What StandUp for Kids does

StandUp for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 with the mission of ending the cycle of youth homelessness in the United States. Headquartered in Decatur, Georgia, the organization serves unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth up to their 25th birthday through four interconnected core programs: Youth Outreach (street-based engagement distributing food, clothing, and hygiene supplies), Housing Support (life-skills training, counseling, medical/dental referrals, and housing stipends for transitioning youth), School Mentoring (in-school one-on-one mentorship during lunch periods focused on personal and educational goals), and Food Access (shared meals, snack packs, hot meals in outreach centers, and weekly food baskets). The organization operates across 15+ local chapters in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Hampton Roads, Houston, Kitsap County, Oceanside, Orange County, San Antonio, San Diego, Silicon Valley, Tucson, and Washington D.C.

The organization is nearly all-volunteer driven (approximately 98% volunteers), with only a small paid national staff in Decatur handling HR, IT, chapter development, controller functions, and corporate sponsorships. StandUp for Kids positions its volunteers as "friends, not service providers" and "care advocates, not case managers," deliberately avoiding case-management bureaucracy. Volunteers complete 8 hours of classroom and online training plus background screening. The organization reports that 86% of financial donations go directly to programs supporting youth.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring tiers ranging from $10 to $500+), corporate sponsorships (tailored to partner goals, with brand visibility and impact metrics), in-kind contributions (clothing, food, hygiene products, vehicles, real estate), securities and stock donations, and planned giving/legacy gifts. The organization maintains financial transparency with audited statements publicly available and has earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator's highest rating. Notable corporate partners include Kia Motors of America (#YardsAgainstHomelessness campaign), Qualcomm ($50K grant to San Diego in 2024), and myTOD/My Talent On Demand (workforce development partnership announced 2026-03-30). The organization's technology infrastructure consists of standard nonprofit management and donor management platforms; no proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or app products are disclosed.

Name

StandUp for Kids

Legal name

StandUp for Kids, Inc.

Website

https://standupforkids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

StandUp for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers street outreach, housing support, school mentoring, and food access programs to homeless and at-risk youth up to age 25 across 15+ U.S. cities via a 98% volunteer-driven chapter model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Street outreach programs
• Housing support services
• School mentoring programs
• Food access programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. The organization reports that 86% of financial donations go directly to assisting homeless and street kids. Donors can give online, by mail, or through various giving vehicles.
2. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations allowing supporters to give consistent financial support. Donation tiers include $25 for one backpack per month, $50 for food and basic supplies for a youth, and $100 for mentoring services for two youth.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor the organization through unrestricted giving to existing programs, restricted giving to new projects, brand visibility, and public recognition. Partnerships are tailored to each corporation's goals.
4. In-Kind Donations: Accepts donations of clothing, hygiene products, food, first aid supplies, bus passes, gift cards, storage space, and office supplies. Also accepts vehicle and real estate donations.
5. Stock and Securities: Donors can contribute appreciated securities, stock, or mutual funds, providing tax advantages while supporting the organization.
6. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests through wills or living trusts, IRA charitable contributions, beneficiary designations, and charitable gift annuities allow donors to make long-term commitments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

StandUp for Kids is a nonprofit organization that provides housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach to homeless and at-risk youth up to age 25. Operating through 15+ volunteer-driven local chapters, the organization delivers four core programs: Youth Outreach, Housing Support, School Mentoring, and Food Access, working together to move youth from crisis to connection.

Product overview

StandUp for Kids is a nonprofit organization offering four interconnected core programs designed to move homeless and at-risk youth from crisis to connection. The Youth Outreach program provides street-based engagement and essential supplies, while Housing Support helps youth obtain and maintain stable housing. School Mentoring offers one-on-one adult mentorship and educational support, and Food Access ensures youth have regular access to nutritious meals. These programs work together to address immediate needs while building long-term stability through housing, education, employment, and personal development support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Outreach Street outreach program where volunteers engage directly with at-risk and homeless youth, distributing essential items like food, clothing, and hygiene products while building trust and relationships.
• Housing Support Program supporting youth transition from crisis to self-sufficiency by promoting housing opportunities, providing life skills training, counseling, medical and dental referrals, weekly food baskets, and housing stipends.
• School Mentoring Mentorship program matching trained volunteer mentors with students for in-school mentoring twice monthly during lunch periods, assisting with personal and educational goals, life skills training, post-graduation planning, and support through graduation.
• Food Access Program providing meals nationwide through shared meals with mentors in schools, snack packs from street teams, and hot meals in outreach centers, along with regular food baskets and connections to local resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% school retention/graduation rate for students in mentoring program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• myTOD (My Talent On Demand)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 March 2026myTOD's network of HR professionals serves as donors, mentors, advocates, and champions for young people. Through resume reviews, career coaching, and professional development workshops, myTOD volunteers help youth gain employment skills. Their initiative HR Givers supports 10,000 underserved youth by 2032.
• Kia Motors of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKia Motors of America has recognized StandUp for Kids as a leader in the fight against youth homelessness through their #YardsAgainstHomelessness and #GiveItEverything fundraising campaigns. The partnership involves corporate fundraising efforts that support the organization's mission to end the cycle of youth homelessness.
• Alpha Xi DeltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Alpha Xi Delta sorority bringing the power of sisterhood to youth. Service events include food pack drives, painted rocks for homeless youth to find, social media ambassadorship, and Walk and Chalk community art events.
• Method QminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNatalie Hogg, CEO and founder of Method Q, serves on the StandUp for Kids Board of Directors as Chair of the Marketing Committee, helping shape messaging and brand strategy.
• Waters Elliott StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLori Waters, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Waters Elliott Studio, serves on the Board of Directors, focusing on brand strategy, creative direction, and message alignment.
• BDO SeidmanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSusan Pick, CPA at BDO Seidman, serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors, bringing financial and tax expertise to the organization.
• Youth Assistance CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStandUp for Kids San Diego partnered with the Youth Assistance Coalition to provide expanded services to youth in the community, with the kickoff event held in 2024.
• PATH Interscholastic Leadership TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPATH Interscholastic Leadership Team (PILT) supports StandUp for Kids through supply drives, collecting sleeping bags, journals, socks, hygiene kits, and first-aid items for youth.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Covenant House: Largest US nonprofit serving homeless and trafficked youth through shelter, outreach, and rights advocacy. Directly comparable mission and programs (street outreach, housing, mentoring) targeting the same 12-24 demographic.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing housing, education, employment, and health services to homeless and at-risk youth. Directly comparable in target population and core program pillars across outreach, housing, and mentoring.
• Sacramento LGBT Community Center (Ryan DeLong / Lavender Youth): Placeholder removed - not directly relevant.

Broad incumbents

• National Network for Youth (NN4Y): National advocacy and capacity-building organization for youth homelessness and human trafficking. Comparable mission scope but operates as a broader umbrella/advocacy body rather than direct service provider.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit offering mentoring, education, and after-school programs. Comparable in providing youth mentoring and community-based services, but with a broader youth development mandate rather than a homelessness-specific focus.
• KIPP Public Schools: Removed - not directly comparable.

Regional players

• SafePlace: Austin/Texas-based organization serving youth and adults experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, and homelessness. Comparable in providing street outreach and housing for youth, but regionally concentrated in Texas.
• Los Angeles Youth Network: LA-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for homeless youth ages 12-24. Directly comparable target demographic and core service mix (shelter, housing, mentoring), though California-centric.

Others

• Feeding America: Largest US hunger-relief nonprofit. Comparable in providing food access (one of StandUp's core programs) and volunteer-driven model, though serving the general population rather than homeless youth specifically.

Emerging players

• Point Source Youth: National organization focused on preventing and ending youth homelessness through direct cash transfers, advocacy, and research. Comparable mission and youth focus but uses a more emerging, evidence-based intervention model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/standupforkids
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBwvqtcek4JgyQyjZ-ArAcQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/StandUp4KidsNational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/standup-for-kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/standupforkidsnational
• TikToktiktok.com/@standupforkidsnational

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about StandUp for Kids