A Kid Again

What A Kid Again does

A Kid Again is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that provides cost-free family experiences ("Adventures") to families raising children under age 20 with life-threatening medical conditions. Founded in 1991 and operating across 13 states and regions through 13 regional chapters (Central Ohio, Southwest Ohio, Northern Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Central Carolinas, Kentucky, California, Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Upper Midwest, and Pittsburgh), the organization has enrolled 14,500 families and serves children diagnosed with 400 recognized medical conditions as validated by a Medical Advisory Committee. Its core service is providing free-of-charge outings to amusement parks, sporting events, zoos, waterparks, and other entertainment venues, covering admission, meals, transportation, and activities so families can step outside hospital routines and rebuild family bonding.

The organization is funded entirely through donations via four primary revenue streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships (Six Flags as flagship partner; Cedar Fair and Cedar Point at Platinum tier with $75,000+ annual giving; Delta Dental, CoverMyMeds, Kohl's, Messer Construction, and others), signature fundraising events (Capes & Crowns walks, Galas, Golf Outings, Nashville Nights music events), and in-kind donations from entertainment partners. Its digital infrastructure is built on standard nonprofit SaaS: GoFundMe Pro/Classy for donation processing, VolunteerHub for volunteer management across chapter subdomains, SmugMug for event photography, and a mobile application for enrolled families. Ancillary programs include a Financial Literacy Program in partnership with KeyBank and program variants such as Anytime Adventures and Virtual Adventures for families with scheduling or geographic constraints.

Family acquisition is event-driven: families enter the pipeline via hospital partnerships, medical advisory committee referrals, and word-of-mouth from participating families, then enroll through the website and are matched to local Adventures in their region. Fundraising events also double as community engagement vehicles that drive both donations and family referrals. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, BBB Accredited Charity status, Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and GuideStar Platinum-level rating, and is an IAAPA member. It is governed independently with no parent company and is staffed by 11-50 employees. Leadership includes Co-Founder Kathy Derr, with the president function currently held by Megan Koester.

Name

A Kid Again

Legal name

A Kid Again Inc.

Website

https://akidagain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A Kid Again is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers cost-free family Adventures—to amusement parks, sporting events, and zoos—to families raising children under 20 with life-threatening medical conditions, operating through 13 chapters across 13 U.S. states and serving 14,500 enrolled families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit family support
• Charitable family outings
• Pediatric illness support
• Cost-free family adventures
• Children's medical charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: General donations from individuals supporting the mission, with options for one-time or monthly recurring contributions. Donors can designate gifts to specific chapters or programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Adventure sponsorships and corporate partnerships where entertainment businesses (amusement parks, sports teams, zoos) and corporations provide financial support, in-kind donations, and volunteer resources.
3. Special Event Fundraising: Signature fundraising events including Galas, Golf Outings, Capes & Crowns walks, and Nashville Nights music events that generate revenue while building community engagement.
4. In-Kind Donations: Entertainment venues, attractions, and corporate partners provide free admission tickets, venue access, and services for Adventures at no cost to families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

A Kid Again provides cost-free, carefree Adventures — family outings to amusement parks, sporting events, zoos, waterparks, science museums, and entertainment venues — to families raising children under 20 years old with life-threatening medical conditions. All Adventure costs including admission, meals, transportation, and activities are covered at zero cost to families, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, in-kind venue partnerships, and signature fundraising events.

Product overview

A Kid Again provides a portfolio of cost-free programs and services centered on its core Adventures offering — free family outings to amusement parks, sporting events, zoos, waterparks, and other entertainment venues for families raising children with life-threatening conditions. The organization supplements Adventures with signature fundraising events (Capes & Crowns walks, Galas, Golf Outings, Nashville Nights music events), a Financial Literacy Program in partnership with KeyBank, and a mobile application. Program variants include Anytime Adventures and Virtual Adventures for families with scheduling or geographic constraints. The organization operates chapters across 13 states and serves children under 20 years old with life-threatening conditions, all at no cost to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Adventures: Cost-free, carefree family outings including trips to amusement parks, sporting events, zoos, and more designed to give families time to laugh, bond, and breathe outside the hospital walls.
• Capes & Crowns
• DreamNight
• Nashville Nights
• Applied Innovation Golf Classic

Products and services

• Adventures
• Anytime Adventures
• Virtual Adventures Virtual adventure options listed in the event calendar for families who cannot attend in-person events, providing remote-access participation.
• Financial Literacy Program In cooperation with KeyBank, a support program that helps enrolled families work toward financial wellness as they navigate ongoing medical expenses. Currently available to Central Ohio families.
• A Kid Again Mobile App Mobile application allowing enrolled families to access Adventures information and stay connected to the A Kid Again community, available for iOS and Android.
• Capes & Crowns Annual walk and family fun fest fundraising event held across multiple chapters (Michigan, Northern Ohio, Indiana, and others) to raise funds for Adventures.
• Galas Formal fundraising galas hosted to support A Kid Again's mission and provide Adventure funding.
• Golf Outings Golf-format fundraising events such as the Applied Innovation Golf Classic (benefiting A Kid Again Michigan) and the 18 Holes for Hope, Happiness, and Healing Golf Outing.
• Nashville Nights Music-themed fundraising event featuring Nashville songwriters' rounds, silent auctions, and Nashville-inspired food, held in Noblesville IN, Northern IN, and Charlotte NC.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of families reported noticeable improvement in quality of life of their child after participating in A Kid Again Adventures
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

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

• Six FlagsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix Flags entertainment parks host A Kid Again Adventures, providing free admission and experiences for enrolled families. The partnership is a flagship component of the Adventure programming, with multiple Six Flags locations (Six Flags Great Adventure, Kings Island, Carowinds, Six Flags Magic Mountain) participating.
• Five Star Parks & AttractionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive Star Parks & Attractions provides venue access and support for A Kid Again family Adventures at member amusement and entertainment properties.
• Major League Baseball (MLB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLB teams including the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals host A Kid Again family Adventures at ballparks, providing game experiences and venue access for enrolled families.
• KeyBankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeyBank provides both financial support and volunteer services for A Kid Again. The bank supports the Financial Literacy Program that helps families work toward financial wellness while navigating ongoing medical expenses.
• Cedar Fair / Cedar PointcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCedar Point amusement park (Cedar Fair) is a Platinum Partner providing $75,000+ annual support for Northern Ohio Adventures, enabling free park experiences for families.
• Delta DentalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Dental provides annual partnership support for Michigan Chapter Adventures, contributing to the cost-free experience for enrolled families.
• Detroit PistonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA team Detroit Pistons partner with A Kid Again Michigan to host family Adventures at Little Caesars Arena, providing game experiences for enrolled families.
• The Henry Ford MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn provides venue access for Michigan Adventures, offering educational and entertainment experiences for A Kid Again families.
• University of Michigan Golf CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Michigan Golf Course hosts the annual Applied Innovation Golf Classic fundraiser benefiting A Kid Again Michigan.
• KrogercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to enroll and designate A Kid Again as their charity of choice, earning rewards that support the organization when they shop using their Plus Card.
• Cleveland ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Metroparks Zoo hosts A Kid Again Adventures, providing free admission and animal experiences for Northern Ohio families.
• Kings IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKings Island amusement park is a major community partner for Central Ohio Chapter, hosting Adventures for families in the Columbus region.
• Columbus Zoo and AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbus Zoo hosts A Kid Again Adventures, providing wildlife experiences for Central Ohio families.
• Charlotte Hornets / NBAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional sports partnership providing game experiences for Central Carolinas families at Charlotte Hornets events.
• Carolina PanthersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFL team hosts A Kid Again Adventures at Bank of America Stadium for Central Carolinas families.
• Indianapolis ColtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFL team is a significant partner for Indiana Chapter, hosting Adventures and providing tickets for enrolled families.
• Indiana PacerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA team Indiana Pacers support A Kid Again Indiana Adventures with game tickets and experiences for families.
• Cincinnati RedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLB team hosts Adventures for Southwest Ohio families at Great American Ball Park, providing game experiences for enrolled families.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Camp Sunshine: Camp Sunshine provides year-round programs, including summer camps and retreats, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Its recreational-program delivery for medically complex children parallels A Kid Again's Adventure programming.

Direct peers

• Children's Wish Foundation International: Children's Wish grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions internationally. Its mission and beneficiary population directly overlap A Kid Again's, though it focuses on wish-grant experiences rather than recurring group Adventures.
• HopeKids: HopeKids is a non-profit providing free, ongoing events and activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families—the most directly comparable peer to A Kid Again in mission, target population, and cost-free event-based delivery model.
• National Children's Cancer Society: The NCCS provides direct financial, emotional, and educational support to families of children with cancer. Its mission aligns with A Kid Again's family-support orientation, though its delivery is more financial-assistance focused rather than experiential Adventures.
• Kidd's Kids: Kidd's Kids sends terminally and chronically ill children and their families on all-expenses-paid vacations. It is a direct peer in cost-free, family-centric experience delivery to medically complex pediatric populations.
• Dream Factory: Dream Factory grants dreams to critically and chronically ill children (ages 3–18), serving an overlapping population and competing in the same wish-grant / experiential category as A Kid Again for donor mindshare.
• Sunshine Kids Foundation: Sunshine Kids provides free group activities, trips, and events for children with cancer and other life-threatening conditions—closely paralleling A Kid Again's cost-free Adventures model and serving a similarly medically complex pediatric population.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: RMHC provides housing and family-centered support for families with sick children receiving medical treatment. While it focuses on accommodation near hospitals, it shares A Kid Again's family-support-for-sick-children mission and competes for the same hospital-channel family referrals.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: Starlight delivers programs (hospital wear, gaming, virtual reality, special events) for seriously ill children and their families. While delivery channels differ, it targets the same medically complex pediatric population and competes for hospital partnerships and healthcare-sector donors.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Make-A-Wish is the largest U.S. non-profit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. While its delivery model is individualized wishes rather than recurring group Adventures, it targets an overlapping population and competes for the same donor and corporate-sponsor dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/akidagain
• Facebookfacebook.com/akidagain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-kid-again
• Instagraminstagram.com/a_kid_again

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 A Kid Again