By The Hand Club for Kids

What By The Hand Club for Kids does

By The Hand Club for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 in Chicago by Donnita Travis that delivers a Christ-centered, wraparound after-school program to children in five of the city's most under-resourced neighborhoods — Cabrini-Green, Altgeld-Murray, Austin, Englewood, and (most recently) North Austin. The organization enrolls more than 2,000 students annually across six physical sites, including a 10-acre North Austin campus opened February 2, 2023 that is anchored by three co-located nonprofit partners. Children enter the program through school-principal referrals based on below-standards performance on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test in reading, then receive layered services from kindergarten through college: technology-enabled personalized reading instruction via Lexia Core5 and PowerUp, daily nutritious meals, on-site healthcare (physicals, immunizations, dental and vision exams plus glasses), social-emotional learning and counseling delivered in partnership with Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago, athletic and arts enrichment (Intentional Sports at North Austin), and spiritual development programming.

The business model is a free, scholarship-funded direct-service nonprofit — there is no charge to families, and the per-student cost is approximately $6,500 per year. The operating budget exceeds $18M annually, assembled from individual donations (including a recurring "Club Champions" monthly program), church and faith-based contributions, foundation and corporate grants (Allstate, Fellowes Brands, Novak Construction, Wells Fargo, Coeur Mining, and others), and government subsidies (~13% of budget, primarily for meals). The organization is not endowed and is funded on an annual basis, with a track record of finishing fully funded every year for 25 consecutive years. Programs run on the Chicago Public Schools calendar plus summer offerings, and the marketing/fundraising engine combines a content-driven website, social media, email, church partnerships, and flagship events such as the Spring Benefit and Day of Prayer & Commitment.

Name

By The Hand Club for Kids

Legal name

By The Hand Club For Kids

Website

https://bythehand.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

By The Hand Club for Kids is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a free, scholarship-funded after-school program — academic, nutritional, healthcare, counseling, and spiritual — to more than 2,000 children annually across six Chicago locations in the city's most under-resourced neighborhoods, from kindergarten through college.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth After-School and Educational Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Child Care Services (6244), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Teen Personal Training (HSADAAAJ), Robotics After-School & Enrichment Clubs (EDAMADAA)

Keywords

• After-school programs
• Youth development services
• Nonprofit education programs
• Child academic support
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary funding source from individual donors, including monthly Club Champions program and one-time gifts. The organization has finished with a fully funded operating budget for 25 consecutive years.
2. Church and Faith-Based Organizations: Funding from churches including Christ Church of Oak Brook, Grace and Peace Church, Grace Presbyterian Church of Winnetka, Park Community Church, Willow Chicago, and others.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations and corporations including Fellowes Brands, First Trust Portfolios, FT Cares, John Buck Company, Lincoln Park Preschool, and others. Featured partner Coeur Mining supports through monetary donations and sponsorships.
4. Government Subsidies: Government funding accounts for approximately 13% of budget, subsidizing meals and healthy snacks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

By The Hand Club for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a Christ-centered after-school program for children in Chicago's most under-resourced neighborhoods, delivered through six physical club sites. The program provides academic support using personalized technology-enabled reading instruction (Lexia Core5 Reading and PowerUp), daily nutritious meals, healthcare access (dental, vision, physicals), counseling and social-emotional learning, spiritual development, transportation, summer camps, sports, and arts enrichment for children from kindergarten through college at no cost to families.

Product overview

By The Hand Club for Kids is a nonprofit after-school program, not a technology product company. It does not offer a SaaS platform, software product, or technology modules. The organization operates as a Christ-centered after-school program that takes kids by the hand from kindergarten through college, loving and nurturing them—mind, body and soul. The organization runs six physical club sites in Chicago neighborhoods (Altgeld-Murray, Austin, Cabrini-Green, Englewood, Moving Everest/Austin, and North Austin), providing academic support, technology-enabled reading instruction (using Lexia Core5 Reading and PowerUp), meals, healthcare, counseling, and spiritual development. No distinct branded product offerings, software modules, or digital platforms are marketed as separate products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Austin Harvest: Youth-led container farm and food access program in the Austin neighborhood
• Bowen Harvest

Products and services

• After-School Club Program Direct-service after-school program providing academic support, meals, healthcare, counseling, spiritual development, and enrichment activities to children from kindergarten through college at six sites in Chicago's most under-resourced neighborhoods. Free to all enrolled students.
• Virtual Club

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of high school graduates enrolled in college in 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered featured, premier, core, minor and platinum.

• Coeur MiningfeaturedGTM or Marketing PartnerCoeur Mining has been a valued partner since 2019. The Chicago-based precious metals mining company has supported through monetary donations, clothing drives, sponsorship of Austin Harvest's vibrant Vita Nova mural, educational classes, internship opportunities, and annual sponsorship and participation in Summer Reading Playoffs.
• AllstatepremierGTM or Marketing PartnerAllstate is a Premier Level corporate partner. Jose Gomez, an Allstate Agency Owner, serves on the Board of Directors.
• Fellowes BrandspremierGTM or Marketing PartnerFellowes Brands is a Premier Level partner. James Fellowes, Chairman of Fellowes Brands, serves as Chairman of By The Hand's Board of Directors.
• Lincoln Park Preschool & KindergartenpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerLincoln Park Preschool & Kindergarten is a Premier Level partner. Sharon Hickey-Kozek, Founder & Owner, serves on the Board of Directors.
• Athletes for JusticepremierGTM or Marketing PartnerAthletes for Justice is a Premier Level partner supporting By The Hand's mission.
• Cornerstone Counseling Center of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to develop Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) approaches for supporting children and families' mental health needs during COVID-19, including counseling and crisis intervention.
• Intentional SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at North Austin campus providing sports coaching and enrichment activities. Students like Iker receive coaching at Intentional Sports as part of their club experience.
• Habitat for Humanity ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBy The Hand staff and volunteers partnered with Habitat for Humanity Chicago to help build three new homes for families in Austin neighborhood.
• Forty Acres Fresh MarketscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to distribute thousands of pounds of fresh produce weekly to By The Hand families during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Austin Coming Together (ACT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for six-week food giveaway program as part of the city's COVID-19 Racial Equity Response Program, distributing 1,000 boxes of fresh food weekly from By The Hand parking lot in Austin.
• ComcastcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvided free Wi-Fi access to By The Hand families during COVID-19 to enable students to participate in virtual learning.
• Novak ConstructionplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Level corporate partner supporting By The Hand.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National after-school youth development network serving under-resourced communities with academic, athletic, and mentorship programming — the closest direct analog to By The Hand's site-based, K-through-young-adult service model.
• After-School Matters: Chicago-based nonprofit providing after-school and summer programming (arts, sports, STEM, communications) to Chicago teens — directly comparable Chicago footprint, target demographic, and after-school delivery model.
• KIPP Chicago: Chicago charter school network serving under-resourced neighborhoods with extended-day programming and college-prep focus — comparable mission (educational equity for under-resourced Chicago students) and K-through-college orientation.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Operates after-school, academic enrichment, and youth development programming across Chicago neighborhoods. Highly comparable geographic footprint and target population to By The Hand's six-site Chicago model.

Broad incumbents

• Compassion International: Global faith-based child sponsorship organization providing holistic child development (educational, health, spiritual) — comparable Christ-centered, holistic-child, sponsorship-driven funding model.
• Young Life: National faith-based youth development organization combining mentoring, spiritual formation, and community engagement for adolescents — comparable Christ-centered mission and youth-development orientation.
• Salvation Army Metropolitan Division: Provides youth programs, after-school services, meal programs, and social services across Chicago — comparable wraparound service breadth (meals, education, spiritual support) and Chicago footprint.

Regional players

• Big Shoulders Fund: Chicago-based nonprofit supporting Catholic and inner-city schools with scholarships and programming — comparable Chicago focus, donor-development orientation, and under-reserved student population.
• Hope Chicago: Chicago-focused college-access and persistence nonprofit serving students from under-resourced communities — directly comparable K-through-college mission and Chicago geography.
• OneGoal: Chicago-based college persistence nonprofit serving under-resourced high school students — comparable college-outcome focus (91% college enrollment benchmark) and Chicago student population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bythehandclub
• YouTubevimeo.com/bythehand
• Facebookfacebook.com/bythehandclubforkids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/by-the-hand-club-for-kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/bythehandclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 By The Hand Club for Kids