What Drew Lewis foundation does

The Drew Lewis Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 1126 N Broadway Ave in Springfield, Missouri, founded in 2014 by Dr. Amy Blansit in memory of her late husband Drew Lewis. Its mission is to educate, empower, and support underserved families through personalized coaching and community programming. Core products include the RISE program (a 16-week curriculum covering financial education, self-advocacy, employment, and community-building), the Blue House Project (acquisition and renovation of homes in the Grant Beach neighborhood for rent-to-own resale to RISE graduates within two years), RISE Kids (youth financial literacy and life skills), the Nonprofit Career Academy (an online certificate program launched in 2022), Cottage Courtyard (affordable housing), and the Fairbanks Community Hub (a multi-tenant community center that also hosts the American Indian Center of Springfield). The technology stack is minimal: a Wix-hosted marketing site, a separate risecourses.org learning portal, a blog/podcast distribution layer, and standard social media channels — there are no proprietary AI, data, or platform systems described.

The foundation operates on a donation-and-grant funding model layered with a small earned-income stream. Primary revenue comes from individual and corporate donations, institutional grants (United Way of the Ozarks, Simmons Bank, Arvest Bank, OakStar Bank), and the Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) 50% tax-credit mechanism that targets business donors. Ancillary revenue is generated through Nonprofit Career Academy workshop fees at $149 per participant and community events such as Bikes & Brews and Fairbanks Community Dinners. Services to families are delivered free of charge. Distribution is direct and physical, centered on the Springfield headquarters and the Fairbanks Community Hub, with go-to-market driven by community referrals, volunteer engagement, content (podcast, blog, social media), and partnerships with local banks, the City of Springfield, United Way, and cultural organizations. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, and cumulative impact is cited at over 1,000 lives transformed across approximately a decade.

Name

Drew Lewis foundation

Legal name

Drew Lewis Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://drewlewis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Drew Lewis Foundation is a Springfield, Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, empowers, and supports underserved Missouri families through housing, financial literacy, youth, and community programs, including the RISE curriculum and the Blue House Project rent-to-own homeownership initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Human Services Nonprofit

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Family empowerment programs
• Financial literacy education
• Affordable housing support
• Nonprofit career training

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The foundation relies on charitable donations from individuals and corporations, including monetary contributions and in-kind donations of goods and services.
2. Grant Funding: DLF receives grant funding from organizations like United Way of the Ozarks and Simmons Bank to support specific programs including children's programming.
3. Missouri NAP Tax Credits: The foundation offers 50% Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits to donors with business income, making donations more attractive to corporate and business donors.
4. Workshop Registration Fees: The Nonprofit Career Academy charges $149 for its one-day workshop sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Drew Lewis Foundation educates, empowers, and supports underserved families in Missouri through a portfolio of programs including the 16-week RISE family empowerment curriculum, the Blue House Project rent-to-own homeownership pathway, RISE Kids youth development, the Nonprofit Career Academy online certificate program, and the Fairbanks Community Hub. Services are delivered free to eligible families and funded by donations, grants, and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

The Drew Lewis Foundation operates as a unified nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected community programs. The core offerings include RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Education), a comprehensive 16-week family empowerment program, which feeds into the Blue House Project, a homeownership initiative that provides renovated housing to RISE graduates. Additional programs include RISE Kids (youth development), the Nonprofit Career Academy (online certificate training), Cottage Courtyard (housing), Fairbanks Community Hub (community center), and various community events like Bikes & Brews and community dinners. These programs collectively address housing, financial education, employment, and community-building to help underserved families move from surviving to thriving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Education) A comprehensive 16-week program that educates and empowers underserved families through personalized coaching focused on financial education, self-advocacy, employment, and community-building initiatives. Delivered free to eligible families in Springfield, Missouri.
• Blue House Project A privately funded homeownership program where houses in the Grant Beach neighborhood are purchased, renovated, and rented to RISE program graduates with the goal of selling the home to them within two years, including education on financial literacy, banking, and homeownership.
• RISE Kids A youth development program that teaches children financial literacy, budgeting, mental health development, and communication skills in an engaging manner. Originally served as childcare for RISE adult class attendees.
• Nonprofit Career Academy (NCA) A comprehensive online certificate program designed to equip individuals with skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in the nonprofit sector, covering nonprofit management, leadership, and social impact driving. Includes a one-day in-person workshop priced at $149.
• Cottage Courtyard An affordable housing initiative focused on providing sustainable living options for families in northern Springfield.
• Fairbanks Community Hub A community center located at the Fairbanks that serves as a hub for community events, classes, and partnerships, including hosting the American Indian Center of Springfield.
• Fairbanks Community Dinner Weekly community dinner serving 60-120 people, providing nourishment and community connection for underserved families.
• Fairbanks Bike Shop A bike shop program providing community members with access to bicycles and repair services.
• Bikes & Brews A community event that brings together community members for social engagement and fundraising activities.
• Hope Movement A program focused on empowering individuals and communities across Missouri through various support services and community-building initiatives.
• Enrichment Today Podcast A podcast hosted by Dr. Amy Blansit featuring interviews with community leaders and entrepreneurs discussing topics of social impact and personal development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 lives transformed through programs over the past decade
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 core and minor.

• United Way of the OzarkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of the Ozarks organizes the annual Day of Caring event, with DLF as a participating nonprofit receiving volunteer support and community engagement.
• PaddiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaddio employees volunteered during Day of Caring 2022, laying rubber mulch in the Fairbanks playground and supporting DLF projects.
• American Products LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Products provided in-kind donations including landscaping, painting, picnic tables, lawn mowers, and fence repairs for Blue House Project homes. Went above and beyond to personalize homes for RISE members.
• Junior Achievement USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DLF to provide well-rounded lesson plans for RISE Kids program, offering additional educational content alongside DLF's original curriculum.
• Springfield-Greene County Library DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with DLF to provide engaging lesson plans for the RISE Kids program, helping make educational content more informative and enjoyable.
• American Indian Center of SpringfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at the Fairbanks Community Hub, AICS focuses on serving the Native American community and creating bonds between Native American heritage and Springfield through courses and events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YWCA USA: National nonprofit providing family support, financial empowerment, and community wellness programs — comparable to DLF's family empowerment and community-building mission, with similar demographic focus.
• Goodwill Industries International: Nonprofit providing workforce development, financial education, and family support services — comparable to DLF's RISE employment support and Nonprofit Career Academy training components, though at much greater scale and breadth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Youth development nonprofit offering financial literacy, life skills, and after-school programming — directly comparable to DLF's RISE Kids program and Fairbanks Community Hub youth services, with similar age-focused mission but national scale.
• Habitat for Humanity: National nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership for low-income families through volunteer-built and renovated housing — directly comparable to the Drew Lewis Foundation's Blue House Project, though operating at significantly larger scale across many markets.
• Junior Achievement USA: Nonprofit delivering financial literacy and work-readiness curricula to youth and young adults — directly comparable to DLF's RISE and RISE Kids financial education content, and an explicit curriculum partner.
• Community Action Partnership: National network of anti-poverty community action agencies providing family support, housing assistance, and self-sufficiency programs — highly comparable to DLF's holistic family empowerment mission through RISE and Blue House.

Broad incumbents

• United Way: Large-scale community services nonprofit that funds family stability, financial literacy, and youth programs — overlapping with DLF's mission and explicitly a current grant partner, but operating as a broad umbrella fundraiser rather than a direct service provider.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Community development financial institution supporting affordable housing and family financial stability through local partnerships — comparable to DLF's neighborhood-focused approach in Grant Beach and similar bank-partnership model.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing development and community resilience — overlapping with DLF's Blue House Project homeownership pathway, but operating at portfolio scale across major U.S. metros.

Regional players

• Springfield Community Foundation: Regional grantmaking organization serving the Springfield, MO area — comparable in geography and mission alignment with DLF, and a potential funder/peer within the same local nonprofit ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChQdfGAcit9sHxhvxJnjRig
• Facebookfacebook.com/DrewLewisFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drewlewisfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/drewlewisfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@drewlewisfoundation
• Xx.com/DLFSGF

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 Drew Lewis foundation