30,000 Feet

What 30,000 Feet does

30,000 Feet is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that delivers youth development programs primarily for African American students ages 5-20 in the Twin Cities metro. Its core program portfolio comprises Academic Support/Study Hall for K-5 students from more than 20 schools, Tech Geeks (a coding and paid-employment program for teenagers with 50% of positions reserved for justice-involved youth), Art Residencies rooted in African American culture and social-justice themes, Arts & Literacy Day Programs, an Out of School after-school and six-week summer program, and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center — a facility at 1351 Arcade St operated 2pm-6pm weekdays in partnership with Best Buy, The Clubhouse Network, and MIT Media Lab that exposes youth ages 13-18 to coding, robotics, VR, 3D design, digital media, and AI as learning topics.

The organization's distribution is direct and place-based: in-school residencies and co-teaching delivered across 21 Saint Paul public schools, 3 Maplewood schools, and 4 alternative schools, plus workshops at 46+ libraries including Hennepin County Library, and STEAM programming at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Reported outcomes include a 64% average GPA increase, 74% attendance improvement, 52% suspension decrease, 50% tech-career placement rate, and a third-party-validated $3.10 in benefits per dollar invested.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit stack: individual and corporate donations, government grants (notably the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families Youth Intervention Program funding Tech Geeks), foundation grants (Xcel Energy Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, USA Today/Gannett, NEA CARES), school and institution service fees on multi-year contracts for program delivery, and a branded merchandise e-commerce storefront (coffee mugs $15, hoodies $35, long sleeve tees $20). All programming is free for students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch, with 92% of served students meeting that threshold. Leadership comprises Executive Director Kevin Robinson, Director of Programs Vanessa Young, Program Lead Mwansa Boston Puta (Tech Geeks), and a Board of Directors drawn from Health Partners, Xcel Energy, Saint Paul Public Schools, and two Minnesota universities.

Name

30,000 Feet

Legal name

30,000 Feet

Website

https://30kft.art

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

30,000 Feet is a Saint Paul-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that empowers African American youth ages 5-20 through academic support, paid technology training (Tech Geeks), culturally rooted art residencies, and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, delivered in partnership with Twin Cities schools, libraries, and corporate donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Arts education services
• After-school programming
• Technology education training
• Social-emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual contributions of any size from donors supporting youth education and arts programs
2. Corporate Donations and Partnerships: Corporate donations and partnerships with businesses to support programs and provide career opportunities for marginalized youth
3. Government Grants: Funding from government entities including Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families for Youth Intervention Program (YIP) Tech Geeks
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Xcel Energy Foundation and Minnesota State Arts Board
5. E-commerce Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including coffee mugs ($15), hoodies ($35), and long sleeve tees ($20). Proceeds support distance learning, hiring support staff, apprenticeships, and the arts and social justice tech hub.
6. Service Fees from Schools: 30,000 Feet charges a service fee to schools and institutions for delivering programs due to time and effort required

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

30,000 Feet is a Saint Paul-based nonprofit that delivers culturally responsive youth development programs for African American students ages 5-20, integrating arts, technology education, academic support, and social-emotional learning. Core offerings include Academic Support/Study Hall, Tech Geeks (technology education and paid employment with 50% of jobs going to teens involved in the juvenile justice system), Art Residencies, Arts & Literacy Day Programs, Out of School Program, and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center. Programs are delivered through in-school residencies, after-school sessions, and a dedicated facility in Saint Paul.

Product overview

30,000 Feet is a St. Paul-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth development programs focused on African American students ages 5-20. The core offerings include Academic Support/Study Hall for test prep and college/career exploration, Tech Geeks for technology education and employment, Art Residencies for culturally-rooted artistic learning, Arts & Literacy Day Programs, and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center providing access to cutting-edge technology. The Out of School Program extends academic support with art-infused learning and literacy tutoring. Additionally, the organization sells branded merchandise including coffee mugs, hoodies, and long sleeve tees. Programs operate as distinct offerings that collectively serve youth development through education, arts, and technology, with all programming free for students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tech Geeks: A program providing practical technology education and employment for teenagers, with 50% of jobs going to teens involved in the juvenile delinquency system.
• Best Buy Teen Tech Center
• Art Residencies
• Out of School Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% average increase in GPA
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Best Buy / Best Buy Teen Tech CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner30,000 Feet hosts a Best Buy Teen Tech Center in partnership with Best Buy and The Clubhouse Network. The center provides youth hands-on access to cutting-edge technology including AI, coding, robotics, VR, 3D design, and more. The program is based on a learning model developed by MIT Media Lab.
• The Clubhouse NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Best Buy Teen Tech Center program is based on a learning model developed by The Clubhouse Network in collaboration with MIT Media Lab. The network provides the framework for creative, safe, out-of-school learning environments.
• Health PartnersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth Partners employs 30K Tech Geeks alumni who started as interns at ages as early as 15, earning a living wage and helping families fight poverty. This is cited as a flagship case study of successful job placement outcomes.
• St. Paul, Maplewood, and Minneapolis Public and Charter SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner30,000 Feet provides in-school residencies with co-teaching, culturally relevant social justice art classes, after-school support, summer programs, and support for suspended or homeless students. Has served 2,500+ students with 92% on free/reduced lunch.
• Hennepin County LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides space for lively art residency sessions focused on African American history and culture. Part of the 46+ library partnerships offering arts, history, and social justice workshops.
• Science Museum of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with the Science Museum of Minnesota to build STEAM projects centered around social justice, providing meaningful pathways for students into STEAM fields.
• Software for GoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time nonprofit ally that allows marginalized youth opportunity to participate in high-level coding and app-building projects, building practical experience and resumes.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Black Girls CODE: Tech education nonprofit specifically serving Black youth with coding, robotics, and digital media programs. Directly comparable in culturally responsive technology education targeting African American youth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit delivering after-school academic support, arts, and STEM programming in schools and dedicated facilities. Directly comparable to 30,000 Feet's after-school programming, tech access, and youth outcome measurement approach.
• Genesys Works: Workforce development nonprofit providing technology training and corporate internship pathways for high school students from underserved communities. Closely comparable to Tech Geeks' technology education and corporate internship pipeline model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult mentors with at-risk youth, with strong outcome measurement around educational attainment and behavioral improvement. Comparable in mentoring/social-emotional development approach and youth outcome focus.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities with technical training and corporate internship placements (e.g., health and tech employers). Closely comparable to Tech Geeks' juvenile-justice-involved youth employment pipeline into companies like Health Partners.
• The Clubhouse Network: The Clubhouse Network operates the global learning model that 30,000 Feet's Best Buy Teen Tech Center is built on (developed with MIT Media Lab). It runs a network of technology-rich creative learning environments for underserved youth, directly comparable in mission and methodology.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: National youth development organization delivering after-school programs, academic support, and youth enrichment at community facilities. Comparable in youth development and after-school programming delivery model, though much broader in scope.
• KIPP Foundation: National network of charter schools focused on college preparation for underserved students, with strong outcome measurement frameworks. Comparable in alternative education model, measurable academic outcomes, and serving low-income communities of color.
• Urban League: National network of affiliates providing African American community services including education, workforce development, and youth programs. Comparable in African American community focus and youth programming breadth, though operating at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Software for Good: Minnesota-based nonprofit-aligned software development firm that partners with 30,000 Feet to provide coding opportunities for youth. Comparable in mission-driven technology training for marginalized populations in the Twin Cities region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/30kftart
• Facebookfacebook.com/30kft.art
• Instagraminstagram.com/30kft.art
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/30-000-feet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 30,000 Feet