Cincinnati Urban Promise

What Cincinnati Urban Promise does

Cincinnati Urban Promise (CUP) is a Christ-centered nonprofit founded in 2007 that operates a cradle-to-career Positive Youth Development pipeline in Westside Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Westwood, East Westwood, and North Fairmount. The organization runs six integrated programs: Little Promises Academy preschool, Leaders of Promise K-8 after-school enrichment, Urban Promise Academy K-8 private school, WestRoots hydroponic agriculture for high-schoolers, Push Start high-school STEM programming, and Family Support Services. Across 19 years it has mentored more than 3,000 children, with a 5-year average program tenure and roughly 30% of staff drawn from program alumni.

The technical footprint is operational rather than software-centric: hydroponic agriculture systems for WestRoots, conventional classroom and after-school delivery models, and family-case management for support services. Partnerships with Cincinnati Public Schools, the USDA, local universities, corporate sponsors, and community foundations supply curriculum inputs, food-program funding, and volunteer pipelines, while tuition assistance through the Cincinnati Preschool Promise underwrites preschool access.

CUP's business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding stack: individual donations, foundation and corporate grants, federal and state funding (including USDA), university and institutional partnerships, and tuition offset by scholarship programs. The organization reports 11-50 employees and a 19-year continuous operating history, with revenue mechanics tied to fundraising cycles, program enrollment, and partner contributions rather than commercial pricing.

Name

Cincinnati Urban Promise

Legal name

Cincinnati Urban Promise, Inc.

Website

https://cincinnatiurbanpromise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Urban Promise is a Christ-centered nonprofit founded in 2007 that runs a cradle-to-career youth development pipeline in Westside Cincinnati, serving Westwood, East Westwood, and North Fairmount children and families through preschool, K-8 after-school and private school, high-school STEM and hydroponics, and family support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Community Education Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Early childhood education
• After-school enrichment
• Community development services
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors, foundations, and churches provide charitable contributions to support youth development programs. The organization operates a donation portal through Bloomerang CRM.
2. Program Tuition and Fees: Early childhood education (Little Promises Academy) operates as a full-day, year-round preschool with tuition assistance available through Cincinnati Preschool Promise for qualifying families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cincinnati Urban Promise delivers a cradle-to-career continuum of Christ-centered youth and family services to underserved Westside Cincinnati neighborhoods. Offerings include full-day year-round early-childhood preschool (Little Promises Academy), K–8 after-school and summer enrichment (Leaders of Promise), high-school agricultural and STEM career programs (WestRoots and Push Start with scholarship earnings), a K–8 private school (Urban Promise Academy), and Family Support Services (weekly food pantry, health referrals, crisis and spiritual support). All programs operate on a Positive Youth Development model addressing physical, emotional, academic, and spiritual needs.

Product overview

Cincinnati Urban Promise operates a multi-program youth development ecosystem organized by life stage: Little Promises Academy provides full-day, year-round early childhood education for ages 12 months through kindergarten; Leaders of Promise delivers after-school and summer academic enrichment for grades K–8; WestRoots and Push Start offer high school programming focused on agricultural education, career exploration, and scholarship opportunities; and Family Support Services provides food pantry, referral, crisis, and spiritual support for the whole family. Urban Promise Academy functions as the full-time private school arm (K–8). Together these programs form a cradle-to-career continuum, all built on a Positive Youth Development model with a Christ-centered approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Promises Academy: Full-day, year-round Christian preschool for children 12 months through kindergarten, preparing young leaders.
• Leaders of Promise
• WestRoots
• Push Start

Products and services

• Little Promises Academy Full-day, year-round Christian preschool for children 12 months through kindergarten, combining a positive youth development model with a Christ-centered curriculum to prepare young leaders and empower families. Tuition assistance is available through Cincinnati Preschool Promise for qualifying families.
• Leaders of Promise After-school and summer academic enrichment program for grades K–8, providing tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, educational field trips, and summer meals in the Westwood, East Westwood, and North Fairmount neighborhoods (Monday–Friday, 2:30–5pm following the Cincinnati Public Schools schedule).
• WestRoots High school agricultural education program featuring both traditional and hydroponic growing integrated into STEM exploration and career readiness. Teens grow, package, and sell produce to local stores and restaurants while earning scholarship funding toward their education.
• Push Start STEM exploration program for high school teens offering career exposure and hands-on learning in welding, automotive, electrical engineering, and other technical fields.
• Urban Promise Academy Full-time private school operated as a ministry of Cincinnati Urban Promise, offering Christ-centered K–8 education with its own enrollment processes and website.
• Family Support Services Whole-family wraparound support including a weekly food pantry, referral services to mental and physical health care, crisis care, spiritual support, and economic and career development for adults.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 3,000 children mentored over 19 years with sustained 5-year average program participation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Cincinnati Preschool PromisecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Program partner providing tuition assistance for qualifying families accessing early childhood education at Little Promises Academy. Enables access to quality preschool for underserved families who qualify.
• Cincinnati Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with district schools including Cheviot Elementary, Gamble Montessori Elementary, Gamble Montessori High School, Roll Hill Elementary, and Westwood Elementary to deliver after-school and summer enrichment programs.
• USDAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Summer meal program partnership providing nutritious breakfast and lunch daily during summer enrichment programs, with weekend take-home meals often available.
• Covenant Church of WestwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith partner providing spiritual support and worship opportunities for CUP families; hosts community events and provides volunteer support for programs.
• Freestore FoodbankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial partner and food security collaborator supporting the weekly food pantry operations serving CUP families and community members.
• University of CincinnatimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting youth development programs and providing educational resources and expertise to CUP programs.
• Xavier UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing educational support, resources, and potential student volunteers or interns for youth programs.
• ChildFocuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner providing referrals to mental and physical health care opportunities for families in need.
• Mayo HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing referral services for families needing mental and physical health care support.
• 80 Acres FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban farming business where former CUP intern and current WestRoots Director Ellie Suggs previously worked as a grower; provides agricultural education expertise and potential produce sales channels.
• Civic Garden CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting agricultural education and gardening activities integrated into CUP programs.
• Project YogaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness partner providing yoga programming to support youth physical and mental well-being.
• Matthew 25 MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based humanitarian organization providing support services and resources to families.
• Amicus Adult Pre-Apprenticeship TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing pre-apprenticeship training opportunities for adults connected to CUP family support services.
• Amicus Youth Pre-Apprenticeship TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing youth pre-apprenticeship training opportunities linked to high school programs.
• Hamilton County Youth EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty program partner supporting youth employment and workforce readiness initiatives.
• ODJFS (Ohio Department of Job and Family Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing referrals to family support services including health care opportunities.
• Strategies to End HomelessnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization addressing housing instability among CUP families.
• NAMI Urban Greater CincinnatiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health advocacy partner providing support and referrals for families dealing with mental health challenges.
• WAVE FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquarium-based partner providing educational experiences and field trip opportunities for youth.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Promise (Camden, NJ): Faith-based national youth development organization that originated the cradle-to-career model with after-school programs, summer camps, and workforce development for underserved urban youth — closely mirrors CUP's program structure and Christ-centered approach.
• Lighthouse Youth & Family Services: Cincinnati-area nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, and community-based youth services — directly comparable as a regional youth and family services provider serving at-risk populations in the same metro.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati: Cincinnati-based youth development nonprofit offering after-school academic support, mentoring, and enrichment for K-12 youth in underserved communities — directly comparable to CUP's Leaders of Promise after-school programming and family support model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati: Youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult volunteers with at-risk children in the Cincinnati region, operating a model centered on long-term mentoring relationships comparable to CUP's 5-year average program tenure focus.
• Urban League of Greater Cincinnati: Cincinnati-based nonprofit providing education, workforce development, and family support services to underserved African American communities — overlapping with CUP's workforce readiness, mentoring, and wraparound family services.

Broad incumbents

• 4-H (Ohio State University Extension): Long-standing nationwide youth development organization offering STEM, agriculture, mentoring, and career-readiness programs comparable to CUP's WestRoots and Push Start offerings, though operating through a much broader county-extension footprint.
• YMCA of Greater Cincinnati: Established regional operator offering after-school care, summer enrichment, mentoring, and youth development programs across multiple Cincinnati locations — broader portfolio but directly overlapping with CUP's after-school/summer programming.
• Boy Scouts of America - Dan Beard Council: Regional Scouting organization serving Cincinnati-area youth with STEM, leadership, and career exploration programs — comparable to CUP's leadership development and STEM/career exploration programs (Push Start) but serving a broader, less geographically-targeted base.

Regional players

• St. Vincent de Paul of Cincinnati: Faith-based Cincinnati social services nonprofit providing family support, food assistance, and youth services — comparable wraparound approach to CUP's Family Support Services including food pantry and resource referral work.

Emerging players

• Talent Search (Cincinnati Public Schools / TRIO): Federal TRIO program operating within Cincinnati Public Schools providing academic support, mentoring, and college/career prep for first-generation youth — directly comparable to CUP's high-school programming and college/scholarship readiness work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cincyurbanpromise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Cincinnati Urban Promise