The Village Chicago

What The Village Chicago does

The Village Chicago (legally Lincoln Park Village Inc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that operates a membership-based community network for people over age 50 in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core programs span five pillars — Health & Wellbeing, Brain Health & Memory Loss, Social Connection (500+ annual events including exercise classes, excursions, and cultural outings), Uniting Generations (intergenerational programs such as the Bridging Generations Board and Ageless Innovators co-mentoring), and Volunteering & Purpose — supported by tiered annual memberships priced at $540 (individual), $780 (household), and $1,000 (Village Champion), with a sliding-scale reduced-fee option ($100-$300) that currently subsidizes 22% of member households. Specialized programming is anchored by a partnership with Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, whose clinicians serve on the Advisory Council to support brain health education and memory loss caregiver groups. Revenue is diversified across recurring membership dues, individual donations and tribute gifts, corporate sponsorships (Wintrust Bank at $10K+, Home Instead), an annual benefit fundraiser, and consulting fees associated with helping other communities establish Village-model organizations. Operations are lean — five full-time/part-time staff — backed by a board of directors drawn from healthcare, finance, education, and civic leadership; the organization's technology stack is web-based membership management integrated with Zoom (virtual programming), Vimeo (webinar recordings), Google/Outlook/iCalendar (event sync), Constant Contact (newsletter), DonorPerfect (payments), and Google Maps. The Village Chicago also runs a 'Fund for the Future' seeded from annual surpluses, signaling an intent to expand new ventures rather than purely subsidize current operations.

Name

The Village Chicago

Legal name

Lincoln Park Village Inc

Website

https://thevillagechicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Village Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that operates a tiered-membership community network delivering 500+ annual events, brain-health and memory-loss programming, intergenerational initiatives, and volunteer services to people over 50 in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Community Membership Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Senior community programs
• Older adult services
• Aging in place
• Intergenerational programs
• Membership community

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $540 individual to $780 household, with sliding scale reduced-fee options from $100-$300 for income-eligible members. Village Champion tier at $1,000/year provides premium support.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from members, neighbors, and friends. Includes tribute gifts (honor/memorial), general donations, and Village Champion additional support.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorships from businesses targeting the 50+ demographic. Sponsors receive 52-week exposure to membership base, direct access to members, and opportunities for signature programs.
4. Annual Fundraiser: Annual benefit events (e.g., 'Then and Now: A Retro Celebration') generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
5. Consulting Fees: Revenue from consulting services, likely related to helping other communities establish Village-model organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Village Chicago operates a membership-based community network for people over 50 in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core offering is access to 500+ annual events and programs — including social gatherings, educational webinars, brain-health and memory-loss support, intergenerational initiatives, and volunteer services (rides, tech help, check-ins) — bundled through tiered annual memberships priced from $100 (sliding scale) to $1,000 (Village Champion). Complementary offerings include the VIP Discount Program with local merchant perks and a FriendFinder online member directory for member-to-member connection.

Product overview

The Village Chicago is a community network for people over 50 offering a unified membership-based service model rather than a software product portfolio. The core offering combines social connection programming (500+ annual events), health and wellbeing support (including a Brain Health & Memory Loss Program), intergenerational initiatives (Bridging Generations Board, Ageless Innovators), and volunteering opportunities. Members access benefits through tiered annual memberships ($540-$1,000) and a VIP Discount Program offering merchant perks. Signature programs include Brain Spa virtual cognitive sessions, Weekly Walks Around North Pond, Short Story Intergenerational Discussions, and educational webinars on aging-related topics. The organization does not offer a technology product or software platform; all programs are delivered through in-person gatherings, Zoom sessions, and an event calendar system integrated with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCalendar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

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

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rush Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Rush University's medical experts including Dr. Neelum T. Aggarwal (Senior Cognitive Neurologist at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center) and Robyn L. Golden (Director of Health and Aging). Rush professionals serve on The Village Chicago's Advisory Council, providing expertise for brain health and memory loss programming.
• DePaul UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since The Village Chicago's founding in 2009. DePaul received the 2023 Trailblazer Award from The Village for support in fostering an age-inclusive community. Partnership includes intergenerational programs and student involvement.
• Chicago Innovation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative on 'Turn the Page on Age' campaign to combat ageism, funded by RRF Foundation. Also co-sponsors Ageless Innovators co-mentoring program pairing younger and older business leaders.
• Alzheimer's Association of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing resources and support for memory loss programming and education.
• Mather LifeWaysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on initiatives for older adults and healthy aging programs.
• Home InsteadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor and presenter of educational webinars on topics including executive functioning in older adults. Connects with Village's target demographic of seniors and their families.
• Wintrust BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor at $10,000+ level, demonstrating commitment to supporting the 50+ community.
• Movement RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for brain plasticity and movement programs, presenting webinars on incorporating exercise to support cognitive health.
• HAP FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on caregiver support programs including webinars on caregiver stress and self-care strategies.
• Board LeadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that selected The Village through a rigorous competition for board diversity program participation, helping recruit diverse board members like Vamse Kumar Subbiah.
• Encore.org's Gen2GenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization focused on intergenerational connections; community partner supporting age-inclusive initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP: National membership organization for adults 50+ offering community, advocacy, and educational programming; vastly larger but serves an overlapping demographic and competes for both members and corporate sponsors.
• CJE SeniorLife: Large Chicago-based nonprofit providing a wide spectrum of services for older adults (housing, wellness, care management); competes for the same 50+ demographic but with a broader healthcare-adjacent portfolio.
• Mather LifeWays: Established nonprofit senior services organization operating senior living communities and award-winning wellness programs; broader scope than The Village Chicago but overlapping on community-based aging programs.

Regional players

• Center on Halsted: Chicago LGBTQ+ community center offering senior programming and intergenerational activities; comparable as a community-center model serving specific older-adult populations in Chicago.
• AgeOptions: Illinois Area Agency on Aging coordinating services for older adults in suburban Cook County; a regional public-sector peer addressing similar community-based aging needs through referrals and programming.

Direct peers

• Beacon Hill Village: The original founding Village in Boston that pioneered the aging-in-community membership model; comparable as the flagship of the nationwide Village movement to which The Village Chicago belongs.
• Chicago Hyde Park Village: A sister Village organization serving the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago; directly comparable as part of the same local Village movement with a similar membership model for residents over 50.
• Capitol Hill Village: Washington D.C. member-based Village providing social, educational, and volunteer services for older adults; operates the same aging-in-community subscription model as The Village Chicago.
• Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly: Chicago-based nonprofit providing companionship and social support to isolated older adults; comparable mission of addressing senior isolation, with overlapping volunteer and event-driven models.

Others

• Village to Village Network: The national umbrella organization supporting the Village movement; not a direct competitor but the ecosystem enabler through which The Village Chicago shares best practices and may license its consulting expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/villagechi
• Facebookfacebook.com/thevillagechicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/village-chicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 The Village Chicago