Tenacity

What Tenacity does

Tenacity, Inc. is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1999 that operates a "Pathway to Post-Secondary Success" combining academic enrichment, literacy and life skills instruction, mentoring, family engagement, and tennis/fitness coaching for less advantaged youth from under-resourced communities. Its core school-year programs run in partnership with Boston Public Schools and include Baseline Basics (grades 4–5), Ace Academy (grades 6–8, an intensive 3-year program with 300+ hours of enrichment per year and a 4:1 ELA student-to-instructor ratio), College & Career Prep, and Post-Secondary Services, supplemented by free Summer Tennis & Reading Programs in Boston (28 municipal park sites), Worcester, and Chelsea. The organization reports 95% high school graduation and 80% higher-education enrollment among Middle School Academy completers, and serves over 6,000 youth annually through in-school, after-school, and summer programming.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of foundation grants (notably a cumulative $1.1M+ from New Balance Foundation since 2002 and a $100,000 Cummings Foundation "100K for 100" grant in 2017), corporate sponsorships (Liberty Mutual, PwC, WilmerHale, Needham Bank, New Balance Athletics product donations), federal AmeriCorps pass-through funding via the Massachusetts Service Alliance (ninth year, supporting 32 members), individual donations, and event-based fundraising — most prominently its Boston Marathon charity team, which has raised over $580,000 cumulatively since 2013 through invitational entries. Program delivery is free to all youth participants. Tenacity holds consecutive Charity Navigator 4-star ratings and operates from its headquarters at 38 Everett Street in the Allston neighborhood of Boston under Founder & CEO Ned Eames.

Name

Tenacity

Legal name

Tenacity, Inc.

Website

https://tenacity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tenacity is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) founded in 1999 that delivers free academic enrichment, mentoring, family engagement, and tennis/fitness programs to under-resourced youth ages 6 through young adulthood in Boston, Worcester, and Chelsea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Education Services (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Academic enrichment services
• Tennis instruction programs
• Mentoring and family engagement
• College and career preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website, planned gifts, IRA rollovers, stock donations, and donor-advised funds. The organization operates as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) with EIN 04-3452763.
2. Foundation Grants: Tenacity receives grants from foundations including New Balance Foundation ($225,000 SparkStart Grant), Cummings Foundation ($100,000), and other corporate foundations. These grants support Pathway programs and Summer Tennis & Reading programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide sponsorship support, volunteer programs, and in-kind donations. Notable sponsors include Needham Bank ($10,000 for Hyde Park STRP locations), Citrix volunteers, and product donations from New Balance.
4. Marathon Charity Fundraising: As an Official Charity of the Boston Marathon, Tenacity recruits runners who pledge to raise funds. Since 2013, Marathon teams have raised over $580,000. Runners receive invitational entries to participate.
5. AmeriCorps Federal Funding: Tenacity receives AmeriCorps grant funding through Massachusetts Service Alliance from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support AmeriCorps members serving in the programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tenacity provides a sequenced Pathway to Post-Secondary Success for less advantaged Boston and Worcester youth, combining academic enrichment, literacy and life skills development, family engagement, mentoring, and tennis/fitness coaching across school-year programs (Baseline Basics, Ace Academy, College & Career Prep, Post-Secondary Services) and the Summer Tennis & Reading Program. All programs are offered free of charge to participants ages 6 through young adulthood and are delivered through institutional partnerships with Boston Public Schools, the City of Boston Parks & Recreation, and AmeriCorps. The organization serves over 6,000 youth annually and reports a 95% high school graduation rate with 80% post-secondary enrollment among Middle School Academy completers.

Product overview

Tenacity is a non-profit organization providing a Pathway to Post-Secondary Success through a combination of youth development programs. The core programs include: Baseline Basics (elementary school introduction), Ace Academy (middle school intensive 3-year program), College & Career Prep (high school support), and Post-Secondary Services (college/career support). Summer programs include the Summer Tennis & Reading Program (STRP) offered in Boston, Worcester, and Chelsea. Additional offerings include competitive events (Tenacity Cup, Paddles to Pathways, Marathon Team), the Middle School Tennis League (MSTL), and a Scholarship Program. The organization maintains partnerships with Boston Public Schools, Boston Parks and Recreation, and various corporate sponsors. Currently, over 6,000 youth participate annually with a 95% high school graduation rate among Ace Academy completers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baseline Basics Introduces 4th and 5th grade Boston Public School students to tennis and the Tenacity Pathway, fostering a positive competitive spirit while providing lessons in self-control and sports etiquette.
• Ace Academy Intensive 3-year program for grades 6-8 offered in partnership with Boston Public Schools, providing academic enrichment, social/emotional support, family engagement, and tennis/fitness coaching with 300+ hours of enrichment per year, a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio in English language arts, and 15-20 New England field trips annually.
• College & Career Prep Provides continued academic support to Ace Academy graduates through high school selection assistance, tutoring, mentoring, college visits, financial aid counseling, and scholarship opportunities up to $4,000.
• Post-Secondary Services Supports high school graduates pursuing college or vocational education through transition support, financial aid counseling, personal mentoring, and resource referrals.
• Summer Tennis & Reading Program (STRP) - Boston Free summer program jointly offered with Boston Parks and Recreation, serving nearly 4,200 youth ages 6-15 through tennis/fitness activities and reading programs held in municipal parks during July and August.
• Summer Tennis & Reading Program (STRP) - Worcester Summer tennis and reading program serving youth in Worcester, MA, operated as part of Tenacity's 28-site summer network across Boston and Worcester.
• Summer Tennis & Reading Program (STRP) - Chelsea Summer tennis and reading program serving youth in Chelsea, MA, expanding Tenacity's regional summer reach.
• Scholarship Program Provides scholarships up to $4,000 based on financial need and academic performance for program participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% high school graduation rate among students completing Middle School Academy
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boston Athletic AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2016Tenacity selected as Official Charity of the 2017 Boston Marathon, receiving 15 invitational marathon entries. Runners pledge to raise funds for Tenacity's Pathway Programs. Since 2013, Marathon teams have raised over $580,000. This partnership provides significant fundraising opportunity and community visibility.
• Massachusetts Service Alliance / AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2016Tenacity is an AmeriCorps host site receiving 32 AmeriCorps members supported by federal funding. This is the ninth year of partnership with CNCS and MSA. To date, 186 AmeriCorps members have served with Tenacity, delivering more than 300,000 hours of service.
• Boston Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Tenacity operates Ace Academy and other school-year programs in partnership with Boston Public Schools. Programs are delivered at middle school sites including Josiah Quincy Upper School, Curley K-8 School, East Boston High School, and Umana Academy. Partnership provides school-based enrichment for students in grades 6-8.
• City of Boston Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Since 1999, Summer Tennis & Reading Program is jointly offered through partnership with Boston's Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Boston. The program serves nearly 4,200 youth ages 6-15 at 28 municipal parks and Department of Conservation and Recreation locations.
• CitrixminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitrix has provided volunteers for the past four years to help prepare for the Summer Tennis & Reading Program. Volunteers organize academic and tennis supplies and deliver materials to summer sites throughout Boston and Worcester.
• International Tennis Hall of FameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for educational field trips where Tenacity students visit the Hall of Fame in Newport, RI to watch collegiate tennis tournaments, tour the facility, learn tennis history, and participate in on-court activities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TENACITYtweet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuC6ySUyNA8LQYfFXr6AmYA
• Facebookfacebook.com/tenacityboston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tenacity
• Instagraminstagram.com/tenacityboston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Tenacity