What RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC does

Ravenswood Community Services Inc (RCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization serving the Uptown and Ravenswood neighborhoods on Chicago's north side. Founded in 1993 as an outreach program of All Saints' Episcopal Church and formally incorporated as a separate nonprofit in 2001, RCS operates a Food Pantry providing weekly groceries (fresh produce, meat, bread, canned goods, milk) and a Community Kitchen serving hot to-go meals every Tuesday from 5:30–7:30pm at 4550 N. Hermitage Ave. The organization also runs After School Pantries at Goudy, McCutcheon, and Brennemann Elementary Schools on rotating Thursday schedules. All services are provided free of charge with no eligibility or documentation restrictions.

In 2024, RCS recorded 23,200 pantry visits, distributed 350,000 pounds of groceries, and served 18,300 to-go dinners annually, plus 10,200 loaves of bread. The organization is volunteer-powered, with an average of 80 volunteers per week, supported by a small paid staff of two (Executive Director Lori Gee, in role since January 2012, and Operations Director Parker Callahan, since 2015). A 13-member Board of Directors governs the organization, presided over by The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille, Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church, with Brian Lynch as Board Chair.

RCS operates on a donations-philanthropy revenue model funded through individual contributions (via Network For Good), corporate volunteer group contributions ($500 per scheduled volunteer session), virtual food drives, foundation grants (including the 2021 Maximus Foundation Grant), and annual fundraising events such as the Ravenswood Run 5K (3,000 runners) and Spirits of Ravenswood. Key strategic partnerships include the Greater Chicago Food Depository for bulk food supply and three Chicago Public Schools for after-school distribution. RCS holds GuideStar Gold Seal transparency certification (2025) and has no technology, AI, or proprietary software components.

Name

RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

Legal name

Ravenswood Community Services

Website

https://ravenswoodcommunityservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ravenswood Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization serving Uptown and Ravenswood communities in Chicago. It operates a weekly Food Pantry and Community Kitchen with no eligibility restrictions, supported by donations and volunteer engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible financial contributions from individuals supporting RCS operations. Donations can be made online through Network For Good (one-time or recurring) or by check.
2. Corporate Group Contributions: Corporate volunteer groups are requested to contribute $500 when scheduling volunteer sessions to help cover program costs.
3. Virtual Food Drive Donations: Online fundraising campaigns allowing donors to contribute financially to stock the pantry, with $1 purchasing 10 pounds of food through RCS network.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual events like the Ravenswood Run (5K race attracting 3,000 runners) and Spirits of Ravenswood generate proceeds benefiting the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) operates a weekly Food Pantry and Community Kitchen providing free groceries (fresh produce, meat, bread, canned goods, milk) and hot to-go meals every Tuesday evening to neighbors in need in Chicago's Uptown and Ravenswood communities. The organization also runs After School Pantries at three local elementary schools and hosts annual fundraising events (Ravenswood Run 5K, Spirits of Ravenswood). All services are provided free of charge with no restrictions or eligibility requirements.

Product overview

Ravenswood Community Services operates a unified set of hunger relief programs centered around food distribution and meal services. The core offerings include a weekly Food Pantry (providing groceries including fresh produce, meat, bread, canned goods, and milk) and Community Kitchen (hot to-go meals), both operating Tuesday evenings. Additional programs include After School Pantries at three local elementary schools and special events including the annual Ravenswood Run 5K and Spirits of Ravenswood fundraiser. The All Saints' Café restaurant-style meal program is currently on hiatus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Pantry Weekly client-choice grocery distribution providing fresh produce, meat, bread, canned goods, and milk to neighbors in need. Operates every Tuesday from 5:30-7:30pm at 4550 N Hermitage Ave with no restrictions on who can receive food.
• Community Kitchen Hot to-go meal program serving individual meals starting at 5:30pm while supplies last, plus a Dining Hall open 6-7pm for neighbors needing a place to eat. Located at 4550 N Hermitage Ave.
• After School Pantries Grocery distribution hosted at Goudy, McCutcheon, and Brennemann Elementary Schools at Thursday dismissal times. Goudy and McCutcheon serve first and third Thursdays; Brennemann serves second and fourth Thursdays. Open to the broader community regardless of student enrollment.
• Ravenswood Run Annual neighborhood 5K race held in late April, attracting 3,000 runners who gather at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage Ave. Proceeds benefit the Food Pantry and Community Kitchen programs.
• Spirits of Ravenswood Annual Halloween-themed fundraising event featuring costume contests, local beer and spirits, games, and prizes. Proceeds benefit the RCS Food Pantry and Community Kitchen.
• All Saints' Café

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,200 pantry visits in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All Saints' Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993Founding organization and host location for RCS operations since 1993. Parishioners began distributing groceries through the church in 1993, expanding to include hot meals by 1998. All Saints' community and resources remain integral to RCS operations. RCS was formally launched in 2001 as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional food bank that supplies food to RCS and other local pantries. RCS receives weekly food deliveries from GCFD. The partnership enables bulk purchasing power and supply chain access that individual pantries cannot achieve alone.
• ClōzTalkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBranded apparel partnership allowing volunteers and supporters to purchase RCS merchandise. ClōzTalk specializes in high-quality clothing for nonprofits. Note: purchases do not financially benefit RCS.
• EnMotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent management partner for the annual Ravenswood Run 5K race. EnMotive provides race registration and event logistics platform.
• Goudy, McCutcheon, and Brennemann Elementary SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Chicago Public Schools hosting RCS After School Pantry programs. Pantries operate at school dismissal times on rotating Thursday schedules, providing grocery items to families in the community regardless of student enrollment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/rcschicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/ravenswoodcommunityservices
• Instagraminstagram.com/rcschicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ravenswood-community-services-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC