West40 Education Foundation

What West40 Education Foundation does

West40 Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Maywood, Illinois, established in 2021 and operating with approximately 10 employees under a volunteer board of directors. The foundation functions as the financial arm of West40 ISC #2, an education service cooperative, and channels philanthropic dollars to student support programs across 38 school districts and 3 co-ops in West Cook County, one of Illinois' most populated regions. Its service population is more than 3,000 at-risk students in grades 4 through 12+.

The foundation's program portfolio is human-services oriented and built without proprietary technology. Core offerings include Safe Schools (alternative learning environments), Roots and Wings Scholarship, the Heart 2 Heart store (private shopping for clothing, personal care items, and household goods), the Backpack Giveback program (3,000 backpacks distributed annually since 2018), and the Dreams Within Reach initiative. Operational infrastructure consists of commodity tools: Square for online donation processing, Race Roster for event registration, and Wix-based web properties; there is no software platform, app, or model development disclosed.

Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, mailed checks, and two signature fundraising events (West40 Runs 5K/1 Mile/Kids Dash and West40 Cooks culinary event). Pricing on events is modest (individual tickets at $25 plus fees, family tickets up to $50 plus fees). The foundation recognizes no traditional revenue model beyond donations; as a 501c3, it qualifies for tax-deductible contributions and potential grant funding. Geographic scope is intentionally limited to West Cook County, with no disclosed expansion beyond the region.

Name

West40 Education Foundation

Legal name

West 40 Education Foundation

Website

https://west40educationfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

West40 Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit in Maywood, Illinois that funds student support programs for more than 3,000 at-risk youth across 38 school districts in West Cook County, combining donations, fundraising events, and a Heart 2 Heart store to address educational barriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAC

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Youth education support
• Student support programs
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Alternative learning programs
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Maywood

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The primary revenue stream consists of monetary donations from individuals and corporations. Donations are accepted via credit card through Square payment platform and by check through mail.
2. Fundraising Events: Revenue generated from signature events including West40 Runs and West40 Cooks. Events offer registration fees for participants (individuals and families) and generate community engagement while raising funds.
3. 501c3 Nonprofit Status: As a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, the foundation qualifies for tax-deductible contributions and may receive grants from foundations and government entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

West40 Education Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that funds and delivers student support programs for at-risk youth in West Cook County, Illinois. It provides Safe Schools alternative learning environments, the Roots and Wings Scholarship, the Heart 2 Heart store for material assistance, the Backpack Giveback school supply program (3,000 backpacks annually since 2018), and General Fund support for Alternative Learning Opportunity Programs. It also operates fundraising events (West40 Runs, West40 Cooks) to sustain these programs.

Product overview

West40 Education Foundation operates as a 501c3 nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of student support programs and fundraising initiatives. The core offerings include Safe Schools (alternative learning environments), Roots and Wings Scholarship, Heart 2 Heart Store (resource distribution), Backpack Giveback (school supplies), and General Fund support for Alternative Learning Opportunity Programs. The foundation also organizes fundraising events including West40 Runs and West40 Cooks. Together, these programs serve over 3,000 students across 38 school districts in West Cook County, Illinois, with the goal of removing barriers to student success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safe Schools

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 students served annually through student programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• East Leyden High SchoolminorOthers · 26 April 2025Venue partner for the West40 Cooks fundraising event held at East Leyden, 3400 Rose Street, Franklin Park, IL 60131.
• Mattress Firm (Sleepys donation)minorOthersMattress Firm donated 15 Sleepys mattresses to families in need through the Dreams Within Reach program, demonstrating corporate community support for West40 families.
• West40 ISC #2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe West40 Education Foundation serves as the financial visionary for West40 ISC #2, supporting its mission and vision for students in West Cook County. The foundation brings life to the belief, mission and vision of West40 ISC #2 so that every child in West Cook county has a chance for success.
• 38 School Districts and 3 Co-ops in West Cook CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnerships with 38 school districts and three co-ops across West Cook County, one of the most populated areas in Illinois. The foundation is recognized as a model for the state in supporting these educational institutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth-development nonprofit offering after-school programming, mentorship, and basic-needs support. Comparable in mission (at-risk youth, school-age), broader in scale and footprint than West40.
• United Way: Federated community fundraising nonprofit channeling donations into local education, housing, and basic-needs programs. Comparable as a West Cook County/regional donor-aggregation vehicle supporting overlapping causes.

Regional players

• After School Matters: Chicago-based nonprofit providing out-of-school-time programs for teens, including apprenticeships and pathways programs. Closely comparable to West40's Safe Schools and apprenticeship-pathway offerings in scale and geography.
• Chicago Public Education Fund: Chicago-area nonprofit investing private philanthropic capital into public K-12 schools. Comparable to West40's model of blending philanthropy with public school district funding and capacity.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: Crowdfunding platform connecting individual donors to public-school teacher projects and student needs. Directly comparable to West40's foundation-projects grant process for staff and student-driven educational initiatives.

Direct peers

• Big Shoulders Fund: Chicago-area nonprofit funding scholarships, programs, and operational support for children in under-resourced schools. Direct comparable in combining philanthropy with K-12 student supports in an Illinois urban/suburban context.
• Kids In Need Foundation: National nonprofit providing free school supplies to K-12 students in need. Closely comparable to West40's Backpack Giveback program and Heart 2 Heart tangible-goods distribution approach.
• Pencils of Promise: Nonprofit funding education infrastructure, teacher support, and scholarships for underserved students. Comparable as a model of donor-funded K-12 capacity-building and student support programs.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver integrated student supports (attendance, behavior, basic needs). Highly comparable to West40's school-embedded model serving at-risk youth across districts.

Others

• Adler University / Institute for Social Innovation (peer in nonprofit capacity-building): Regional social-mission institutions providing capacity-building supports to community-based nonprofits in the greater Chicago area. Adjacent comparable as a peer-type organization focused on strengthening the local social-services ecosystem in which West40 operates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgISOZMSpElVq1jIVNXg01g
• Facebookfacebook.com/West40EducationFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/west40educationfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west40-education-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 West40 Education Foundation