The Endeleo Institute
The Endeleo Institute is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering free education, food security, workforce development, and community revitalization programs to underserved residents of Chicago's far South Side, including Washington Heights and Greater Roseland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Endeleo Institute does
The Endeleo Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Trinity United Church of Christ and headquartered at 901 E. 95th Street in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as an umbrella organization that fuses three program areas—Education, Health, and Community Development—to deliver free services to underserved residents of Chicago's far South Side, primarily in the Washington Heights and Greater Roseland communities. The organization runs six distinct programs: TRIO Upward Bound (serving 60 low-income, first-generation college-bound high school students per school year at Christian Fenger Academy High School), TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (providing adult education counseling to Chicago-area adults 19 and over), Sankofa Food Market (a "21st Century Market" providing free, shopper-selected groceries to food-insecure families at Imani Village Center), Workforce Development Training Program (a 6-week job-readiness cohort in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services with a $300/week stipend), a Violence Prevention initiative, and the 95th Street Corridor Renaissance community development program.
The organization's core methodology is Community-engaged Research (CEnR), a participatory framework that connects health researchers from institutions such as Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of Illinois Chicago to community residents. All programs are delivered free of charge to eligible participants, and the organization has reached over 1,000 community members across its portfolio, with 250+ workforce training participants served to date.
Endeleo's revenue model is grant-dependent and donation-supported. The two largest revenue streams are federal TRIO grants from the US Department of Education (awarded in 2017 for Upward Bound and separately for the Educational Opportunity Center) and a workforce development contract with the Illinois Department of Human Services. A separate donation fundraising campaign is currently targeting $50,000 to "strengthen and expand impact." The organization maintains 20+ community partnerships and was recognized by Crain's Chicago Business in 2024 for its role in the 95th Street Corridor revival. The staff team of 1-10 employees is led by Executive Director Rev. Veronica M. Johnson, with a board chaired by Lori Lypson.
The Endeleo Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Endeleo Institute
- Legal name
- The Endeleo Institute
- Website
- https://endeleoinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Endeleo Institute is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering free education, food security, workforce development, and community revitalization programs to underserved residents of Chicago's far South Side, including Washington Heights and Greater Roseland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Endeleo Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171), Community Food Services (62421)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs (BPADABAD)
Keywords
Where The Endeleo Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Endeleo Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization runs fundraising campaigns to support operations and expand impact. Currently aiming to raise $50,000 to strengthen and expand programs.
- Federal Government Grants: Receives TRIO Education Opportunities Centers grant from US Department of Education and Upward Bound Project Grant awarded in September 2017.
- State Government Grants: Partnership with Illinois Department of Human Services to provide workforce development training programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free TRIO Educational Opportunity Center services for eligible adults |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free TRIO Upward Bound program for eligible high school students |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free food distribution through Sankofa Food Market |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free workforce development training with participation stipend |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Endeleo Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Endeleo Institute delivers free education, workforce development, food security, and community development programs to underserved residents of Chicago's far South Side. Its portfolio includes TRIO Upward Bound (high school college-readiness), TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (adult post-secondary counseling), the Sankofa Food Market (free choice-based food distribution), Workforce Development Training, the Violence Prevention Program, and the 95th Street Corridor Renaissance community development initiative. Programs are funded by federal/state grants and donations and delivered free to eligible participants.
Product overview
The Endeleo Institute operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization offering community services through six distinct programs organized across three core focus areas: Education (TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Educational Opportunity Center), Health and Wellness (Sankofa Food Market), and Community Development (95th Street Corridor Renaissance and Violence Prevention Program). The Workforce Development Training Program serves as a cross-cutting initiative in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services. These programs work collectively to build healthier communities by empowering underserved persons and families through education, food security, health, and economic development services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sankofa Food Market: A 21st Century market providing free food to those who are food insecure, operating at Imani Village Center (95th and Cottage Grove). Dedicated to addressing food insecurity while promoting total well-being through health and nutrition education.
- TRIO Upward Bound
- TRIO Educational Opportunity Center
Products and services
- TRIO Upward Bound A federal TRIO program providing academic enrichment, college admissions advising, tutoring, financial literacy workshops, college visits, and leadership development for 60 low-income, potentially first-generation college-bound high school students at Christian Fenger Academy High School in the Roseland neighborhood. Delivered free of charge.
- TRIO Educational Opportunity Center An adult TRIO program providing educational counseling, college/trade school enrollment assistance, financial aid application support, student loan counseling, and GED referral services for Chicago-area adults 19 years or older at no cost. Funded by a TRIO Education Opportunities Centers grant from the US Department of Education.
- Sankofa Food Market
- Workforce Development Training Program
- Violence Prevention Program A violence prevention initiative addressing root causes including poverty, unemployment, and lack of economic opportunity in the Washington Heights community. Provides literacy programs, worker cooperatives, entrepreneurship training, small business development, re-entry services, mental and behavioral health services, and youth counseling.
- 95th Street Corridor Renaissance
Quantifiable outcome
- Served 60 high school students per school year with college readiness programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Endeleo Institute
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
The Endeleo Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Endeleo Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreThe Endeleo Institute partners with Greater Chicago Food Depository to provide food security for individuals and families through the Sankofa Food Market. This collaboration helps ensure neighbors have consistent access to nutritious meals and essential resources.
- Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreWorkforce Development Training Program is provided in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Human Services. Over 250 participants have received skills needed for employment success through this partnership.
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicinesupportingCommunity-Based Participatory Research Partnership to Improve Disparities for African Americans and Kidney Disease. Endeleo serves as a bridge connecting health researchers to community residents.
- University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)supportingPartnership exploring the pandemic's impact on mental health in the community through UIC public health research.
- Imani Village CentersupportingSankofa Food Market located at the Imani Village Center (95th and Cottage Grove), providing space for the 21st Century Market initiative serving food-insecure community members.
- Christian Fenger Academy High SchoolcoreTRIO Upward Bound program specifically targets students at Christian Fenger Academy High School located in the Roseland neighborhood, serving 60 students per school year.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Endeleo Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chicago Urban League: The Chicago Urban League delivers workforce training, education, and community development programs for African-American residents in Chicago. Both organizations share a target demographic and operate multi-service community uplift models in the Chicago metro area.
- Greater Chicago Food Depository: The Endeleo Institute's Sankofa Food Market operates as a direct partner distribution site of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Both organizations address food insecurity on Chicago's South and West sides through hunger-relief programming.
- Centers for New Horizons: Centers for New Horizons provides early childhood education, youth development, and workforce training on Chicago's South Side. Both organizations serve similar communities with bundled education, family support, and community development services.
- Brighton Park Neighborhood Council: Brighton Park Neighborhood Council offers workforce development, youth education, and community organizing on Chicago's Southwest Side. Both are grassroots multi-program community development nonprofits serving low-income neighborhoods with federal/state grant funding.
- Cara Collective: Cara Collective provides workforce training and reentry support for individuals affected by poverty and incarceration in Chicago. Endeleo's Workforce Development Training Program and Violence Prevention initiative address overlapping populations with similar job-readiness and stabilization services.
Emerging players
- National Louis University TRIO Programs: National Louis University hosts TRIO-funded Upward Bound and Educational Opportunity Center programs serving Chicago-area adults and high school students. As another Chicago TRIO operator, it is the closest direct peer on Endeleo's educational program portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago provides workforce development, youth services, and community programming across the Chicago region. It overlaps with Endeleo on adult education, workforce training, and community-based service delivery for vulnerable populations.
- Heartland Alliance: Heartland Alliance is a large Chicago-based human services organization providing housing, health, education, and workforce programs. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Endeleo on workforce development and community reentry support across a wider geography.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Endeleo Institute social profiles
Digital presenceThe Endeleo Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Endeleo Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
The Endeleo Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Endeleo Institute 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 The Endeleo Institute
What does The Endeleo Institute do?
The Endeleo Institute delivers free education, workforce development, food security, and community development programs to underserved residents of Chicago's far South Side. Its portfolio includes TRIO Upward Bound (high school college-readiness), TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (adult post-secondary counseling), the Sankofa Food Market (free choice-based food distribution), Workforce Development Training, the Violence Prevention Program, and the 95th Street Corridor Renaissance community development initiative. Programs are funded by federal/state grants and donations and delivered free to eligible participants.
Is The Endeleo Institute a public or private company?
The Endeleo Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Endeleo Institute founded?
The Endeleo Institute was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Endeleo Institute based?
The Endeleo Institute is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Endeleo Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are federal Government Grants and state Government Grants.
Who are The Endeleo Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chicago Urban League, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Centers for New Horizons, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council and Cara Collective. National Louis University TRIO Programs is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and Heartland Alliance.
Does The Endeleo Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Endeleo Institute.
What industry is The Endeleo Institute in?
The Endeleo Institute's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAABAK, College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAB, Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.