Empower Volleyball

What Empower Volleyball does

Empower Volleyball is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth volleyball organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Plainfield, Illinois. The organization operates recreational and competitive volleyball programs for athletes in grades 2 through 12 across the Will County and Kendall County areas of the Chicago metropolitan area, serving hundreds of families in more than 20 communities including Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Romeoville, Yorkville, Naperville, Joliet, and surrounding towns. The program portfolio comprises three core offerings: a year-round In-House League organized into four seasonal sessions and four age/skill divisions (Sparks 2nd–4th, Flames 5th–6th, Fire 7th–8th, Blaze 9th–12th); a competitive Club Volleyball program fielding ten age-grouped teams from 12U through 18U (including an 18U Phoenix flagship team); and a summer Sand Volleyball doubles program for intermediate-to-advanced players ages 12–18.

The organization's technology stack is entirely third-party, with no proprietary platform, mobile application, or registered IP. Operations rely on LeagueApps, OttoSport, Demosphere, and SportsEngine for registration, scheduling, standings, and USA Volleyball/AAU membership workflows, and PayPal for donation processing. Governance is provided by USA Volleyball CAP-certified and IMPACT-certified coaches, and the club is affiliated with USA Volleyball (Great Lakes Region) and AAU for sanctioned competition. Physical operations span community venues including the Romeoville Athletic & Events Center (primary campus), Yorkville Christian High School, the Romeoville Recreation Center, and outdoor sand courts at Four Lakes (Lisle) and North Avenue Beach (Chicago). Leadership includes Executive Director Dean Baxendale, Board President Claudia Baxendale, and board officers Courtney Huffman, Jason McNeil, and Nikki McNeil.

Empower Volleyball's revenue model combines per-season participant program fees ($250 per player for In-House League, $450 per player for Sand Volleyball, and all-inclusive pricing for Club Volleyball that bundles tournament and travel costs), tax-deductible donations processed through PayPal, local business sponsorships, and spirit wear merchandise sales. The 501(c)(3) status enables donor tax benefits and supports scholarship and payment-plan programs for underprivileged families. Distribution is community-led: customer acquisition is driven primarily by word-of-mouth referrals from the existing parent base, parent testimonials featured on the website, an Instagram presence, and local community partnerships. The organization has no parent company, no external equity or venture funding, and does not publicly disclose revenue.

Name

Empower Volleyball

Legal name

Empower Volleyball Club

Website

https://empowervolleyball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empower Volleyball is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth volleyball organization serving athletes in grades 2–12 across 20+ communities in the Chicago metro area (Will and Kendall Counties, IL). It operates year-round In-House, competitive Club, and summer Sand Volleyball programs via community-based venues and certified coaches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Volleyball Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Youth volleyball programs
• Club volleyball training
• Volleyball coaching services
• Sand volleyball training
• Youth sports league

Headquarters

HQ city

Plainfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Youth Volleyball Program Fees: Registration fees for in-house league, sand volleyball, and club volleyball programs. Fees are charged per season per player and include uniforms, equipment, and coaching.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Empower Volleyball receives tax-deductible donations from individuals and sponsorships from local businesses. Sponsors help provide scholarships and support underprivileged families in the community.
3. Spirit Wear / Merchandise: The organization sells spirit wear merchandise including clothing and accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Empower Volleyball is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth volleyball organization based in Plainfield, Illinois that offers volleyball training and competitive programs for youth athletes ages 5-18 across Plainfield, Romeoville, and Yorkville. The organization provides recreational league play, club-level competitive teams, sand volleyball training, and team strength and conditioning services through certified coaching staff.

Product overview

Empower Volleyball is a non-profit youth volleyball organization offering a portfolio of programs for athletes ages 5-18. The core offerings include: (1) the In House League—a year-round recreational program with four seasonal leagues (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) organized into skill-based divisions (Sparks, Flames, Fire, Blaze); (2) Club Volleyball—a competitive program with age-grouped teams from 12U through 18U featuring travel tournaments, position training, and strength/conditioning; and (3) Sand Volleyball—a summer doubles program for intermediate-to-advanced players ages 12-18. Supporting resources include Team Strength and Conditioning Training and recruiting assistance. The programs are coordinated through LeagueApps registration and standings platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In House League
• Club Volleyball Competitive travel and club volleyball program for youth athletes seeking higher-level training, competition, and skill development. Teams participate in regional and competitive tournaments under certified coaching.
• Sand Volleyball Program Beach/sand volleyball training and competition program for youth athletes, focusing on sand-specific techniques, footwork, and outdoor play.
• Team Strength and Conditioning Strength and athletic conditioning program designed for volleyball athletes, focused on sport-specific performance, injury prevention, and physical development.

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AAU (Amateur Athletic Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpower Volleyball is affiliated with AAU for club volleyball competitions. Families must register for AAU membership using club code UN2PY8SMQ to participate in club tournaments and events.
• USA VolleyballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpower Volleyball is affiliated with USA Volleyball through the Great Lakes Region. Coaches are certified via USA Volleyball's CAP program. Junior memberships available for athletes 18 and younger.
• Erlenbuilt Health & FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrength and conditioning partner providing training resources for Empower Volleyball athletes. Located in Plainfield, Illinois. Contact: Steve at 630.417.1699 or [email protected].
• LeagueAppscoreTechnology or IntegrationSports league management software platform used for online registration, calendar, standings, and program communications.
• OttoSportcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline registration platform used for summer league registrations and program enrollment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wildfire Volleyball Club: Midwest-focused competitive volleyball club offering club teams and training for youth athletes. Overlaps with Empower on competitive club programming, age-tiered team structure, and AAU/USAV-sanctioned tournament participation.
• Adversity Volleyball Academy: Chicago-area competitive youth volleyball club running USAV/AAU-affiliated club teams and training programs for ages 12-18. Comparable to Empower as a regional club competing for the same athlete pool and tournament slots in the Chicago suburbs.
• Sky High Volleyball Club: One of the largest competitive youth volleyball clubs in the Chicago metropolitan area, operating similar In-House/Club/Travel programs for boys and girls with USAV affiliation. Directly comparable because of overlapping geography, identical age-tiered team structure, and similar all-inclusive pricing strategy.
• 1st Alliance Volleyball Club: Illinois-based competitive youth volleyball club offering USAV-affiliated club teams, lessons, and camps. Comparable to Empower in scale and regional focus, serving a similar suburban athlete base in the broader Chicago area.
• Illinois Jumps Volleyball Club: Chicago-area youth volleyball organization running competitive club teams and developmental programs. Directly comparable as a regional club serving similar age groups with USAV-affiliated competition pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Amateur Athletic Union (AAU): National amateur sports organization providing tournament and membership pathways that Empower uses for its club teams. Comparable as the alternative sanctioning body that shapes how youth volleyball clubs compete and monetize memberships.
• USA Volleyball: National governing body for volleyball in the United States, of which Empower is a member club through the Great Lakes Region. Relevant as the umbrella organization setting certification (CAP, IMPACT), tournament, and membership standards that shape Empower's operating model.

Emerging players

• JVA (Junior Volleyball Association): National coalition of volleyball club directors and leaders setting operational standards for youth clubs across the U.S. Relevant as an industry consortium that shapes competitive standards, club certification, and the broader youth volleyball operating environment in which Empower competes.

Others

• LeagueApps: Sports league management software platform used by Empower for registration, scheduling, standings, and family communications. Relevant as a key infrastructure vendor whose pricing and feature roadmap directly affects Empower's operating cost and family experience.

Regional players

• Naperville area volleyball clubs (e.g., Club One Volleyball): Regional competitive volleyball clubs serving the western Chicago suburbs including Naperville — a market Empower explicitly targets. Comparable in service mix (club teams, lessons, camps) and pricing tier, representing direct competition for the same families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/empowervolleyball
• Xx.com/empowervb
• Facebookfacebook.com/empowervolleyball
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empower-volleyball

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Empower Volleyball