and beneficiary base to IFC's Youth Network and family-focused programming.
• Camp Fire (formerly Camp Fire Girls and Boys): National youth development nonprofit offering after-school programs, summer camps, and teen leadership programs across local councils. Comparable to IFC's Camp Friendship, After School Care, and Youth Network offerings for children and teens.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution that invests in neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and community-building initiatives through local offices. Comparable in operating multi-city community development programming, but operates as a financial intermediary rather than direct service provider.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella for community-focused fundraising and grantmaking, partnering with local United Way affiliates (like IFC's partner United Way of Will County) to fund youth, family, and community programs. Comparable as a community funding ecosystem actor, but at vastly greater scale and with a grantmaking rather than direct-service focus.

Emerging players

• KaBOOM!: Nonprofit that builds community through playground and playspace projects, partnering with local communities to create gathering spaces. Comparable community-development philosophy with a narrower infrastructure focus than IFC's multi-program centers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC27Xap1NGM50PlcMkhYQK9Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/156552077711486
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-institute-for-community

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

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