scaleLIT

What scaleLIT does

scaleLIT (formerly the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit membership coalition founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It serves adult education and workforce development organizations across Illinois by providing resources, community, and programs that bridge the literacy gap between member organizations' missions and the adults they serve. Its membership tiers include Basic ($100/year) and Membership Plus+ ($250/year), the latter including access to Northstar Digital Literacy, The Change Agent publication, and pass-through grant opportunities. Membership dues for Illinois Secretary of State grantees are fully or partially underwritten, creating a structural subsidy that expands access across the state.

The organization's core service portfolio includes Digital Literacy Programs leveraging the Northstar Digital Literacy curriculum, Career Pathways Navigators training, One Stop Operator (OSO) services, In-Service Learning Circles, and the Digital Learning Lab — a coaching-and-community program for adult educators. As a Grow with Google Partner since 2021, scaleLIT launched the Grow with Google AI Scholarship Initiative in 2025, distributing 500 AI scholarship opportunities across Illinois that provide access to Google's AI learning pathway on Coursera with cohort-based accountability and progress tracking. The organization does not build proprietary AI technology; its technical stack is a content-distribution layer over Northstar Digital Literacy, Coursera, and Google AI curricula.

scaleLIT's revenue model is a hybrid of low-dollar recurring membership fees (capped at $250/year per member) and episodic grants/donations. The most prominent disclosed donation is a $100,000 contribution from Comcast in September 2025 as part of a $500,000 Lift Zone investment at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. GTM is community-led: recruitment of adult education and workforce organizations through direct membership, in-person convenings, learning circles, and flagship partnerships (Grow with Google, Illinois Secretary of State). Headcount is 11-50 employees, and the organization operates as a single-country/domestic Illinois-focused entity with no disclosed multi-state expansion.

Name

scaleLIT

Legal name

scaleLIT

Website

https://scalelit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

scaleLIT is a Chicago-based nonprofit membership coalition (founded 2003, formerly Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition) serving Illinois adult education and workforce organizations with literacy, digital skills, career navigation, and AI-readiness programs via Grow with Google.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational Computer & Device Literacy (EDAAAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

AI & Emerging Technology Literacy (EDAAAIAJ), Basic Digital Literacy (Device, Internet, Email) (EDAAAAAC), Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Adult literacy services
• Workforce development programs
• Digital literacy training
• Adult education coalition
• Career navigation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago Park

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. Basic Membership: Annual membership at $100/year providing access to webinars, resources, programs, networking and advocacy activities. Fully underwritten at no cost for Illinois Secretary of State grantees.
2. Membership Plus+: Premium annual membership at $250/year including Tools & Resources (Northstar Digital Literacy, The Change Agent), and pass-through grant opportunities. Partially underwritten for $100 for Illinois Secretary of State grantees.
3. Grants and Donations: Received $100,000 donation from Comcast for digital skills programming and Career Pathways Navigators training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

scaleLIT operates a membership-based coalition that supports adult education and workforce development organizations across Illinois by providing literacy and digital skills resources, career pathways navigation training, and one-stop operator services. Member organizations receive tiered access to the Northstar Digital Literacy platform, The Change Agent publication, pass-through grant opportunities, professional learning circles, and the Grow with Google AI Scholarship initiative distributing 500 AI learning pathway scholarships on Coursera.

Product overview

scaleLIT (formerly Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition) is an adult education and workforce development organization that operates as a membership-based coalition for Illinois organizations serving adults. The organization offers a unified portfolio of services including Digital Literacy Programs, Career Navigator Services, and One Stop Operator functions, alongside membership programs (Basic and Membership Plus+ tiers). The Digital Learning Lab provides expert coaching and a facilitated learning community for educators. Key resource offerings include Northstar Digital Literacy (via Membership Plus+), The Change Agent subscription, and In-Service Learning Circles for professional development. As a Grow with Google Partner, scaleLIT administers 500 AI scholarships providing access to Google's AI learning pathway on Coursera. scaleLIT also coordinates event programming including Night of 1,000 Stars, Adult and Family Literacy Week, and Digital Inclusion Week.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Northstar Digital Literacy: A digital literacy learning platform and certification program provided to scaleLIT membership plus+ members.
• Grow with Google AI Scholarships

Products and services

• Membership Program (Basic & Plus+)
• One Stop Operator (OSO) Services
• Career Navigator Services
• Digital Literacy Programs
• Grow with Google AI Scholarship Initiative Structured AI scholarship program providing 500 scholarship opportunities for adult education and workforce organizations across Illinois. Selected member organizations receive up to 5–10 individual scholarships to access Google's AI learning pathway on Coursera, with structured onboarding, cohort-based accountability, progress tracking, and implementation support.
• Digital Learning Lab Program supporting adult educators across Illinois through expert coaches on incorporating learning technology, a facilitated learning community, and shared insights on effective digital tools and digital inclusion strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of members identified Tools & Resources as the most valuable benefit of membership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Grow with GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025scaleLIT is a Grow with Google Partner bringing 500 AI scholarship opportunities to adult education and workforce organizations across Illinois. This initiative prepares the ecosystem to respond to a rapidly shifting labor market through Google's AI learning pathway.
• CourseracoreTechnology or IntegrationCoursera provides the platform for Google's AI learning pathway used in scaleLIT's AI scholarship program. Participants access Google-developed training through Coursera to earn industry-recognized certificates.
• Sertoma Star ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sertoma Star Services for Mental Health Awareness Month learning circles on conflict management.
• Harper CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarper College - Wojcik Conference Center hosts scaleLIT's Quarterly Systemwide Gathering events.
• Health and Medicine Policy Research GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner for Health Literacy Matters learning circle on trauma-informed care frameworks.
• Inspiration KitchensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting scaleLIT Member Holiday Party events at their Chicago location.
• Northstar Digital LiteracycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital literacy assessment and learning platform integrated into scaleLIT's Tools & Resources for Membership Plus+ members.
• The Change AgentcoreTechnology or IntegrationEducational publication resource provided through scaleLIT membership as part of Tools & Resources.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP Foundation: National nonprofit operating adult-focused digital literacy, workforce, and back-to-work programs for low-income older adults. Comparable to scaleLIT in adult digital literacy and workforce navigation offerings, with significantly greater national reach and funding.
• Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit operating workforce development, digital skills, and career navigation programs through a federated chapter network. Overlaps with scaleLIT's Career Pathways Navigator and digital literacy offerings but at much greater scale and broader scope.
• United Way Worldwide: Global nonprofit coalition supporting education, financial stability, and workforce initiatives through local affiliates. Comparable to scaleLIT in coalition/membership structure and community resource aggregation, but operates as a much larger, multi-cause umbrella.

Emerging players

• Reading Partners: National literacy nonprofit focused on one-on-one tutoring for K-12 students. Adjacent to scaleLIT's literacy mission but with a younger-learner focus and direct-service delivery model rather than coalition membership.

Direct peers

• National Skills Coalition: National policy and advocacy coalition advancing skills training and workforce development for low-wage workers. Comparable to scaleLIT in coalition structure and adult workforce mission, with stronger federal policy orientation rather than direct service delivery.
• ProLiteracy: National adult literacy membership organization providing resources, training, and advocacy to local literacy programs across the U.S. Directly comparable to scaleLIT as a membership-based coalition serving adult education provider organizations, but operating at national rather than state scope.
• Literacy Mid-South: Regional literacy coalition based in Memphis serving adult learners and provider organizations across the Mid-South. Closely comparable to scaleLIT in coalition/membership model, regional scope, and adult literacy plus workforce focus, though geographically distinct.

Regional players

• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Local Workforce Development Board administering WIOA-funded One Stop Operator and career services across Chicago and Cook County. Directly comparable to scaleLIT's One Stop Operator and Career Navigator services in the same Chicago geography, with a more policy/funder-driven mandate.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookm.facebook.com/scaleLIT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scalelit
• Instagraminstagram.com/scalelit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 scaleLIT