Fostering Great Ideas
Fostering Great Ideas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers 10+ branded programs supporting children, youth, birth parents, and foster families affected by foster care — including mentoring, tutoring, sibling visits, and reunification support — primarily in South Carolina and Colorado with national virtual reach.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersGreenville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fostering Great Ideas does
Fostering Great Ideas (FGI) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-4622960), founded in 2011 by David White, LMSW, MBA, and headquartered in the Greenville, South Carolina area with significant operations in Denver, Colorado. The organization delivers a portfolio of 10+ branded "Great Ideas" programs organized into three pillars: supporting children and youth in foster care (Carry On luggage provision, Tutor Match academic tutoring, Life Support mentoring for ages 14+, Aspire college and career coaching for ages 16+); restoring families (It's All Relative training for kinship caregivers, Moms Matter peer support for mothers pursuing reunification with sub-programs Real World, Shelter Group, and Elevate U, and Sib-Link sibling visitation); and connecting communities (Care2Foster foster parent recruitment, Life in Limbo experiential role-play workshop, Speak Up advocacy). All direct services to children, youth, and families are provided free of charge.
The technology stack is intentionally lightweight and service-delivery oriented rather than product-oriented: virtual program delivery runs on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams; referral intake uses encrypted Google Forms routing to program management with a 3-business-day response SLA; private Facebook groups (e.g., Moms Matter SC) host peer communities; and donations are processed through Givebutter and MobileCause. The Life in Limbo workshop, the largest program by participation (10,000+ across 19 states and 3 countries), is offered via train-the-trainer licensing — the organization's primary productized revenue channel. The website (fgi4kids.org) is built and maintained by Waypost Marketing.
FGI is funded through individual donations (~54%), corporate donations (~23%), foundation grants (~20%), and a growing portion of earned income from training and Life in Limbo licensing. The organization employs 11-50 staff across SC, CO, and remote roles, with substantial volunteer infrastructure (150+ volunteers referenced in 2020). Strategic partnerships include the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Colorado Department of Human Services, CASA/GAL programs, 8 college partners for Aspire, and Houston's First Baptist Church for international Life in Limbo rollout. The organization holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, 10+ registered trademarks, and has received industry recognition including an ABA Reunification Hero award and APSC Peer Support Specialist of the Year.
Fostering Great Ideas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fostering Great Ideas
- Legal name
- Fostering Great Ideas
- Website
- https://fgi4kids.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fostering Great Ideas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that delivers 10+ branded programs supporting children, youth, birth parents, and foster families affected by foster care — including mentoring, tutoring, sibling visits, and reunification support — primarily in South Carolina and Colorado with national virtual reach.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fostering Great Ideas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foster Care and Child Welfare Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK), Home Visiting & Parent Coaching Programs (EDACALAC), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Family & Parenting Education (Family Literacy, Parenting Skills) (EDAAAFAF)
Keywords
Where Fostering Great Ideas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fostering Great Ideas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute approximately 54% of the organization's funding. Monthly donor program provides year-round stability for children.
- Corporate Donations: Corporate donors provide approximately 23% of funding, including 24 corporate sponsors mentioned in 2020.
- Foundation Grants: Foundation funding accounts for approximately 20% of revenue.
- Training and Consulting Services: Earned income from training services sought after by foster parents and child advocates, including Life in Limbo train-the-trainer licensing, Faith to Foster curriculum, and general workshops.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Moms Matter Support Group - Free |
| Freemium | Others | Tutor Match Tutoring - Free |
| Freemium | Others | Life Support Mentoring - Free |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Others | Life in Limbo Workshop - Fee-based licensing |
| Unit Pricing | Others | South Carolina Foster Parent Reimbursement |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Fostering Great Ideas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fostering Great Ideas operates a portfolio of ten branded Great Ideas programs that restore dignity and increase stability for children and families impacted by foster care. Programs are organized into three pillars: Supporting Children & Youth (Carry On luggage, Tutor Match tutoring, Life Support mentoring, Aspire college/career coaching), Restoring Families (It's All Relative training, Moms Matter peer support, Sib-Link sibling visits), and Connecting Communities (Care2Foster foster parent recruitment, Life in Limbo experiential workshop, Speak Up advocacy). All direct services to children and families are provided free of charge.
Product overview
Fostering Great Ideas operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing the foster care crisis through three pillars: Supporting Children & Youth, Restoring Families, and Connecting Communities. The core offerings include Carry On® (luggage provision), Tutor Match® (academic tutoring), Life Support® (mentoring), and Aspire™ (transition support); family restoration through It’s All Relative™, Moms Matter® (with Real World, Shelter Group, and Elevate U components), and Sib-Link® (sibling visits); and community engagement via Care2Foster®, Life in Limbo® (experiential workshop), and Speak Up® (advocacy). Programs operate primarily in South Carolina and Colorado, with web-based training available nationwide. Supporting resources include volunteer training (Plug In), referral management, donation processing, and educational handbooks for parents and foster families.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carry On®: Luggage and duffles for children in foster care to restore dignity
- Tutor Match®
- Life Support®
- Aspire™
- It's All Relative™
- Moms Matter®
- Sib-Link®
- Care2Foster®
- Life in Limbo®
- Speak Up®
- Real World
- Shelter Group
- Elevate U
- Making Memories®
- Thanksgiving Grace®
- Operation Bear Hug®
- Our Common Loss®
- Faith to Foster®
- Plug In
- The Luminary Gala
Products and services
- Carry On® Provides new and gently used luggage, backpacks, and duffle bags to children entering foster care, offering dignity and communicating that they matter rather than having belongings stuffed in trash bags.
- Tutor Match® Free tutoring program for children and youth in foster care providing weekly academic support in math, English, reading, and other subjects to help close the 15-20 percentile gap in standardized test scores. Available in-person or virtually.
- Life Support® Long-term mentor matching program for youth in foster care ages 14 and older, providing ongoing emotional support, guidance, and life skills development through twice-monthly mentor visits.
- Aspire™ Empowers youth and young adults ages 16+ transitioning out of foster care through life coaching, mentoring, career exploration, college application support, and financial guidance. Partners with 8 colleges to support students.
- It's All Relative™ Three-part training program for relatives and friends of children removed from home, preparing them for the journey ahead and helping build their case to become involved in the child's life.
- Moms Matter® Weekly peer support group for moms working toward reunification with their children, led by certified peer support specialists. Includes Real World post-reunification support, Shelter Group for parental rights termination, and Elevate U 13-week parenting course. Achieves 90%+ reunification rate versus 49% national average.
- Sib-Link® Sibling connection program that facilitates monthly visits between siblings separated by foster care placements, including in-person visits, virtual video calls, and virtual birthday celebrations. Has served 130 sibling sets with 1,500+ visits since 2015.
- Care2Foster® Foster parent recruitment and support program that helps individuals and families understand fostering, navigate the licensing process, and find success as foster parents. Includes Faith to Foster church-based curriculum and a 1,200+ member foster parent community.
- Life in Limbo® Interactive role-play workshop where participants step into the roles of birth parents, foster parents, and displaced children to learn what foster care feels like. Available as keynote session or train-the-trainer licensing format. Over 10,000 participants across 15+ states plus Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru.
- Speak Up® Grassroots advocacy group of volunteers advocating for foster care policy improvements, amplifying children's voices, and promoting legislative changes to reform the foster care system.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90%+ reunification rate in Moms Matter program vs. 49% national average
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Fostering Great Ideas
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fostering Great Ideas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Fostering Great Ideas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Houston's First Baptist ChurchcorePartnership with Houston's First Baptist Church for international expansion of Life in Limbo program to Guatemala. Church volunteers supported program delivery in Latin American markets.
- South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS)coreOngoing partnership with state social services for program delivery. Social service workers approve referrals before programs begin. Organization works with SCDSS case managers for Sib-Link transportation and supervision.
- Clemson UniversityminorFounder David White served as Adjunct Professor with Clemson's MBA in Entrepreneurship program for ten years, teaching Community Impact Entrepreneurship.
- Colorado Department of Human ServicescoreState-level partnership for Care2Foster, Sib-Link, and overall program expansion in Colorado. National child welfare hero in Colorado requested implementation of all FGI Great Ideas.
- South Carolina Foster Parent Advisory CouncilminorMaria Dayton serves on council providing guidance, support, and recommendations to SCDSS on behalf of foster parents, children in care, and families.
- 8 College PartnerscoreAspire program partners with 8 colleges to support students through their college journey, providing academic and emotional support for foster youth.
- Waypost MarketingminorWebsite design and digital marketing partner credited in footer. Provided web design services for fgi4kids.org.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fostering Great Ideas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fostering Great Ideas social profiles
Digital presenceFostering Great Ideas compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Fostering Great Ideas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fostering Great Ideas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Fostering Great Ideas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fostering Great Ideas 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 Fostering Great Ideas
What does Fostering Great Ideas do?
Fostering Great Ideas operates a portfolio of ten branded Great Ideas programs that restore dignity and increase stability for children and families impacted by foster care. Programs are organized into three pillars: Supporting Children & Youth (Carry On luggage, Tutor Match tutoring, Life Support mentoring, Aspire college/career coaching), Restoring Families (It's All Relative training, Moms Matter peer support, Sib-Link sibling visits), and Connecting Communities (Care2Foster foster parent recruitment, Life in Limbo experiential workshop, Speak Up advocacy). All direct services to children and families are provided free of charge.
Is Fostering Great Ideas a public or private company?
Fostering Great Ideas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fostering Great Ideas founded?
Fostering Great Ideas was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fostering Great Ideas based?
Fostering Great Ideas is headquartered in Greenville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fostering Great Ideas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations, foundation Grants and training and Consulting Services.
Does Fostering Great Ideas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fostering Great Ideas.
What industry is Fostering Great Ideas in?
Fostering Great Ideas's product category is Foster Care and Child Welfare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAJAKAK, Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.