Box United

What Box United does

Box United is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 83-3178900) founded in 2019 by Mary Kate Vanecko, originally capitalized through a U.S. State Department grant. The organization operates Fight Like a Girl (FLAG), a school- and community-based boxing and wellness program that serves girls ages 10–18 at no cost to participants. FLAG combines non-contact boxing instruction with the proprietary Fighter's Mindset Curriculum, a 20-lesson Confidence Accelerator covering mental wellbeing, stress management, digital literacy, and self-esteem. Programming is delivered through direct partnerships with 20 Chicago Public Schools and Catholic schools, three satellite gym locations including a partnership with Chicago Youth Boxing Club, and a juvenile detention center site, reaching 500+ girls annually across 25 total sites.

The organization reports 95% of participants experiencing increased confidence after a FLAG session and 30+ weeks of programming per year. Supporting products include adult community boxing classes and corporate team-building boxing events (up to 50 participants) offered to enterprise partners. Box United also runs a branded merchandise line (hats $45, crewnecks $75, sweatpants $60, totes $50) through a Shopify storefront. Underlying technology is minimal — Team App is used for parent-coach communication and scheduling, Shopify for e-commerce — with no proprietary platform or AI components disclosed.

Box United's revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit funding stack: recurring individual donations (Fighters Fund monthly tiers $10–$100), one-time gifts ($50/$100/$200), foundation and corporate grants (Nike, Laureus Sport for Good, Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance, Prince Charitable Trusts, IMC Foundation, ICJIA, RSM US, among others), corporate partnership revenue (boxing classes, sponsorships), workplace giving and matching programs, and merchandise sales. The stated claim is that 100% of individual donations go directly to FLAG programming. The organization is led by Founder & Executive Director Mary Kate Vanecko (Kellogg MBA student, former Fulbright scholar to South Africa, ex-Accenture, ex-UN Foundation), COO Alexandra Foster, and Development Director Claire Trinkle (former Fulbright scholar to Spain), with governance by a Board of Directors and Junior Board.

Name

Box United

Legal name

Box United

Website

https://boxunited.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Box United is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs Fight Like a Girl, a free school- and community-based boxing and social-emotional learning program for girls ages 10–18 across 20 Chicago schools, 3 satellite gyms, and 25 total sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports and Wellness Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSADABAF

Boxing & Kickboxing Fitness Classes

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Group Fitness & Bootcamps

SECONDARYHSADADAD

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Training

Home & Personal Services/Fitness, Wellness & Personal Training/Martial Arts & Self-Defense Training

Keywords

• Youth boxing programs
• Social-emotional learning
• Nonprofit sports education
• Girls empowerment programs
• Community boxing fitness

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations through the Fighters Fund program ($10-$100/month) and one-time gifts. 100% of individual donations go directly to Fight Like a Girl programming.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Revenue from corporate boxing classes (up to 50 participants, $contact for pricing), volunteer events, and event sponsorships. All proceeds from corporate classes go to FLAG programming.
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including hats ($45), crewnecks ($75), sweatpants ($60), and tote bags ($50) through the organization's Shopify storefront.
4. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from corporate and foundation partners including Nike, Prince Charitable Trusts, Meridian, Laureus Sport for Good, Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance, ICJIA, IMC Foundation, Lanter Family Foundation, RSM US, and Strength in the City.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Box United operates Fight Like a Girl (FLAG), a free boxing and wellness program for girls ages 10-18 delivered in Chicago Public Schools, Catholic schools, and community spaces, combining boxing instruction with social-emotional learning through the Fighter's Mindset Curriculum. The organization also offers adult community boxing classes, corporate team-building boxing events, and a branded merchandise line (hats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, totes), with all proceeds supporting FLAG programming.

Product overview

Box United is a nonprofit organization that operates Fight Like a Girl (FLAG), a free boxing and wellness program for girls ages 10-18 in Chicago. The core product is the FLAG program, which combines boxing instruction with social-emotional learning through the Fighter's Mindset Curriculum. Supporting offerings include adult community boxing classes and corporate team-building boxing experiences. Box United also operates a merchandise line featuring apparel (hats, sweatshirts, sweatpants) and accessories (tote bags). All merchandise proceeds directly support FLAG programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fight Like a Girl: Boxing and wellness program for girls ages 10-18 that combines boxing training with social-emotional learning curriculum called The Fighter's Mindset. Available in Chicago schools and community spaces, free for all participants.

Products and services

• Fight Like a Girl (FLAG) A school and community-based boxing and wellness program for girls ages 10-18 that combines boxing instruction with social-emotional learning through the Fighter's Mindset Curriculum. Free for all participants and operating in Chicago Public Schools, Catholic schools, and community spaces across Chicago neighborhoods.
• Adult Community Boxing Classes Beginner-friendly adult boxing classes open to all fitness levels, with all proceeds supporting Fight Like a Girl programming for Chicago girls.
• Corporate Boxing Classes High-energy corporate team-building boxing classes, customizable and beginner-friendly. Available at workplace or partner gym locations, accommodating up to 50 participants, with all proceeds supporting Fight Like a Girl.
• Box United Two Tone Hat A 5-panel tan and navy two-tone branded hat sold through the Box United Shopify storefront. Currently sold out.
• Crewneck Sweatshirt Warm crewneck fleece branded apparel available in Small, Medium, and Large sizes, sold through the Box United Shopify storefront.
• Sweatpants Comfortable branded sweatpants marketed as cozy everyday wear, sold through the Box United Shopify storefront.
• THE BAG Navy canvas tote with blue and white straps sold through the Box United Shopify storefront.
• The Box United Hat The official Box United branded hat sold through the Box United Shopify storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ girls served annually
• +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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mavrek DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that has taken two corporate boxing classes with Box United. Testimonial client for team building events.
• Charles River AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate consulting firm that has partnered with Box United for corporate events.
• Charles SchwabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with volunteer events at FLAG sessions. Schwab volunteers work one-on-one with girls at Chicago schools.
• Chicago Youth Boxing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Side community partner location hosting Fight Like a Girl summer programming and community classes. Provides facility for Box United programming.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school partner operating Fight Like a Girl in 20 CPS schools as in-school or after-school programming.
• Catholic Schools (Chicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partners operating Fight Like a Girl programming in Catholic schools across Chicago.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TITLE Boxing Club: National boxing fitness franchise offering group boxing classes for adults. Comparable in core activity (boxing group fitness), but commercial membership model versus Box United's nonprofit free programming; useful as a benchmark for adult boxing class economics.
• 9Round Fitness: National boxing-themed kickboxing fitness franchise. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering group boxing fitness programming, though operating as a commercial chain rather than a girls' empowerment nonprofit.

Emerging players

• BOKS (Build Our Kids' Success): Nonprofit promoting physical activity and health for kids through before-school fitness programming, originally founded with Reebok support. Comparable in school-based physical-activity-as-SEL positioning and corporate/foundation funding model, though not girls-specific or boxing-specific.
• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit closing the gender gap in technology through after-school and summer programming for girls. Comparable in girls-targeted nonprofit programming, school-district partnerships, and outcome measurement, but uses tech education rather than boxing as the delivery vehicle.

Direct peers

• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit that delivers empowerment and SEL programming for girls through a physical-activity curriculum (running). Closely comparable to Box United in mission, target demographic (girls ages 10-18), school-based delivery model, nonprofit funding structure, and outcome-focused programming.
• Black Girls Rock!: Nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls of color through mentorship, education, and arts programming. Comparable mission around girls' empowerment, particularly for urban youth, with a brand-centric model and corporate/foundation funding.
• Chicago Boxing Academy: Chicago-based youth boxing nonprofit serving urban youth with boxing training, mentorship, and academic support. Comparable as a Chicago nonprofit delivering free youth boxing programming with similar grant and donor funding dynamics, serving overlapping geographic demographics.
• Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls: Nonprofit offering empowerment programming for girls through a specific activity (music/rock), using a structured curriculum and community volunteer model. Comparable as a girls' empowerment nonprofit using an unconventional activity to deliver SEL outcomes, with a similar mix of donations and program fees.

Others

• Laureus Sport for Good: Global sport-for-good foundation that funds sport-based development programs, including Box United. Relevant as a funder peer and ecosystem participant — comparable organizations in Laureus' portfolio face similar sport-based SEL positioning and reporting expectations.
• The Laureus Foundation USA: U.S. arm of Laureus Sport for Good, providing grants to sport-for-development nonprofits including Box United. Relevant peer as a funder/ecosystem participant to which Box United's outcomes and reporting are benchmarked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/box-united
• Instagraminstagram.com/box_united/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Box United