TCOC Headstart
TCOC Headstart (Tri-County Opportunities Council) is an Illinois non-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1965 that delivers federally and state-funded Head Start early childhood education, energy and weatherization assistance, housing, and CSBG poverty services to income-eligible families across nine northwest Illinois counties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersRock Falls, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TCOC Headstart does
Tri-County Opportunities Council (TCOC) is an Illinois-incorporated not-for-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1965 under the federal Economic Opportunity Act (War on Poverty). Headquartered in Rock Falls, Illinois, TCOC delivers a coordinated portfolio of poverty-alleviation programs — including Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education, Foster Grandparents senior volunteering, LIHEAP energy assistance, Weatherization, Housing, and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) — across nine northwest Illinois counties (Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, and Whiteside).
The organization's revenue model is grant-funded rather than transactional. TCOC's annual budget is supported primarily by three federal grant streams administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services / Administration for Children and Families (CSBG Grant 25-231005, Office of Head Start Grant 05CH012543, LIHEAP Grant 26-224005), supplemented by Illinois state funding via the Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and minor charitable donations processed via PayPal. Services are delivered free of charge to income-eligible individuals and families based on federal poverty guidelines, with no fees assessed to clients. Disbursements include scholarships up to $2,000 per recipient, energy and utility payments, weatherization installations, transitional housing, and direct assistance (food, transportation, mortgage relief, mental wellness via BetterHelp partnership).
TCOC's technology stack is a standard non-profit web platform: WordPress-based website (tcochelps.org) with commodity third-party integrations including Calendly (appointment scheduling), reCAPTCHA, Google Maps, Fathom Analytics, SurveyMonkey, BetterHelp, and Usercentrics consent management. The agency reports being partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Distribution is delivered through a regional office network (Rock Falls HQ, LaSalle, Lee County, Bureau County) and Head Start center-based and home-based sites in Sterling, Ottawa, and Streator. The organization employs a President/CEO (Jill Calkins) supported by dedicated program directors for Head Start, LIHEAP, Weatherization, Foster Grandparents, and Community Services.
TCOC Headstart firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TCOC Headstart
- Legal name
- Tri-County Opportunities Council
- Website
- https://tcochelps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- TCOC Headstart (Tri-County Opportunities Council) is an Illinois non-profit Community Action Agency founded in 1965 that delivers federally and state-funded Head Start early childhood education, energy and weatherization assistance, housing, and CSBG poverty services to income-eligible families across nine northwest Illinois counties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TCOC Headstart industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Action and Social Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (61171), Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)
Keywords
Where TCOC Headstart is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rock Falls
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
TCOC Headstart business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Federal Grants: Primary revenue from federal funding through Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Head Start/Early Head Start (Office of Head Start), and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Grants from the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- State Grants: Funding from Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for various programs including homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, and weatherization.
- Donations: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support TCOC programs and services. Accepts donations via PayPal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Scholarships up to $2,000 for income-eligible students for post-secondary education |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
TCOC Headstart product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TCOC Headstart (Tri-County Opportunities Council) is a Community Action Agency providing free social services to income-eligible individuals and families across nine northwest Illinois counties. Core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education, Foster Grandparents senior volunteer program, LIHEAP energy assistance, home Weatherization, Housing Programs (rapid re-housing, homeless prevention), and a wide portfolio of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)-funded assistance covering food, scholarships, mental wellness, transportation, and youth development.
Product overview
TCOC Headstart operates as a Community Action Agency offering a coordinated portfolio of social service programs designed to reduce poverty and promote self-sufficiency across nine northwest Illinois counties. The organization provides multiple interconnected programs including Early Head Start and Head Start (preschool education), Foster Grandparents (senior volunteer services), Housing assistance, LIHEAP energy assistance, Weatherization services, and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) as the umbrella funding mechanism. Programs are delivered through multiple service modalities including center-based facilities, home-based visits, and direct assistance, all serving income-eligible families. Additional assistance programs include food pantries, scholarships, transportation aid, mental wellness services, mortgage assistance, and youth development programs, creating a comprehensive support ecosystem for vulnerable populations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Head Start Comprehensive preschool program providing educational, health, nutritional, and family support services to income-eligible children ages 3-5 across nine northwest Illinois counties.
- Early Head Start Free early childhood education services for families receiving SNAP benefits, providing early childhood learning experiences to expectant persons, children five and under, and their families.
- Foster Grandparents AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer program for adults age 55+ providing emotional and educational support to children in classroom settings as mentors and role models; volunteers receive stipends and benefits.
- LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Companies that use TCOC Headstart
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TCOC Headstart technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
TCOC Headstart partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Community Action Partnership (CAP)minorNational association of Community Action Agencies. TCOC displays the CAP logo indicating membership in the national Community Action network.
- Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA)minorState association representing Illinois Community Action Agencies. TCOC displays the IACAA logo indicating membership in the state association.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TCOC Headstart competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Project NOW: A neighboring Illinois Community Action Agency serving Rock Island, Mercer, and Henry counties with a comparable mix of Head Start, LIHEAP, weatherization, housing, and CSBG-funded services — direct CAA peer operating a near-identical program stack in adjacent northwest Illinois geography.
- Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials: Illinois CAA operating in adjacent rural counties with a similar CSBG / Head Start / community-service portfolio — directly comparable multi-program community action peer in the same regional funding ecosystem.
- Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC): Community Action Agency serving western Illinois counties with CSBG, LIHEAP, weatherization, and Head Start programs — directly comparable in mission, funding mix, and rural service-area profile.
Broad incumbents
- Community Action Partnership (CAP): The national membership association for Community Action Agencies, of which TCOC is a member. CAP is the broader umbrella/incumbent that defines standards, advocacy, and federal positioning for the entire CAA network TCOC operates within.
- Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA): The Illinois state association representing all Community Action Agencies in the state. TCOC is a member; IACAA coordinates state-level funding advocacy and peer support that directly affect TCOC's operating environment.
- National Head Start Association (NHSA): National membership and advocacy body for Head Start grantees, of which TCOC's Head Start / Early Head Start programs are a part. NHSA shapes federal Head Start policy and funding that drives a major share of TCOC's budget.
- National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA): National association of LIHEAP administrators that TCOC's LIHEAP program participates in by virtue of administering the federal grant. NEADA sets policy and funding advocacy for the LIHEAP program that is one of TCOC's largest revenue streams.
Regional players
- AmeriCorps Seniors: Federal sponsor of the Foster Grandparent Program that TCOC administers. AmeriCorps Seniors provides the federal funding, training infrastructure, and volunteer-stipend framework underpinning TCOC's senior volunteer program — a key program-line partner.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TCOC Headstart social profiles
Digital presenceTCOC Headstart compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
TCOC Headstart financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TCOC Headstart leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
TCOC Headstart funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TCOC Headstart M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TCOC Headstart
What does TCOC Headstart do?
TCOC Headstart (Tri-County Opportunities Council) is a Community Action Agency providing free social services to income-eligible individuals and families across nine northwest Illinois counties. Core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education, Foster Grandparents senior volunteer program, LIHEAP energy assistance, home Weatherization, Housing Programs (rapid re-housing, homeless prevention), and a wide portfolio of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)-funded assistance covering food, scholarships, mental wellness, transportation, and youth development.
Is TCOC Headstart a public or private company?
TCOC Headstart is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TCOC Headstart founded?
TCOC Headstart was founded in 1965. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TCOC Headstart based?
TCOC Headstart is headquartered in Rock Falls, United States, in the North America region.
How does TCOC Headstart make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants are the primary driver. The others are state Grants and donations.
Who are TCOC Headstart's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Project NOW, Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials and Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC). Broad incumbents are Community Action Partnership (CAP), Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA), National Head Start Association (NHSA) and National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). AmeriCorps Seniors is listed as a regional player.
Does TCOC Headstart have an API?
No public API is recorded for TCOC Headstart.
What industry is TCOC Headstart in?
TCOC Headstart's product category is Community Action and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAE, Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.