UrbanKind Institute

What UrbanKind Institute does

UrbanKind Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think-and-do tank founded in 2016 by Dr. Jamil Bey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The organization operates four core service lines: Community Engagement & Education, Research and Policy Work, Equity-Based Facilitation, and Program Development & Evaluation. Its methodology combines qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, surveys) with geospatial analysis to examine interconnected social, economic, and environmental challenges in overburdened and under-resourced communities. Service delivery is anchored by the "Neighborhood Walks" engagement model, where staff spend time with residents to identify priorities and inform policy.

The organization's business model is contract- and grant-based: revenue flows from program evaluation and consulting engagements with nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions, alongside grant-funded initiatives such as the EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) Hub, which it houses. Major initiatives include the Black Environmental Collective (100+ cross-sectoral organizations), Black Equity Coalition, Equitable & Just Greater Pittsburgh, Black Futures, and Trust Trees. A weekly podcast, "What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know," extends community reach. Customers are predominantly small-to-mid-sized nonprofits (Reimagine Re-entry, South Hilltop Men's Group, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council) with select academic (University of Pittsburgh) and healthcare/pharma (International Gaucher Alliance) engagements. In 2024, founder Dr. Jamil Bey was appointed Director of City Planning by Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, signaling expanded policy influence and prompting a leadership transition at the organization.

Name

UrbanKind Institute

Legal name

UrbanKind Institute

Website

https://urbankind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UrbanKind Institute is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit think-and-do tank founded in 2016 that provides community engagement, equity-based facilitation, program evaluation, and applied research services to nonprofits, government agencies, and academic institutions serving overburdened communities in Western Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Research & Equity Consulting

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community engagement consulting
• Equity-based facilitation
• Applied policy research
• Program evaluation services
• Environmental justice consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Consulting Services: Contract-based research, policy analysis, and consulting services for government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations. Services include program evaluation, facilitation, and community engagement.
2. Grants and Funded Programs: Grant funding for specific initiatives including EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) Hub.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UrbanKind Institute is a nonprofit think-and-do tank that delivers four core professional service lines: Community Engagement & Education (centering resident voices through activities such as Neighborhood Walks and the weekly podcast), Research and Policy Work (qualitative and geospatial analysis, surveys, and issue-specific studies), Equity-Based Facilitation (helping businesses, nonprofits, and community groups address inclusion, access, and decision-making), and Program Development & Evaluation (policy, procedure, and case management support). Engagements are delivered under contract to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and community-based partners in Pittsburgh and the broader region.

Product overview

UrbanKind Institute is a Pittsburgh-based think-and-do tank offering professional services focused on bridging community experiences, public policy, and academic research. The organization provides four interconnected core service lines: Community Engagement & Education (including Neighborhood Walks and podcast programming), Research and Policy Work (including qualitative, geospatial, survey, and interview-based analysis), Equity-Based Facilitation, and Program Development & Evaluation. These services are complemented by four key initiatives: Black Environmental Collective, Black Futures, Equitable & Just Greater Pittsburgh, and Trust Trees. The organization also manages specific programs including The Pittsburgh Study, The Black Equity Coalition, and various facilitation workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Environmental Collective: A collective containing 100+ cross-sectoral organizations working to advance solutions that support Black communities' ability to combat environmental threats to quality of life, food, environment/place, and climate change.
• Black Futures
• Equitable & Just Greater Pittsburgh
• Trust Trees
• What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know

Products and services

• Community Engagement & Education Service offering that centers the voices, lived experiences, goals, and priorities of residents from over-burdened communities in decisions, research, and investments; includes community organizing training, value and priority identification, focus groups, group discussion facilitation, and resident engagement activities. Target audience: residents of under-resourced communities and partner organizations seeking resident input.
• Research and Policy Work Applied research and policy analysis service using a critical, interdisciplinary lens, including qualitative and geospatial analysis, surveys, interviews, and issue-specific research on education, environment, housing, jobs, neighborhoods, public safety, and transportation. Target audience: government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions.
• Equity-Based Facilitation Facilitation service that helps businesses, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and community-based groups understand, evaluate, and discuss issues that matter to them, embedding equity questions of inclusion, access, participation, decision-making, and outcomes. Target audience: businesses, nonprofits, service providers, and community-based groups.
• Program Development & Evaluation Evaluation service that assesses areas of deficit in equity, transparency, sustainability, and integrity to develop policies, procedures, and case management models that increase capacity, funding, participant engagement, and success for supported programs and organizations. Target audience: nonprofit and community-based program operators.
• Neighborhood Walks Community engagement activity in which UrbanKind staff spend time with residents in their spaces to identify neighborhood priorities, appropriate communication means, share ideas, and learn about resident perspectives on various topics. Target audience: residents of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
• What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know Podcast Weekly Facebook Live podcast begun in May 2020 in partnership with 1-Hood Media and Black Women, Wise Women, providing a space for sharing information and resources among and with Black residents in the Greater Pittsburgh Region; features Black professionals, scholars, and leaders.
• Black Environmental Collective Coalition of 100+ cross-sectoral organizations serving as an authentic space where leaders of color respond to Black population needs as environmental emergencies persist and arise; founded by Dr. Jamil Bey and housed at UrbanKind Institute.
• Environmental Cultural Humility Workshops Workshops developed to improve the cultural competency of white-led environmental organizations working with historically and currently marginalized groups, interrogating dominant narratives about environment and nature.

Quantifiable outcome

• Engaged 125+ participants including public officials, private and non-profit practitioners, and local leaders in equity and inclusion agenda development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Independent SectormajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UrbanKind Institute is developing a national community-building strategy for Independent Sector to convene and facilitate a neighborhood-focused advising team including community organizers from Native American, Asian/South Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, and Environmental Justice communities.
• EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Dr. Ruchi Patel directs this hub housed at UrbanKind Institute, providing technical assistance to communities on environmental justice issues. Dr. Patel also serves on Eastern National Grantmakers Advisory Council for EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program.
• Urban League of Greater PittsburghmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership in Community Vaccine Collaborative to promote COVID-19 vaccine equity through increasing vaccine access and addressing vaccine mistrust in communities of color.
• Casa San JosémajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Community Vaccine Collaborative partner working on COVID-19 vaccine equity for Western Pennsylvania communities.
• Neighborhood Resilience ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Community Vaccine Collaborative partner focused on building community resilience and COVID-19 vaccine equity.
• International Gaucher AllianceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021UrbanKind facilitated three 90-minute virtual focus groups to collect community thoughts and perceptions on gene therapy from Gaucher patients and families worldwide.
• Reimagine Re-entryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Community-based program evaluation for organization supporting citizens returning to society after incarceration. UrbanKind developed policy, procedure, programming, and case management model.
• South Hilltop Men's GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Program evaluation for local organization promoting environmental protection through community training programs in South Hilltop Communities of Pittsburgh.
• Black Environmental CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020UrbanKind Institute serves as the organizational home for the Black Environmental Collective, a coalition of 100+ cross-sectoral organizations advancing solutions that support Black communities' ability to combat environmental threats to quality of life, food, environment/place, and climate change. Dr. Jamil Bey founded the collective.
• Black Equity CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Since spring 2020, UrbanKind has held a central role in this coalition of physicians, epidemiologists, health care practitioners, social scientists, community funders, and government officials working to prioritize health of Black and brown residents of Western Pennsylvania. Work has focused on COVID-19 response including data collection, contact tracing, and vaccine awareness.
• 1-Hood MediamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Podcast partnership hosting weekly 'What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know' Facebook Live podcast since May 2020, providing space for sharing information and resources among Black residents.
• Black Women, Wise WomenmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Podcast co-host partnership for 'What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know' alongside 1-Hood Media.
• Pittsburgh Water Equity Task ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Dr. Jamil Bey was an original member and organizer of this task force promoting fair investment and management practices for local water infrastructure.
• The Pittsburgh Study (University of Pittsburgh and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-term community-partnered research study on child health and thriving. UrbanKind is involved in the Internal Advisory Team, Policy & Place and Healthy Environments Strong Bodies committees. Dr. Jamil Bey has been central to developing the Child Thriving Matrix.
• Rebuild Together PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlyssa Lyon, Director of Black Environmental Collective, serves on the board of Rebuild Together Pittsburgh.
• Kelly Strayhorn TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlyssa Lyon, Director of Black Environmental Collective, serves on the board of Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
• InvestPGH at Urban Redevelopment AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlyssa Lyon serves as Vice Chair for InvestPGH at the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
• Pittsburgh Food Policy CouncilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrevious facilitation work including retreat facilitation for council working on food policy in Pittsburgh region.
• Bloomfield-Garfield CorporationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrevious board retreat facilitation for community development organization in Pittsburgh.
• Eva P. Mitchell Senior ApartmentsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrevious community engagement work for senior housing development project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PolicyLink: National research and policy organization advancing racial and economic equity — directly comparable think-and-do tank model that bridges community experience with policy research, though with significantly larger national footprint than UrbanKind.
• Equal Measure: Philadelphia-based evaluation and philanthropic services firm focused on equity and community impact assessment for foundations and nonprofits — comparable service model serving similar nonprofit and foundation customer segments.
• The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity: Ohio State-based interdisciplinary research institute focused on racial equity research, implicit bias, and community-based policy analysis — strong comparability to UrbanKind's research and policy work with academic anchoring.
• Urban Strategies Inc. National community development and equity consulting firm serving underserved communities through program evaluation, community engagement, and capacity building — closely matches UrbanKind's core service lines and target customer segments.
• Community Science: Research and development organization specializing in community-based participatory research, program evaluation, and equitable community change — closely mirrors UrbanKind's research methodology and target customer base.
• RMC Research Corporation: Research and evaluation firm providing program evaluation, policy analysis, and consulting to government, education, and nonprofit clients — comparable research/evaluation service portfolio, though broader sectoral reach.
• Harder+Company Community Research: Social research and evaluation firm providing program evaluation, equity assessments, and community-based research for nonprofits and foundations — directly comparable to UrbanKind's program evaluation and applied research services.

Emerging players

• Building Movement Project: Nonprofit organization providing consulting, research, and resources to support social change movements and nonprofit infrastructure — adjacent in nonprofit capacity-building focus, with broader national reach.
• Emerald Cities Collaborative: National coalition advancing environmental and economic equity through community-based partnerships — overlaps with UrbanKind's Black Environmental Collective work and environmental justice focus, but operates at national scale.
• Center for Community Change: National community organizing and advocacy organization focused on economic, racial, and immigrant justice — comparable mission-driven community engagement and equity focus but with much larger national advocacy footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BeUrbanKind
• Xx.com/BeUrbanKind
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urbankind-institute

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 UrbanKind Institute