Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

What Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis does

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (ULSTL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services and civil rights organization founded in 1918 in response to the East St. Louis race riot, and it is the largest affiliate of the National Urban League movement in the United States. Headquartered at 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. in St. Louis, Missouri, ULSTL operates 22 facilities across the bi-state region (Missouri and Illinois), delivering 55+ programs and services to more than 100,000 individuals annually. Its mission is to empower African Americans and other regional residents in securing economic self-reliance, social equality, and civil rights, organized around four pillars: Educational Excellence (Head Start, scholarships), Community Empowerment (LIHEAP, Weatherization, Housing, Food & Clothing, Mobile Health), Economic Opportunity (Employment Services, Save Our Sons + Sisters, Business Training Center, Financial Literacy, Women's Business Center), and Public Safety & Community Response (Serving Our Streets, Neighborhood Healing Network, Gun Violence De-Escalation, Urban Opioid Triage, Clean Sweep).

ULSTL's revenue model is multi-stream: federal and state government grants and contracts (Head Start/Early Head Start, LIHEAP, Weatherization Assistance Program, workforce development grants), corporate and foundation partnerships (100+ major partners including Boeing, Ameren, Spire, Emerson, AT&T, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Edward Jones), individual donations through the Whitney M. Young Society giving society (donors giving $500+) and annual appeals, tiered membership dues ranging from $20 (Senior/Young Professional) to $250 (Partner), and branded merchandise sales through the Urban Closet Store. Programs are delivered free to eligible low-income clients. Distribution occurs through direct service at facilities, a Mobile Health Unit, church-based programming via the Pulpit to Porches initiative, and large-scale community events such as Urban Expo (27,000+ attendees). The organization is led by President & CEO Michael P. McMillan (since 2013) and SVP & CFO Aundrea Young, with no equity funding structure given its nonprofit status.

Name

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis

Legal name

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc.

Website

https://ulstl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1918 and the largest National Urban League affiliate, operating 22 facilities across Missouri and Illinois to deliver 55+ programs in education, housing, workforce development, and public safety to over 100,000 low-income individuals and families annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Workforce development training
• Housing counseling assistance
• Early childhood education
• Financial literacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Contracts: Federal and state funding including Head Start/Early Head Start programs, LIHEAP energy assistance, weatherization assistance, and workforce development grants. Operates as a Community Action Agency receiving government support for social service delivery.
2. Corporate & Foundation Partnerships: Major corporate sponsors including Boeing, Ameren, Spire, Emerson, AT&T, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and 100+ other corporate partners provide funding, in-kind support, and volunteer resources.
3. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with multiple tiers: General ($50), Senior ($20), Organizer ($100), Partner ($250), plus auxiliary memberships for Federation of Block Units ($25), Urban League Guild ($50), and Young Professionals ($20).
4. Donations & Fundraising: Annual Appeal, Birthday Fundraiser, Whitney M. Young Society giving society ($500+ donors), tornado relief fund, and general donations. Restoring Hope Campaign is a major capital campaign for facility expansion.
5. Merchandise Sales: Urban Closet Store sells branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, flags) with prices ranging $20-$25 for apparel items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is a nonprofit social services organization that empowers African Americans and other community members in securing economic self-reliance, social equality, and civil rights. It delivers 55+ programs across early childhood education (Head Start), workforce development (Employment Services, Save Our Sons+Sisters, SkillUP), housing counseling, energy assistance (LIHEAP, Weatherization), financial literacy, mobile health services, and community safety initiatives. Programs are provided free or at low cost to eligible low-income individuals and families through 22 facilities across the St. Louis bi-state region (Missouri and Illinois).

Product overview

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 55 programs and services across four core pillars: Educational Excellence (Head Start, Scholarships), Community Empowerment (LIHEAP, Weatherization, Food & Clothing, Housing, Mobile Health), Economic Opportunity (Employment Services, SOS Workforce, Business Training, Financial Literacy), and Public Safety & Community Response (Serving Our Streets, Neighborhood Healing Network, Clean Sweep). The organization operates from 22 facilities serving St. Louis City, County, and St. Clair County, Illinois, reaching over 200,000 individuals annually. Programs include workforce development initiatives like Save Our Sons + Sisters and SkillUP, housing assistance through HUD-certified counseling, energy assistance via LIHEAP, and community safety programs including gun violence de-escalation and opioid triage. Special events include the annual Urban Expo (27,000+ attendees), Salute to Women in Leadership Gala, Whitney M. Young Society donor recognition, and Annual Dinner. The organization also operates auxiliaries including the Federation of Block Units (since 1932), Urban League Young Professionals, and Urban League Guild, plus the Urban League Cultural Center with media production capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Head Start: National program providing early childhood education to low-income children and families
• Save Our Sons
• Save Our Sisters
• Women's Business Center
• Weatherization
• LIHEAP
• Serving Our Streets
• Clean Sweep
• Neighborhood Healing Network
• Urban Opioid Triage
• Gun Violence De-Escalation Network
• Grill to Glory
• Federation of Block Units
• Urban League Guild
• Urban League Young Professionals (ULYP)
• Urban League Cultural Center of St. Louis (ULCC)
• Whitney M. Young Society
• Salute to Women in Leadership
• Urban Expo
• Transition for Change
• SkillUP
• Business Training Center
• Family Financial Empowerment
• Mobile Health Unit
• 100 Neediest Families

Products and services

• Head Start

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 100,000 individuals annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2026Boeing and the Urban League launched an apprenticeship 'boot camp' in St. Louis focused on workforce development and skills training. This initiative aims to promote workforce development opportunities for community residents.
• KSDK (NBC affiliate)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with KSDK media for tornado relief fund and community recovery efforts, strengthening the Urban League's ability to serve and respond for the long term.
• Edward JonescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Edward Jones for Family Financial Empowerment workshops led by financial advisors, helping community members manage money and build financial futures.
• St. Louis Area Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerULSTL is a member of the St. Louis Area Food Bank and Operation Food Search, allowing purchase of food at little or no cost for family distribution.
• Operation Food SearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership enabling low-cost food purchasing for three food pantries serving families in need.
• Regional Business CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for job fairs (60+ companies), Clean Sweep neighborhood revitalization initiative, and Urban Expo sponsorship.
• St. Louis CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with St. Louis City for Clean Sweep initiative targeting vacant property demolition and neighborhood revitalization.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: National parent/affiliate network for ULSTL; operates the same empowerment, workforce, housing, and civil-rights mission across 90+ affiliates and is directly comparable in social-service delivery model and donor base.
• NAACP: Largest U.S. civil rights organization with overlapping advocacy and economic empowerment programs; comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit serving African American communities with donor and corporate partnership models similar to ULSTL.

Direct peers

• United Way of Greater St. Louis: Direct local peer and 100 Neediest Cases co-funder with ULSTL; both operate as regional fundraising-and-grantmaking nonprofits supporting social services across the St. Louis bi-state region with overlapping donor pools and agency partners.
• Catholic Charities of St. Louis: Direct regional peer providing comparable wraparound social services (food, housing, energy assistance, immigration, Head Start-like programs) to vulnerable populations in the same bi-state geography.
• Goodwill Industries of Missouri: Direct peer in workforce development, job training, and community reentry services for disadvantaged populations in the St. Louis region; comparable operating model with similar government contract funding mix.
• Salvation Army Midland Division: Regional peer operating emergency relief (food pantries, utility assistance, disaster response) and social services in the same St. Louis service area; comparable funding model combining government contracts, corporate donations, and individual giving.
• Urban League of Chicago: Sister Urban League affiliate in Illinois operating the same empowerment model (workforce, housing, education) and a peer benchmark for ULSTL's programming; same national affiliation and donor-recognition structure.
• Community Action Agency (CAA) network: ULSTL itself operates as a CAA; the national CAA network delivers the same LIHEAP, weatherization, Head Start, and workforce programs via community action agencies across the U.S. with comparable funding mix.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis: Regional youth-serving nonprofit in the same geography providing complementary (not directly overlapping) services such as after-school programs, mentorship, and teen workforce readiness; competes for similar corporate and foundation grants.
• YWCA Metro St. Louis: Regional peer focused on women's empowerment, workforce development, housing, and domestic-violence services; operates in the same St. Louis region with overlapping Save Our Sisters-type programming for women.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ulstl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVafWnnvbcn-qiVf-md_WJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/147494928628574
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/ulstl
• Instagraminstagram.com/ulstl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis