Upward Sports
Upward Sports is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry that partners with 2,000+ churches to run recreational youth sports leagues across eight sports, providing customizable player packages, ministry materials, and league-management tools for local community outreach.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersSpartanburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Upward Sports does
Upward Sports is a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry operating under the legal name Upward Unlimited, founded in 1995 by Caz McCaslin in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The organization partners with local churches to deliver recreational youth sports leagues as a community outreach and evangelism vehicle, spanning eight sports — basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and the recently added pickleball — across 6–12 week seasons. Its core product is a customizable player package that bundles sport-specific programming with ministry materials (weekly devotions, gospel presentation content, outreach ideas), apparel (including optional custom church-logo jerseys), and supporting technology such as drafting software and a league communication system; supplementary offerings include sports camps, clinics, and one-day Connect events. Distribution is exclusively through a nationwide network of 2,000+ church partner organizations that purchase packages tailored to their budget and run leagues locally using Upward's resources, with no annual or yearly fees. The organization is ECFA-accredited and audited by Forvis Mazars, and operates from a lean central team of 11–50 employees serving hundreds of thousands of young athletes annually across the United States.
Upward Sports firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Upward Sports
- Legal name
- Upward Unlimited
- Website
- https://upward.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Upward Sports is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry that partners with 2,000+ churches to run recreational youth sports leagues across eight sports, providing customizable player packages, ministry materials, and league-management tools for local community outreach.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Upward Sports industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Sports Ministry Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)
Keywords
Where Upward Sports is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spartanburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Upward Sports business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Sports League Packages: Churches pay for customizable sports packages that include ministry materials, outreach resources, apparel, communication tools, and league management resources. This is a self-sustaining ministry model with no annual or yearly fees required.
- Additional Sports Experiences: Beyond league experiences, Upward offers Camps, Clinics, and one-day Connect events as additional revenue streams that support sports ministry.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Customizable package based on church budget |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels11 records
Upward Sports product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Upward Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry that partners with churches to deliver organized recreational youth sports leagues (basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and pickleball) along with supporting Camps, Clinics, and Connect Events. It provides churches with customizable sports packages, ministry materials, coach playbooks, drafting software, communication tools, and customizable apparel to run community-based sports experiences for children.
Product overview
Upward Sports is a church-based sports ministry platform that provides churches with the tools, resources, and framework to run recreational youth sports leagues in their communities. The core offering consists of organized league programs spanning eight sports: Basketball, Soccer, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Flag Football, Baseball, Softball, and the newest addition Pickleball. Each league operates over 6-12 week seasons and is designed to be affordable, customizable, and aligned with Christian principles. Beyond leagues, the portfolio includes Camps, Clinics, and one-day Connect Events as supplementary programming options. Supporting the core sports programs are Ministry Materials (weekly devotions, outreach resources, Gospel presentation materials), Customizable Sports Packages (apparel, custom church logos), Drafting Software, and Communication Systems—tools that help churches manage their programs and engage families. The platform is structured around church partnerships, where Upward provides the organizational framework, resources, and support while volunteers execute the programs locally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Upward Sports Leagues Church-based recreational sports leagues for youth, spanning 6-12 week seasons, offered in basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and pickleball.
- Upward Pickleball Newest league offering from Upward Sports, bringing the rapidly growing sport of pickleball to church communities as a ministry and community-building opportunity.
- Sports Camps Intensive multi-day or week-long sports training programs offered alongside or separate from league experiences, available for various sports.
- Sports Clinics Focused skill-development sessions for specific sports, complementing league play with targeted instruction and training.
- Connect Events One-day sports events designed to engage communities and introduce participants to the Upward Sports ministry experience.
- Ministry Materials Package Comprehensive resource package including weekly devotions, outreach ideas, Gospel presentation materials, collaboration tools for ministry leaders, and communication systems to support churches in sharing their faith through sports.
- Customizable Sports Package Tailored league package allowing churches to design unique sports experiences with custom apparel items, optional church logo jerseys, and resources matching their specific community and ministry needs.
Companies that use Upward Sports
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Upward Sports technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Upward Sports partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PartnerCairo, ILcoreLocal church partner in Cairo, Illinois using Upward Sports programs to connect with the community and share the gospel through sports ministry.
- PartnerSikeston, MOcoreChurch partner in Sikeston, Missouri leveraging Upward's resources to create powerful ministry opportunities and engage the community.
- PartnerBillings, MTcoreChurch partner in Billings, Montana utilizing Upward Sports' comprehensive resources and support to organize local leagues.
- Oakland United Methodist Church (PA)coreTestimonial partner citing how Upward listened to their needs and provided detailed information on budget, approach, and execution that was easy to understand and share.
- Christ Community Church (NE)coreProject Select partner highlighting the teamwork of Upward Sports, quality jerseys, fantastic technology features, and customized player packages meeting their community's needs.
- Forvis MazarsminorAccounting firm providing audited financial statements for the organization, ensuring transparency and strong stewardship of ministry resources.
- Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)minorECFA membership demonstrates commitment to financial accountability and ethical practices for Christ-centered organizations, providing public trust through standards of accountability.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Upward Sports competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- SportsEngine: League and team management software platform used by youth sports organizations; functions as an enabling/technology peer rather than a direct competitor, comparable to Upward's drafting and communication tools.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA of the USA: Largest U.S. community-based youth sports and recreation operator; offers leagues, camps, and clinics through local branches, overlapping with Upward's recreational youth sports offering at a national scale.
- AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): National nonprofit that sanctions youth sports leagues and tournaments across multiple sports; overlaps with Upward's basketball, volleyball, and other league offerings.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization offering recreational sports programming through local clubs; competes for the same families seeking affordable, values-driven youth sports.
Direct peers
- Pop Warner Little Scholars: National youth football and cheerleading organization operating community-based leagues; competes directly with Upward's flag football and cheerleading league products.
- Kids Across America: Faith-based youth sports camp and league provider that combines athletic training with Christian ministry; comparable mission and church-partner distribution model to Upward.
- i9 Sports: National youth sports league franchise offering flag football, basketball, soccer and other recreational sports through local operators; competes directly with Upward's church-based youth league model.
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): Faith-based organization that integrates Christian ministry with sports for youth and athletes; shares Upward's church-and-sports outreach mission and target audience.
- Little League Baseball: Iconic U.S. youth baseball and softball league organization that competes for the same families and volunteers Upward serves through its baseball/softball league offering.
- Athletes in Action: Cru's sports ministry that uses athletics as a platform for Christian outreach, including camps, teams, and clinics; directly comparable faith-based sports ministry to Upward.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Upward Sports social profiles
Digital presenceUpward Sports compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Upward Sports financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Upward Sports leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Upward Sports funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Upward Sports 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 Upward Sports
What does Upward Sports do?
Upward Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry that partners with churches to deliver organized recreational youth sports leagues (basketball, soccer, cheerleading, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and pickleball) along with supporting Camps, Clinics, and Connect Events. It provides churches with customizable sports packages, ministry materials, coach playbooks, drafting software, communication tools, and customizable apparel to run community-based sports experiences for children.
Is Upward Sports a public or private company?
Upward Sports is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Upward Sports founded?
Upward Sports was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Upward Sports based?
Upward Sports is headquartered in Spartanburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Upward Sports make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sports League Packages are the primary driver. The others are additional Sports Experiences.
Who are Upward Sports's main competitors?
SportsEngine is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are YMCA of the USA, AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Direct peers are Pop Warner Little Scholars, Kids Across America, i9 Sports, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Little League Baseball and Athletes in Action.
Does Upward Sports have an API?
No public API is recorded for Upward Sports.
What industry is Upward Sports in?
Upward Sports's product category is Youth Sports Ministry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAF, Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues), with a secondary code of MPAKALAJ, Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7997.