Growing Up Boulder
Growing Up Boulder is a Boulder, CO nonprofit, founded in 2009, that elevates youth voices in city planning through participatory projects, nature programs, child-friendly city maps, and UNICEF-affiliated initiatives serving children ages 0-18 and partner municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Growing Up Boulder does
Growing Up Boulder is a Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit founded in 2009 that centers children and youth (ages 0-18) in community planning and decision-making. Originally launched at the University of Colorado's Children, Youth and Environments Center, the organization transitioned in 2021 to a nonprofit operating under the fiscal sponsorship of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (EIN: 84-1493585). It has engaged more than 10,000 local young people on over 100 city projects spanning parks, transportation, housing, policing, and resilience planning, and reached approximately 2.5 million people globally through publications, a TEDx talk with 2.3M+ views, podcasts, and international presentations. Since 2023 it has partnered with UNICEF USA and the City of Boulder on the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative and is working toward formal CFCI recognition for Boulder.
The organization's product portfolio includes the nation's first printed bilingual Child-Friendly City Map (2019), a digital interactive version, and a teen-targeted map; the Nature Together caregiver-child nature play program ($150 per 5-pack session, with scholarships); participatory planning workshops voted a top workshop at the 2020 IAP2 North American Conference; keynote speaking engagements; and an asynchronous online Child Friendly City Map Course launched in 2025. Supporting resources include healing toolkits, impact reports, monthly newsletters, and the co-authored NYU Press book 'Placemaking with Children and Youth.' Underlying technology is limited to standard web platforms, digital mapping, and participatory research methodologies; no proprietary software platform exists.
Revenue derives from four streams: charitable donations processed through the CNDC fiscal sponsor; fees from professional services (workshops, consulting, keynote speaking) at undisclosed rates requested regionally, nationally, and internationally; the Nature Together fee-based program; and corporate map sponsorships reaching approximately 20,000 children and families. The organization employs a small all-women core staff of approximately nine, and operates through deep partnerships with the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado Boulder, UNICEF USA, and 70+ additional local organizations. Its competitive position rests on first-mover status as the inaugural U.S. child-friendly city initiative, a dense partner ecosystem, and accumulated intellectual property in participatory planning methodology.
Growing Up Boulder firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Growing Up Boulder
- Legal name
- Growing Up Boulder
- Website
- https://growingupboulder.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Growing Up Boulder is a Boulder, CO nonprofit, founded in 2009, that elevates youth voices in city planning through participatory projects, nature programs, child-friendly city maps, and UNICEF-affiliated initiatives serving children ages 0-18 and partner municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Growing Up Boulder industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Civic Engagement Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Support Services (61171), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor / Nature-Based Nursery & Forest Playgroups (EDACACAH), Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)
Keywords
Where Growing Up Boulder is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Growing Up Boulder business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Growing Up Boulder accepts donations to support youth voice programs. The organization is a nonprofit under fiscal sponsorship of CNDC (EIN: 84-1493585). Donations can be made online or via check/mail to CNDC.
- Training, Consulting, and Speaking Services: Organization offers workshops, consultation sessions, and keynote speaking engagements to municipal governments, nonprofits, and organizations interested in child-friendly city approaches. Services requested regionally, nationally, and internationally.
- Nature Together Program: Nature-based caregiver/child play series offered at $150 per 5-pack of sessions, with scholarships available. Held at East Boulder Community Park.
- Map Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors can sponsor the Child Friendly City Map at various sponsorship levels. Reaches 20,000 children and families in Boulder.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Nature Together Summer 2026 - Caregiver and Child Nature Play Series |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Growing Up Boulder product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit organization that centers young people's rights, voices, and agency to advance equitable and sustainable communities. It delivers participatory planning services, child-friendly city initiatives in partnership with UNICEF USA, nature connection programs for families with young children, workshops and coaching for municipal governments, and speaking engagements. Its standalone offerings include the Nature Together caregiver-child nature play series, the Child Friendly City Map online course, participatory planning workshops, and keynote speaking engagements.
Product overview
Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth civic engagement programs and child-friendly city services. The core offerings include the Child-Friendly City Maps (interactive digital map, printed bilingual map, and teen-friendly map), the Nature Together nature play program for caregivers with children ages 0-5, and the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative partnership. Additional services include Participatory Planning workshops with optional consulting sessions, speaking engagements by the Co-Founder/Executive Director, and the Child Friendly City Map Course for communities wanting to create their own maps. Supporting resources include healing toolkits, impact reports, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and books. The organization has completed over 100 city projects covering transportation, housing, parks, arts, and youth civic engagement since 2009.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nature Together Summer Program Outdoor caregiver and child nature play series for families with children ages 0-5, held at East Boulder Community Park. Includes sensory exploration, seasonal activities, and open-ended play across 8 consecutive weeks. Priced at $150 per 5-pack of sessions, with scholarships available.
- Participatory Planning with Children and Youth Workshop 90-120 minute interactive workshop for municipal staff, organizations, and planners teaching why engaging children and youth in planning leads to better outcomes and how to include young people in planning processes. Voted as a top workshop at the 2020 IAP2 North American Conference. Optional 5 consulting sessions add-on available.
- Speaking Engagements Keynote speeches and presentations delivered by Co-Founder and Executive Director Mara Mintzer for organizations and events. Topics include child-friendly cities, youth civic engagement, and inclusive community planning. Delivered internationally including at UNICEF's first Child Friendly Cities Summit in 2019.
- Child Friendly City Map Course Asynchronous online course teaching educators, youth workers, nonprofits, and municipal governments how to create a Child Friendly City Map for any community. Can be paired with consultation sessions from the Growing Up Boulder team.
- City Projects and Consulting Custom youth-engagement and participatory planning consulting engagements covering transportation, housing, parks, arts, healing, and civic engagement. Over 100 projects completed since 2009 with the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, and community partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ young people engaged on 100+ city projects since 2009
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Growing Up Boulder
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Growing Up Boulder technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Growing Up Boulder partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- City of BouldercoreFounding partner since 2009. Collaboration on city planning projects including parks, transportation, housing, resilience, and the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative. City provides staff support and project integration.
- Boulder Valley School District (BVSD)coreFounding partner. School engagement for youth voice in planning through classroom projects, youth advisory boards, and school facility planning.
- University of Colorado BouldercoreOrganization launched at CU's Children, Youth and Environments Center (now CEDaR Center) in 2009. Ongoing internship programs, capstone collaborations, faculty research partnerships, and venue access.
- Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC)coreSince 2021, GUB operates as nonprofit program under CNDC fiscal sponsorship. CNDC provides 501(c)(3) status, EIN 84-1493585, and handles donations.
- UNICEF USAcorePartnership for Child Friendly Cities Initiative. GUB leads and launches CFCI in Boulder in partnership with UNICEF USA and the City of Boulder. UNICEF provides framework and global support.
- Thorne Nature ExperiencemajorLong-standing community partner for nature connection programs. Co-development of nature-based preschool and environmental education initiatives.
- Mayamotion HealingmajorPartner for healing work including Table Mesa tragedy and Reimagine Policing project. Maya Sol Dansie provides culturally-grounded mental health and wellness support.
- Community Foundation Boulder CountymajorFunder and partner. Publishes trend reports on child well-being that inform CFCI work. Provides funding support and thought leadership.
- Boulder Library FoundationmajorPartner organization with shared board member (Dr. Nicole Sager serves on board). Collaboration on community resources and programming.
- Children & Nature NetworkmajorPartner in Nature Everywhere initiative - one of 100 Nature Everywhere communities. Network supports child-nature connection research and collective action.
- National League of CitiesmajorPartner in Nature Everywhere initiative alongside Children & Nature Network and KABOOM! Supports urban nature connection efforts.
- KABOOM!majorPartner in Nature Everywhere initiative. Organization dedicated to eliminating playspace inequity for kids.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Growing Up Boulder competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gehl: Gehl is a global urban planning and design consultancy that builds people-centered cities through public-life research and consulting. It is a broad incumbent peer in the urban planning consulting category where GUB also monetizes its expertise, but Gehl operates at a much larger commercial scale and broader scope.
- National League of Cities: The National League of Cities is a national membership organization serving municipal leaders across the U.S., and is a named GUB partner in the Nature Everywhere initiative. It is a broad incumbent peer because it operates at the same city-government interface where GUB's consulting and CFCI work lands, but at a much larger institutional scale.
- Bernard van Leer Foundation: The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an international philanthropic foundation funding child-friendly cities work globally, including the Growing Up in Cities program from which GUB traces its roots. It is a broad incumbent peer: it funds many of the same policy frameworks GUB implements, including Child Friendly Cities.
Direct peers
- Project for Public Spaces: Project for Public Spaces is a nonprofit that centers community voices, including children, in placemaking and public space design. It is the most direct functional peer to Growing Up Boulder's child-friendly city and participatory planning work.
- KABOOM!: KABOOM! is a national nonprofit focused on eliminating playspace inequity for kids and is a named GUB partner in the Nature Everywhere initiative. It is directly comparable because it combines place-based interventions with municipal partnerships to advance child well-being outcomes.
- Generation Citizen: Generation Citizen is a national nonprofit that brings civics education and youth-led action into schools and communities. It is a directly comparable peer in centering young people's voices in local democratic processes.
- Mikva Challenge: Mikva Challenge is a national nonprofit that develops youth civic participation and voice in local governance. It is directly comparable in mission to GUB's work elevating young people's input in city-level decision-making.
- Thorne Nature Experience: Thorne Nature Experience is a Boulder-based nonprofit offering nature connection programs for youth, including Thorne Nature Preschool. It is a directly comparable local peer: GUB and Thorne share staff and have co-developed nature-based preschool and environmental education initiatives.
- Children & Nature Network: Children & Nature Network is a national nonprofit advancing equitable child-nature connection and is a GUB partner in the Nature Everywhere initiative. It is directly comparable because both organizations build movements through city-level partnerships, research translation, and shared network infrastructure.
- iCivics: iCivics is a national nonprofit providing civics education and resources for youth, founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. It is directly comparable as a peer organization channeling civic education to young people at scale, often working with schools and municipalities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Growing Up Boulder social profiles
Digital presenceGrowing Up Boulder financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Growing Up Boulder leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Growing Up Boulder funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Growing Up Boulder 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 Growing Up Boulder
What does Growing Up Boulder do?
Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit organization that centers young people's rights, voices, and agency to advance equitable and sustainable communities. It delivers participatory planning services, child-friendly city initiatives in partnership with UNICEF USA, nature connection programs for families with young children, workshops and coaching for municipal governments, and speaking engagements. Its standalone offerings include the Nature Together caregiver-child nature play series, the Child Friendly City Map online course, participatory planning workshops, and keynote speaking engagements.
Is Growing Up Boulder a public or private company?
Growing Up Boulder is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Growing Up Boulder founded?
Growing Up Boulder was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Growing Up Boulder based?
Growing Up Boulder is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does Growing Up Boulder make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are training, Consulting, and Speaking Services, nature Together Program and map Sponsorships.
Who are Growing Up Boulder's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gehl, National League of Cities and Bernard van Leer Foundation. Direct peers are Project for Public Spaces, KABOOM!, Generation Citizen, Mikva Challenge, Thorne Nature Experience, Children & Nature Network and iCivics.
Does Growing Up Boulder have an API?
No public API is recorded for Growing Up Boulder.
What industry is Growing Up Boulder in?
Growing Up Boulder's product category is Youth Civic Engagement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACACAH, Outdoor / Nature-Based Nursery & Forest Playgroups. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8351.