Operation Shoestring

What Operation Shoestring does

Operation Shoestring is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1968 in Jackson, Mississippi, in response to civil rights era community needs. It delivers afterschool, summer, and family support programming primarily to low-income children and families in central Jackson through its flagship Project Rise brand. Core offerings include the Project Rise Afterschool Program (serving roughly 175 children daily, Pre-K through 5th grade, at Galloway Elementary and Walton Elementary Schools) and Project Rise Summer Camp (serving approximately 160 children, K through 7th grade), supported by Parent Programs, the Literacy Achievement Bonanza spring break camp, Shoestring Saints Girl Power mini-camps, the Conversation About Community annual forum, and a community oral history project archived at the Margaret Walker Center.

The organization operates with no proprietary technology stack; service delivery is entirely in-person through the Ellen Harris Center headquarters (1711 Bailey Avenue), a satellite location at Walton Elementary School, and partner school sites under a mutual partnership with Jackson Public Schools District. Programming spans academic enrichment, STEM, arts and culture, gardening, nutrition education, physical fitness, and social-emotional development, supplemented by specialized offerings such as coding lessons delivered through CS For Y'all and oral history work led by postdoctoral fellows.

Operation Shoestring's business model is grant- and donation-funded; all services are delivered free of charge to qualifying families. Identified revenue streams include multi-year foundation grants (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Yield Giving/Lever for Change, ACLS, American Council of Learned Societies), corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, Entergy, Atmos Energy, Bancorp South, Trustmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, Nissan), faith and civic partnerships, and individual donations raised through annual events including Spring Fling and Summer Fling. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Operation Shoestring

Legal name

Operation Shoestring, Inc.

Website

https://operationshoestring.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Operation Shoestring is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 in Jackson, Mississippi, providing free afterschool, summer camp, and family support programming to roughly 175 low-income central Jackson children daily via its Project Rise brand and partner school sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major grant funding from organizations including W.K. Kellogg Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation ($225,000 three-year grant, $330,000 three-year grant), 21st Century Community Learning Centers ($950,000 five-year grant), and various corporate sponsors
2. Individual Donations: Individual donor contributions and community fundraising events
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Sponsorship from companies including Wells Fargo Foundation, Entergy, Atmos Energy, and local businesses for events and programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Operation Shoestring provides free afterschool and summer enrichment programs for elementary-age children (Pre-K through 7th grade) in central Jackson, Mississippi, through its flagship Project Rise initiative. Core programming includes academic enrichment, STEM activities, arts and culture, gardening, nutrition education, and physical fitness, supported by certified teachers, volunteers, and partner organizations. The organization also offers parent wellness workshops, seasonal camps, and community engagement forums.

Product overview

Operation Shoestring operates as a unified community nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of educational and family support programs. The core offerings center on Project Rise Afterschool Program (serving Pre-K through 5th grade during the school year) and Project Rise Summer Camp (serving Kindergarten through 7th Grade during summer), both operating at Galloway and Walton Elementary Schools. Supporting these are Parent Programs including workshops, retreats, and wellness classes; the Oral History Project documenting community narratives; the Conversation About Community annual forum; and specialized seasonal programs like LAB Spring Break Camp and Shoestring Saints Mini Camps. All programs aim to provide academic enrichment, social-emotional development, and family support for central Jackson children and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Rise: Year-round afterschool and summer program serving pre-K through 7th grade students, providing academic enrichment, STEM activities, arts and culture, gardening, nutrition, and physical fitness activities
• Project Rise: Beyond Graduation
• Conversation About Community
• Parent Program

Products and services

• Project Rise Afterschool Program Year-round afterschool program serving Pre-K through 5th graders at Galloway Elementary School and Walton Elementary School, providing academic enrichment, STEM activities, arts and culture, gardening, nutrition, and physical fitness activities delivered by certified teachers, volunteers, and community partners. Free for qualifying central Jackson families.
• Project Rise Summer Camp Annual summer camp program for students in Kindergarten through 7th Grade, offering academic enrichment, STEM activities, theater classes, tennis, cooking lessons, swimming, mentoring, and medical/dental screenings in partnership with community organizations.
• Parent Programs Parent engagement programming including cooking and nutrition classes, wellness workshops, Parent Retreats, and support groups for mental health, providing resources and experiences for parents and families in the community.
• Oral History Project (Raising Children in Central Jackson) Community-based oral history initiative documenting stories about raising children in central Jackson neighborhoods, conducted with postdoctoral fellows and community committee members, with audio and transcripts archived at Margaret Walker Center.
• Conversation About Community Annual solutions-focused forum bringing together community members, experts, and youth to discuss issues affecting Jackson families and explore topics such as parenting, education, racial equity, and youth empowerment.
• Literacy Achievement Bonanza (LAB) Spring Break Camp Week-long spring break literacy and public speaking program developed in partnership with the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) to reinforce reading skills and provide enrichment during school breaks.
• Shoestring Saints Mini Camps Summer mini-camp collaboration with St. Andrew's Episcopal School offering Girl Power camp and other specialized enrichment activities for 5th and 6th grade girls focused on confidence building and peer empowerment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students promoted to next grade level
• +3 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

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Mississippi Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Venue host for Spring Fling 2026 event.
• Junior League of JacksonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner for Brick by Brick Project and community programming; honored at 2026 Spring Fling event.
• CS For Y'allmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Provides coding lessons to all Project Rise students through CS For Y'all Fellow; teaches Scratch programming for animating stories.
• Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-develops Literacy Achievement Bonanza (LAB) spring break camp and other programming; honored at 2026 Spring Fling.
• Margaret Walker CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Archive partner for 'Raising Children in Central Jackson' oral history collection.
• Pearl RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Provides environmental education classes during summer camp; guided nature hikes at LeFleur's Bluff State Park.
• Urban FoxesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Local business partner for summer camp activities.
• Fleet FeetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Local business partner for summer camp activities.
• Jackson Public Schools DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2015Partnership for Project Rise afterschool programming at Galloway Elementary and Rowan Middle Schools, expanded to Brown Elementary. Also includes Project Rise: Beyond Graduation collaboration with JPS Career Academies.
• St. Andrew's Episcopal SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2005 for Shoestring Saints mini-camps, Girl Power camp, tutoring volunteers, and collaborative programming.
• Mississippi State Extension ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides registered dietitian Qula Madkin for healthy eating and nutrition cooking classes for parents.
• St. Dominic's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing support for family wellness programming.
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MississippiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare sponsor supporting wellness initiatives.
• Junior League of Jackson (additional)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Brick by Brick Project and community programming.
• Alignment JacksoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Project Rise: Beyond Graduation to further college and career readiness through JPS Career Academies.
• UnitedHealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health partner providing wellness programming and health education for students.
• UnitedHealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity outreach specialist led fitness activities for Project Rise kids.
• Mississippi State Extension Services of Hinds CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides registered dietitian and diabetes care specialist for parent nutrition programming.
• Millsaps College Writing CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers help Shoestring students with writing and bind their stories.
• Marion CounselingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for parent summer camp mental health programming.
• iLeadMSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for parent summer camp self-advocacy programming.
• Northminster Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner and site of Operation Shoestring founding in 1968.
• Wells Memorial United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal headquarters location for Operation Shoestring; faith-based community partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson: Regional YMCA chapter providing youth development programming, after-school care, and summer camps in the Jackson metro area. Overlaps in after-school/summer programming and youth target demographic in the same local market.

Others

• United Way of the Capital Area: Regional United Way affiliate serving the Jackson metro area. Functions as a funding intermediary and community convener — comparable as a funder/ecosystem participant rather than direct program competitor.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi: Mississippi chapter of the national mentoring nonprofit serving youth in Jackson and across the state. Overlaps in mission (youth development, community-based services) and funder base, but focuses on 1:1 mentoring rather than after-school programming.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit operating after-school and summer programming in 1,100+ clubs nationwide. Overlaps in target population (low-income youth), programming (academic enrichment, STEM, arts), and funding model (corporate + foundation).

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi: Local chapter of the national Boys & Girls Clubs network operating in Jackson, MS, providing after-school and summer programming to youth from low-income communities. Direct peer with overlapping mission, geography, and target population.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs to under-resourced youth in 20+ cities. Closely comparable in operating model (free programming at school sites), target demographic, and funding model (corporate + foundation grants).
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit placing site coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver integrated student supports (academic, social-emotional, basic needs). Directly comparable model of in-school wraparound services for at-risk students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OpShoestring
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=LuqC28eC2RU&t=9s
• Facebookfacebook.com/OperationShoestring

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Operation Shoestring