Greater KC LINC

What Greater KC LINC does

Greater KC LINC (Linkages to Integrate, Nurture and Develop Children and Families) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, that operates a place-based community services model across the Kansas City metro area. The organization's flagship Caring Communities model delivers wraparound programming through 60+ neighborhood sites at schools, community centers, and access points across Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Ray counties. Service lines include K-8 before/after school care (free at 45 schools, $55/week Pre-K), the Older Youth Program for foster youth (600+ youth annually), Missouri Work Assistance and SkillUp workforce programs for TANF and SNAP recipients (771 parents moved into workforce in 2024), early childhood provider support, senior programming at the Palestine Senior Citizens Activity Center, neighborhood-based site councils, the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center hub, the Kansas City Black History Project, and the LINC Chess program operating at 36 sites.

LINC does not rely on proprietary technology platforms; it uses standard nonprofit service delivery systems, online enrollment applications, case management workflows, and the Missouri Star School online learning platform for education services. Distribution is community-led: site councils convene parents, schools, churches, businesses, and civic leaders to shape local programming. Marketing is concentrated in community events (Caring Communities Day with 2,000+ attendees and 40+ partner organizations), partner referrals through six school districts (KCPS, Center, Hickman Mills, Grandview, North Kansas City, Fort Osage), email newsletters, and Vimeo-hosted video storytelling.

LINC operates on a hybrid revenue model: individual donations (which the organization claims leverage $8 in additional funding per $1 donated) combined with multi-stream government contracts and public funding, including TANF for MWA, SNAP for SkillUp, 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal funding, and state-funded services via Missouri's statewide Caring Communities network coordinated by the Family and Community Trust (FACT). LINC functions as the designated Kansas City region Community Partnership within that 20-partner statewide network. Janet Miles-Bartee serves as President and CEO (appointed November 2023); the organization employs 101-250 staff including a deep director bench spanning workforce, youth services, community engagement, compliance, communications, finance, HR, and information services. Governance is overseen by a Commission chaired by Shawn G. Foster (an attorney at Preuss | Foster Law) and including Ex-Officio members Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota.

Name

Greater KC LINC

Legal name

Greater KC LINC, Inc.

Website

https://kclinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Greater KC LINC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 60+ Caring Communities sites across the Kansas City metro, delivering K-8 school care, TANF/SNAP workforce programs, foster youth support, and senior services to families and children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Workforce development programs
• Before and after school care
• Foster youth advocacy
• Senior community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: LINC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting donations from individuals. The organization states that every $1 donated leverages $8 in additional funding, indicating significant grant-matching or public funding alignment.
2. Government Contracts and Public Funding: LINC serves as the Kansas City region's Community Partnership within Missouri's statewide network of 20 partnerships coordinated by the Family and Community Trust. They receive government funding through programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) for workforce programs, SNAP for SkillUp, and administer state-funded services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Greater KC LINC operates a place-based Caring Communities network of 60+ sites across the Kansas City metro that delivers wraparound social services — including licensed before/after school care at 45 schools, workforce development programs for TANF and SNAP recipients, foster youth advocacy, online education, senior programming, and neighborhood-based food and utility assistance. Services are co-designed with neighborhood site councils and delivered in partnership with six school districts, the Missouri Children's Division, and dozens of nonprofits.

Product overview

LINC (Linkages to Integrate, Nurture and Develop Children and Families) operates as a community-powered social services organization with a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on the Caring Communities Model. The core model serves as a place-based service delivery approach operating 60+ sites across the Kansas City metro area. The portfolio includes: before/after school childcare at 45 schools (K-8 free, Pre-K $55/week); workforce development through Missouri Work Assistance (serving 700+ TANF recipients annually) and SkillUp for SNAP recipients; the Youth Advocacy Team/Older Youth Program supporting 600+ foster youth annually; Missouri Star School online education; chess clubs and tournaments at 36 sites; early childhood services for childcare providers; seniors programming at the Palestine center; and the Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center hub providing food distribution, utility assistance, and community events. The Caring Communities Day annual event and Site Council neighborhood gatherings connect these services to community members. LINC also partners on the Kansas City Black History Project educational initiative. The organization is part of Missouri's statewide network governed by the Family and Community Trust (FACT).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Missouri Star School: Flexible online learning program for youth navigating life disruptions, including those from Division of Youth Services and parents in Missouri Work Assistance program
• Missouri Work Assistance (MWA)
• Caring Communities
• SkillUp
• POSSE
• LINC Chess

Products and services

• Before and After School Program Licensed childcare program offering morning (7 a.m. to school start) and afternoon (school dismissal to 6 p.m.) care at 45 schools in the KC Metro area. K-8 programming is free and includes STEAM, literacy, homework assistance, athletics, and interest-based clubs; Pre-K at John Sharp and Freda Markley Early Learning Centers is $55 per week with childcare subsidies available for qualified individuals.
• Youth Advocacy Team / Older Youth Program Support program for youth ages 14-21 currently in foster care, after-care youth under 23, and adopted/guardianship youth under 21. Provides life skills coaching, educational assistance, job readiness, college planning, housing assistance, and emergency funds. LINC supports over 600–700 youth annually across Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties.
• Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) Personalized coaching and support program for TANF recipients offering training, work experience, barrier removal (childcare, transportation), and job placement assistance. Delivered across Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Ray counties, serving over 700 individuals annually through six dedicated workforce offices.
• SkillUp Workforce development program for SNAP benefit recipients providing adult basic education, literacy, ESL instruction, high school and college support, job training, and employment assistance through LINC and Missouri Job Centers.
• Missouri Star School Flexible online learning program with 1:1 teacher support serving youth from the Division of Youth Services and parents in the Missouri Work Assistance program. Provides customized study plans and helps students earn high school equivalency degrees or prepare for college and vocational training.
• LINC Chess Program Chess instruction and competition program for children K through high school, operating clubs at 36 Caring Communities sites and hosting three annual tournaments plus a girls-only tournament and annual summer Chess University training camp.
• Early Childhood Services Support for licensed or church-based childcare centers accepting state subsidies in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass counties. Provides professional development training, technical assistance, and DESE quality initiative support for caregivers and center directors serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• Palestine Senior Citizens Activity Center Caring Communities site at 3325 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO, dedicated to older adults. Offers health and wellness programs (Tai Chi, aerobics, walking club), community activities (line dancing, bingo, billiards), educational workshops, and a grandparents support group. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center Neighborhood hub providing utility assistance (LIHEAP, Evergy, KC Water, Spire Gas), weekly food distribution (Wednesdays 10 a.m.), community events, Urban Summit meetings, and crisis response services. Provided 25,685 COVID-19 vaccines and $3M in rent and utility help to 2,000 households during pandemic response, and has delivered over 8 million lbs of food to 150,000 households.
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) Focused STEM programming, family engagement, and adult education delivered in four school districts through the federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, with each cohort independently evaluated annually on student progress in math, reading, and science.

Quantifiable outcome

• 771 parents moved from government assistance into workforce in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 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.

• Family and Community Trust (FACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC serves as the Kansas City region's Community Partnership within Missouri's statewide network of 20 partnerships coordinated by FACT. FACT brings together leaders from state agencies and the private sector to improve lives of Missouri's children and families. FACT's Board includes heads of eight state agencies and eight civic/business leaders.
• Missouri Department of Social Services - Children's DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC partners with Missouri Children's Division to serve foster youth. This includes the Youth Advocacy Team helping 700+ youth aging out of foster care annually, and hosting commission meetings with Children's Division Director Sara Smith.
• Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC partners with DYS to serve youth in the juvenile justice system through the Missouri Star School online education program and community mentorship. LINC fills critical education gaps using qualified teachers and technology when state resources fall short.
• Kansas City Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCPS is a key partner in delivering before/after school care and family support services. Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier has publicly praised the partnership, noting LINC's support extends beyond school care to comprehensive family services.
• Six School Districts (KCPS, Center, Hickman Mills, Grandview, North Kansas City, Fort Osage)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC collaborates with six school districts across the Kansas City metro area. Each district hosts Caring Communities sites and before/after school programming. LINC also serves Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy Charter School and Topping Elementary in North Kansas City Schools.
• BLAQUE KCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLAQUE KC Founder Dr. Cokethea Hill-Woodard serves as a LINC Commissioner. BLAQUE KC was founded in 2020 with the mission of creating culturally affirming environments to help Black children reach their full potential, rooted in the movement for racial justice and equity.
• Jackson County CASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) President and CEO Angie Blumel participated in LINC's Commission meeting focused on foster youth voices, highlighting the importance of collaborative approaches to serving youth.
• Black Archives of Mid-AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC partners with the Black Archives of Mid-America and Kansas City Public Library on the Kansas City Black History Project, helping preserve and share stories of Kansas City's Black leaders and changemakers at KCBlackHistory.org.
• Kansas City Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Kansas City Black History Project, providing oral histories and library resources alongside LINC and the Black Archives of Mid-America.
• Urban SummitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Summit gatherings hosted at Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center as part of community engagement programming.
• Evergy (Utility Provider)minorOthersEvergy is listed as a utility assistance partner at Morning Star, one of several utility providers (including KC Water Department and Spire Gas) that LINC connects families with for bill assistance through the LIHEAP Access Point.
• SAVE KC and Kansas City Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINC hosts community safety forums with SAVE KC (a violence prevention organization) and KCPD at Morning Star to address neighborhood safety concerns.
• Kansas City Repertory TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKC Rep performances are offered as community programming at Morning Star as part of cultural enrichment for neighborhood residents.
• Palestine Senior Citizens Activity CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2024, LINC partnered with the Palestine Senior Citizens Activity Center to establish it as a Caring Communities site dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults in Kansas City.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Operation Breakthrough: Kansas City nonprofit serving at-risk children and families through early childhood education, after-school, and family support. Directly comparable in target population (low-income KC families) and core services.
• Synergy Services: KC-area nonprofit offering domestic-violence shelter, youth crisis services, family support, and counseling. Comparable in mission (family/youth stabilization) and reliance on state and county contracts.
• United Way of Greater Kansas City: Regional community-impact umbrella operating across the same KC metro with a similar fundraising-plus-grant-making-plus-direct-service model. Highly comparable in geography, donor base, and government-funder alignment.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City: KC-area youth development nonprofit offering after-school programming, athletics, and enrichment. Directly comparable in K-8 before/after-school and enrichment offerings, school partnerships, and youth outcomes measurement.
• reStart Inc. Kansas City nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and wraparound services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Comparable in case-management approach and wraparound family services for vulnerable populations.
• Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas: Regional Goodwill operating workforce development, job training, and reentry programs across the KC metro. Comparable in workforce-development mission, TANF-adjacent populations, and place-based service delivery.
• Connections to Success: Regional nonprofit focused on workforce development, reentry, and family stability in Kansas City. Comparable in TANF/welfare-to-work programs (MWA-equivalent) and wraparound barrier-removal services.
• Catholic Charities of Kansas City–St. Joseph: Multi-program social services nonprofit in the same KC region providing family support, refugee services, food/utility assistance, and workforce programs. Comparable in funding model, service breadth, and population served.
• Harvesters – The Community Food Network: Regional food bank serving the KC metro and northwest Missouri. Directly comparable in food-distribution scale (LINC's Morning Star distributed 8M+ lbs via similar network) and government/grant funding mix.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization coordinating community-impact partnerships across hundreds of US regions. LINC's FACT-partnership model mirrors United Way's structure; United Way sets the broader playbook within which LINC operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/875764564
• Facebookfacebook.com/kclinc
• Xx.com/kclinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 Greater KC LINC