Shoes and Clothes for Kids

What Shoes and Clothes for Kids does

Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio, whose mission is to break barriers to school attendance by distributing new shoes, clothing, and school supplies to students in need across Greater Cleveland (Cuyahoga County). The organization operates three core programs: the Legacy Program, which distributes items through a curated network of 24 social-service agency Distribution Partners; the Teacher Resource Center, operated since 2017 as the local affiliate of the Kids in Need Foundation, which provides free classroom supplies to teachers in schools where at least 60% of students qualify for the National School Lunch program (currently serving 266 schools and 42 districts/networks); and the Direct Service Program, launched April 2024 to serve families referred by the Community Resource Center and its partner organizations. All items are new and provided at no cost to recipients.

The operating model is asset-light and donor-funded. Revenue is generated through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, in-kind product contributions, and special-event fundraisers (Aramark Golf Classic in its 27th year, Fox 8 Stuff the Bus in its 19th year, Back to School Bash, Party on South Waterloo, Topgolf Par-Tee). In the most recent reporting year SC4K distributed items valued at $3.2 million to 34,204 children, supported 1,921 teacher shopping visits and 879 family shopping visits, and mobilized 1,507 volunteers contributing 14,248 hours of service valued at $478,371. Headcount is intentionally small — paid staff of roughly five to seven led by Executive Director Monica Lloyd — with execution heavily reliant on volunteer labor and corporate partner activations.

Distribution is centralized at the SC4K Free Store inside the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Community Resource Center (relocated there in 2023, grand opening May 2024), a co-location that provides access to 14 wrap-around-service nonprofits and a steady referral pipeline. SC4K holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, a GuideStar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal, and a 55-year brand history under the tagline "More than New Outfits, New Outlooks." It is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Craig Gutridge and has no parent company, subsidiaries, or venture funding.

Name

Shoes and Clothes for Kids

Legal name

Shoes and Clothes for Kids

Website

https://sc4k.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shoes and Clothes for Kids is a Cleveland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes new shoes, clothing, and school supplies at no cost to roughly 28,000-34,000 low-income students and 1,800-2,000 under-resourced teachers annually in Greater Cleveland through 24 Distribution Partners, a Teacher Resource Center, and a Direct Service Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)

Keywords

• Nonprofit charitable services
• School supply distribution
• Children's clothing assistance
• Teacher resource center
• Community distribution network

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: SC4K operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Revenue comes from financial donations, in-kind product donations, corporate sponsorships, and event fundraisers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that distributes new shoes, clothes, and school supplies at no cost to students in need and under-resourced teachers in Greater Cleveland. The organization operates three programs—the Legacy Program through 24 distribution partners, the Teacher Resource Center for educators, and the Direct Service Program for families referred by the Community Resource Center—and funds its mission through donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) is a nonprofit organization operating three core programs that work together to break barriers to school attendance. The Legacy Program distributes items through a network of 24 Distribution Partners; the Teacher Resource Center serves under-resourced educators with free school supplies; and the Direct Service Program helps families referred by the Community Resource Center. All programs are supported through the SC4K Free Store, the organization's central warehouse and distribution facility at the Community Resource Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legacy Program A free distribution program that channels new shoes, clothes, and school supplies to qualifying families through 24 social service agencies, churches, and community centers throughout Greater Cleveland.
• Teacher Resource Center A free-store program serving under-resourced educators with classroom and school supplies, supporting teachers from 266 local schools and 42 districts and networks.
• Direct Service Program Allows families referred through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Community Resource Center to shop directly at the SC4K Free Store for their children's new shoes, clothes, and school supplies.
• SC4K Free Store The central physical warehouse and distribution facility in Cleveland, Ohio, where teachers shop for supplies, distribution partners pick up items for families, and referred families can shop directly for their children.

Named customers13 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Kids in Need FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017SC4K became the local affiliate of Kids in Need Foundation in 2017. This affiliation enables the Teacher Resource Center program and connects SC4K to a national network of teacher resource centers. The Teacher Resource Center provides free classroom and school supplies to teachers in schools where at least 60% of students qualify for the National School Lunch program.
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank - Community Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2023, SC4K relocated its entire operations to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Community Resource Center (CRC). This new location enables SC4K to better support partner agencies, teachers, and families while providing improved facilities for staff and volunteers. The CRC houses 14 nonprofit organizations providing wrap-around services.
• Distribution Partner Network (24 organizations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 24 strategically located social service agencies, churches, and community centers in Greater Cleveland communities with greatest need. Partners include Bethany Baptist Church, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, Catholic Charities Head Start, Cleveland Chesed Center, East Cleveland Neighborhood Center, East End Neighborhood House, Famicos Foundation, Friendly Inn Settlement, Lexington-Bell Community Center, May Dugan Center, Merrick House, Murtis Taylor, and others. Partners qualify families, schedule distributions, and distribute SC4K products.
• Aramark (Aramark Sports + Entertainment)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAramark has co-hosted the Annual Golf Classic with SC4K for 27 years, raising over $1.5 million total. The event is presented by Dubick Fixture & Supply. Aramark provides volunteers, sponsors, and ongoing support for SC4K programs. $45,000 check presented in 2026 representing event proceeds.
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue ShieldflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of SC4K's Back to School Bash events (first in 2024, second in 2025). The 2025 event served over 350 people with free resources including stuffed backpacks, health screenings, and community resources. Anthem provides financial support and in-kind contributions for these community events.
• Fox 8 (WJW-TV)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFox 8 News is the media partner for the annual Fox 8 Stuff the Bus school supply drive. Now in its 19th year, Fox 8 hosts live broadcasts from their station downtown, rallying Clevelanders to donate school supplies. The event is a major annual fundraiser and awareness campaign.
• CrossCountry MortgagemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the 2025 Fox 8/SC4K Stuff the Bus event. CrossCountry Mortgage runs company-wide CCM Cares donation drives, shipping school supplies to Cleveland headquarters and filling donation bins. Last year donated over 5,000 items.
• WKYC-Channel 3majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Winter Wonderland holiday celebration at Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy. WKYC secured in-kind donations and led students in holiday crafts. Provides media coverage and community visibility for SC4K events.
• LubrizolmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored SC4K's first STEM-Themed Teacher Shop in 2024. Over 80 educators received STEM-themed supplies including rubber bands, craft sticks, STEM kits and toys. Lubrizol volunteers helped stock shelves and assisted during the shop.
• UPS (Care Day)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual UPS Care Day event delivers new winter coats and items directly to Legacy Program partners, with help from UPS drivers, trucks, and volunteers. SC4K staff and board members visit each partner site to thank them for their service.
• MetroHealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Back to School Bash events. MetroHealth provides health screenings and health-related resources at the community event serving families in need.
• Cleveland BrownsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMascot Chomps participates in SC4K events including Back to School Bash and WWE backpack build event. Team members volunteer at events.
• Cleveland MonstersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMascot Sully visited Back to School Bash 2025. Team provides presence and entertainment at community events.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Baby2Baby: National nonprofit distributing diapers, clothing, shoes, and basic necessities to children in need through a partner-agency network; operates a similar high-volume distribution model with corporate sponsorship and event-driven fundraising.
• Cradles to Crayons: Nonprofit that distributes new and high-quality used items — clothing, shoes, and school supplies — to children living in poverty; directly comparable mission, distribution model, and beneficiary population to SC4K.
• K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations): Nonprofit that channels donations of new apparel, shoes, and toys from manufacturers and retailers to children in need; similar product-donation model and child-focused beneficiary base as SC4K.
• Kids in Need Foundation: National nonprofit operating a network of Teacher Resource Centers that provides free school supplies to teachers in need; SC4K has been its Cleveland-area local affiliate since 2017, making this the closest programmatic and operational peer.
• Operation Warm: National nonprofit providing new coats, shoes, and other essentials to children in need through school and community partners; closest functional analog to SC4K's shoe-distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Dress for Success: Nonprofit distributing professional clothing to people in need; analogous clothing-distribution nonprofit model, although focused on adult workforce attire rather than children's school apparel.
• Good360: Large nonprofit that distributes donated goods from corporations to a network of nonprofit partners; broader in scope but operates the same essential 'product philanthropy' value chain that SC4K depends on for inventory.
• Feed the Children: Established national nonprofit addressing hunger and childhood essentials, including clothing and supplies; comparable beneficiary population and partner-agency distribution model, though at much larger scale.

Others

• Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Host of the Community Resource Center where SC4K has been co-located since 2023; an enabling partner rather than competitor, providing infrastructure, referrals, and wrap-around services that materially support SC4K's operations.

Regional players

• United Way of Greater Cleveland: Regional funder and convening organization in the same Greater Cleveland service area; comparable geography and overlapping beneficiary base, and a likely grantmaker and collaborator for SC4K.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sc4k
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-qc8ShH_Zf0e3zGpWKHeMg/about
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShoesAndClothesForKids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shoes-and-clothes-for-kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/sc4k

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Shoes and Clothes for Kids