Together Chicago
Together Chicago is a 501(c)(3) collective impact nonprofit founded in 2017 that coordinates churches, schools, businesses, and government partners across five focus areas — economic development, education, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith-community mobilization — to reduce gun violence and build thriving communities on Chicago's South and West sides, operating on a ~$5M annual budget with 80+ staff.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Together Chicago does
Together Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit collective impact organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The organization catalyzes faith, business, neighborhood, and government communities to reduce gun violence and increase thriving communities on Chicago's South and West sides, operating through five interconnected focus areas: economic development, education, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith-community mobilization. Its programs include street outreach and victim services (violence reduction), school-based mentorship and the Love Your School initiative across 100 schools reaching 3,000+ students (education), church-based Gospel Justice Centers offering $30 legal consultations (gospel justice), business incubation and supply chain localization with Rush University Medical Center (economic development), and city-wide prayer and peacemaking movements including Chicagoland United in Prayer and Building Blocks of Peace (faith-community mobilization).
The organization runs on an approximately $5M annual operating budget with 80+ staff members, funded primarily through individual donations and foundation grants (confirmed by its Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest nonprofit transparency designation). Revenue mechanics are dominated by contributed income; the only fee-for-service revenue is a $30 dignity fee at Gospel Justice Centers for legal consultations, with attorneys providing services on a pro bono basis. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: Together Chicago mobilizes 100+ churches, 20+ Faith & Service partner organizations, formal partners including Chicago Public Schools and the City of Chicago (as a Neighborhood Retail Activation Program delegate agency), and earned media coverage to drive volunteer recruitment, donor engagement, and program participation. There is no proprietary technology product; the platform is a human-coordinated collective impact network, with a GiveEffect-integrated donation and volunteer portal as the primary digital surface.
The organization is governed by a volunteer board (including senior pastors of Apostolic Faith Church, Holy Trinity Church, and Progressive Baptist Church) and an Advisory Council, led by a unique four-person co-CEO structure: co-founders Michael Allen (community/pastoral leadership) and David Dillon (financial services technology background), plus Mark O'Halloran (CFO, manufacturing entrepreneurship) and Jonathan Banks (COO, faith-based education author). Together Chicago does not pursue traditional equity funding and has no disclosed capital raises; growth is funded through operating surpluses, grants, and donations.
Together Chicago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Together Chicago
- Legal name
- Together Chicago Inc.
- Website
- https://togetherchicago.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Together Chicago is a 501(c)(3) collective impact nonprofit founded in 2017 that coordinates churches, schools, businesses, and government partners across five focus areas — economic development, education, violence reduction, gospel justice, and faith-community mobilization — to reduce gun violence and build thriving communities on Chicago's South and West sides, operating on a ~$5M annual budget with 80+ staff.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Together Chicago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Together Chicago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Together Chicago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Individual Giving: The organization accepts donations through its website and has a donate page. Individual donors can contribute to support the organization's mission of reducing gun violence and building thriving communities in Chicago.
- Grants and Foundation Support: Together Chicago receives grant funding as evidenced by mentions of grant programs, grant assistants on staff, and compliance efforts. The organization was awarded Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency indicating strong grant management practices.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gospel Justice Center Legal Consultations - $30 dignity fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Together Chicago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Together Chicago is a nonprofit collective-impact organization that catalyzes faith, business, neighborhood, and government communities to reduce gun violence and build thriving communities in Chicago. It delivers free programs across five interconnected focus areas: economic development (job creation, business incubation, workforce development, affordable homeownership), education (mentorship, Love Your School), violence reduction (street outreach, victim services, case management), gospel justice (church-based legal aid clinics), and faith-community mobilization (prayer networks, Building Blocks of Peace training). Services are funded primarily by donations and grants.
Product overview
Together Chicago is a nonprofit collective impact organization that operates as a unified platform of community development programs rather than a technology product. The organization encompasses five interconnected focus areas: Economic Development (job creation, business incubation, workforce development), Education (mentorship programs, Love Your School, tutoring), Violence Reduction (street outreach, victim services, case management), Gospel Justice (church-based legal aid), and Faith-Community Mobilization (prayer movements, peacemaking initiatives). These programs work collaboratively to address root causes of violence and increase thriving communities across Chicago's south and west sides.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Love Your School: Community initiative that partners churches, organizations, and schools to provide holistic support for students and families
- Building Blocks of Peace
- Chicagoland United in Prayer
- Gospel Justice Centers
- Faith & Service Initiative
Products and services
- Economic Development Programs Job creation, entrepreneurial scaling, business incubation, workforce development, supply-chain localization, and affordable home-ownership support in historically disinvested communities on Chicago's South and West sides. For local residents, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
- Education Programs Data-driven mentorship, wrap-around support for youth, school partnership initiatives, and tutoring for Chicago students. Operating in 100 schools with 3,000+ students impacted and 100+ tutors and mentors. For underserved Chicago youth and families.
- Violence Reduction Services Gun violence reduction through street outreach, life transformation plans, trauma care, victim services, case management, and collaborative place-based peacemaking. For individuals and neighborhoods impacted by gun violence on Chicago's South and West sides.
- Gospel Justice Centers Church-based justice centers providing quality, affordable legal counsel and advice for civil matters, operated through local church partnerships with attorneys serving pro bono. For under-resourced individuals and families in distressed communities.
- Faith-Community Mobilization Coordination of seasonal rhythms of united prayer and collective action among churches and faith-based organizations across Chicagoland through the Chicagoland United in Prayer movement and Building Blocks of Peace training. For churches and faith-based organizations in Chicago.
- Mentorship Program School-based and community mentorship connecting mentors with students in high-need communities through SEL-based mentoring and one-on-one relationships. For underserved Chicago youth.
- Love Your School Collective Community initiative partnering churches, organizations, and schools to provide holistic support including prayer, care, mentorship, and enrichment programs for students and families.
- Legal Consultation Services Affordable legal advice and counsel provided through Gospel Justice Centers hosted at local churches, addressing civil legal matters for underserved communities at a $30 dignity fee per consultation.
- Business Incubation Services Business incubation support including supply-chain localization assistance, helping local businesses qualify as supply chain partners for major purchasers such as Rush University Medical Center.
- Faith & Service Initiative Youth development program for ages 13-29 focusing on relational discipleship and meaningful acts of service through four service areas: congregational discipleship, specialized mentoring, education and discovery of purpose, and vocational readiness.
Quantifiable outcome
- 9% of youth stay on track or improve parental trust through prevention programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Together Chicago
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Together Chicago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Together Chicago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Rush University Medical CentercoreTogether Chicago is working with Rush University Medical Center on supply chain localization efforts, helping local businesses qualify as new supply chain partners for a healthcare provider that purchases over $100 million in supplies and services each year.
- Chicago Neighborhood InitiativescorePartnership supporting economic development and transit-oriented development on Chicago's West side, contributing to job creation and business recovery efforts.
- Good Food AcceleratorsupportingAssisting the Good Food Accelerator with business growth strategies for early-stage CPG food businesses and developing extension programming for food entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
- Chicago Public SchoolscoreFormal partnership with CPS for mentorship programs and school-based initiatives. The CEO of CPS participated in Together Chicago panels and expressed confidence in the collaboration between school leaders, faith-based organizations, and community partners.
- Chicagoland United in Prayer NetworkcoreCollaborative network formed in 2017 including Pray Chicago (started 2014), bringing together many praying networks to champion seasonal rhythms of prayer and action throughout Chicago.
- Building Blocks of Peace CoalitioncoreMulti-organizational effort to mobilize individuals and organizations into collective action for the wellbeing of Chicago, with focus on neighboring, organizing, peacemaking, and civic engagement.
- Faith & Service Initiative Partner OrganizationscoreNetwork of 20+ partner organizations across four service areas: Congregational Discipleship (Apostolic Faith Church, Park Community Church, Progressive Baptist Church, etc.), Specialized Mentoring (GRIP, YMEN, Intentional Sports), Education & Discovery of Purpose (Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Chicago Hope Academy), and Vocational Readiness (Christians Against Poverty, I Am Abel Foundation).
- MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership)supportingNational organization focused on mentoring. Together Chicago staff attended MENTOR's national conference to bring new mentoring insights back to Chicago programs.
- Metropolitan Peace AcademysupportingCertification body for street outreach workers. Violence reduction staff members have become Certified Youth Developers and Certified Professional Street Outreach Workers through the Academy.
- City of Chicago (Government)coreSelected as a delegate agency for the City's Neighborhood Retail Activation Program, indicating formal government partnership for economic development initiatives.
- Chicago Police Department (20th District)supportingCollaboration with CPD on community safety initiatives. Commander McCrudden of the 20th District has provided testimonials supporting Together Chicago's violence reduction work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Together Chicago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kids First Chicago: Chicago education-focused nonprofit partnering with CPS on school quality, mentoring, and student supports. Comparable to Together Chicago's education focus area and Love Your School initiative.
- United Way of Metro Chicago: A major Chicago-based nonprofit that mobilizes cross-sector collective impact across health, education, and economic mobility. Directly comparable to Together Chicago's role as a backbone convener of faith, business, government, and neighborhood stakeholders addressing systemic community issues.
- Chicago CRED: Chicago-specific nonprofit focused on reducing gun violence through street outreach, victim services, and life-transformation programming — overlapping nearly one-to-one with Together Chicago's Violence Reduction focus area and operating in the same neighborhoods.
- BUILD Chicago: Long-running Chicago youth violence prevention nonprofit working with schools and communities on the West Side — directly comparable to Together Chicago's school-based mentorship and violence reduction model.
- Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN): Chicago-based faith-rooted community organization focused on community development, violence reduction, and economic opportunity on the South and West Sides — directly comparable mission and geography to Together Chicago.
- Metropolitan Peace Academy: Chicago-based organization that trains and certifies street outreach workers and violence interrupters — Together Chicago's Violence Reduction staff earn credentials through this organization, making it a direct peer in the CVI ecosystem.
- Bright Endeavors: Chicago nonprofit that operates a social enterprise providing job training and economic opportunity for young people on the West Side. Comparable to Together Chicago's economic development and youth workforce programs.
Broad incumbents
- The Chicago Community Trust: One of the largest community foundations in the region, funding and convening across Chicago's nonprofits. While broader in scope and grantmaking-focused, it overlaps with Together Chicago's role as a convener for place-based collective impact.
- Cure Violence Global: National/international organization that pioneered the violence-interrupters public-health model used by many street outreach programs. Comparable to Together Chicago's violence reduction methodology but operates at a much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Hope Chicago: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on college persistence, career-connected learning, and economic mobility for Chicago students, with overlap to Together Chicago's education and workforce readiness work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Together Chicago social profiles
Digital presenceTogether Chicago compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Together Chicago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Together Chicago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Together Chicago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Together Chicago M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Together Chicago
What does Together Chicago do?
Together Chicago is a nonprofit collective-impact organization that catalyzes faith, business, neighborhood, and government communities to reduce gun violence and build thriving communities in Chicago. It delivers free programs across five interconnected focus areas: economic development (job creation, business incubation, workforce development, affordable homeownership), education (mentorship, Love Your School), violence reduction (street outreach, victim services, case management), gospel justice (church-based legal aid clinics), and faith-community mobilization (prayer networks, Building Blocks of Peace training). Services are funded primarily by donations and grants.
Is Together Chicago a public or private company?
Together Chicago is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Together Chicago founded?
Together Chicago was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Together Chicago based?
Together Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Together Chicago make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Individual Giving is the primary driver. The others are grants and Foundation Support.
Who are Together Chicago's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kids First Chicago, United Way of Metro Chicago, Chicago CRED, BUILD Chicago, Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), Metropolitan Peace Academy and Bright Endeavors. Broad incumbents are The Chicago Community Trust and Cure Violence Global. Hope Chicago is listed as an emerging player.
Does Together Chicago have an API?
No public API is recorded for Together Chicago.
What industry is Together Chicago in?
Together Chicago's product category is Community Development Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAK, Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations. Its NAICS code is 81341 and its SIC code is 8300.