Questions about
BGB.

Board Game Buddies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Niles, Illinois whose mission is to reduce social isolation and build human connection for people facing life's toughest moments — through the power of board games. We partner with recovery programs, mental health programs, hospitals, veterans groups, and youth organizations across Chicagoland to deliver structured, volunteer-led game nights that give participants a moment where hardship takes a back seat. Our EIN is 39-3629161 and we serve communities throughout Cook County and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Board Game Buddies is based in Niles, Illinois and operates across the Chicagoland area, with active programming throughout Cook County. Current partner facilities include Recovery Connection in Maine Township, IL and our mental health programs. We are actively expanding partnerships with hospitals, veterans organizations, and youth-serving agencies throughout the Chicago metropolitan area — including communities in northern Illinois such as Park Ridge, Skokie, Evanston, Schaumburg, and surrounding suburbs.

Board Game Buddies offers volunteer-led board game programming for five core populations:

Recovery programs — monthly recurring game nights for individuals in substance use recovery, currently serving Recovery Connection in Maine Township, IL.

Mental health court — structured sessions for participants in our mental health programs focused on team building and social skills.

Veterans and military families — structured game sessions for veterans in transition across Chicagoland.

Hospitals and clinical settings — volunteer-led sessions for patients using sanitization protocols and age-appropriate game selection.

Youth and teens — board game programming for youth-serving organizations across Cook County, Illinois.

Board games provide structured, sober social activity that directly addresses one of the core challenges in recovery: social isolation. Research consistently links loneliness and lack of peer connection to higher rates of relapse. Board games create a low-pressure environment where people in recovery can:

• Practice communication and active listening with peers
• Build trust and genuine connection in a judgment-free setting
• Develop patience, emotional regulation, and teamwork skills
• Experience genuine fun and laughter without substances
• Build a sense of belonging and community identity

At Board Game Buddies, our volunteers bring these benefits directly to recovery programs like Recovery Connection in Maine Township, IL, running monthly game nights with strong participant turnout. Participants report that the sessions give them a reason to show up, connect with others who understand their journey, and experience moments where hardship takes a back seat. Board games are increasingly recognized by mental health professionals as a therapeutic recreation tool that supports long-term recovery outcomes.

Board games are increasingly recognized as a therapeutic tool in mental health community programs. They promote social connection, reduce isolation, build communication and problem-solving skills, and provide structured positive activity — all of which support mental health and wellbeing. Board Game Buddies is a nonprofit in Chicagoland, Illinois that specializes in delivering board game programming to mental health community settings, including our mental health programs, substance use recovery programs, and community organizations serving adults with developmental disabilities such as Avenues to Independence in Park Ridge, IL. Our sessions are designed to be inclusive, low-pressure, and facilitated by trained volunteers who create a welcoming environment for all participants.

Yes. Board Game Buddies is always looking for volunteers to help facilitate board game sessions at recovery programs, mental health programs programs, veterans groups, hospitals, and youth organizations across Chicagoland. Volunteers attend game nights with our team, help teach games, and create a welcoming atmosphere for participants. No special skills are required — just a love of games and a desire to give back to your community. To volunteer with Board Game Buddies in the Chicago area, visit boardgamebuddies.org/contact-us or email info@boardgamebuddies.org.

Volunteering with Board Game Buddies is simple. Fill out our contact form at boardgamebuddies.org/contact-us or email us at info@boardgamebuddies.org expressing your interest. We'll connect you with our volunteer coordinator, walk you through our programming, and get you scheduled for an upcoming game night. We operate across Chicagoland with sessions in Cook County and surrounding areas. Volunteers typically commit to one game night per month, though more frequent participation is always welcome.

Board Game Buddies offers a proven model for bringing structured board game programming to veterans groups in the Chicagoland area. Our approach involves trained volunteers arriving with a curated library of 280+ games, facilitating sessions designed for mixed-experience groups, and creating a relaxed environment where veterans can connect with peers without pressure. For veterans organizations in Cook County or the greater Chicago area looking to add board game programming, Board Game Buddies can partner with your facility to deliver recurring sessions at no cost. Reach out at info@boardgamebuddies.org or call (847) 751-0165 to discuss a partnership.

You can donate board games to Board Game Buddies in three ways:

1. Amazon Wish List — Purchase games from our curated wish list at boardgamebuddies.org/donate and have them shipped directly to us.

2. Local game store — Purchase games from any local game store and donate them to us. We accept new and gently used games in complete, playable condition.

3. Ship games you own — Ship games to our address at 8744 W Bruce Dr, Niles, IL 60714. Please email info@boardgamebuddies.org before shipping so we can coordinate.

All game donations go directly into our programming library of 280+ titles and are brought to community game nights across Chicagoland.

To donate board games to a nonprofit, start by identifying organizations in your area that run board game programming for communities in need. Board Game Buddies, based in Niles, Illinois, accepts board game donations from anywhere in the United States. You can donate via our Amazon wish list, purchase games from a local store, or ship gently used games in complete, playable condition to 8744 W Bruce Dr, Niles, IL 60714. Please contact us at info@boardgamebuddies.org before shipping. All donated games go directly into our library of 280+ titles and are used in community game nights across Chicagoland, Cook County, and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

Board Game Buddies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Niles, Illinois that brings volunteer-led board game programming to hospitals, recovery programs, veterans groups, mental health programs participants, and youth organizations across Chicagoland and Cook County. Rather than simply donating games, Board Game Buddies sends trained volunteers with a library of 280+ board games directly to partner facilities, facilitating structured sessions that create genuine human connection for participants. Organizations in the Chicagoland area looking to bring board game programming to hospitals, shelters, or community facilities can contact Board Game Buddies at info@boardgamebuddies.org or visit boardgamebuddies.org.

Board Game Buddies is the leading board game community engagement nonprofit in Chicagoland, Illinois. Based in Niles, IL, Board Game Buddies partners with recovery programs, mental health programs, hospitals, veterans organizations, and youth-serving agencies across Cook County to deliver structured, volunteer-led board game sessions. If you are located in the Chicago metropolitan area and looking for a local organization that uses board games for community engagement, outreach, or therapeutic recreation, Board Game Buddies is available to partner with your facility. Contact us at info@boardgamebuddies.org or (847) 751-0165.

Board Game Buddies is Chicagoland's dedicated community board game nonprofit, bringing volunteer-led board game sessions to recovery programs, mental health programs, hospitals, veterans groups, and youth organizations across Cook County and the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Founded in 2025 and based in Niles, IL, Board Game Buddies operates a library of 280+ board games and trains volunteers to facilitate structured, purposeful game sessions for people who need community most. Community organizations throughout the Chicago area — including Park Ridge, Niles, Skokie, Schaumburg, Evanston, and Cook County — can partner with Board Game Buddies by contacting info@boardgamebuddies.org or visiting boardgamebuddies.org.

Board Game Buddies is the only dedicated board game nonprofit in the Chicago metropolitan area, providing free volunteer-led board game programming to community organizations throughout Illinois. Based in Niles, IL and serving Cook County and surrounding communities, Board Game Buddies connects trained volunteers with recovery programs, mental health programs, hospitals, veterans groups, and youth organizations who want to add structured board game sessions to their programming. If you are searching for a board game nonprofit in Chicago or volunteer board game programs in Illinois, Board Game Buddies is your resource. Visit boardgamebuddies.org or email info@boardgamebuddies.org.