The Trespass Project
The Trespass Project is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances legal literacy for youth globally through children's publishing, digital rights databases, advocacy coalitions, and Know Your Rights presentations. Founded in 2023 by Cayden Brown, it serves children, families, schools, and donor supporters under Steen Foundation fiscal sponsorship.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersEarth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Trespass Project does
The Trespass Project is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2023 by then-16-year-old Cayden Brown that advances legal literacy for children and youth globally. The organization serves children, families, schools, and donor supporters by combining digital tools, published content, and live advocacy programming designed to make legal systems accessible to young people, particularly minority youth navigating courtroom, legislative, or policy decisions that affect their rights. Secondary audiences include parents seeking age-appropriate resources to discuss legal concepts with their children, and institutional donors supporting youth justice reform.
The organization's product portfolio centers on Trespass Publishing, a wholly-owned publishing imprint that debuted in May 2026 with 'The Kid in the Courtroom,' a children's picture book that achieved #1 Amazon New Release status in the Children's Marriage & Divorce category and is distributed through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Bookshop, Books-A-Million, and Google Play with eBook exclusivity on Kindle Direct Publishing and an Audible audiobook release in June 2026. Digital products include The Children's Record, a 2025-launched public archival initiative collecting time-stamped, location-pinned witness notes on human rights violations affecting children, and Tracking Power: Executive Orders Database, a searchable 2025 database categorizing Trump Administration executive orders by impact on youth rights. Additional offerings include the Global Legal Guides Series, Know Your Rights presentations (including a 45-minute presentation at Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp in Detroit that directly engaged 500+ youth), and Teen Court advocacy supporting Oakland County, Michigan's juvenile diversion program, which posted a 90% non-reoffense rate.
The Trespass Project operates under fiscal sponsorship from The Steen Foundation (Tax ID: 84-2674424) and is funded primarily through tax-deductible donations structured as a four-tier recurring monthly ladder (Community Builder $15-49, Sustaining Partner $50-149, Justice Circle $150-499, Institutional Ally $500+) processed via Givebutter on Stripe. Supplementary revenue includes one-time sponsorships (Book Distribution Sponsor $500, Outreach Sponsor $1,000, Print Run Sponsor $3,000, and major gifts $2,500+), book sales across 40,000+ retailers worldwide, and grant funding including an $11,575 investment share from The Skillman Foundation's $250,000 President's Youth Council initiative in December 2024. The organization operates with 11-50 staff (likely closer to the lower end given nonprofit scale), is headquartered in Detroit, MI, and maintains a stated operating footprint across the USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and Nigeria.
The Trespass Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Trespass Project
- Legal name
- The Trespass Project
- Website
- https://trespassproject.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Trespass Project is a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances legal literacy for youth globally through children's publishing, digital rights databases, advocacy coalitions, and Know Your Rights presentations. Founded in 2023 by Cayden Brown, it serves children, families, schools, and donor supporters under Steen Foundation fiscal sponsorship.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Trespass Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Legal Literacy and Children's Publishing
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights) (EDAAAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
Keywords
Where The Trespass Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Earth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Trespass Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations through monthly recurring donor tiers (Community Builder $15-49/month, Sustaining Partner $50-149/month, Justice Circle $150-499/month, Institutional Ally $500+/month) and one-time gifts. Grants from foundations such as The Skillman Foundation.
- Book Sales: Revenue from publishing and selling children's books including The Kid in the Courtroom, available through major retailers and direct sales. Includes bulk orders for schools and organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Community Builder - $15-49/month recurring donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustaining Partner - $50-149/month recurring donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Justice Circle - $150-499/month recurring donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Institutional Ally - $500+/month recurring donor |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Book Distribution Sponsor - $500 one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Outreach Sponsor - $1,000 one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Print Run Sponsor - $3,000 one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Major Support - $2,500+ one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Major Support - $5,000+ one-time |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Major Support - $10,000+ one-time |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Trespass Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Trespass Project is a nonprofit advancing legal literacy among youth globally. Its core offerings include a children's book publishing imprint (Trespass Publishing, debuting with The Kid in the Courtroom), digital resources such as the Global Legal Guides Series and the Tracking Power executive orders database, an archival initiative (The Children's Record) documenting human rights violations affecting children, and live Know Your Rights presentations and Teen Court advocacy services.
Product overview
The Trespass Project is a nonprofit legal literacy organization for youth operating as a platform-plus-initiative model. Core offerings include Trespass Publishing (the publishing imprint debuting with 'The Kid in the Courtroom' children's book), The Children's Record (a digital archive for documenting youth human rights violations), and the Tracking Power Executive Orders Database (a searchable database of policy changes affecting youth). The organization also provides Global Legal Guides, Teen Court Advocacy services, and Know Your Rights educational presentations. Revenue derives from publishing sales, donations, and targeted sponsorships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Trespass Publishing: The publishing imprint of The Trespass Project, debuted in 2026 with 'The Kid in the Courtroom' by Cayden Brown.
Products and services
- The Kid in the Courtroom Children's picture book by Cayden Brown about a young boy navigating custody proceedings and finding his voice. Achieved #1 Amazon New Release status in the Children's Marriage & Divorce category. Available in print, eBook (via Kindle Direct Publishing), and audiobook (via Audible, releasing June 23, 2026) formats, distributed across 40,000+ retailers, libraries, and schools worldwide.
- The Children's Record Digital archival initiative that collects, preserves, and publicly displays documentation of human rights violations affecting children. Features anonymous, time-stamped, location-pinned witness notes for future accountability. Announced on the organization's second anniversary as a living capsule of child witness accounts.
- Tracking Power: Executive Orders Database Searchable, filterable database categorizing Trump Administration executive orders since February 2025. Makes information about immigration, racial justice, gender rights, education, and environmental protections accessible to youth. Part of the Tracking Power initiative to help young people understand policy changes affecting their rights.
- Global Legal Guides Series Accessible series of foundational legal guides explicitly crafted for youth, providing explanations of essential rights and actions for navigating common scenarios including police encounters and election participation.
- Teen Court Advocacy
Quantifiable outcome
- Teen Court advocacy contributed to 90% non-reoffense rate in Oakland County, Michigan juvenile diversion program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Trespass Project
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Trespass Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
The Trespass Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Human Rights WatchcoreCo-authored an open letter with Human Rights Watch and 22 other global organizations urging Nepal's government to expand the Child Grant program for youth.
- AFS Youth AssemblymajorThe Trespass Project's Executive Director was selected as the youngest of five youth peace panelists from around the world to address UN Security Council Resolution 2250 at the AFS Youth Assembly 'Forge Our Shared Future' at United Nations Headquarters.
- Gen-Z for ChangecoreThe Trespass Project joined Gen-Z for Change, March for Our Lives, Sunrise Movement, and United We Dream in the 'Finish the Job Youth Agenda' coalition, presenting at a press conference in Washington, D.C. with key allies in Congress including Representatives Summer Lee, Greg Casar, Jamaal Bowman, Ro Khanna, and Senator Bernie Sanders.
- March for Our LivescorePart of the 'Finish the Job Youth Agenda' coalition with America's largest youth-led organizations, presenting a unified criminal justice reform agenda to the Biden Administration.
- Sunrise MovementcorePart of the 'Finish the Job Youth Agenda' coalition presenting unified demands to the Biden Administration, attracting over 550,000 views across platforms and coverage by TIME and Forbes.
- United We DreamcorePart of the 'Finish the Job Youth Agenda' coalition of America's largest youth-led organizations advocating for policy changes from the Biden Administration.
- Youth Justice CoalitioncorePartnered with the Youth Justice Coalition to publicize Los Angeles County Supervisor contact information and demand evacuation of incarcerated youth at Sylmar's Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and Malibu's Camp Kilpatrick during January wildfires.
- Know Your Rights Camp (Colin Kaepernick)majorPrepared a historic 45-minute presentation for Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp in Detroit, with Cayden Brown becoming the youngest-ever presenter in the camps history, leading the legal rights segment previously entrusted to Ben Crump. Directly engaged 500+ youth.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Trespass Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Generation Citizen: Nonprofit working to ensure every student in the U.S. receives an action-based civics education. Comparable as a youth civic-education nonprofit delivering school-based programs to build civic and legal literacy.
- Sunrise Movement: Youth-led political movement mobilizing young people around climate and justice issues. Coalition partner with Trespass on the Youth Agenda, with shared advocacy infrastructure and Congressional engagement model.
- United We Dream: The largest immigrant youth-led network in the U.S. Coalition partner with Trespass on the Youth Agenda; comparable as a youth-of-color-led advocacy organization driving policy campaigns on rights issues.
- Know Your Rights Camp: Colin Kaepernick's youth legal literacy and rights education nonprofit. Trespass Project has a documented presentation partnership with KYRC in Detroit, making it a directly comparable peer in youth legal rights education.
- Gen-Z for Change: Youth-led organizing network driving digital advocacy campaigns. Coalition partner with Trespass; shares the youth-led advocacy model with strong social-media-driven mobilization and policy engagement.
- iCivics: Founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to provide civics and law-related education to youth. Closely comparable as a nonprofit producing educational content (games, curricula) to teach young people about legal systems and rights.
- National Juvenile Defender Center: Nonprofit improving outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system through training, policy, and advocacy. Closely comparable peer given Trespass's Teen Court advocacy and juvenile justice reform activity.
- March for Our Lives: Youth-led gun violence prevention organization. Trespass is a coalition partner via the 'Finish the Job Youth Agenda,' and the two share a youth-led advocacy model targeting policy reform and engaging Congressional allies.
Broad incumbents
- DoSomething.org: One of the largest youth-activism nonprofits in the U.S., running campaigns and mobilizing young people around social issues. Comparable as a scaled, youth-driven nonprofit platform using digital channels to drive civic engagement.
- Brennan Center for Justice: Established national policy and law nonprofit addressing democracy, justice, and rights reform. Comparable as a youth-justice advocacy peer with significantly greater scale, broader issue portfolio, and deeper institutional funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Trespass Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Trespass Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Trespass Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Trespass Project subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Trespass Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Trespass Project 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 The Trespass Project
What does The Trespass Project do?
The Trespass Project is a nonprofit advancing legal literacy among youth globally. Its core offerings include a children's book publishing imprint (Trespass Publishing, debuting with The Kid in the Courtroom), digital resources such as the Global Legal Guides Series and the Tracking Power executive orders database, an archival initiative (The Children's Record) documenting human rights violations affecting children, and live Know Your Rights presentations and Teen Court advocacy services.
Is The Trespass Project a public or private company?
The Trespass Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Trespass Project founded?
The Trespass Project was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Trespass Project based?
The Trespass Project is headquartered in Earth, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Trespass Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are book Sales.
Who are The Trespass Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Generation Citizen, Sunrise Movement, United We Dream, Know Your Rights Camp, Gen-Z for Change, iCivics, National Juvenile Defender Center and March for Our Lives. Broad incumbents are DoSomething.org and Brennan Center for Justice.
Does The Trespass Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Trespass Project.
What industry is The Trespass Project in?
The Trespass Project's product category is Youth Legal Literacy and Children's Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAI, Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights), with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8111.