Running Rebels
Running Rebels is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that provides mentoring, violence prevention, after-school, athletic, and juvenile-justice intervention services to more than 2,500 at-risk youth ages 8-19 annually across two city facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Running Rebels firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Running Rebels
- Legal name
- Running Rebels Organization
- Website
- https://runningrebels.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Running Rebels is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that provides mentoring, violence prevention, after-school, athletic, and juvenile-justice intervention services to more than 2,500 at-risk youth ages 8-19 annually across two city facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Running Rebels industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mentoring and Community Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL), Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI)
Keywords
Where Running Rebels is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Running Rebels business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Running Rebels relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and local businesses. Major donors include Phoenix Investors (Frank P. Crivello), Pat Connaughton Foundation, and other Milwaukee-based companies.
- Foundation Grants: The organization receives substantial grants from private foundations including the Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation ($500,000), Burke Foundation ($250,000), Zilber Foundation, and NBA Foundation. These grants support capital campaigns and operational programs.
- Fundraising Events: Annual gala events such as Care-a-lotta raise significant funds. The 2019 Gala-lotta raised over $400,000 and enabled a $500,000 matching grant from Zilber Family Foundation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Running Rebels product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Running Rebels Community Organization is a nonprofit that provides free youth mentoring and positive programming to Milwaukee youth ages 8-19, delivering services through after-school and summer programs, athletics, arts, academic support, and violence prevention delivered at two Milwaukee facilities, partner schools, and community sites. Programs include Juvenile Justice, Mentoring, Pipeline2Promise, After School, Athletics, Entertainment & Marketing Services, Higher Education Learning, the Credible Messengers program, and the Warning Summer Basketball League.
Product overview
Running Rebels is a community-based nonprofit organization (not a technology company) offering a unified portfolio of youth mentoring and development programs. The core offerings include seven main program areas: Juvenile Justice Program, Mentoring Program, Pipeline2Promise, After School Program, Athletic Programs, Entertainment & Marketing Services, and Higher Education Learning Program. These programs work together to guide Milwaukee youth aged 8-19 into adulthood through prevention, intervention, and support services. The organization also operates the Warning Summer Basketball League (third-longest-running outdoor basketball league nationally), the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, the Uplifted Project music initiative, and partners on the We Got This Urban Garden. The Credible Messenger Program provides specialized mentorship for youth in the justice system. All programs share the unified mission of preventing gang involvement, violence, drugs, and juvenile justice system involvement while building relationships and providing resources for youth to become thriving adult community members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Juvenile Justice Program Program supporting youth involved in the juvenile justice system with intervention and guidance to help them make positive choices. Target audience: at-risk Milwaukee youth aged 8-19 already in contact with the juvenile justice system.
- Mentoring Program One-on-one and group mentoring services connecting youth with trained mentors who provide guidance, support, and positive role modeling for personal development. Target audience: Milwaukee at-risk youth aged 8-19.
- Pipeline2Promise Program focused on preparing youth for future success through academic support, career exploration, and goal-setting guidance. Target audience: Milwaukee youth preparing for post-secondary education and career pathways.
- After School Program Structured programming for youth after school hours providing safe supervision, educational activities, and enrichment opportunities at Running Rebels facilities. Target audience: Milwaukee youth who need safe, supervised after-school environments.
- Athletic Programs Sports and athletic activities including basketball leagues and camps designed to keep youth engaged and promote physical wellness and teamwork. Target audience: Milwaukee youth, particularly during summer months.
- Entertainment & Marketing Services Creative programs including music production, the Uplifted Project album series, and arts programming that engage youth through artistic expression and media creation. Target audience: Milwaukee youth interested in arts, music, and creative expression.
- Higher Education Learning Program College preparation services including tutoring, application assistance, and academic guidance to help youth pursue higher education. Target audience: Milwaukee high school students pursuing higher education.
- Violence Free Zone Mentorship School-based mentorship program placing professional mentors in seven Milwaukee Public Schools daily to provide violence prevention support, tutoring, resources, and a safe space for students. Target audience: Milwaukee Public Schools students and staff.
- Credible Messenger Program Program pairing youth involved in the juvenile justice system with mentors who have similar lived experiences to provide 24/7 support, conflict resolution, and resource connection. Target audience: Milwaukee County youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Warning Summer Basketball League Third-longest-running outdoor basketball league in the country, designed to keep Milwaukee youth engaged during summer months and encourage pursuit of college scholarships. Now entering its 50th year and operated by Running Rebels. Target audience: Milwaukee youth, particularly during summer months.
- We Got This Urban Garden Partnership Urban gardening initiative partnered with Running Rebels, providing youth with agricultural education, paid work opportunities, and mentoring at a community garden on N. 9th and W. Ring streets; serves up to 40 boys ages 12-16 each Saturday. Target audience: Milwaukee Black boys ages 12-16.
- Youth Entrepreneurship Summit Annual event bringing together youth and local mentors to empower and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through collaboration and skill-building. Target audience: Milwaukee youth interested in entrepreneurship.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ years of continuous operation with demonstrated impact on Milwaukee youth
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Running Rebels
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Running Rebels technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Running Rebels partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and major.
- Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human ServicescoreRunning Rebels is one of five community organizations participating in the Credible Messenger program, pairing youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system with mentors who have similar lived experiences. The program provides 24/7 mentor availability and connects youth with resources. Running Rebels is partnering alongside 414Life, Milwaukee Christian Center, Youth Advocate Program, and WestCare Wisconsin.
- We Got This Urban GardencoreMerger/partnership formed in March 2021 between Running Rebels and We Got This urban garden founded by Andre Lee Ellis. The partnership allows Running Rebels to work directly with Black boys year-round, not just in summer, and expands services through the garden at N. 9th and W. Ring streets. Garden serves up to 40 boys ages 12-16 each Saturday.
- Pabst Theater Group (milwALLkee)secondaryPabst Theater Group selected Running Rebels as the first partner for their milwALLkee initiative, which highlights organizations working to end racial injustice. Running Rebels was featured for a week across Pabst Theater Group's email newsletters and social media accounts reaching hundreds of thousands.
- Bartolotta Restaurants (Care-a-lotta)majorRunning Rebels was selected as the 2019 Care-a-lotta gala recipient. Bartolotta Restaurants fully funded and staffed the event, with all proceeds going directly to Running Rebels. The gala raised over $400,000 and enabled a $500,000 matching grant from the Zilber Family Foundation, completing the Full Circle Campaign.
- LimesecondaryLime announced a partnership with Running Rebels for rider education and safety initiatives in Milwaukee.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Running Rebels competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee: Direct local peer operating youth development facilities in the same Milwaukee market. Comparable mission (after-school programs, athletics, mentoring for at-risk youth), funding model (corporate/foundation donations), and delivery model (physical club locations).
- Police Athletic League (PAL): National nonprofit delivering youth athletics and mentoring programs aimed at crime prevention in urban communities. Comparable in athletic-led engagement model (similar to Warning Summer Basketball League), at-risk youth focus, and law-enforcement-adjacent positioning.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National nonprofit focused on one-on-one youth mentoring, the closest mission peer to Running Rebels' Mentoring Program. Comparable in target demographic (at-risk youth ages 8-19), volunteer-driven model, and dependence on community partnerships.
- 414Life: Milwaukee violence prevention initiative co-located in the Credible Messenger program. Directly comparable in violence prevention mission, Milwaukee-specific geographic focus, and government-contracted service delivery model.
- Milwaukee Christian Center: Local Milwaukee peer also selected for the Milwaukee County Credible Messenger program alongside Running Rebels. Directly comparable in youth justice intervention focus, faith-rooted community model, and target beneficiary population.
- Youth Advocate Program: Direct peer in the Milwaukee County Credible Messenger program. Comparable in juvenile justice intervention model, lived-experience mentor matching, and 24/7 youth support approach.
- WestCare Wisconsin: Direct peer in the Milwaukee County Credible Messenger program. Comparable in justice-involved youth services, community-based intervention model, and government contract funding mix.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National umbrella organization that the local Greater Milwaukee club affiliates with. Comparable program categories (mentoring, athletics, arts, education) and youth demographic focus, but operates at massive national scale across thousands of clubs.
- National Urban League: Large national civil rights and youth empowerment organization. Comparable in focus on African American youth outcomes, education and workforce programming, and donor-funded nonprofit model, though operating at much larger multi-city scale.
- YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee: Local YMCA affiliate delivering youth development, athletics, and after-school programming across the same Milwaukee footprint. Comparable in mission, age demographic served, athletic programming, and facility-based delivery model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Running Rebels social profiles
Digital presenceRunning Rebels financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Running Rebels leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Running Rebels funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Running Rebels 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 Running Rebels
What does Running Rebels do?
Running Rebels Community Organization is a nonprofit that provides free youth mentoring and positive programming to Milwaukee youth ages 8-19, delivering services through after-school and summer programs, athletics, arts, academic support, and violence prevention delivered at two Milwaukee facilities, partner schools, and community sites. Programs include Juvenile Justice, Mentoring, Pipeline2Promise, After School, Athletics, Entertainment & Marketing Services, Higher Education Learning, the Credible Messengers program, and the Warning Summer Basketball League.
Is Running Rebels a public or private company?
Running Rebels is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Running Rebels founded?
Running Rebels was founded in 1980. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Running Rebels based?
Running Rebels is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Running Rebels make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants and fundraising Events.
Who are Running Rebels's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Police Athletic League (PAL), Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, 414Life, Milwaukee Christian Center, Youth Advocate Program and WestCare Wisconsin. Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Urban League and YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee.
Does Running Rebels have an API?
No public API is recorded for Running Rebels.
What industry is Running Rebels in?
Running Rebels's product category is Youth Mentoring and Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.