Junior Council

What Junior Council does

Junior Council is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 that raises funds for the Special Infectious Diseases Program (SID Program) at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, supporting adolescents and young adults living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV/AIDS. The organization operates from Chicago, Illinois, with a 6-person staff and is governed by a Board of Directors. It functions as a young-professional, membership-based community of advocates whose core mission is to channel 100% of donations directly to pediatric HIV/AIDS care regardless of patient ability to pay. The model is explicitly community-led and event-driven: the flagship Annual Snowball Gala (a black-tie event drawing 900+ attendees, 30+ corporate sponsors, and 50+ silent auction items) is supplemented by Wellness for a Cause partnerships with fitness brands such as VinHausa, Equinox, and Barre3.

Junior Council's product surface is concentrated in seven formal offerings: the Annual Snowball Gala, Wellness for a Cause events, a Silent Auction program, a Membership Program for Chicago young professionals, a Corporate Sponsorship Program with seven tiers ranging from $1,500 (Black Sponsor) to $20,000 (Presenting/Top Tier Sponsor), a Hospitality Partnership Program for in-kind food, beverage, and venue services, and a Direct Donation Platform running on the OneCause SaaS donation infrastructure. Underlying technology is minimal and non-proprietary: the organization relies on OneCause for digital fundraising, a standard website at juniorcouncil.org, and social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) for awareness and donor engagement. No proprietary technology stack, AI/ML systems, or custom software products are indicated in the available data.

The revenue model blends donations, corporate sponsorships, event-based ticket and auction sales, membership dues, in-kind contributions, and event proceeds-share from wellness brand partners. Recent scale signals include $252,000 raised at the Snowball 2026 gala, $3M+ raised cumulatively for Lurie Children's since founding, ~2,000 patients supported, and 40+ community partners and sponsors. Pricing across the sponsorship tiers is fully publicly disclosed, while wellness event tickets are priced per unit ($25 for Barre3 classes) and membership dues are mentioned but not publicly itemized. The go-to-market motion is multi-channel and primarily Chicago-regional: event-driven (gala + wellness), community-led (membership), and supplemented by direct corporate sales for sponsorship and a self-serve individual donation channel via OneCause.

Name

Junior Council

Legal name

Junior Council

Website

https://juniorcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Junior Council is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds for the Special Infectious Diseases Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, supporting adolescents with HIV/AIDS through its Annual Snowball Gala, corporate sponsorships, and Wellness for a Cause partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fundraising and Community Philanthropy

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit fundraising
• HIV/AIDS support
• Community philanthropy
• Charitable giving
• Pediatric healthcare

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations from supporters, with 100% of funds going directly to the Special Infectious Diseases Program at Lurie Children's Hospital.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships at various tiers (Top Tier $20,000 to Black $1,500) providing tax-deductible sponsorships with visibility across events, communications, and the Lurie network.
3. Annual Snowball Gala: Flagship fundraising event featuring live entertainment, silent auction (50+ items), and premium hospitality. The 2026 gala raised $252,000 from 900+ attendees and 30+ corporate sponsors.
4. In-Kind Donations: Goods, services, or experiences donated for silent auctions and event support, reducing event costs and maximizing direct patient care funding.
5. Hospitality Partnerships: In-kind food, beverage, venue, and catering services provided by hospitality partners for Junior Council events.
6. Wellness for a Cause Events: Partner fitness and wellness brands host events where a portion of proceeds benefits adolescents with HIV/AIDS at Lurie Children's Hospital. Examples include VinHausa yoga/music events and Barre3 classes at $25/ticket.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Junior Council is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds through events, memberships, and corporate sponsorships to support the Special Infectious Diseases Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, providing care for adolescents with HIV/AIDS. Its flagship offering is the Annual Snowball Gala, supplemented by Wellness for a Cause partnerships, silent auctions, and direct donations processed via the OneCause platform.

Product overview

Junior Council is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a single unified charitable mission rather than a technology product company. The organization focuses on raising funds for adolescents with HIV and AIDS through its partnership with the Special Infectious Diseases Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Its primary service offerings include the Annual Snowball Gala (flagship fundraising event), Wellness for a Cause partnerships, Silent Auction events, Membership Program, Corporate Sponsorship Program, Hospitality Partnership Program, and Direct Donation Platform. All offerings serve the singular purpose of channeling resources to pediatric HIV/AIDS care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Snowball Gala: Annual flagship fundraising gala event for youth with HIV and AIDS

Products and services

• Annual Snowball Gala Junior Council's flagship annual fundraising event held in Chicago, featuring live entertainment, a silent auction, and premium hospitality. It brings together 900+ corporate and community leaders to raise funds for youth with HIV/AIDS at Lurie Children's Hospital.
• Wellness for a Cause Partnership program with fitness and wellness brands (VinHausa, Barre3, Equinox) hosting classes and events in Chicago where a portion of proceeds benefits adolescents with HIV/AIDS at Lurie Children's Hospital.
• Silent Auction Program Curated auction featuring 50+ experiences, luxury items, travel packages, and exclusive items donated by sponsors and community partners, with proceeds supporting the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Program at Lurie Children's Hospital.
• Membership Program Community of young Chicago professionals committed to supporting youth living with HIV and AIDS through volunteerism, advocacy, fundraising participation, and membership dues.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Sponsorship tiers ranging from $1,500 (Black) to $20,000 (Presenting/Top Tier) offering brand visibility at the Snowball Gala and other events, with benefits including tickets, logo placement, speaking opportunities, and newsletter features.
• Hospitality Partnership Program Partnership opportunity for restaurants, caterers, bars, hotels, and venues to provide food, beverage, and services for Junior Council events in exchange for brand visibility and tax-deductible in-kind contribution recognition.
• Direct Donation Platform Tax-deductible donation collection through the OneCause platform directing funds to the Special Infectious Diseases Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. Available to individual donors online.

Quantifiable outcome

• $40,000 provides direct patient support and educational assistance for past and present patients
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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 core and supporting.

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJunior Council's primary partner is the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. 100% of JC funds benefit the Special Infectious Diseases Program (SID Program) at the hospital. The SID Program is dedicated to improving quality of life for pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant women, infants, children, adolescents, and young adults living with, affected by, or at risk for HIV/AIDS. Lurie Children's is nationally ranked as one of America's best children's hospitals.
• VinHausasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVinHausa is an outdoor yoga and house music experience. Junior Council members joined hundreds of Chicagoans at Soldier Field for a percentage-of-proceeds benefit event supporting adolescents with HIV/AIDS at Lurie Children's Hospital.
• EquinoxsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEquinox partners with Junior Council to host cycling classes in Chicago, bringing members together for morning workouts with a portion of proceeds supporting the mission.
• Barre3supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerJunior Council hosts Barre3 strength classes in Chicago. Tickets are $25 with a portion of proceeds benefiting adolescents with HIV/AIDS at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Howard Brown Health: A large Chicago-based LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. Overlaps with Junior Council on HIV/AIDS service delivery in Chicago but operates a direct clinical care model rather than a fundraising intermediary model.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: A national nonprofit supporting hospitalized children, including those with chronic conditions like HIV. Comparable in cause category (pediatric chronic disease support) and corporate partnership model, though operating at a national rather than Chicago-hyperlocal scale.
• Mercy Home for Boys & Girls: A large Chicago youth services nonprofit with significant corporate fundraising (gala, sponsorships). Comparable in fundraising playbook (Chicago galas, tiered sponsorships, member events) but supports residential youth rather than pediatric HIV/AIDS specifically.
• Make-A-Wish Illinois: A large Illinois chapter of a national children's health nonprofit that runs signature fundraising galas in Chicago. Comparable in Chicago fundraising event execution and pediatric beneficiary focus, though national affiliation provides broader brand reach.

Direct peers

• AIDS Foundation of Chicago: A Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to HIV/AIDS advocacy and support. Directly comparable in geographic footprint and mission alignment (HIV/AIDS services), with broader programmatic scope and a more policy-oriented operating model.
• Lurie Children's Foundation: The official fundraising arm of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, which is Junior Council's primary beneficiary. Closest peer in terms of supporting the same institution; differs in scale and program breadth across the full hospital.
• Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative: A Chicago-area nonprofit focused on preventing HIV transmission to infants and supporting affected families. Direct peer in cause area (pediatric HIV/AIDS) and geography, though Junior Council supports adolescents while PACPI focuses on perinatal prevention.
• TPAN (Test Positive Aware Network): A Chicago-based nonprofit serving people living with HIV through peer support, education, and publishing. Comparable cause focus and Chicago geography, but with member-driven support services rather than Junior Council's fundraising/grantmaking model.

Emerging players

• Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (Chicago chapter): A national health nonprofit with active Chicago fundraising events (galas, walks) for a specific chronic disease. Similar event-driven, tiered-sponsorship fundraising model targeting Chicago's corporate community, though focused on a different disease area.
• Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS: A national HIV/AIDS fundraising organization using events and corporate partnerships. Comparable cause focus and event-driven fundraising model; differs in relying on entertainment-industry partners rather than hospital partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheJuniorCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/juniorcouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/junior_council
• TikToktiktok.com/@junior_council

Compliance1 record

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 Junior Council