Volo Kids Foundation

What Volo Kids Foundation does

Volo Kids Foundation is a Baltimore-based 501(c)-style nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides free, year-round youth sports programming to children ages 6-17, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, tennis, softball/baseball, and dance. Programs are delivered in person at local playgrounds, parks, and recreation facilities across at least six U.S. metropolitan areas (Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, and San Francisco, with San Francisco added in 2026), with the organization reporting nearly 13,000 kids served in the Boston market alone. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is limited to a content/registration website (volokids.org) with multilingual support (Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Ukrainian, Haitian Creole), an Instagram presence, and an email newsletter.

Volo Kids' business model is a two-sided cross-subsidy structure. The core mission product — free youth sports — is funded primarily by revenue from affiliated adult social sports leagues (Volo Play: pickleball, cornhole, and volleyball), supplemented by individual donations (including a monthly Keyholders giving program), corporate giving, and event-based fundraising such as the Team Volo Kids program and the official charity partnership with the 2027 TCS London Marathon. Volunteers, who receive reciprocal benefits (e.g., a free adult league registration with Volo Sports), are a key delivery asset, supported by municipal and civic partnerships such as the Baltimore City Council's Field Trip Fridays initiative and membership in the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative.

The organization is led by co-founder Giovanni Marcantoni, holds the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Transparency 2024 seal, and operates with 51-100 employees. Its go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: families register online for free programs that are open regardless of race, gender, or experience level, and the organization is positioned around the social and developmental benefits of play (active, resilient, confident), targeting addressable pain points including the ~6% decline in core youth team sports participation, the ~77% of low-income families unable to afford youth sports costs, and post-pandemic youth mental health challenges.

Name

Volo Kids Foundation

Legal name

Volo Kids Foundation

Website

https://volocityfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Volo Kids Foundation is a Baltimore-based nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides free, year-round youth sports programming to children ages 6-17 across six U.S. cities, cross-subsidized by affiliated adult social sports leagues, donations, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Child and Youth Services (62411), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG), Physical Activity & Motor Development Programs (Health-Focused) (EDACAMAI)

Keywords

• Youth sports programs
• Nonprofit sports foundation
• Community athletics
• Youth development services
• Free youth programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Adult Social Sports Programs: Revenue generated from adult social sports programs (pickleball, cornhole, volleyball) funds the free youth sports programming. This cross-subsidy model allows the organization to provide free services to children.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through the donate.volokids.org portal, monthly giving program (Keyholders), Team Volo Kids fundraising events, and fundraising boards.
3. Corporate Giving and Partnerships: Corporate giving programs and partnership opportunities provide additional funding streams for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Volo Kids Foundation provides free, year-round youth sports programming (basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, tennis, softball/baseball, dance) to children ages 6-17 across multiple U.S. cities, regardless of race, gender, or experience level. Programs are delivered at community playgrounds and parks, removing financial and transportation barriers, and incorporate mental-skills and life-skills development alongside athletic fundamentals. The free youth programming is cross-subsidized by revenue from Volo Play adult social sports leagues (pickleball, cornhole, volleyball), individual donations, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Volo Kids Foundation operates a two-sided model: it provides free youth sports programs (basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, tennis, softball/baseball) to children, while funding these programs through revenue generated from Volo Play adult social sports leagues (pickleball, cornhole, volleyball). The youth programs are the core mission-driven product, while the adult programs serve as the revenue mechanism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volo Kids Foundation Youth Sports Programs Free, year-round youth sports programming providing structured sports activities including basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, tennis, softball/baseball, and dance to children ages 6-17 at no cost to families, regardless of race, gender, or experience level. Delivered in-person at community playgrounds, parks, and recreation sites.
• Volo Play Adult Social Sports Programs Adult social sports leagues in pickleball, cornhole, and volleyball that generate revenue used to fund the free youth sports programs of Volo Kids Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 60 percent of children drop out of youth sports by age 11, often due to cost and lack of access
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• 2027 TCS London MarathonmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2027Official charity partner for the 2027 TCS London Marathon. Team Volo Kids runners raise funds in support of the Power of Play, helping provide free youth sports programs. The partnership provides fundraising opportunities and international event visibility for the organization.
• Philadelphia Youth Sports CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in regional collaborative of youth sports organizations in Philadelphia. Indicates strategic alignment with local sports programming ecosystem and collaborative approach to serving Philadelphia youth.
• Baltimore City Council (President Zeke Cohen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen for Field Trip Fridays initiative. Connects local youth programs and students with summer experiences. Helps keep kids active and learning on days off from school.
• NYC KnicksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media acknowledgment and partnership for inspiring young athletes. Showcases basketball engagement and youth sports participation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YMCA of the USA: The largest US community-based nonprofit offering youth sports, recreation, and youth development programs nationwide. Highly comparable as both organizations deliver free or subsidized youth sports across multiple cities using community-based delivery models.
• Boys & Girls Club of America: National nonprofit providing youth development programs including sports and recreation to children nationwide. Comparable in target demographic (children 6–17), nonprofit structure, multi-city footprint, and emphasis on life-skills outcomes alongside athletics.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): National nonprofit providing free youth sports and recreational programs to underserved children in urban communities. Direct peer in mission, free-program delivery model, and target population of low-income urban youth.
• Up2Us Sports: National nonprofit that trains coaches and delivers sports-based youth development programs to underserved communities. Comparable in nonprofit sports-based youth development mission, volunteer/coach-driven delivery, and explicit focus on life-skill outcomes.
• Good Sports: Nonprofit that donates sports equipment to youth in need, addressing cost barriers to participation. Comparable in mission of removing financial barriers to youth sports participation and serving low-income families.
• Laureus Sport for Good: Global nonprofit foundation using sport to improve the lives of young people. Comparable in mission-driven, sports-based youth development positioning and reliance on high-visibility partnerships (similar to Volo Kids' London Marathon partnership).

Broad incumbents

• i9 Sports: National youth sports league operator running basketball, soccer, flag football and other sports for children. Comparable in multi-sport youth league offerings, though operates as a paid/franchise model rather than a free nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Soccer Without Borders: Nonprofit using soccer as a tool for refugee and underserved youth development. Comparable in nonprofit sports-based youth development for underserved communities, though narrower sport focus (soccer only).
• USA Youth Sports (PLAY Sports Coalition): Coalition supporting youth sports access that is listed as an investor/funder in Volo Kids' funding history. Comparable in mission advocacy for youth sports access and policy-level engagement with the youth sports decline.

Regional players

• Asphalt Green: NYC-based nonprofit sports and fitness organization serving youth and adults. Comparable in nonprofit youth sports programming and cross-subsidy via adult fitness offerings, though primarily concentrated in the NYC market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/volokidsfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/VoloKidsFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volo-kids-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Volo Kids Foundation