Project Swish Chicago
Project sWISH Chicago is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that delivers free basketball leagues, mentorship, mental health support, and college exposure programs to inner-city youth ages 5-25, funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Swish Chicago does
Project sWISH Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization founded by McKinley K. Nelson on August 18, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois. The organization was created in response to the founder's personal experience losing friends to gun violence and channels sports and entertainment as engagement mechanisms to deliver safe spaces, mentorship, and developmental resources to inner-city youth and young adults ages 5-25 on Chicago's South and West sides. Programming is intentionally scheduled during hours statistically associated with elevated violence exposure.
The core product portfolio centers on free basketball leagues — the Swish League (ages 14-25), Biddie Ball League (ages 5-10), Late Night Basketball, and PSC Spring League '26 — augmented by enrichment programs including Elementary Boys & Girls Camp, Mini HER art-and-dance therapy, PSC Rising Stars mentorship, College Tours, Mental Health May, and signature events such as 27 Hours of Peace and the Back 2 School Festival. Distribution is delivered physically through partnerships with the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Mayor's Office, and at least seven community sites including Marquette Park, Ogden Park, Nash Community Center, Dunbar Career Academy, Palmer Park, Homan Square, and Don Nash Community Center, supplemented by online Google Forms registration.
The business model is donation- and sponsorship-funded rather than revenue-generating. All programs are provided free to participants; the organization collects individual tax-deductible donations via PayPal and Amazon Wish List in-kind contributions, and corporate sponsorships (BCBS Illinois, Health Choice Illinois, Starbucks, White Castle, Vitamin Water, DeNard Brothers, CHAMPS, TMH Man Cave, South-Suburban College) underwrite specific programs in exchange for brand visibility. GTM is community-led and event-driven: outreach via Instagram (@projectswishchicago), earned media coverage (NBA on TNT, CNN, MSNBC, WGN, Rolling Out, Black Enterprise, LeBron James engagement), email newsletter, and word of mouth through schools and community centers. There is no proprietary technology product; the digital stack is limited to a Squarespace website, PayPal donation flow, and Google Forms registration.
Project Swish Chicago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Swish Chicago
- Legal name
- Project Swish Chicago
- Website
- https://projectswishchicago.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Project sWISH Chicago is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that delivers free basketball leagues, mentorship, mental health support, and college exposure programs to inner-city youth ages 5-25, funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Swish Chicago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Sports Community Relations & Grassroots Program Management (MPAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Project Swish Chicago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Project Swish Chicago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations through PayPal, with 100% of funds collected used directly for youth programs. Donors can contribute via the organization's PayPal payment link.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor programs including T-shirts, hoodies with company logos, transportation for college tours, and general programming support. Sponsors receive brand visibility through the organization's events and materials.
- In-Kind Donations via Amazon Wish List: Community members can purchase items from the organization's Amazon Wish List including book-bags, school supplies, shoes, raffle prizes, and other needed materials for youth programs.
- Program Revenue (Free Services): Core programming including the Swish League, Late Night Basketball, and other initiatives are provided completely free to participants. The organization subsidizes all program costs through donations and sponsorships, with no revenue generated directly from participants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free youth basketball league and open runs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Project Swish Chicago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Swish Chicago provides free basketball leagues, open runs, and youth development programming for ages 5-25 across Chicago neighborhoods, operated during high-risk hours as a violence-prevention intervention. Programs integrate basketball with mentorship, mental health support, art therapy, college exposure tours, back-to-school supply distribution, and empowerment sessions. All services are offered at no cost to participants and are funded through individual donations, in-kind contributions, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Project sWish Chicago is a nonprofit youth development organization offering a portfolio of basketball leagues and programs for youth ages 5-25 in Chicago. The core offerings include the Swish League (ages 14-25), Biddie Ball League (ages 5-10), Late Night Basketball, and PSC Spring League. These are complemented by enrichment programs such as Elementary Boys & Girls Camp, Mini HER art therapy, College Tour, and PSC Rising Stars mentorship. Signature events include 27 Hours of Peace and Back 2 School Festival. All programs integrate basketball with social-emotional learning, mental health support, and educational resources to create safe spaces for youth in underserved communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Swish League Free basketball league program for ages 14-25 operating in various Chicago neighborhoods with official referees and coaches, scheduled during high-risk hours and integrating basketball with social-emotional development skills including trust, awareness, leadership, and accountability.
- Biddie Ball League Free youth basketball league for ages 5-10 hosted at Marquette Park in Chicago, held every Sunday from 9-12PM, hosted by Chase Adams.
- Late Night Basketball Late night basketball series providing safe recreational environments during evening hours when community violence risk is highest, sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois.
- PSC Spring League '26 Spring/summer basketball league and open runs program operating at multiple community centers and parks across Chicago neighborhoods.
- Elementary Boys & Girls Camp Summer camp for ages 6-14 combining art, basketball, technology, and therapy in a safe environment designed to prevent youth involvement in criminal activity.
- Mini HER: Self Love Expressions Through Art and Dance Empowerment program for young women using art and dance as therapeutic expressions for self-love and personal development.
- PSC Rising Stars Student spotlight and mentorship program celebrating youth achievements, college acceptances, and academic accomplishments.
- College Tour Educational initiative providing Chicago youth with organized exposure to college campuses, opportunities, and post-secondary pathways, with transportation support via donated coach buses.
- 27 Hours of Peace Overnight peace and lock-in event combining basketball, mental health support, and community engagement for youth.
- Back 2 School Festival Annual city-wide event distributing school supply kits and providing resources to students returning to school; over 3,000 kits distributed across city-wide events.
- Mental Health May Mental health awareness and support programming held during May, featuring wellness activities, empowerment sessions, and panels.
- Pay It Forward / Donations Tax-deductible donation program funding youth programs, accepting monetary contributions via PayPal and in-kind donations via Amazon Wish List for school supplies, shoes, raffle prizes, and facility contributions. 100% of funds collected are used for Chicago youth.
Companies that use Project Swish Chicago
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Project Swish Chicago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Swish Chicago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois (BCCHP)coreMajor healthcare sponsor supporting the PSC Spring League '26 and Late Night Basketball series. The partnership enables free basketball programming for Chicago youth by subsidizing program costs.
- Health Choice IllinoiscoreIllinois Medicaid managed care organization sponsoring youth programming and health-related initiatives.
- Mayor's Office (Chicago)coreOfficial partnership with the Chicago Mayor's Office demonstrating city-level support and recognition for the organization's community impact.
- South-Suburban CollegeminorEducational institution partner potentially supporting college exposure and academic programming for youth participants.
- StarbucksminorCorporate sponsor providing support for youth programming through the company's community investment initiatives.
- White CastleminorCorporate restaurant sponsor contributing to youth programming and community events.
- CHAMPSminorYouth development organization partnership supporting programming for youth participants.
- TMH Man CaveminorPartner organization focused on supporting youth male development and mentorship initiatives.
- DeNard BrothersminorLocal brand partner sponsoring youth programming and events.
- Vitamin WaterminorBeverage brand providing sponsorship support for youth events and programming.
- Chicago Police Department (CPD)coreLaw enforcement partnership enabling basketball leagues and open runs at CPD facilities, facilitating positive police-community youth relations.
- Chicago Public Schools (CPS)corePartnership with CPS schools for hosting basketball leagues, open runs, and back-to-school events at elementary and high school facilities across the city.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project Swish Chicago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Chicago Youth Centers: Chicago-based nonprofit providing educational, recreational, and developmental programming for underserved youth across multiple neighborhood centers. Direct geographic overlap with PSC's Chicago footprint and similar target demographic of at-risk youth.
- Chicago CRED (Cure Violence): Chicago-based organization implementing the Cure Violence public health approach to interrupt violence in high-risk neighborhoods. Adjacent mission to PSC (urban violence intervention) but uses violence-interrupter methodology rather than sports-based engagement.
- Kids Off the Block: Chicago-based youth violence prevention nonprofit founded by Diane Latiker on the South Side, offering safe spaces and programming for at-risk youth. Highly comparable mission (Chicago youth violence intervention) and geographic concentration to PSC.
Direct peers
- PeacePlayers International: Globally uses basketball as a vehicle for youth development and conflict transformation in divided communities. Most direct peer — operates basketball-based programming targeting at-risk youth with a mission model structurally similar to PSC's basketball-as-intervention approach.
- Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation: Founded by Kobe and Vanessa Bryant to support youth through sports, with a strong emphasis on basketball access for underserved communities. Comparable as a basketball-centric youth development nonprofit leveraging celebrity-driven brand equity.
- Police Athletic League (National PAL): National network of police-affiliated youth athletic leagues providing basketball and other sports to urban youth. Mirrors PSC's CPD partnership model and basketball league programming targeting underserved youth during after-school hours.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Operates youth recreation, sports leagues, and mentorship programs across the Chicago metro area. Overlaps directly with PSC in geographic footprint and in providing free/subsidized recreational programming for underserved Chicago youth.
- AAU (Amateur Athletic Union): National governing body for amateur youth basketball leagues and tournaments in the U.S. Provides a comparable organized basketball league structure for youth, but operates at national scale and on a competitive/club model rather than PSC's free violence-intervention model.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization providing athletic, educational, and mentorship programming for underserved youth ages 6-18. Much larger and broader in scope than PSC, but serves overlapping youth segments with similar after-school programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Swish Chicago social profiles
Digital presenceProject Swish Chicago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Swish Chicago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Project Swish Chicago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Swish Chicago 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 Project Swish Chicago
What does Project Swish Chicago do?
Project Swish Chicago provides free basketball leagues, open runs, and youth development programming for ages 5-25 across Chicago neighborhoods, operated during high-risk hours as a violence-prevention intervention. Programs integrate basketball with mentorship, mental health support, art therapy, college exposure tours, back-to-school supply distribution, and empowerment sessions. All services are offered at no cost to participants and are funded through individual donations, in-kind contributions, and corporate sponsorships.
Is Project Swish Chicago a public or private company?
Project Swish Chicago is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Swish Chicago founded?
Project Swish Chicago was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Project Swish Chicago based?
Project Swish Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Swish Chicago make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, in-Kind Donations via Amazon Wish List and program Revenue (Free Services).
Who are Project Swish Chicago's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Chicago Youth Centers, Chicago CRED (Cure Violence) and Kids Off the Block. Direct peers are PeacePlayers International, Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation and Police Athletic League (National PAL). Broad incumbents are YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Does Project Swish Chicago have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Swish Chicago.
What industry is Project Swish Chicago in?
Project Swish Chicago's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAJ, Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of MPAKACAF, Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues). Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.