About us

Who we are

We believe that entrepreneurs from any background can start and grow businesses that create generational wealth for their families and communities. We provide the capital, coaching, and connections entrepreneurs need to grow great businesses that create jobs and wealth in their communities.

Our 2020 – 2023 Impact

$704M

Dollars Disbursed

21,000

Community Businesses Coached

31,000

Community Businesses Funded

Our Values

Accountability

  • We set clear expectations and achievable goals to create measurable impact for our clients and our community.
  • We embrace our professional roles and responsibilities, and we effectively deliver on our commitments.
  • We own up to our mistakes, rapidly repair them, and learn from them with humility.

Collaboration

  • We work together to serve all entrepreneurs holistically and creatively.
  • We are transparent with and responsive to each other, our funders, our partners, our clients, and our community.
  • We listen carefully and patiently to each other, our funders, our partners, our clients, and our community.

Respect

  • We empathize with the struggles our entrepreneurs and our own team may be facing.
  • We value diversity in our team, our funders, our partners, our clients, and our community.
  • We speak considerately and directly with each other, our funders, our partners, our clients, and our community, sharing praise and suggestions for improvement in order to build trusted relationships.

Passion

  • We share our enthusiasm for this work with each other, our funders, our partners, our clients, and our community, and we celebrate the successes of our clients and our team.
  • We welcome difficult challenges and work hard to find bold and innovative solutions to tough problems.
  • We are excited to do this work every day and are committed to working alongside our partners to create real change.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging

We believe our work is strengthened by the diversity of our team, which is why we focus on specific ways we can incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) into our organizational culture and ways of working.

Diversity

We strive to foster a team and entrepreneurial community that is strengthened by different backgrounds and identities. 

Equity

We strive to treat all clients, employees, and partners fairly, working to identify and eliminate barriers to further equitable treatment, access, and advancement.

Inclusion 

We strive to be proactive and intentional in creating an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. 

Accessibility

We strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability or circumstance, can fully participate and engage in all aspects of our organization’s work tasks, activities, and services. 

Belonging

We strive to foster a sense of connection that allows individuals to feel accepted, secure, and supported. 

Our Team

Our staff works tirelessly to help every community business we can, with clarity and empathy.

Our Board of Directors provides fiduciary oversight to all that we do. Our Advisory Councils provide valuable insights to help guide our work.

Our Community

Allies for Community Business is located in East Garfield Park on the West Side of Chicago, at the corner of Lake and Kedzie. Our office is at The Hatchery, the largest mission-focused food and beverage incubator in the country. We are co-owners and co-tenants of this beautiful space.

We encourage you to explore our incubator and our neighborhood. To learn more, use the links below:

Schedule a tour of The Hatchery
Contact the Garfield Park Community Council

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