First Tee – Greater Chicago

What First Tee – Greater Chicago does

First Tee – Greater Chicago is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit youth development organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Operating as a licensed chapter of the national First Tee network (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation, Inc.), the organization uses golf as a vehicle to teach life skills, character education, and leadership to children and teens ages 5-18 in the Chicagoland area. The organization serves thousands of youth annually through a portfolio of programs including junior golf instruction at flagship facilities, the First Tee School Program delivered in educational settings, the Community Outreach Program extending reach to underserved youth, the Ace capstone program for advanced teens, and national event pathways including the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach and the Game Changers Academy.

The organization's program portfolio is delivered across three flagship facilities — the Waveland Youth Facility (Chicago), Harborside Youth Learning Center, and The Evans at Canal Shores (First Tee Youth Campus in Evanston, opened 2024) — supplemented by school partnerships, community outreach, and signature events including the Corporate Challenge Golf Outing, Fore the Kids fundraiser, and Masters Watch Party. Programming is built on the proprietary Five Key Commitments and CARE framework curricula developed within the national First Tee network over 25 years. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses standard web infrastructure (WordPress site, Harness giving platform) and partners with Five Iron Golf for Trackman-powered simulator experiences.

The revenue model is donation- and event-driven rather than fee-driven. Primary revenue streams include individual charitable contributions (online via Harness, mail, stock, ACH/wire, pledges), corporate sponsorships through a tiered annual program (contact: Jesse Steinberg), signature event revenue (Masters Watch Party at $125/person, Corporate Challenge at $5,500/team, tournament entry fees of $30), and merchandise sales through a partnership with Concord Marketing Solutions. Program fees are kept nominal with financial assistance available, reflecting the organization's non-profit mission. The legal entity is the First Tee of Chicago Foundation (EIN # 31-1746890), incorporated in Illinois under the First Tee – Greater Chicago brand, with 44 employees and governance provided by a Board of Governors, Leadership Council, and Ambassadors Council.

Name

First Tee – Greater Chicago

Legal name

First Tee of Chicago Foundation

Website

https://firstteegreaterchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Tee – Greater Chicago is a 501(c)(3) youth development non-profit founded in 2000 that uses golf to teach life skills and character education to children and teens ages 5-18 in the Chicagoland area, operating through flagship facilities, school programs, and national event pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Intramural Sports & Recreational Leagues (EDALAIAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Junior golf instruction
• Character education
• Life skills curriculum
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, processed online via Harness platform, by mail (checks), stock donations (DTC# 0075), ACH/domestic wire, and pledge contributions. The organization is a 501(c)(3) with EIN #31-1746890.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorship program with tiered benefits packages providing 12 months of brand visibility through events and online promotion, plus VIP access to events. Contact for sponsorship is Jesse Steinberg.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from signature events including Corporate Challenge Golf Outing, Fore the Kids fundraiser, Masters Watch Party, and junior golf tournament entry fees.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of First Tee – Greater Chicago branded apparel and merchandise through partnership with Concord Marketing Solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

First Tee – Greater Chicago operates junior golf programs for children and teens ages 5-18 that integrate golf instruction with a proprietary life skills and character development curriculum. Programs are delivered at dedicated youth facilities, partner schools, and community locations across the Chicagoland area, with pathways to national competitive events such as the PURE Insurance Championship and Game Changers Academy.

Product overview

First Tee – Greater Chicago is a youth development organization that operates as a unified program portfolio centered on using golf as a vehicle to build character and life skills in young people. The core offering consists of junior golf programs delivered at flagship facilities (Waveland Youth Facility, Harborside Youth Learning Center, The Evans at Canal Shores), supplemented by the First Tee School Program and Community Outreach Program. Advanced teens can progress through the Ace capstone program and participate in national events like Game Changers Academy and the PURE Insurance Championship selection process. Supporting revenue programs include an Annual Sponsorship Program, Merchandise Store (via Concord Marketing Solutions), the 2nd Swing Equipment Donation Program, and multiple donation channels. The organization also runs signature fundraising events including Corporate Challenge Golf Outing, Fore the Kids, and Masters Watch Party.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Golf Programs Core junior golf and life skills instruction programs delivered at flagship facilities, teaching character development, self-confidence, and resilience through the game of golf for children and teens ages 5-18.
• First Tee School Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants build life and leadership skills that empower them in school, friendships, and careers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and moderate.

• PGA TOUR ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGA TOUR Champions partners with First Tee to host the annual PURE Insurance Championship, pairing First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions professionals for competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
• PURE InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPURE Insurance serves as title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, an annual national event broadcast internationally on Golf Channel.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAWS is a proud partner of the Game Changers Academy, providing financial support and leading activities throughout the week-long leadership event for 72 teens.
• 3M OpenmajorGTM or Marketing Partner3M Open is a proud partner of the Game Changers Academy, contributing to the all-star lineup of experiences including activities and sessions throughout the event.
• TopgolfmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTopgolf partnered with First Tee to strengthen commitment to growing golf and shaping tomorrow's leaders. Topgolf also leads activities at Game Changers Academy and provides introductory golf experiences through summer academy programs.
• Monterey Peninsula FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the PURE Insurance Championship with PURE Insurance, managing the tournament held at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
• Lurie Children's HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Lurie Children's Founders Board provides free youth golf clinics taught by visiting head golf professionals from top courses across the country.
• Western Golf AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Tee joins Western Golf Association at the BMW Championship to engage with PGA TOUR's top players and provide youth exposure to professional golf.
• Old National BankmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the NV5 Invitational, a Korn Ferry Tour event at The Glen Club where First Tee participates in Friday programming.
• Concord Marketing SolutionsmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to offer First Tee – Greater Chicago branded apparel and merchandise through an online store.
• Five Iron GolfmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Fore the Kids fundraising events and Masters Watch Parties, providing golf simulators with Trackman technology.
• State Farm Youth ClassicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with State Farm Youth Classic tournament providing free participation (including fees, lodging, meals) for First Tee – Greater Chicago families.
• 2nd SwingmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment donation program partner allowing donors to convert unwanted golf clubs and equipment into cash donations to the organization.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Youth on Course: National nonprofit that subsidizes youth golf access at participating courses for members ages 6-18. Highly comparable mission of removing barriers to youth golf participation, though its model is access-subsidy rather than facility-based instruction.

Direct peers

• First Tee of Philadelphia: Regional First Tee chapter serving the greater Philadelphia area with junior golf, life skills, and school programs under the national First Tee brand. Comparable participant mix, facility model, and fundraising structure.
• First Tee of New York: Major-metro First Tee chapter with multiple facilities, school-based delivery, and corporate sponsorship programs. Operates the same curriculum framework and tournament pathway, making it functionally interchangeable as a peer.
• LPGA*USGA Girls Golf: National girls-focused junior golf development program run by the LPGA and USGA. Competes for the same school-age female participants and offers comparable life-skills-adjacent programming, including events and tournaments that mirror First Tee's pathway.
• First Tee of Atlanta: Another major metropolitan First Tee chapter delivering the same national curriculum, junior golf programs, and life skills framework. Directly comparable in mission, programming mix, and sponsorship/event model, serving a different but similarly sized U.S. metro.
• First Tee of Dallas: Large metropolitan First Tee chapter operating flagship facilities, school programs, and signature fundraising events under the same national brand. Comparable scale and operating model to First Tee – Greater Chicago, making it a direct benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Kids Golf Foundation: National youth golf organization running age-appropriate tournaments, courses, and equipment programs for kids. Overlaps with First Tee's tournament pathway and serves a similar age cohort, though with a more competition-oriented focus.
• PGA Jr. League: National team-based youth golf program run by PGA of America for ages 13 and under. Competes for the same junior golfer pool and is occasionally co-marketed with First Tee, making it the most relevant adjacent incumbent in youth golf development.
• First Tee Headquarters (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation): National parent organization that owns the First Tee brand and licenses it to local chapters including Greater Chicago. Operates the national network of 52 chapters and sets curriculum, signature events, and partnership strategy that the Greater Chicago chapter executes locally.

Others

• The Western Golf Association: Regional golf association that runs the BMW Championship and co-hosts Evans Scholars Foundation. Active First Tee partner via PGA TOUR event programming and a thematically adjacent steward of youth golf access in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FirstTeeChicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCi0qDsNWdqgcrP8X59oWJZg
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstTeeChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-tee-greater-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstteechicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 First Tee – Greater Chicago