What Upward Transitions does

Upward Transitions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered at 1134 W. Main Street in Oklahoma City, founded in 1925 as the Travelers Aid Society and renamed Upward Transitions, Inc. in 2008. The organization prevents generational poverty among at-risk families, seniors aged 55+, individuals experiencing homelessness, stranded travelers, and domestic violence and human trafficking survivors in Oklahoma County through case management, emergency financial assistance, legal document retrieval, and coordinated referrals across a network of 50+ partner agencies. Its service portfolio includes rent and utility assistance (averting eviction for 247 families with 437 children in FY2025), homeless services (providing nearly 2,600 birth certificates and state IDs to open doors to employment, housing, and benefits), the Travelers Aid airport program at Will Rogers World Airport (152,790 travelers assisted in FY2024), emergency travel assistance, and the recently launched Hope Flyers e-bike lending program operated in partnership with Drop Mobility.

The organization operates with an 11-person staff (FY2025) supplemented by 33 active Travelers Aid airport volunteers, an 18-member volunteer Board of Directors, and is governed independently of any parent entity. Revenue is diversified across individual donations (with 81-84 cents of every dollar directed to client programs), recurring Circle of Hope major-donor memberships (starting at $1,000/year), foundation grants from Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Love Meyer Family Foundation, Arnall Family Foundation, Zarrow Foundation, EL and Thelma Gaylord Foundation, and others, corporate grants and sponsorships (e.g., Love's Travel Stops $50K grant in 2026), event fundraising (American Tourist gala, Celebrity Wait Night, Share the Love), a permanent $500,000 endowment managed by Oklahoma City Community Foundation, and ongoing United Way of Central Oklahoma Community Partner support. Distribution is delivered through in-office services, a weekly online assistance screening platform that typically hits funding capacity same-day, phone screening at 405-232-5507, off-site case management at partner agencies, and the airport Travelers Aid booth. The organization is 100% debt-free and owns its headquarters building outright.

In FY2025 the organization served 4,100+ individuals with measurable outcomes including 78% of clients reporting increased hope and 70% of eviction-prevention clients maintaining stable housing with utilities connected for up to one year; $1,000 in one-time assistance has been shown to reduce the likelihood of a family becoming homeless after six months by 76%. Upward Transitions holds no patents or proprietary technology platforms beyond the Drop Mobility e-bike partnership, no disclosed AI capabilities, and no public API; its intellectual moat rests on 100 years of brand equity, deep integration into the Oklahoma County social services ecosystem, and durable institutional relationships with the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Travelers Aid International, and a roster of major regional foundations.

Name

Upward Transitions

Legal name

Upward Transitions, Inc.

Website

https://upwardtransitions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Upward Transitions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1925 in Oklahoma City that prevents generational poverty through case management, rent and utility assistance, document retrieval, and the Travelers Aid airport program, serving over 4,100 individuals and 152,000 travelers annually in Oklahoma County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

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. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals; 81 cents of every dollar donated goes toward programs benefiting clients. Recurring monthly donations encouraged through 'Friends of Hope' program.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Kirkpatrick Family Fund (matching partner), Love Meyer Family Foundation (inaugural partner), Arnall Family Foundation, and others for endowment and program support.
3. United Way of Central Oklahoma: One of the original Community Partners of United Way of Central Oklahoma, receiving ongoing funding support since 1925.
4. Corporate Grants: Philanthropic grants from corporations such as Love's Travel Stops ($50,000 grant awarded in 2026) for specific programs.
5. Event Fundraising: Revenue from annual events including American Tourist gala ($129,500 raised in 2026), Celebrity Wait Night, Circle of Hope reception, and Share the Love campaign.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships from companies seeking visibility at galas and events; sponsors receive logo placement, free tickets, reserved tables, and recognition.
7. Endowment Fund: Permanent endowment fund with Oklahoma City Community Foundation established in 1986; the fund has received $69,725 in gifts but has given back $126,180 to Upward Transitions over 38 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Upward Transitions is a nonprofit social services organization that provides community outreach and homeless prevention services in Central Oklahoma. It delivers emergency rent and utility assistance, case management, legal document retrieval (birth certificates, state IDs), public housing deposit support, emergency travel assistance, and the Hope Flyers e-bike transportation program for families, seniors, and individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Product overview

Upward Transitions is a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs to prevent generational poverty and homelessness in Central Oklahoma. The core offerings include Community Outreach Programs providing case management and emergency financial assistance, the Travelers Aid Airport Program serving travelers at Will Rogers World Airport, Homeless Prevention Services (rent and utility assistance), Homeless Services (document retrieval and ID assistance), Emergency Travel Assistance, and the Hope Flyers e-bike transportation program. The organization also operates an Online Assistance Screening platform for eligibility assessment. These programs work together through coordinated case management to address housing instability, financial crisis, and barriers to self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Outreach Programs Case management and stabilizing resources providing short-term financial bridge through emergency assistance and community resource access for families and individuals facing threats to financial stability.
• Travelers Aid Airport Program Dedicated volunteers assist the traveling public at Will Rogers World Airport by providing information about airport services and Oklahoma City metro area, helping travelers, military personnel, and international students with information, referrals and emergency assistance.
• Homeless Prevention - Rent and Utility Assistance Emergency rental and utility assistance for families at risk of eviction or utility cutoff, serving households with children under 18 or seniors 55 and older in Oklahoma County.
• Homeless Services Assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness including legal document retrieval (birth certificates, marriage licenses), state ID purchase assistance, public housing rent deposits, and linkage to other services.
• Emergency Travel Assistance Travel assistance for stranded travelers including bus tickets, gas vouchers, and assistance for domestic violence/human trafficking victims to return to safety, including local travel assistance via bus passes and gas cards.
• Hope Flyers Program E-bike lending program in partnership with United Way of Central Oklahoma and Drop Mobility providing temporary transportation for recently housed clients to access employment and medical appointments while saving for vehicle purchases.
• Online Assistance Screening Weekly online screening system for rent and utility assistance eligibility, open Mondays at 7:00 a.m. for families with children under 18 or seniors 55+ living in Oklahoma County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% of clients surveyed stated they felt more hopeful after receiving services
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Drop MobilitycoreTechnology or Integration · 11 September 2025Partnership for Hope Flyers e-bike program. Drop Mobility provides electric bikes, software (custom app), and security systems to assist recently housed clients experiencing transportation poverty. Drop Mobility operates in 60+ municipalities across North America.
• United Way of Central OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpward Transitions is a United Way of Central Oklahoma Community Partner. Relationship dates to organization's founding in 1925 when it was one of the first agencies to become a member.
• Travelers Aid InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate organization. Upward Transitions was linked with National Travelers Aid Society in 1926 and CEO Periann Pulliam serves on Board of Directors and Professional Council.
• Will Rogers World Airport / Oklahoma City Airport TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport Trust constructs information booths and funds volunteer coordinator position for Travelers Aid program at airport. Relationship began in 1966.
• 50+ Partner Agencies (Oklahoma County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of partner agencies throughout Oklahoma County for coordinated client services. Includes shelters, transitional housing providers, healthcare agencies, mental health services, and social service organizations.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Travelers Aid International: National affiliate and umbrella organization; Upward Transitions has been linked to Travelers Aid International since 1926 and CEO serves on its Board. Operates similar airport-based information and emergency travel assistance programs nationally.
• City Rescue Mission Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, food, and homelessness services to individuals and families in the same service area as Upward Transitions. Directly comparable in geography, mission, and beneficiary population.
• Homeless Alliance (Oklahoma City): Oklahoma City-based homelessness services organization. Operates the OKC community's coordinated housing and service system. Directly comparable in mission to prevent and end homelessness in the same metro.
• Positive Tomorrows: Oklahoma City nonprofit serving children and families experiencing homelessness with education and family support services. Overlapping beneficiary population and metro service area as Upward Transitions.
• Sunbeam Family Services: Oklahoma City-based nonprofit providing emergency assistance, senior services, and family support programs. Direct overlap in rent/utility assistance and senior-focused services within the same metro.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City: Large regional nonprofit providing emergency assistance, housing support, refugee services, and case management across Central Oklahoma. Broader portfolio but overlapping rent/utility assistance and homelessness prevention services.
• Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command: National social services organization with Oklahoma City presence providing emergency shelter, rent/utility assistance, and case management. Larger and broader portfolio but directly overlapping services in same geography.

Others

• United Way of Central Oklahoma: Funder and Community Partner since 1925; provides grants and the WayFinder Innovation Grant. Not a direct service competitor but a critical ecosystem relationship and capital provider for Upward Transitions and similar agencies.
• Mary Mahoney Memorial Health Trust / Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma: Adjacent Oklahoma City nonprofit addressing food insecurity and basic needs; shares board overlap (Stephanie Harris, Chief Impact Officer, sits on both boards) and frequently co-serves the same vulnerable population.

Regional players

• Mental Health Association Oklahoma: Oklahoma-based social services nonprofit addressing mental health, housing, and crisis intervention; works alongside Upward Transitions as part of the 50+ partner agency network serving similar populations in Oklahoma County.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7Vee3gmk5COGrELttxECHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/UpwardTransitions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/427368
• Instagraminstagram.com/upwrdtrnstns
• Xx.com/upwrdtrnstns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Upward Transitions