15-LOVE

What 15-LOVE does

15-LOVE (legally the Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in June 1990 with assistance from Arthur Ashe to deliver free youth development programming in New York's Capital Region. Operating from 785 Washington Ave in Albany, the organization serves inner-city youth ages 4–18 across Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Rensselaer through five core program pillars: Tennis, Literacy, Healthy Living, College Prep, and STEM. The portfolio includes year-round tennis instruction at public park courts and partner indoor clubs (Sportime, Tri-City, Old Chatham, Saratoga YMCA), a Junior Team Tennis competitive league, the Excellence Program for high-school and collegiate-track players, reading enrichment at schools such as Sheridan Preparatory Academy, the Denise McCoy Literacy Award partnered with the Albany Public Library, a five-year College Prep & Leadership curriculum with scholarship support up to $6,000, gardening and nutrition education using 11 raised beds at the main office, and weekly STEM programming with SUNY Polytechnic/UAlbany CNSE.

The organization is a member of USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network and delivers programs at no cost to participants, eliminating financial barriers to access. Instruction is delivered by a small core staff of approximately five full-time professionals (Interim Executive Director, Associate Executive Director, Program Director, Director of Marketing/Communications/Grants, and Program & Education Coordinator) supplemented by volunteer instructors and part-time staff, many of whom are program alumni.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable channels: individual and corporate donations, competitive grants (including from the USTA Foundation), and the annual Fore Love & Money golf/tennis fundraiser at Schuyler Meadows Club, which contributes more than 25% of the annual operating budget. Per-participant "Sponsorship" donations of $150 and other tiered giving campaigns are marketed through the website. Customer acquisition is community-led via school and community center partnerships, word-of-mouth, and earned local media coverage, rather than paid marketing channels. Over the organization's 36-year history, programs have reached more than 65,000 youth and families, with approximately 4,500 inner-city youth served annually.

Name

15-LOVE

Legal name

Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation

Website

https://15love.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

15-LOVE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers free tennis instruction plus literacy, healthy living, college prep, and STEM programming to inner-city youth ages 4–18 across New York's Capital Region (Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Rensselaer), operating on donations, grants, and an annual fundraiser while serving roughly 4,500 youth annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Youth tennis programs
• Nonprofit youth development
• Literacy enrichment programs
• College preparation services
• STEM youth education

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

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 and Corporate Donations: Primary revenue source. 15-LOVE operates entirely on donated funds from individuals and corporate sponsors. The organization cultivates relationships with local businesses and community members who support youth programming.
2. Annual Fundraiser (Fore Love & Money): The annual Fore Love & Money golf and tennis fundraiser generates over 25% of the organization's annual operating budget, making it the single largest revenue event.
3. Competitive Grants: 15-LOVE applies for and receives competitive grants from foundations and organizations including the USTA Foundation to support programming costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

15-LOVE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free youth development programming for inner-city children and teens ages 4-18 in New York's Capital Region, centered on tennis instruction and four supporting educational pillars (literacy, healthy living, college preparation, and STEM). All programs are delivered at no cost to participants through partnerships with schools, community centers, public parks, and indoor tennis clubs in Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Rensselaer. The organization is funded through individual and corporate donations, competitive grants (e.g., USTA Foundation), and an annual Fore Love & Money fundraiser.

Product overview

15-LOVE is a non-profit youth development organization offering a portfolio of free programs centered around tennis and education. The core offerings include the Tennis Program (free lessons for ages 4-18), Junior Team Tennis (competitive league play), the Excellence Program (advanced training for collegiate preparation), Literacy Program (reading enrichment and book distribution), Denise McCoy Literacy Award (annual author award), College Prep & Leadership Program (5-year college preparation curriculum), Healthy Living & Gardening Program (nutrition and gardening education), STEM Program (science experiments in partnership with SUNY CNSE), 518 Social Tennis (adult social tennis), and Fore Love & Money (annual fundraiser). The programs are designed around five core pillars: Tennis, Literacy, Healthy Living, College Prep and STEM, with the mission to reach inner-city youth of the Capital Region using tennis as the medium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tennis Program Free tennis and life-skills lessons for children ages 4-18, with adult beginner classes offered over the summer. Lessons are delivered indoors during winter (October–April) and outdoors during summer at numerous Capital Region locations, including adaptive programs for all abilities.
• Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Competitive team tennis program with six divisions (10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under, 18 & under intermediate, 18 & under advanced, Non-Advancing 19 and Under) running November–March with playoffs in April at indoor partner club facilities.
• Excellence Program Advanced tennis lessons for committed participants preparing for competitive tennis at the high school and collegiate levels, promoting leadership, teamwork, diversity, community service, and healthy living.
• Literacy Program Reading enrichment and book distribution program for inner-city youth including one-on-one volunteer attention, hands-on reading and writing activities, summer reading programs, and free book giveaways.
• Denise McCoy Literacy Award Annual award honoring the author of the previous year's most humorous children's book, established in memory of Denise McCoy to promote children's literacy.
• College Prep & Leadership Program Five-year curriculum beginning in 8th grade that prepares students for the college application, financial aid, and decision process through weekly group meetings and one-on-one sessions.
• Healthy Living & Gardening Program Teaches community members about the importance of healthy diet and exercise through gardening activities using 11 raised garden beds, healthy recipes, and nutrition education.
• STEM Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 65,000+ youth and families impacted throughout 36-year history
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• USTA EasterncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner518 Social Tennis is a joint initiative partnering with USTA Eastern and 15-LOVE to foster tennis social play in the Capital Region. The partnership enables adult beginner programs, family nights, and community tennis events using USTA's platform and branding.
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute / UAlbany CNSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering provides STEM programming for kids aged 8-14. Students learn scientific concepts through hands-on demonstrations guided by college students and faculty. Also supports Healthy Futures program during school year.
• USTA Foundation / National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner15-LOVE is a member of the USTA Foundation's NJTL network, providing access to national resources, scholarships, and USTA events including Arthur Ashe Kids Day. The relationship includes eligibility for USTA Foundation grants and the Donald Lawson Tisdel Scholarship program.
• Albany Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlbany Public Library youth librarians develop the shortlist of nominated children's books for the Denise McCoy Literacy Award. The partnership enables the annual award selection process and Kids Read Events.
• Sheridan Preparatory AcademysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner15-LOVE runs a reading enrichment program for inner city school students at Sheridan Prep Academy in Albany. Volunteers work one-on-one with students during the school year.
• Sportime Tennis (Schenectady)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndoor venue for winter Junior Team Tennis matches and winter programming. One of several club venues used for seasonal indoor tennis instruction.
• Tri-City Tennis (Latham)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndoor venue for Junior Team Tennis winter league matches. Partner club providing court space for program expansion during winter months.
• Old Chatham Tennis ClubsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClub venue for Junior Team Tennis matches during the winter season. Provides indoor court facilities for league play.
• Saratoga YMCAsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for Junior Team Tennis matches in the Saratoga/Wilton area, expanding geographic reach of the competitive tennis program.
• RegeneronsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing volunteer support and likely financial contributions to 15-LOVE programming.
• Siena CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partner whose logo appears on the 15-LOVE website, suggesting scholarship or program support relationship.
• Skidmore CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partner whose logo appears on the 15-LOVE website, suggesting scholarship or program support relationship.
• Cornell Cooperative ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural extension partner supporting healthy living and gardening programs with educational resources.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Wish List partner allowing supporters to purchase needed items directly. 15-LOVE's legal name Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation is listed on Amazon Smile program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Capital District YMCA / Saratoga YMCA: Regional YMCA organization in the greater Capital Region already serving as a venue partner for 15-LOVE's Junior Team Tennis. Comparable in delivering youth sports and education programming to Capital Region families, with overlapping geography and nonprofit donor base.

Direct peers

• Asphalt Green: Sports-based youth development nonprofit in NYC offering free swim, soccer, and fitness programs plus academic enrichment to underserved youth. Comparable multi-pillar youth development model with similar emphasis on under-resourced urban communities.
• New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL): NYJTL is the flagship NJTL chapter serving over 75,000 youth annually across NYC with free tennis and education programming. Most directly comparable to 15-LOVE as a USTA Foundation NJTL member offering free tennis combined with academic enrichment for underserved youth.
• City Parks Foundation: NYC-based nonprofit providing free sports, arts, and education programs in public parks for underserved youth. Comparable to 15-LOVE's free programming in public parks, multi-pillar educational approach, and partnership-driven delivery model.
• Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP): HJTEP delivers free tennis instruction and academic tutoring to inner-city youth in Harlem, mirroring 15-LOVE's mission of using tennis as a vehicle for youth development in an underserved urban community, and is a fellow NJTL network member.

Broad incumbents

• First Tee: First Tee is a national youth development organization using golf (versus 15-LOVE's tennis) to teach life skills and character. Highly comparable in mission, multi-pillar programming structure, and participant demographic, but operates at a much larger national scale.
• Laureus Sport for Good USA: National foundation funding sport-for-development programs targeting underserved youth. Comparable in mission to leverage sports for youth outcomes, with overlapping donor base and grantmaking relationships relevant to 15-LOVE's grant funding model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization offering free programs across academics, sports, and life skills to underserved youth. Highly comparable youth development mission and donor base, but operates at a dramatically larger scale and broader scope than 15-LOVE.
• USTA Foundation / National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Network: 15-LOVE is a member chapter of the USTA Foundation's NJTL network. The Foundation provides national coordination, scholarships, and funding that supports 15-LOVE-like programs and is the umbrella entity to which 15-LOVE is affiliated.

Emerging players

• ACEing Autism: National nonprofit using tennis to teach life skills to youth on the autism spectrum. Comparable in use of tennis as a youth development tool and grassroots volunteer-driven delivery model, though with a narrower special-needs focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/15LOVENY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15-love

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 15-LOVE