Invest For Kids

What Invest For Kids does

Invest For Kids is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 27-0826182) founded in 2009 that operates a single flagship product: the annual Investable Ideas Conference held at the Harris Theater. The conference brings together the Chicago investment community — portfolio managers, hedge fund operators, investment bankers, and finance executives — for a half-day program of investment idea sharing and fireside chats featuring world-class asset managers and industry speakers. Revenue is generated entirely through individual conference ticket sales ($1,000 adult / $500 young professional) and a six-tier corporate sponsorship ladder ranging from $5,000 Impact Supporters to $100,000+ Presenting Partners, with all proceeds donated to nonprofit grantees serving Chicago youth in low-income circumstances. The organization distributes approximately $2.1 million annually (2025 total, a record) to roughly 10 selected grantees — chosen from over 100 applicants via a competitive grant process — with an average grant size of $200,000.

The business is supported by a lean team of fewer than 10 paid staff led by Executive Director Shane Morris, a Governing Board co-chaired by co-founders Ben Kovler and Ron Levin, and an advisory committee drawn from the Chicago investment community. Since inception, Invest For Kids has raised more than $25 million, supported 123 nonprofit organizations, hosted 12,000+ attendees, and grown its John L. Keeley Jr. Student Initiative from 7 students in year one to 170 students from 15 universities in 2025. Complementary programs include sponsorship of the DePaul University Summer Investment Challenge (since 2022) and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools Excellence Awards ($35,500 annually). The organization has no technology product, no AI/ML capabilities, and operates as a regionally focused event-driven philanthropy platform with no disclosed subsidiaries, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Invest For Kids

Legal name

Invest For Kids, Inc.

Website

https://investforkidschicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Invest For Kids is a Chicago 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hosts an annual investment conference, using ticket sales and corporate sponsorships to fund grants for nonprofits serving Chicago youth in low-income circumstances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Philanthropic Conference

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Sponsorship Sales & Partnership Brokerage (THAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Philanthropic conferences
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Charitable fundraising events
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Youth education philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for the annual Investable Ideas Conference. Individual tickets are priced at $1,000 and young professional tickets (for those 28 and under) are priced at $500. All proceeds from ticket sales are donated to nonprofit grantees.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship revenue at multiple tiers including Presenting Partner ($100,000+), Visionary Partner ($50,000+), Leadership Circle ($25,000+), Preferred Investor Circle ($15,000+), Investor Circle ($10,000+), and Impact Supporters ($5,000+). Sponsors receive brand recognition across website, e-blasts, social media, and conference materials, plus conference ticket allotments.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission. Invest For Kids is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 27-0826182). Donations can be made as one-time or recurring monthly gifts through the organization's secure donation portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Invest For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that hosts an annual Investable Ideas Conference bringing together the Chicago investment community with world-class asset managers and industry speakers who share market views and best ideas. All proceeds from ticket sales and corporate sponsorships are awarded via a rigorous grant application process to nonprofit organizations supporting Chicago youth in low-income circumstances.

Product overview

Invest For Kids operates as a nonprofit organization centered around its Annual Investable Ideas Conference—a single flagship event that brings together the Chicago investment community with leading asset managers and industry speakers. The conference serves as the primary vehicle for fundraising, with all proceeds distributed to nonprofit grantees. Beyond the core conference, the organization runs complementary programs including the Student Initiative (which enables university students to attend free and participate in networking luncheons), INCS Excellence Awards sponsorship for charter school educators, and Summer Investment Challenge sponsorship for high school students. The organization does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform—the offerings are event-based and philanthropic in nature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Investable Ideas Conference Chicago's premier annual investment conference held at the Harris Theater, bringing together the Chicago investment community with world-class asset managers and industry speakers who share market views, industry insights, and investable ideas through individual presentations and fireside chats. Includes networking lunch and cocktail hour. Individual tickets priced at $1,000 and Young Professional tickets at $500 (for attendees 28 and under). All proceeds awarded to nonprofit grantees.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Multi-tier corporate sponsorship packages for the annual Investable Ideas Conference, including Presenting Partner ($100,000+), Visionary Partner ($50,000+), Leadership Circle ($25,000+), Preferred Investor Circle ($15,000+), Investor Circle ($10,000+), and Impact Supporters ($5,000+). Sponsors receive brand recognition across digital and conference channels plus ticket allotments. Designed for financial services firms, investment companies, and corporations seeking visibility in the Chicago investment community.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.1 million raised at 2025 conference - largest total to date
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Harris TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the annual Investable Ideas Conference. The Harris Theater provides the main conference space for the event, which is a key component of IFK's annual program.
• Neon OnesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider for event registration, donation processing, and constituent management. Powers the secure.investforkidschicago.org portal.
• VimeosupportingTechnology or IntegrationVideo platform hosting recorded speaker remarks and conference content, including Greg White's Mission Moment remarks from 2025 conference.
• John L. Keeley Jr. Student InitiativecoreOthersNamed initiative championed by late John L. Keeley Jr. of Keeley Asset Management, enabling university students to attend the conference free of charge. Has grown from 7 students in first year to over 150 per year from 10+ Midwest universities.
• Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFK proudly sponsors the INCS Excellence Awards program, providing rewards totaling $35,500 annually to outstanding charter school educators and students across Illinois.
• DePaul University Summer Investment ChallengesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFK became lead sponsor in 2022 of DePaul University's 4-day intensive summer program free for Chicago high school students learning about stock markets and finance careers.
• Geno Byrnes / Evo ProductionsupportingOthersProduction partner for the annual conference
• David Michael ProductionssupportingOthersProduction partner for the annual conference
• Kyle Flubacker PhotographysupportingOthersPhotography partner capturing conference highlights
• Farmer's FridgesupportingOthersIn-kind sponsor providing food services for conference events
• McDermott Will & Emery LLPsupportingOthersLegal services partner for the organization

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: National nonprofit network of charter schools serving low-income students, supported by corporate philanthropy and major donors. Comparable end-recipient profile to several IFK grantees (e.g., Moving Everest Charter School) in the youth-education space.
• Robin Hood Foundation: New York City-based poverty-fighting foundation that draws heavily on Wall Street donor networks and runs investment-industry fundraising events. A larger, more established analogue operating in a sister finance hub.
• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: Large disease-research charity that runs major finance-industry affiliated fundraising events (e.g., corporate sponsorships, galas) and channels proceeds to grantmaking. Analogous high-touch corporate sponsorship + grantmaker model.
• The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Large-scale nonprofit that raises money through corporate sponsorships and signature fundraising events tied to a specific cause. Comparable event-driven, sponsor-supported grantmaking model, though at substantially greater scale.

Direct peers

• DonorsChoose: Crowdfunding nonprofit that aggregates individual and corporate donations to fund classroom and education projects for underserved youth. Comparable education-focused grantmaking mission and donor-driven funding model.
• Sohn Investment Conference Foundation: Runs a premier investment industry conference whose proceeds fund pediatric cancer research and care. Closest direct analogue to Invest For Kids' model of combining a finance-industry speaker event with charitable grantmaking.
• 100 Women in Finance: Global finance-industry organization that runs philanthropic and educational events benefiting youth and education causes. Comparable audience overlap with IFK's investment-community attendees and a similar event-driven charitable model.
• Hedge Fund Care: Charity organization that channels support from the hedge fund industry to children's and family-service causes via finance-community events. Mirrors IFK's combination of investment-industry sponsorship and child/youth grantmaking.

Regional players

• Chicago Public Education Fund: Chicago-focused education grantmaking organization working with corporate donors and the city's business community. Adjacent regional peer in the same education/youth impact space that IFK grantees occupy.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago-based youth mentoring nonprofit that is a typical IFK grantee profile and a peer in the local youth-services ecosystem. Comparable regional mission focus on Chicago youth from low-income communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/invest-for-kids
• Xx.com/investforkids
• Facebookfacebook.com/InvestForKids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Invest For Kids