Sports Outreach

Name

Sports Outreach

Legal name

Sports Outreach

Website

https://sportsoutreach.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lynchburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Sports Outreach is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that raises funds through donations to support ministry operations both locally and internationally. Donors can give to general fund, specific initiatives (on-field sports, vocational, nutritional, educational, medical), or where needed most.
2. Mission Thrift Stores: Sports Outreach owns and operates three big-box thrift stores in the US. 100% of profits from Mission Thrift Stores go back to serve vulnerable populations domestically and globally.
3. Non-Cash Giving Programs: Partnership with National Christian Foundation enables donors to give non-cash assets (stocks, property, etc.) to Sports Outreach, providing tax benefits and allowing for larger contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sports Outreach delivers sports-based ministry programs across 9 countries, pairing on-field athletic activities (soccer, basketball, baseball, chess, football, softball) with off-field humanitarian initiatives covering nutritional support, education (LEAD), vocational training, and medical care. The organization also operates three US-based Mission Thrift Stores whose profits fund vulnerable populations domestically and globally.

Product overview

Sports Outreach (also known as Sports Outreach Institute or SOI) is a non-profit Christian ministry operating across 9 countries that offers a dual-component approach combining on-field sports programs with off-field humanitarian initiatives. On-field offerings include soccer (primary vehicle), basketball, baseball, chess (Pioneers program), American football, and softball across mission fields in Africa, Europe, India, and the Americas. Off-field humanitarian initiatives span four areas: Nutritional programs (providing meals to children), Educational programs (LEAD initiative with academic support and leadership training), Vocational programs (skills training including sewing, hairdressing, digital empowerment), and Medical programs (operating two 24-7 facilities in Uganda). The organization also operates Mission Thrift stores for sustainability. The portfolio includes branded programs such as Good News Football Team, Mountains for Medicine, Christine's House, and the Chess Advocacy Board.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission Thrift: Three big-box thrift stores owned and operated by Sports Outreach in the US. 100% of profits go back to serve vulnerable populations.

Products and services

• Soccer Ministry Primary on-field vehicle for restoring hope and transforming lives, used in 6 of 9 international mission fields. Includes the Good News Football Team competing at local levels while sharing the Gospel.
• Basketball Ministry On-field basketball program paired with intentional coaching and spiritual formation to build relationships and connect with communities in Kenya and Uganda.
• Baseball Ministry Youth baseball ministry offered across three strategic Dominican Republic cities: San Juan, Santa Domingo, and Jarabacoa, combining athletic instruction with spiritual formation.
• Chess Ministry (Pioneers) Chess program for breaking cycles of poverty, originally launched in Katwe slum, Uganda; expanded to Kenya, Dominican Republic, India, and the United States with a Chess Advocacy Board launched in 2021.
• Football Ministry American-style football ministry in Croatia, including a fitness center that serves as a hub for relational connection and discipleship.
• Softball Ministry Softball ministry launched in the Croatian mission field.
• Nutritional Programs Provides consistent meals and nutritional support to needy children and families, allowing them to participate, develop and thrive in life-changing programs.
• Educational Programs (LEAD) Value-driven academic opportunities providing children with tools for breaking cycles of poverty. Includes managing schools and educational programs in Mexico, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, plus the partnership with Bringing Miracles and Miracle and Victory Center in Kibera, Kenya.
• Vocational Programs Empowers individuals with essential skills for breaking cycles of poverty, including sewing and tailoring, digital empowerment at the Fashion and Design Institute in Kenya, hairdressing in Northern Uganda, and basic utility vehicle manufacturing in Southern Uganda.
• Medical Programs Healthcare services including operating two 24-7 medical facilities serving over 3,000 patients per year in Northern and Southern Uganda, supported through the Mountains for Medicine initiative.
• Mountains for Medicine Initiative pairing high-end athletic performance with providing medical care, supporting Nia Davenport Medical Centers in Uganda and establishing accessible healthcare for hard-to-reach communities.
• Christine's House Rescue, counseling, and training facility for young women who have been sexually exploited, located in Northern Uganda and operated through partnership with Freedom 4/24.
• Mission Thrift Stores Three big-box thrift stores in the U.S. creating sustainable local and global impact; 100% of profits go back to serve vulnerable populations.
• Good News Football Team Handpicked team of Sports Outreach-trained and mentored players that competes at the highest local levels while representing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Originally created in Uganda and replicated in India.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two 24-7 medical facilities serving over 3000 patients per year in Northern and Southern Uganda
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bringing MiraclescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew academic partnership where Sports Outreach adopted Bringing Miracles' Miracle and Victory Center in Kibera, Kenya under the Sports Outreach Family. This partnership doubled their in-country educational footprint, allowing them to empower more children with academic support, leadership training, and character development opportunities.
• Freedom 4/24coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through which Sports Outreach operates Christine's House in Northern Uganda, providing rescue, counseling, and training for young women who have been sexually exploited.
• National Christian Foundation (NCF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNCF enables donors to give non-cash assets to Sports Outreach, providing programs for both current and legacy giving. Sports Outreach works with NCF to help donors save taxes and give more through non-cash giving strategies.
• Nia Davenport Medical CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo 24-7 medical facilities in Northern and Southern Uganda serving over 3000 patients per year. Supported through the Mountains for Medicine initiative.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Major international humanitarian organization combining child sponsorship, emergency relief, and community development across ~100 countries. Comparable as a multi-program faith-rooted humanitarian with similar donor-driven model and child welfare focus.
• Compassion International: Large Christian child-sponsorship nonprofit operating holistic child development programs in 25+ countries. Comparable as a faith-based international nonprofit combining education, nutrition, and health, though larger and longer-established.
• ChildFund International: International child-focused nonprofit delivering education, health, and nutrition in ~25 countries. Comparable holistic child-development model with similar donor-sponsorship mechanics.

Direct peers

• Right To Play: International nonprofit using sport and play to educate and empower children in disadvantaged communities. Closest secular parallel — same sports-for-development model targeting youth in underserved geographies.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): Global Christian youth-focused organization running volunteer service trips and humanitarian programs in 100+ countries. Directly comparable as a faith-based nonprofit combining youth engagement with international humanitarian delivery and similar trip-based volunteer acquisition model.
• PeacePlayers International: Uses basketball to bring together children from divided communities in conflict-affected regions. Direct peer in sports-based peacebuilding, though smaller and more geographically focused than Sports Outreach.
• Kids Alive International: Christian nonprofit serving vulnerable children through homes, schools, and family-style care in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Comparable as a faith-based child welfare organization with similar international footprint and educational/medical components.
• Athletes in Action (Cru): Sports ministry division of Cru that uses athletics to advance Christian mission globally. Most direct peer in the sports-as-Gospel-vechicle category, with similar on-field coaching and discipleship programs.

Others

• International Justice Mission: Faith-based anti-trafficking and human rights organization with similar evangelical roots. Comparable partnership overlap (Sports Outreach operates Christine's House for exploited women through a similar partner), though focused on legal advocacy rather than sports delivery.

Regional players

• Soccer in the Streets: US-based nonprofit using soccer to empower under-resourced youth. Comparable sports-for-youth-development model, but geographically limited to the Atlanta metro area rather than international.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/eEsz6o50wrY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/sal-ferlise
• Xx.com/sportsoutreach

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Sports Outreach