What LeBron James Family Foundation does

The LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by NBA player LeBron James in Akron, Ohio, where it operates a vertically integrated education and family-support ecosystem for at-risk Akron youth. Its flagship I PROMISE Program serves more than 1,400 Akron-area students through a constellation of branded sub-programs: the I PROMISE School (a STEM-focused public school opened in 2018 in partnership with Akron Public Schools), the I PROMISE Institute (a University of Akron partnership providing four-year tuition scholarships and operating the LJFF College of Education), I PROMISE Too (parent/family support including GED classes and career guidance), and the 330 Ambassadors (23 high school students serving as peer mentors). Physical assets include House Three Thirty, a 2020-opened community venue combining family resources, retail, and event space, and the LeBron James Arena at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School funded by a $1 million pledge in 2018.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform; its primary capabilities are program delivery, partnership orchestration, and brand-driven fundraising. The revenue model is donation- and partnership-based rather than transactional: services are provided free of charge to eligible students and families, while funding flows from LeBron James personally, corporate sponsors (Chase as presenting We Are Family Reunion sponsor, Sherwin-Williams, Cedar Point, Kaulig, WKYC, FirstEnergy, ILTHY, and others), and fundraising events such as the annual We Are Family Reunion (8,000+ attendees) and We Are Family Day. Earned income is supplemented by merchandise collaborations (notably the July 2024 ILTHY apparel line, sold at ilthy.com and House Three Thirty). The go-to-market is community-rooted: events, earned media, school-district integration, and celebrity-driven awareness rather than paid marketing. The foundation's customer base (program beneficiaries) is geographically concentrated to Akron, Ohio, and its 'We Are Family' philosophy is the unifying brand spine across programming.

Name

LeBron James Family Foundation

Legal name

LeBron James Family Foundation

Website

https://lebronjamesfamilyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The LeBron James Family Foundation is a private nonprofit founded by LeBron James in Akron, Ohio, delivering free education, scholarship, family-support, and community programming to 1,400+ Akron-area students through the I PROMISE School, I PROMISE Institute, and partner-driven initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit / Youth and Family Charitable Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Education nonprofit programs
• Youth mentoring services
• Scholarship programs
• Family support services
• Community foundation initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The LeBron James Family Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides free education-focused programs and wraparound services to Akron-area students and their families. Its core offerings include the I PROMISE Program (serving 1,400+ students with programs, support, and mentors), the I PROMISE School (a public STEM-focused school), the I PROMISE Institute (University of Akron scholarships and mentorship), I PROMISE Too (parent GED and career support), and the 330 Ambassadors leadership program, all underpinned by the 'We Are Family' philosophy and supported through donations, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise collaborations.

Product overview

The LeBron James Family Foundation operates a comprehensive education-focused ecosystem of programs and facilities in Akron, Ohio. The core offerings include the I PROMISE Program (serving 1,400+ students), the I PROMISE School (a STEM-focused public school), the I PROMISE Institute (University of Akron scholarship partnership), I PROMISE Too (parent/family support including GED programs), and the 330 Ambassadors (student leadership program). These programs are connected through the Foundation's 'We Are Family' philosophy and supported by physical assets including House Three Thirty (community venue) and the LeBron James Arena at STVM. The Foundation also generates revenue through the ILTHY apparel collaboration. The Foundation does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I PROMISE School: Public STEM-focused school in Akron serving I PROMISE students from grades 3 upward
• I PROMISE Institute
• I PROMISE Too
• 330 Ambassadors
• House Three Thirty
• We Are Family Reunion
• The Bureau

Products and services

• I PROMISE Program An education support program serving more than 1,400 Akron-area students, providing programs, mentors, and wraparound support to help them succeed in school and beyond.
• I PROMISE School A STEM-focused, experiential learning-based public school operated in partnership with Akron Public Schools for at-risk students starting in grade 3 and infused with the 'We Are Family' philosophy.
• I PROMISE Institute A partnership with The University of Akron providing four-year tuition scholarships, mentorship, and college-readiness programming for I PROMISE students.
• I PROMISE Too A program supporting parents and families of I PROMISE students, including GED preparation, financial literacy, career guidance, and family resources.
• 330 Ambassadors A select group of 23 high school students from Akron chosen each year to serve as role models and mentors to younger generations in the community.
• House Three Thirty A community venue in Akron, Ohio serving as a hub for foundation programs, family resources, retail, and community gatherings.
• LeBron James Arena A completely renovated gymnasium at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, funded by LeBron's $1 million pledge, featuring new hardwood flooring, bleachers, branded scoreboards, lighting, and sports equipment.
• ILTHY x LJFF Apparel Collection A premium apparel collection (shirts, caps, polos, hoodies, long sleeves) inspired by the LeBron James Family Foundation and House Three Thirty, with a portion of sales supporting the foundation's work.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sherwin-WilliamscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the PROMISE Project including the Loneliest Color 2026 initiative. Sherwin-Williams donated Offbeat Green paint for a home education center being built in Akron. The collaboration frames color narratives around 'finding hidden potential' for first-time homeowners.
• ILTHYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium apparel collaboration launched July 2024. A portion of sales from shirts, caps, hoodies, and long sleeves supports the foundation's community work. Products available at ilthy.com and House Three Thirty retail shop.
• Kaulig CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored development of the I Promise School's exclusive media lab. The state-of-the-art facility designed by WKYC-TV provides hands-on learning opportunities with TV production, video editing, and technical skills training.
• Cedar PointcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual We Are Family Reunion partnership providing free admission to Cedar Point amusement park for thousands of I PROMISE families. Multi-year partnership with exclusive roller coaster naming and event hosting.
• ChasecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for We Are Family Reunion events. Supports Force For Good programming and Chase Your Dreams mentorship program for I PROMISE Too graduates.
• The University of AkroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership providing four-year college scholarships for all Wheels for Education and Akron I PROMISE Network students. Home to the LJFF College of Education and mentor programs.
• Kent State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing additional college programming and opportunities for I PROMISE students. Representatives on The Bureau higher education advisory board.
• Mapleside FarmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-owned farm partnership hosting We Are Family Day for over 1,000 kids and families. Provides free day at the farm including corn maze, hay rides, and farm experiences.
• St. Vincent-St. Mary High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeBron's alma mater where he pledged $1 million to renovate the gym into the LeBron James Arena. Ongoing support for Irish 23 athletics and community programs.
• FirstEnergy FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Polar Express powered by FirstEnergy Foundation, taking I PROMISE 3rd graders on annual trip to the North Pole.
• WKYC-TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial broadcast partner and media lab designer for I Promise School. Provides experiential learning opportunities and coverage of foundation activities.
• 2K FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with X-Box to renovate the Embassy space for 330 Ambassadors with gaming systems, custom controllers, and video programming.
• HomageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal clothing company partnership creating We Are Family merchandise. Proceeds benefit the foundation's work in Akron.
• Summit Cycling CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuilds and provides I PROMISE bikes for Wheels for Education students, continuing LeBron's tradition of using bikes to explore Akron.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LeBronJamesFamilyFoundation
• Xx.com/ljfamfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lebron-james-family-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LeBron James Family Foundation