Every Kid Sports

What Every Kid Sports does

Every Kid Sports is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Bend, Oregon (EIN 27-1723872), founded in 2009 by John Ballantine, Brian Grossman, Natalie Hummel, and Tara Ballantine under the original name 'KIDS in the GAME.' The organization's core function is removing financial barriers to youth sports participation for income-restricted families in the United States. It qualifies families enrolled in federal assistance programs (Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC) with children ages 4-18, providing grants of up to $150 per child per season to cover registration fees for community leagues, parks and recreation programs, and school teams across more than 50 sports in all 50 states. Since 2010, Every Kid Sports has distributed over $23 million to more than 180,000 children, with 2025 alone delivering $2,730,048 in grants to 19,302 kids, a 15% increase over 2024.

The operating model is built on a web-based application platform at pass.everykidsports.org, which processes applications and disburses approved funds through virtual Chek cards loaded directly to families for league payment. Executive Director Eleana Fanaika, who joined in 2017 and was promoted from Director of Programs in 2022, has overseen processing of more than 221,000 applications and a 50% reduction in application review time. The organization manages several sub-programs: the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant (cumulative $8.26M+ distributed to 70,000+ families since 2020), the NFL FLAG Every Kid Sports Pass aligned to flag football's 2028 Olympic debut, the ESPN 'Take Back Sports' and Disney Jr. 'Let's Play!' preschool initiative for ages 3-7 across eight U.S. cities, and the Scotts Impact Program focused on natural grass field access.

Revenue mechanics rely entirely on philanthropic inflows from three streams: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. The Flagship corporate and foundation partners are DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation (founding $5M+ commitment), Denver Broncos Foundation (five-year 'ALL IN. ALL COVERED.' commitment through 2030), ESPN, Disney Jr., Scotts Miracle-Gro, T-Mobile, GameChanger, and the EventPipe Foundation. The organization does not charge families for services. The 11-50 person team is supported by a Board of Directors led by Board President Arch Fuston, with Vice President Bonnie Bernstein, Treasurer Gordon Heneweer, and Secretary Erin Stender. In 2025, the mission statement was updated to 'Supporting life through access to youth sports,' and a 'Built to Exclude' thought leadership paper was published, signaling a strategic shift from transactional grant disbursement toward broader youth development and policy advocacy positioning.

Name

Every Kid Sports

Legal name

Every Kid Sports

Website

https://everykidsports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Every Kid Sports is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes grants of up to $150 per child per season to income-restricted families (Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC) to cover youth sports registration fees across all 50 states, having served more than 180,000 children with $23M+ in cumulative grants since 2010.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Grants & Nonprofit Funding Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Youth sports grants
• Nonprofit youth sports funding
• Sports registration assistance
• Youth sports charity
• Underserved youth athletics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donors make financial gifts that are distributed directly to income-restricted families to cover youth sports registration fees.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Multi-year strategic partnerships with corporations (Scotts Miracle-Gro, DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, GameChanger) providing significant funding commitments, cause marketing campaigns, and employee matching programs.
3. Foundation Grants: Foundation and institutional giving programs including DICK'S Foundation founding partnership, EventPipe Foundation donations tied to event hotel bookings, and other private foundation grants for youth sports access initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Every Kid Sports is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers the Every Kid Sports Pass program, providing direct grants of up to $150 per child per season to families enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC to cover youth sports registration fees. Funds are loaded to virtual Chek cards distributed to approved families for direct payment to recreational leagues, parks and recreation programs, and school teams across 50+ sports in all 50 U.S. states.

Product overview

Every Kid Sports is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating primarily as a grant-giving platform rather than a traditional technology product company. The core offering is the Every Kid Sports Pass, which provides direct financial assistance to income-restricted families for youth sports registration fees. The organization manages multiple grant programs including the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant, NFL FLAG Every Kid Sports Pass, and the ESPN/Disney Jr. Take Back Sports initiative. Additional programs include the Scotts Impact partnership focused on natural grass field access. The organization also operates a donor fundraising platform. All programs are designed to remove financial barriers to youth sports participation, with funds delivered via a virtual Chek card system directly to families for league payment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Every Kid Sports Pass
• T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant
• NFL FLAG Every Kid Sports Pass
• Take Back Sports / Disney Jr. Let's Play!
• Scotts Impact Program
• Every Kid Sports Fundraising Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,302 children accessed youth sports in 2025, representing 15% growth from 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Denver Broncos FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Five-year commitment (2026-2030) with 'ALL IN. ALL COVERED.' initiative targeting 17,000+ Colorado youth from high-need communities. Covers registration fees and equipment for tackle and flag football. Expansion includes flag football ahead of 2028 Olympic debut.
• ESPNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026ESPN's 'Take Back Sports' initiative in second-year partnership with Every Kid Sports providing youth sports grants and free clinics for children ages 3-7 from income-restricted families in 8 U.S. cities. Year 1 reached 1,200+ families. 2026 expansion includes new markets Oakland, Chicago, Fresno, and Philadelphia.
• Disney Jr.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Disney Jr. 'Let's Play!' initiative in second-year partnership with Every Kid Sports targeting preschoolers ages 3-7. New content collection 'Me & Mickey: Let's Play Sports' launching on Disney+ and Disney Jr. Expanding to additional U.S. cities in 2026.
• Scotts Miracle-GrocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2024Multi-year partnership (2024-present) focused on income-restricted families and access to natural grass sports. $432,184.30 invested, 2,346 kids supported. Includes 'Keep It Real' campaign with USMNT player Tyler Adams, field refurbishments, and employee matching programs.
• Hillyard Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022115-year-old company (founded on basketball court) partnering with Every Kid Sports for employee giving campaigns and donations tied to gym floor coating projects. Focus on Midwest communities where Hillyard operates.
• Good SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment donation partner in Denver Broncos Foundation partnership, reducing financial barriers for youth tackle and flag football in Colorado through helmet donations and equipment provision.
• T-Mobile Little LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant program in seventh consecutive year (2020-2026). Over $8.26 million distributed to 70,000+ families. $150 per child grants for league fees using restricted electronic debit cards. Requires SNAP, WIC, or Medicaid enrollment.
• NickelodeonflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner'Play It Forward: Game On' television series featuring surprise makeovers for under-resourced youth sports teams. Hosts include CBS Sports analyst Renee Montgomery and Nickelodeon's Kel Mitchell. Premiered November 2025 on Nickelodeon, airing Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT.
• Angel City Football ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to empower girls to play sports, launched in 2022, supporting gender equity in youth sports access.
• HTX StormminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston's only all-girls hockey association receiving support through Every Kid Sports scholarships for income-restricted families. Hockey can cost families up to $1,000 per season.
• Washington CapitalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHL team partner supporting youth sports access as shown in Fall 2026 Pass program partner list.
• Columbus CrewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLS team partnered with Scotts and Every Kid Sports for community Soccer Field Day in Columbus on July 12, 2024, offering soccer clinic during Crew's Summer of Soccer Fan Fest.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/everykidsports
• Facebookfacebook.com/everykidsports
• Instagraminstagram.com/everykidsports
• TikToktiktok.com/@everykidsports123
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/everykid-sports

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Every Kid Sports