BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA, INC.

What BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA, INC. does

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1955 that provides free out-of-school time programming for youth ages 6-18 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. The organization operates five physical Clubhouse locations (East Lake, Highland Park, Emma Wheeler, Hardy Elementary, and Cromwell Hills), serving over 4,000 youth annually — a fourfold increase from 1,000 youth at two locations in 2019. All programs are delivered free of charge to members, with 98% of members qualifying for free or reduced school meals, making the organization a critical provider of after-school care, academic support, and youth development services for underserved Chattanooga communities.

The core programming is built on Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) national curriculum and is organized around three pillars: Academic Success (Project Learn/Power Hour tutoring, STEM activities, Diploma2Degrees college prep), Healthy Lifestyles (Triple Play wellness, Sports & Recreation, Prevention programs), and Character/Leadership Development (Keystone and Torch Clubs, Career Launch, Junior Staff, Money Matters). Specialized facilities include the Panda Cares Center of Hope at Highland Park (45-workstation computer lab and remodeled library) and the Emma Wheeler STEM Lab (3D printer and STEM curriculum), both funded through corporate partnerships in 2024. All locations hold Certificate of Approval from the Tennessee Department of Education, and the organization maintains comprehensive child safety policies including annual staff/volunteer screening.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of revenue streams: individual donations via the website donation portal, corporate grants (First Horizon Foundation $10K, Panda Cares $45K), event fundraising (44-year-old Stake 'N Burger Dinner, pickleball tournaments, warehouse sales, Holiday Adopt-a-Family), corporate event sponsorships ($250-$25,000 tiers), and percentage-of-sales retail partner campaigns (Ross Stores, Chick-fil-A, GAP, Family Dollar, Front Runner Athletics). Programs are delivered directly through Clubhouse enrollment, with marketing driven by community partnerships, school district relationships, word-of-mouth, and volunteer referrals across Hamilton County Schools (Brainerd, CGLA, Chatta Prep, East Ridge, Howard, Tyner). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO Dr. Le Andrea Ware, who assumed the role in March 2026.

Name

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA, INC.

Legal name

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga, Inc.

Website

https://bgccha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating five Clubhouse locations across Hamilton County, Tennessee, delivering free after-school academic, leadership, and wellness programming to over 4,000 youth ages 6-18 annually using BGCA's national curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAC

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAJ

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAD

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDACAHAD

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Before & After School Care (Early Years)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• After-school programming
• Community youth services
• Out-of-school time programs
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct charitable donations from individuals, including one-time gifts and recurring donations through the website donation portal.
2. Corporate Grants: Grants from corporations such as First Horizon Foundation ($10,000 for meals), Panda Express/Panda Cares ($45,000 for Center of Hope), supporting specific programmatic initiatives.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Stake 'N Burger Dinner (since 1982), pickleball tournaments, warehouse sales, and holiday Adopt-a-Family programs generate sponsorship revenue and direct donations.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for events ranging from $250 to $25,000, with recognition on materials, websites, and social media.
5. Retail Partner Campaigns: Percentage of sales donations from retail partners including Ross Stores (donation matching), Chick-fil-A, GAP, Family Dollar, Kitchen Collection, and Front Runner Athletics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1955 that delivers free after-school and summer youth development programs to youth ages 6-18 across Hamilton County, Tennessee. Operating from five Clubhouse locations, the organization delivers academic support, STEM education, sports and recreation, leadership development, career preparation, financial literacy, and healthy meals using BGCA national curricula. Programming is funded entirely through donations, grants, sponsorships, and event fundraising; 98% of members qualify for free or reduced school meals and programs are provided at no cost to families.

Product overview

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA, INC. is a non-profit youth development organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of after-school and summer programs for children ages 6-18. The organization operates multiple clubhouse locations serving the Hamilton County area. The core programs are organized into three main pillars: Academic Success (featuring Project Learn/Power Hour, STEM activities, and college preparation), Leadership and Workforce Development (including Career Launch, Money Matters, Junior Staff, and Keystone/Torch Clubs), and Healthy Lifestyles (encompassing Sports & Recreation, Triple Play, and Prevention programs). Additional offerings include specialized facilities like the Panda Cares Centers of Hope (state-of-the-art library and computer labs), the Emma Wheeler STEM Lab, and seasonal programs like the Back 2 Basics Basketball Camp. The organization also runs signature fundraising events including the annual Stake 'N Burger Dinner and Great Futures Award Luncheon. Partnership programs like Better Money Habits (with Bank of America) extend financial literacy education to teen members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Learn / Power Hour After-school learning activities providing tutoring, homework help, and literacy support to help kids succeed academically. Aligned with school curricula through the BGCA national Project Learn framework.
• STEM Programs STEM-based learning activities including robotics and Lego engineering projects designed to engage youth in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Career Launch Job-readiness and career preparation program helping teens develop skills for future employment.
• Money Matters Financial education program promoting financial literacy and responsibility among youth members.
• Junior Staff On-the-job training program developing people skills and work ethic among teen members.
• Sports and Recreation Wide variety of sports and active recreational activities promoting physical health and teamwork.
• Triple Play Wellness education program covering exercise, nutrition, and healthy relationships for comprehensive youth development.
• Prevention Programs Programs helping at-risk youth make positive life choices and avoid harmful behaviors.
• Keystone Club Leadership development program for teens ages 14-18 focusing on academic success, career preparation, and community service.
• Torch Club Leadership program for youth ages 11-13 designed to develop 21st-century leadership skills.
• Better Money Habits Financial literacy program in partnership with Bank of America providing weekly sessions on money management, credit practices, home loans, and banking skills for teens ages 14-18.
• Back 2 Basics Basketball Camp Basketball skills development camp hosted with 5-time Basketball Hall of Famer Orlando Lightfoot, teaching shooting, footwork, defensive techniques, and passing skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% high school graduation rate among teen program participants
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Front Runner AthleticsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 202510% of all purchases donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga during designated shopping days. Supports local youth while customers purchase athletic gear.
• Bank of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2024Partnered to deliver Better Money Habits program for teenage club members. Bank of America team leads weekly sessions on money management, credit practices, home loans, financial security, and banking skills tailored for ages 14-18.
• Chattanooga BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Making Moves Program providing weekly ballet instruction. Over 100 girls have been dancing weekly for three years. Club members performed at annual Stake 'N Burger dinner. Awarded Best Arts Program in Tennessee 2024.
• Ross StoresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonation matching campaign running July 30 through August 21, 2022. Ross matched all donations made during the campaign period to support the organization.
• Chick-fil-AminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShare the Love campaign where 15% of purchases of Chick-n-Minis or Nuggets at participating Chattanooga restaurants donated to the club.
• GAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBack-to-school campaign encouraging customers to donate backpacks and school supplies at Hamilton Place Mall location. Customers received 10% off coupon for donations.
• Family DollarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBack-to-school campaign accepting $1/$2/$3 donations at checkout in all local Family Dollar stores during campaign period.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth-development organization delivering STEM, leadership, and healthy-lifestyle programming to youth aged 5-18, with strong school and extension-service partnerships. Operates as a parallel model of free youth programming, though primarily through schools rather than clubhouses.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (National Organization): National umbrella network supplying curriculum, certifications, branding, and best practices to local affiliates including the Chattanooga chapter. Provides the operating framework that defines BGCC's programming.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland TN: Same BGCA network and identical youth-development mission; serves a similarly underserved Northeast Tennessee community with the same Project Learn, Triple Play, and teen leadership programs as the Chattanooga affiliate.
• Girls Inc. of Chattanooga: Local affiliate of national Girls Inc. providing after-school programming, academic enrichment, and leadership development for youth in Hamilton County, targeting a similar demographic and competing for the same grant funding.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga: Hamilton County-based youth development nonprofit focused on mentoring relationships and positive youth outcomes for at-risk children. Competes for the same donor and volunteer pool for youth services in Chattanooga.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee: Affiliated with the same national BGCA network, runs multiple clubhouses serving comparable youth populations in Tennessee, uses the same Project Learn and Triple Play curricula, and runs comparable corporate-funded facility programs (Panda Cares Centers of Hope).
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga: Operates in the same Chattanooga geography with a parallel mix of youth programming, after-school care, sports/recreation, and character development. Both organizations compete for the same youth members, corporate sponsorships, and volunteer pools in Hamilton County.

Emerging players

• Chattanooga Area Food Bank: Regional social-services nonprofit in the same Chattanooga geography, addressing food insecurity for populations that overlap with BGCC's 98% free/reduced meal members. Both channel corporate and foundation dollars for community food programs.

Regional players

• Signal Centers (Chambliss Center for Children): Chattanooga-based social services organization providing childcare and youth development programs serving overlapping at-risk families. Competes for school-district contracts and corporate partnerships in the same region.

Others

• United Way of Greater Chattanooga: Community funder and convening nonprofit that channels dollars to social-service agencies including youth-development nonprofits. Acts as a key funding intermediary for BGCC's grant pipeline rather than a direct program competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/boysandgirlsclubsofchattanooga
• Instagraminstagram.com/boysandgirlsclubscha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boys-&-girls-clubs-of-chattanooga-inc.

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA, INC.