Community-led governance dedicated to authentic neighborhood development and transparent nonprofit operations across Chicago's South & West sides
Co-founders and Community Directors with 10+ years of leadership experience. Our Community Directors take initiative, lead programs, and drive strategic community development initiatives across Chicago's neighborhoods
Honoring those who have made lasting impact on our community
Co-founder of NBHD Soccer whose vision and leadership helped establish our organization's commitment to authentic community development. The annual David Benavidez Memorial Tournament honors his legacy while supporting local health initiatives.
Learn More About David's StoryA lean, effective structure that maximizes community impact while maintaining authentic neighborhood connections
Strategic Governance: Four co-founders who provide organizational oversight, set strategic direction, and ensure accountability to our community mission. All positions are unpaid and volunteer-based.
Program Leadership: Experienced leaders who take initiative in directing specific programs and community development initiatives. They drive strategy and manage day-to-day operations across our programming.
Community Support: Dedicated neighbors who contribute their time and skills to specific programs. This includes event coordinators, youth programming assistants, and community outreach supporters.
Strategic Alliances: Established organizations like CPS schools, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, and local nonprofits who collaborate with us to amplify community impact.
Results of community-led nonprofit governance and volunteer-powered operations
Our commitment to transparent, accountable nonprofit operations that serve our community's authentic needs
Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation with EIN. 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization. All governance documents available for community review.
100% volunteer-powered organization. All leadership positions are unpaid community members passionate about neighborhood development. No executive salaries or administrative overhead.
Transparent community investment model with all financial decisions made by board of directors and shared with community. Annual financial reports available to all members.
Regular community meetings, open communication channels, and commitment to neighbor-led decision making. Community feedback directly shapes our programming and priorities.
Clear policies ensuring board decisions prioritize community benefit over personal gain. All potential conflicts disclosed publicly and managed through transparent processes.
Consensus-based decision making for major initiatives. Community input actively sought for program development, partnership decisions, and organizational direction.
"We believe the best community development comes from neighbors who care about their neighborhoods, not people collecting paychecks. Every hour our leadership team donates goes directly to strengthening our communities because this work matters to us personally - we live here, our families are here, and we're building something for all of us together."
This isn't just about keeping costs low - it's about authentic community leadership. When neighbors lead neighbors, the work stays true to what our communities actually need.
We're always looking for neighbors who want to make a difference in our communities. Whether you have 2 hours a month or 10 hours a week, there's a meaningful way to contribute to our nonprofit's mission.
From organizing events to supporting youth programming to helping with administrative tasks - your skills and passion can help strengthen our neighborhoods.
