UrbanKind Institute
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
UrbanKind Institute firmographics
Firmographics- 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
UrbanKind Institute industry classification
Industry- 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
Where UrbanKind Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
UrbanKind Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
UrbanKind Institute product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use UrbanKind Institute
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UrbanKind Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
UrbanKind Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Independent SectormajorUrbanKind 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)coreDr. 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 PittsburghmajorPartnership in Community Vaccine Collaborative to promote COVID-19 vaccine equity through increasing vaccine access and addressing vaccine mistrust in communities of color.
- Casa San JosémajorCommunity Vaccine Collaborative partner working on COVID-19 vaccine equity for Western Pennsylvania communities.
- Neighborhood Resilience ProjectmajorCommunity Vaccine Collaborative partner focused on building community resilience and COVID-19 vaccine equity.
- International Gaucher AllianceminorUrbanKind facilitated three 90-minute virtual focus groups to collect community thoughts and perceptions on gene therapy from Gaucher patients and families worldwide.
- Reimagine Re-entryminorCommunity-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 GroupminorProgram evaluation for local organization promoting environmental protection through community training programs in South Hilltop Communities of Pittsburgh.
- Black Environmental CollectivecoreUrbanKind 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 CoalitioncoreSince 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 MediamajorPodcast 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 WomenmajorPodcast co-host partnership for 'What Black Pittsburgh Needs to Know' alongside 1-Hood Media.
- Pittsburgh Water Equity Task ForcemajorDr. 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)coreLong-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 PittsburghminorAlyssa Lyon, Director of Black Environmental Collective, serves on the board of Rebuild Together Pittsburgh.
- Kelly Strayhorn TheaterminorAlyssa Lyon, Director of Black Environmental Collective, serves on the board of Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
- InvestPGH at Urban Redevelopment AuthorityminorAlyssa Lyon serves as Vice Chair for InvestPGH at the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
- Pittsburgh Food Policy CouncilminorPrevious facilitation work including retreat facilitation for council working on food policy in Pittsburgh region.
- Bloomfield-Garfield CorporationminorPrevious board retreat facilitation for community development organization in Pittsburgh.
- Eva P. Mitchell Senior ApartmentsminorPrevious community engagement work for senior housing development project.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UrbanKind Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
UrbanKind Institute social profiles
Digital presenceUrbanKind Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UrbanKind Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
UrbanKind Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UrbanKind Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UrbanKind Institute
What does UrbanKind Institute do?
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.
Is UrbanKind Institute a public or private company?
UrbanKind Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was UrbanKind Institute founded?
UrbanKind Institute was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UrbanKind Institute based?
UrbanKind Institute is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does UrbanKind Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research and Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are grants and Funded Programs.
Who are UrbanKind Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PolicyLink, Equal Measure, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, Urban Strategies Inc., Community Science, RMC Research Corporation and Harder+Company Community Research. Emerging players are Building Movement Project, Emerald Cities Collaborative and Center for Community Change.
Does UrbanKind Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for UrbanKind Institute.
What industry is UrbanKind Institute in?
UrbanKind Institute's product category is Community Research & Equity Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services. Its NAICS code is 81341 and its SIC code is 8300.