Kids Enjoy Exercise Now - KEEN Chicago

What Kids Enjoy Exercise Now - KEEN Chicago does

KEEN Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN # 42-1657978) founded in 2005 as one of seven U.S. affiliates of KEEN USA, which itself traces back to the original 1984 Oxford, UK program. It provides free, non-competitive, one-on-one recreational and fitness programming to youth with disabilities ages 5-21 across the Chicago metropolitan area, including Chicago, Evanston, and Skokie. The core service is a 1:1 volunteer coach model in which trained volunteers are paired individually with each athlete across a portfolio of activity programs: KEEN Sports (flagship gym-based program), KEEN Yoga, KEEN Quatics (swimming), KEEN Bowls, KEEN Dance, KEEN Soccer, KEEN Basketball, KEEN Trampoline, KEEN Jiu Jitsu, KEEN Plus (for young adults 18+), and Camp KEEN (summer outdoor block). The organization delivered nearly 2,500 program hours in 2025 and is supported by a 13-member Board of Directors, a 20+ member Parents Committee, and a Coaches Committee.

The underlying operating model is community-led and volunteer-driven rather than technology-led. The technology stack is deliberately standard nonprofit SaaS: Social Solutions Apricot for athlete enrollment and volunteer registration, Click and Pledge for online donations, YouTube for a Virtual Programming Library of 100+ recorded sessions produced since March 2020, and Google Forms for Camp KEEN registration. Programs are delivered at seven partner community facilities (UIC Sport and Fitness Center, McGaw YMCA, YWCA Evanston, Waveland Bowl, Altitude Trampoline Park, Bernard Horwich JCC, and Rauner Family YMCA), and the organization partners with the Chicago Fire Foundation, Chicago Yacht Club Foundation, Theresa Foundation, Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, Out Our Front Door, Chicago Adventure Therapy, and Good Sports for specialized programming and equipment.

KEEN Chicago generates no fee revenue from its beneficiaries; all programs are free at point of use. Its revenue model is multi-stream nonprofit fundraising: individual donations (one-time and a "Monthly Champion" recurring program), structured corporate sponsorships at Bronze ($1,000) through Platinum ($10,000) tiers, employer matching gifts channeled through Benevity, planned giving, and event-driven fundraising. KEENFest is the flagship annual gala, which raised over $43,000 in 2025 and is scheduled for October 8, 2026. Named corporate sponsors include Yext, Huron Consulting Group, Bulley & Andrews, Rush University for Health, Laureus USA, and PFS Law. The organization is GuideStar Gold certified, is a 501(c)(3), and operates with approximately four paid staff (Executive Director Laura Fillenwarth, Program Manager Jeff Underwood, and Site Coordinators Grayson Rush and Rachel Wise) supported by an extensive volunteer and board governance structure.

Name

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now - KEEN Chicago

Legal name

KEEN Chicago LLC

Website

https://keenchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KEEN Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 2005, that delivers free, one-on-one, volunteer-coached recreational and fitness programs to youth with disabilities ages 5-21 across the Chicago metro, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Recreation Services for Youth with Disabilities

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive Physical Education (APE) Collaboration & Motor Skills Support (EDAKAGAF), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Adaptive recreation programs
• Youth disability services
• Inclusive sports programming
• Volunteer coaching services
• Nonprofit recreational programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters at various levels ($25, $50, $100, $1000). Monthly giving program called 'Monthly Champion' for recurring contributions.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Structured sponsorship tiers (Bronze $1,000, Silver $2,500, Gold $5,000, Platinum $10,000) with brand visibility benefits including logo placement, social media recognition, event signage, newsletter features, and custom volunteer days.
3. Employer Matching: Many employers match employee charitable donations, often dollar-for-dollar, effectively doubling individual contributions at no additional cost.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual KEENFest gala event generates significant donations ($43,000+ raised in 2025). Additional events include Any K fundraiser and various community fundraising activities.
5. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts and planned giving arrangements for major donors wishing to contribute beyond their lifetime, supporting long-term sustainability.
6. Corporate Gifts: Unrestricted corporate gifts at various levels ($1,000, $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, or custom amounts) providing flexible funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KEEN Chicago provides free, non-competitive, one-on-one recreational and fitness programs for youth with disabilities ages 5-21, pairing each athlete with a trained volunteer coach for activities including sports, swimming, yoga, dance, bowling, soccer, basketball, trampoline, jiu jitsu, and pickleball. Programs are delivered at community facilities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, supplemented by summer camp (Camp KEEN), special events, and a virtual programming library on YouTube.

Product overview

KEEN Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing free, non-competitive, one-on-one recreational and fitness programs for youth with disabilities ages 5+. The core program architecture consists of KEEN Sports as the flagship gym-based offering, supplemented by specialized single-sport/activity programs including KEEN Yoga, KEEN Quatics (swimming), KEEN Bowls, KEEN Dance, KEEN Soccer, KEEN Basketball, KEEN Pickleball, KEEN Jiu Jitsu, and KEEN Trampoline. The organization also operates KEEN Plus for young adults 18+, Camp KEEN as a summer outdoor programming block, KEEN Special Events for community experiences, and a KEEN Virtual Programming Library for remote engagement. All programs pair each athlete one-on-one with a trained volunteer coach and are provided entirely free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KEEN Sports Core gym-based sports program for youth with disabilities featuring loosely structured activities including basketball, scooters, t-ball, soccer, relay races, and ball play, with each athlete paired one-on-one with a volunteer coach. Sessions end with circle time for sharing and parachute games.
• KEEN Yoga Yoga program led by a certified accessible yoga teacher featuring seated postures with individual modifications, music, and stories for youth with disabilities. Caregivers may practice alongside when space is available.
• KEEN Quatics Swimming and water play program providing a social and recreational opportunity for youth with disabilities to swim, splash, and play in the water with life jackets and pool toys under volunteer supervision. Not a formal swim instruction course.
• KEEN Bowls Bowling program where youth with disabilities come together to bowl and socialize, building physical strength, coordination, and social skills.
• KEEN Dance Dance program where athletes and volunteers explore music and movement with an instructor experienced in facilitating dance for youth with disabilities. Athletes participate at their own pace.
• KEEN Soccer Soccer program delivered in partnership with Rauner Family YMCA and Chicago Fire Foundation, in which soccer coaches lead exercises and drills helping KEEN athletes build soccer skills in an inclusive space.
• KEEN Basketball Basketball program teaching the basics through drills and fun games, with emphasis on communication, teamwork, coordination, and fun at each athlete's own pace.
• KEEN Trampoline Trampoline program at Altitude Trampoline Park where athletes jump on padded trampolines, dive into foam block pits, and swing from ropes to help meet sensory needs and develop self-regulation skills.
• KEEN Jiu Jitsu Martial arts program teaching Jiu Jitsu adapted to fit KEEN's approach and tailored to the needs of each athlete.
• KEEN Plus Monthly special events-based program for athletes aged 18+ (including those 22+ who have graduated from regular KEEN programming), offering activities such as cooking, bowling, sports, art, and community outings.
• Camp KEEN Summer programming block (June-August) featuring outdoor special events including field days, African drumming workshops, bowling, swim parties, trampoline, boat tours, bike camping, kayaking, sailing, and disability pride parade participation.
• KEEN Special Events Special events offering athletes opportunities for new experiences in the community, including attending major league sports, theater visits, and community walks.
• KEEN Virtual Programming Library Virtual programming library with recorded sessions including Arts & Crafts, Caregiver Relaxation, Dance, Interactive Games, KEENFit, KEEN in the Kitchen, Music, Soccer, Story Time, Tae Kwon Do, Yoga, and ZOOMba, produced since March 2020 and accessible globally via YouTube.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2,500 hours of free, adaptive recreation provided in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• Chicago Yacht Club FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor supporter of KEEN Chicago's aquatic programs including KEEN Quatics swim sessions and Camp KEEN swimming activities. Provides funding for pool facility usage and swim programming.
• Theresa FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of KEEN Chicago. Provides funding support specifically for Camp KEEN programming including African Drumming Workshops and Kayak programs.
• Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for KEEN Sail program - provides adaptive sailing opportunities for KEEN athletes ages 8+ at Chicago harbor locations. Supports Camp KEEN sailing sessions.
• Out Our Front DoorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Camp KEEN Bike Camp - overnight biking adventure at Camp Sullivan (July 18-19). Also partnered for Adaptive Biking Day Trips.
• Chicago Adventure TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with KEEN for Camp KEEN Kayak program at Beaubien Woods Boat Launch, providing adaptive kayaking experiences for athletes.
• Chicago Fire FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rauner Family YMCA for KEEN Soccer program. Soccer coaches lead exercises and drills helping KEEN Athletes build soccer skills in inclusive environment.
• Victoria BoatengminorOthersAfrican drumming instructor for Camp KEEN workshops at Chicago Children's Theater and Bernard Horwich JCC.
• Good SportssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports equipment nonprofit supporting KEEN Chicago with adaptive sports equipment donations.
• KEEN USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit umbrella organization headquartered in Washington DC. KEEN Chicago is one of 7 affiliates. Provides national branding, program guidance, and organizational support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Best Buddies International: One-on-one friendship and programs pairing volunteers with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; a structural analog given KEEN's one-on-one athlete-to-volunteer coaching model.
• Keshet: Chicago-area nonprofit delivering educational, recreational, and life-skills programs for individuals with developmental disabilities; the closest geographic peer running free, multi-activity community programs for youth with disabilities.
• Move United: National network (formerly Disabled Sports USA) supporting adaptive sports and recreation through local chapters; comparable mission of expanding access to physical activity for people with disabilities via community partners.
• Achilles International: Volunteer-led adaptive sports organization pairing athletes with disabilities with trained guides for athletic participation; the volunteer-coach pairing model maps closely onto KEEN's core model.
• Special Olympics Illinois: Illinois affiliate of Special Olympics, providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; operates on a similar volunteer-driven, community-facility-based model serving the same population in the same geography.
• Miracle League: Adaptive baseball league providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to play; comparable donor-driven, volunteer-coach model focused on inclusive recreation in community settings.
• National Ability Center: Multi-sport adaptive recreation organization offering year-round sports and outdoor programs for people of all abilities; comparable breadth across sport types with similar athlete-to-volunteer ratios.

Emerging players

• Challenger Little League: Adaptive Little League division for players with physical and intellectual disabilities; an established peer in youth adaptive sports with similar volunteer coaching and non-competitive ethos.

Broad incumbents

• YAI (National Disability Network): National nonprofit providing programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including recreational programming; broader in scope but overlapping in mission and population.
• Easterseals: Large national disability services nonprofit offering recreational, therapeutic, and educational programming; competes for similar donor dollars and corporate partnerships in the same cause category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCktbIGYasL1lr876liRxBZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/keenchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keen-chicago

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kids Enjoy Exercise Now - KEEN Chicago