Act Now Illinois

What Act Now Illinois does

ACT Now Illinois, also operating as ACT Now Coalition, is a statewide nonprofit advocacy coalition headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, focused on supporting afterschool and out-of-school time programs across the state. Founded in 2023, the organization functions as a network connecting 2,400+ members including afterschool providers, families, business leaders, community advocates, youth organizations, and policymakers. Its core activities are coalition-building, policy advocacy at state and federal levels, administration of the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) federal grant program across 32 Illinois schools serving nearly 19,000 students, and delivery of professional development and quality standards resources.

The organization's product and resource portfolio includes the Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards (IL-QPSA), the SAYD (School-Age Youth Development) Credential, the ANCAL online learning platform, the statewide Afterschool Map & Database, Community Schools Corner resources, and multiple toolkits (Trauma Informed Care, Family Engagement, Starting an Afterschool Program, STEM, Grant Writing). These assets are delivered via a standard website, social media channels, email communications, and in-person advocacy events. The organization is not a technology company; its platform components are conventional content and database infrastructure rather than proprietary AI or ML systems.

ACT Now Illinois operates on a nonprofit, grant-funded revenue model. Its largest single funding source was two five-year Full-Service Community Schools grants from the U.S. Department of Education awarded in November 2023, totaling $94.2 million (up to $9.42M annually). In 2025, the U.S. Department of Education terminated $168 million in FSCS grants nationally, directly impacting ACT Now's FSCS operations; the organization lost $18M in 2026 funding and faces $37M in further losses over the next two years. ACT Now filed federal lawsuits challenging the termination, but in 2026 a federal court denied its motion for preliminary injunction and partially granted a motion to dismiss, forcing the cessation of all FSCS operations by July 1, 2026. A partial $6M restoration agreement was reached with the DOE.

Name

Act Now Illinois

Legal name

ACT Now Coalition

Website

https://actnowillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Act Now Illinois is a Chicago-based nonprofit coalition that advocates for, supports, and administers federal funding for afterschool and Full-Service Community Schools programs across Illinois, serving 2,400+ provider members and ~19,000 students in 32 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Afterschool and Youth Development Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Afterschool program advocacy
• Youth development services
• Nonprofit coalition support
• Professional development training
• Community schools programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grant Funding: ACT Now Illinois receives grant funding from federal and state sources to support Full-Service Community Schools programs and afterschool initiatives. In November 2023, the coalition was awarded $94 million in federal grants to expand community schools programming.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACT Now Illinois is a statewide nonprofit coalition that supports Illinois afterschool and out-of-school time programs through advocacy, quality standards (IL-QPSA), professional development, and resource toolkits. It also administers federal Full-Service Community Schools grants across 32 schools serving nearly 19,000 students, and serves as the Illinois state-level affiliate of the Afterschool Alliance.

Product overview

ACT Now Coalition is a diverse network of afterschool providers, families, business leaders, community advocates, youth organizations, and policymakers from across Illinois. The organization offers a portfolio of professional development services, quality standards programs (IL-QPSA), and resource toolkits for afterschool and community schools providers. Key offerings include the Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards, ANCAL online learning platform, the statewide Afterschool Map & Database, Community Schools Corner resources, trauma-informed care and family engagement toolkits, STEM programming support, and grant writing assistance. The organization also manages advocacy programs including Youth Afterschool Ambassadors and coordinates policy initiatives at state and federal levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Illinois Afterschool Quality Standards (IL-QPSA) Research-backed quality standards initiative designed to bring best practices, continual improvement, and positive outcomes to afterschool programming across Illinois. Includes a Provider Handbook, the IL-QPSA assessment, the Pledge to Quality, Quality Standards in Action, and Evaluation Principles and Practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 19,000 students served across 32 Full-Service Community Schools
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brighton Park Neighborhood CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization within the ACT Now coalition network representing afterschool providers in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago. Collaborates on advocacy efforts and program implementation.
• Metropolitan Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor social service organization and coalition member providing comprehensive family services including afterschool programs. Active participant in coalition advocacy and professional development initiatives.
• Afterschool AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization working to ensure all children have access to quality afterschool programs. ACT Now Illinois serves as the state-level coalition partner for Illinois.
• Full-Service Community Schools Programs (32 Schools)coreOthersSchools receiving federal grant funding managed by ACT Now Illinois for comprehensive afterschool and community school programming. Serves nearly 19,000 students across Illinois.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National 4-H Council: National youth development organization delivering afterschool and out-of-school programming with a STEM, civic, and leadership focus. Comparable to ACT Now as a youth-serving nonprofit network with state-level coalition structures and federal advocacy ties.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national nonprofit operating afterschool and youth development programs through local club affiliates. Shares ACT Now's mission of providing quality out-of-school time programming and advocating for youth services funding.
• National AfterSchool Association: The leading membership association for the afterschool profession, offering training, credentialing, and advocacy for afterschool professionals. Overlaps with ACT Now's professional development, SAYD credential, and quality standards work serving a similar provider audience.
• Afterschool Alliance: National advocacy organization working to ensure all children have access to quality afterschool programs. Directly comparable to ACT Now Illinois, which serves as its Illinois state-level coalition partner, sharing the same mission of expanding afterschool access and funding.

Others

• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (federal program): Federal funding program administered by state education agencies that supports afterschool and out-of-school time programming. ACT Now is a direct grantee/advocate for this program, making it a key institutional stakeholder and comparable entity in the afterschool funding ecosystem.
• The Wallace Foundation: Major national philanthropy that funds research and initiatives to improve afterschool program quality and field-building. Relevant to ACT Now because its IL-QPSA quality standards work sits in the same quality-improvement ecosystem that Wallace funds and shapes.

Regional players

• Chicago Public Schools - Community Schools Initiative: Chicago Public Schools' own Full-Service Community Schools program operating within the same Illinois footprint as ACT Now. Directly comparable as both operate FSCS programs in the same geography serving overlapping student populations.
• Voices for Illinois Children: Illinois-focused child advocacy organization that lobbies for children's policy and funding priorities. Comparable to ACT Now as a state-level advocacy nonprofit engaging policymakers on youth and education issues, often in coalition with afterschool providers.

Direct peers

• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive afterschool programming to underserved youth, with chapters in multiple cities. Comparable to ACT Now as an afterschool-focused nonprofit serving youth through program delivery, advocacy, and partnership networks.
• ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC): Nonprofit that helps schools expand learning time through afterschool and summer programming, including quality standards and community schools work. Directly comparable to ACT Now in operating community school programs and developing quality frameworks for afterschool providers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACTNowCoalition
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfterschoolforChildrenandTeensNow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afterschool-children-teens-act-now-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Act Now Illinois