Centro de Informacion

What Centro de Informacion does

Centro de Información is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 36-2776988) founded in 1972 and headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, that delivers education, immigration, and social services to the Latino and immigrant community of the greater Fox Valley area. It operates four office locations across Elgin, Carpentersville, and Hanover Park — one co-located with Food for Greater Elgin — and serves over 8,000 clients annually through in-person, virtual, and community-based delivery channels. The organization's service portfolio spans DOJ-accredited immigration counseling and court representation, citizenship workshops, Know Your Rights presentations delivered by Access to Justice Navigators, public benefits screening and enrollment (including LINK and Medicaid), an emergency food pantry, free English classes, employment aid, 45+ annual educational workshops, mental health workshops, and free health screenings in partnership with Hanover Township. All services are provided to clients at no charge.

The underlying technology is intentionally minimal: standard office productivity tools and case management software support a fundamentally human-delivered service model. There is no proprietary technology platform, mobile application, or AI/ML capability disclosed; the organization's value is delivered through bilingual staff with cultural competency and Department of Justice immigration accreditation, not through software. Its business model is a nonprofit funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model: individual donations (including a structured seven-tier recurring giving program from $25 to $1,000+ per month), foundation grants (e.g., Seigle Foundation), annual fundraising events (Luncheon, Gala), Donor-Advised Fund contributions via DAF Direct, and in-kind community partnerships. The organization holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and is led by Executive Director Dianha Ortega-Ehreth, who has served since August 2022. Centro is governed by a Board of Directors with no parent company or subsidiary structure.

Name

Centro de Informacion

Legal name

Centro de Información

Website

https://centrodeinformacion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro de Información is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 in Elgin, Illinois, that provides free immigration legal services, public benefits assistance, food assistance, education, and health programs to 8,000+ Latino and immigrant clients annually across four Fox Valley office locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community-Based Social Services for Immigrant and Latino Communities

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigration Law Literacy & Rights Education (EDAAADAB), Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK), Anti-Fraud & Safety Education (Scams, Notario Fraud, Personal Safety) (EDAAADAK), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Immigration legal services
• Community social services
• Public benefits enrollment
• Emergency food assistance
• Adult education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to serve the Latino and immigrant community. Recurring giving program with monthly membership tiers ranging from $25 to $1,000+ per month.
2. Grants and Fundraising: Grant funding from foundations and institutional donors, plus annual fundraising events including luncheons and galas.
3. Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Direct: Accepts qualified charitable distributions from Donor Advised Funds for donors who have DAF accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centro de Información is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers free immigration legal services, public benefits enrollment assistance, educational workshops, an emergency food pantry, free English classes, health screenings, mental health workshops, and employment aid to Latino and immigrant community members. Services are provided in person at four Illinois offices, virtually, and through community outreach presentations across the greater Fox Valley region.

Product overview

Centro de Información operates as a single, unified social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for the Latino and immigrant community in the greater Fox Valley area. The core service delivery is organized around immigration legal services (including Department of Justice accredited counseling, citizenship workshops, and Know Your Rights presentations), public benefits enrollment assistance, an emergency food pantry, free English language classes, health screenings, educational workshops (45+ topics annually), mental health support, employment aid, and welcoming center services for new arrivals. These programs are delivered through four office locations in Elgin, Carpentersville, and Hanover Park, Illinois, and serve over 8,000 clients annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Immigration Services Immigration and naturalization services including assistance with immigration applications, DOJ-accredited immigration counseling, and court representation for clients navigating the U.S. immigration system; provided free to Latino and immigrant community members.
• Know Your Rights Presentations Educational presentations delivered by Access to Justice Navigators to individuals and groups in-person or virtually, helping immigrants understand their legal rights in the U.S.
• Citizenship Workshops Workshops guiding community members through the naturalization process, including eligibility review, document preparation, and application filing assistance.
• Public Benefits Assistance Public benefits screening and enrollment assistance, helping families access healthcare and food assistance programs such as LINK and Medicaid.
• Emergency Food Pantry Emergency food, clothing, toys, and non-perishable items distributed to support families and new arrivals facing immediate household needs.
• Educational Seminars and Workshops Series of 45+ educational workshops annually covering Medicare, mental health, resume building, financial assistance, career development, and other community-relevant topics.
• Free English Classes Free in-person English language instruction offered to adults at the Carpentersville office to improve communication skills and expand access to opportunities.
• Health Screenings Free health screenings delivered in partnership with Hanover Township, including blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia checks at the Hanover Park office.
• Employment Aid Job search assistance, resume building workshops, and career development support to help immigrants prepare for and find employment opportunities.
• Mental Health Workshops Monthly mental resilience workshops for Hanover Township families focusing on child development and supporting families coping with daily challenges.
• Welcoming Center Services to help new arrivals settle with dignity, including the provision of emergency supplies and orientation support for families arriving in the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 8,000 clients annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Elgin - Department of Cultural Arts & Special Events (DCASE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2024Collaboration on the Papel Picado Project, a large-scale art piece unveiled at La Fiesta de Elgin on September 14, 2024. The project elevated underserved voices through culture and art while training youth in trade skills. DCASE staff mentored YouthBuild participants in constructing the art piece.
• Housing Authority's YouthBuild ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2024Partnership on the Papel Picado Project, where YouthBuild participants were mentored by DCASE staff in constructing a large Papel Picado sculpture. The project engaged Elgin immigrants and residents in sharing their stories and histories through art.
• ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights)minorOthersReference source for Family Support Network Hotline and Know Your Rights fact sheets. Centro's Access to Justice Navigators link to ICIRR resources.
• National Immigrant Justice CenterminorOthersReferenced as a resource for immigration detention information and immigration fraud prevention.
• The Resurrection ProjectminorOthersReferenced for Family Emergency Plan toolkit and non-citizen registration requirement resources.
• Hanover TownshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free health screenings (blood pressure, diabetes, anemia checks) at the Hanover Park office on the second Monday of each month.
• Food for Greater ElginminorOthersCo-location partnership at 1551 Commerce Dr, Elgin, providing emergency food pantry services.
• Cristina Colunga and Andrés RiveracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtists who used immigrant stories and images as inspiration for the large Papel Picado sculpture displayed at La Fiesta de Elgin.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty nonprofit providing legal services for immigrants and refugees, humanitarian aid, and social support across Illinois. Operates an immigration legal practice comparable to Centro's DOJ-accredited counsel model with broader geographic footprint.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large Illinois nonprofit providing immigration legal services (including DOJ-accredited counsel), refugee resettlement, ESL, food assistance, and benefits navigation. Compared to Centro for both service mix and target population, with substantially larger scale.
• National Immigrant Justice Center: Chicago-based national immigration legal and advocacy organization providing DOJ-accredited representation, Know Your Rights education, and detention defense. Directly cited by Centro as a referral resource and operates the same DOJ-accredited immigration-counselor model in Illinois.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR): Statewide immigrant-rights coalition providing Know Your Rights fact sheets, Family Support Network Hotline, and advocacy infrastructure. Cited by Centro as a referral and resource partner; overlaps mission-wise with Centro's Know Your Rights programming.

Emerging players

• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante: National migrant worker-focused nonprofit providing legal aid, education, and advocacy for low-wage migrant workers. Compares to Centro on immigrant legal services and rights education, with a narrower geographic focus.

Direct peers

• The Resurrection Project: Illinois-based Latino immigrant advocacy and community-empowerment nonprofit offering Know Your Rights resources, family emergency planning, and civic engagement for the same population Centro serves. Named in Centro's partnership network.
• RefugeeOne: Chicago-based refugee and immigrant services organization providing case management, English classes, employment assistance, immigration legal services, and resettlement support. Comparable wraparound delivery model and beneficiary profile.
• Erie Neighborhood House: Chicago-based nonprofit serving Latino and immigrant families with adult education (ESL, citizenship classes), immigration legal services, and wraparound social services. Closely comparable operating model and target population to Centro, though geographically Chicago-focused versus Fox Valley.
• Mano a Mano Family Resource Center: Illinois-based nonprofit providing immigrant integration services including ESL, citizenship preparation, parent engagement, and family support for Latino communities in the Chicago suburbs. Operates the same wraparound education-and-social-services model that Centro delivers in the Fox Valley.

Others

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: National organization supporting Hispanic higher-education access and workforce development, including ESL and integration-adjacent programming. Related to Centro's broader adult education, ESL, and community-integration mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CentroinElgin

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Centro de Informacion