ILLINOIS YOUTHBUILD COALITION, INC.

What ILLINOIS YOUTHBUILD COALITION, INC. does

Illinois YouthBuild Coalition, Inc. is a Rockford, Illinois-based nonprofit organization founded in 1996 that serves as the only state-level YouthBuild coalition in Illinois and one of 13 such coalitions nationally. The coalition coordinates a statewide network of 15 member organizations that deliver the YouthBuild model — an education, job-training, and leadership program for opportunity youth ages 16 to 24 who have left or been pushed out of the traditional school system. Programs are offered free of charge to eligible participants and combine academic instruction with hands-on career skills development, mentorship, and community service.

The coalition's core function is not direct service delivery but rather statewide coordination, advocacy, training support, and capacity-building for its member sites. It was the first YouthBuild state coalition in the nation to formally incorporate as a nonprofit (2001) and was instrumental in securing passage of the Illinois YouthBuild Act in 1997, which codified the YouthBuild model in state policy. The coalition is affiliated with YouthBuild USA and partners with organizations such as AmeriCorps and Lumity STEMWorks to broaden program offerings.

The coalition operates with a small staff of 8 employees and is funded through a mix of federal and state Department of Labor grants, private donations, and membership dues from its 15 member organizations. Career pathways within the member network have diversified beyond traditional construction trades to include information technology, healthcare, and conservation. Member site performance is measured by placement and retention outcomes — for example, YouthBuild Rockford reports a placement rate of 80% and a retention rate of 69%, though these are site-level rather than coalition-level figures.

Name

ILLINOIS YOUTHBUILD COALITION, INC.

Legal name

ILLINOIS YOUTHBUILD COALITION, INC.

Website

https://youthbuildillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Illinois YouthBuild Coalition is a Rockford-based nonprofit founded in 1996 that coordinates 15 member organizations across Illinois delivering the YouthBuild education and job-training model to opportunity youth ages 16 to 24.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development and Alternative Education

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Construction pre-apprenticeship training
• Alternative secondary education
• Community coalition advocacy
• Vocational credentialing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding (Federal/State): IYC receives federal and state grant funding, primarily Department of Labor YouthBuild grants and Illinois YouthBuild Act funding, distributed to member organizations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The coalition relies on tax-deductible donations to carry out its mission and support YouthBuild programs across Illinois.
3. Membership Dues: Membership to the IYC is open to organizations operating or aspiring to operate a YouthBuild program within Illinois; member organizations pay dues and are eligible to receive funds raised or secured through coalition joint activity and advocacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Illinois YouthBuild Coalition coordinates 15 YouthBuild member programs that deliver free education (GED/high school diploma attainment), construction and vocational skills training, leadership development, wrap-around supportive services, and job placement to opportunity youth ages 16-24 across Illinois. The coalition provides centralized advocacy, funding distribution, training resources, and programmatic support to its member organizations serving low-income young adults who have dropped out of school or faced foster care, justice involvement, homelessness, or welfare dependency.

Product overview

The Illinois YouthBuild Coalition is a nonprofit statewide coalition that coordinates 15 YouthBuild member organizations across Illinois. Rather than a unified software product, the Coalition provides advocacy, funding coordination, and programmatic support to local programs. Member programs operate independently, offering education, construction training, career counseling, and job placement services to opportunity youth ages 16-24. The Coalition's role is administrative and supportive rather than product-based.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Illinois YouthBuild Coalition Coordination & Advocacy Statewide nonprofit coalition that coordinates 15 YouthBuild member programs across Illinois, providing centralized advocacy, training resources, funding distribution, and programmatic guidance to member organizations serving opportunity youth ages 16-24.
• YouthBuild Programs (15 Member Sites) Network of 15 free YouthBuild programs operated by member organizations across Illinois (Aurora, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago Heights, Decatur, East St. Louis, Godfrey, North Chicago, Rockford, Rock Island, Waukegan, and Chicago) providing integrated education, vocational construction training, counseling, leadership development, and job placement to opportunity youth ages 16-24.
• YouthBuild Model Service Framework A comprehensive approach engaging low-income young people through five core elements: Education (GED/high school diploma preparation), Construction and Career Pathways, Support Services, Leadership Development, and Alumni Success support. Delivered by member programs to eligible youth.

Quantifiable outcome

• YouthBuild Rockford reports 80% of program completers placed in jobs or educational programs; 69% retained placement for at least a year; 97% of enrollees were high school dropouts; youth completed over 510,000 hours of community service.
• +4 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

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Rock Island High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Rock Island High School to serve local youth, providing educational and vocational pathways for opportunity youth in the Quad Cities area.
• Black Hawk Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Black Hawk Community College for post-secondary educational pathways and college credit opportunities for program graduates.
• Habitat for Humanity of the Quad CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Habitat for Humanity of the Quad Cities for construction training projects and community housing development.
• Rock Island Rescue MissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Rock Island Rescue Mission to provide services and pathways for homeless and at-risk youth.
• Project NOW of the Quad CitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Project NOW of the Quad Cities for workforce development and community services.
• Arrowhead AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with Arrowhead Academy to provide educational services and pathways for youth in the Quad Cities area.
• City of MolinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild Quad Cities partners with the City of Moline for community development and workforce training initiatives.
• Aurora Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League maintains an ongoing partnership with the Aurora Housing Authority to serve youth in the Aurora area through YouthBuild programming.
• Rebuilding Together AurorasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League partnered with Rebuilding Together Aurora on community projects including building an ADA ramp for a disabled senior and rehabilitation/repairs to a community resident's home.
• ComEd (CONSTRUCT Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League partners with ComEd's CONSTRUCT Program to provide construction career pathways for YouthBuild participants, including welding training through Waubonsee Community College.
• Nicor Gas (Career Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League partners with Nicor Gas Career Academy (NGCA) to provide additional career training pathways in the trades for YouthBuild participants.
• UPS (Plant Engineer Mechanic Training)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League partners with UPS for Plant Engineer Mechanic Training, providing vocational pathways for YouthBuild participants.
• Waubonsee Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuad County Urban League partners with Waubonsee Community College for welding program enrollment and other college credit pathways for YouthBuild graduates.
• Heartland Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild McLean County partners with Heartland Community College for dual credit college courses and scholarship opportunities (e.g., $12,000 scholarships awarded to program graduates).
• St. Sabina Church (Strong Futures Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Youth Development Institute refers justice-involved youth to the Strong Futures program housed at St. Sabina Church, which provides comprehensive mentoring, substance abuse, and job placement services.
• YouthBuild USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRevolution Workshop is affiliated with YouthBuild USA, which provides the program model, training, and national network support for YouthBuild programs across the country.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild programs partner with AmeriCorps to provide national service opportunities where youth earn education awards in exchange for community service hours.
• National YouthBuild CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIYC is one of thirteen state coalitions supported by YouthBuild USA and the National YouthBuild Coalition, which provides the YouthBuild Model framework, advocacy, and peer network support.
• McLean County Unit 5 School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild McLean County operates as an Accredited Public Charter High School with the McLean County Unit 5 school district, enabling students to earn accredited high school diplomas.
• Construction Industry EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRevolution Workshop partners with skilled-trades employers in the construction sector to provide job placement for graduates, addressing acute talent shortage in the construction industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National YouthBuild Coalition: National peer coalition that IYC is affiliated with; provides advocacy and peer-network support to IYC and the other 12 state YouthBuild coalitions across the U.S.
• YouthBuild USA: National umbrella organization for the YouthBuild movement; IYC is one of 13 state coalitions it supports. Directly comparable as the franchisor/model provider whose framework IYC implements across Illinois.
• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and career pathways for low-income young adults (ages 18-24). Comparable mission, target population, and outcomes-focused training model, though with a tech/corporate placement focus rather than construction.
• Conservation Legacy: National nonprofit operating conservation corps programs (including Youth Conservation Corps, an IYC member) that combine conservation work with youth workforce development. Comparable model of paid service + vocational training for opportunity youth.
• Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition: State-level YouthBuild coalition operating member programs across Massachusetts. Direct structural peer — one of the 13 state coalitions in the same YouthBuild USA network — implementing the identical YouthBuild Model.

Broad incumbents

• Job Corps: Federal workforce training program for disadvantaged youth (ages 16-24) operated by the U.S. Department of Labor. Directly comparable target population and construction/career pathway model, but operates residential centers nationally rather than as a state coalition.
• National Urban League: National civil rights and human services organization; the Quad County Urban League operates one of IYC's member programs. Comparable mission serving disadvantaged communities and opportunity youth through workforce development programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit serving ages 6-18+ across 5,000+ locations. Comparable mission of supporting opportunity youth development, with overlapping career pathway programming but a broader age range and recreational focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illinois-youthbuild-coalition-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries18 records

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 ILLINOIS YOUTHBUILD COALITION, INC.