ShareWaves

What ShareWaves does

ShareWaves is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation (EIN 83-2598889) founded in 2018 and headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, with approximately 10 employees. The organization operates as an integrated platform rather than a single program, advancing youth sports equity in the Kansas City metropolitan area by addressing three interconnected barriers: cost, access and quality, and systemic and cultural obstacles to play. Its core offering is organized around four pillars — GameChanging Grants (microgrants covering registration, equipment, and apparel), Ready2Play (high-quality movement experiences delivered through partner facilities), The Play Equity Project (systems-level advocacy and policy work), and the GameGivers Club (recurring monthly donor program). The organization is not a technology product company and does not develop proprietary software; its platform is a coordination and partnership backbone rather than a technical stack.

ShareWaves reaches eligible children and families primarily through trusted community partners — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City, schools, community organizations, and coaches — who identify and refer grant recipients. Programming is delivered directly through vetted facility partners including Atletas Performance Center (soccer), KC Mavericks / CPKC (hockey), Alan Jones soccer clinics (in collaboration with Nike Camps), Temple Made Fitness, Full Throttle Fitness, and Monarchs Baseball. Revenue is generated predominantly through individual charitable donations (one-time and monthly via the GameGivers Club), restricted funds such as the Do Like Duke Foundation, and a performance-based donation stream from CPKC ($250 per KC Mavericks home goal, restricted to youth hockey access). Fee-based program participation (e.g., Alan Jones soccer camps at $240-$399) and grant award ceilings (up to $700 per child for hockey) supplement the donor base. The organization holds a Project Play Champion designation from the Aspen Institute and partner status in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Youth Sports Strategy, lending national credibility to its regional mission.

Name

ShareWaves

Legal name

ShareWaves Foundation

Website

https://sharewavesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ShareWaves is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that removes financial and systemic barriers to youth sports participation in the Kansas City metro area through microgrants, partner-delivered programming, and systems-level advocacy. It serves under-resourced children and families via a four-pillar platform built on a regional network of sports, nonprofit, healthcare, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Youth sports access
• Athletic equity programs
• Youth development services
• Community sports foundation
• Sports participation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (One-Time and Monthly): ShareWaves relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals. One-time gifts and monthly recurring contributions through the GameGivers Club fund GameChanging Grants, program delivery, and operational costs. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) (EIN 83-2598889), making contributions tax-deductible.
2. CPKC Goals for Kids Partnership: Through the CPKC Goals for Kids initiative with the KC Mavericks hockey team, $250 is donated to ShareWaves for every Mavericks home goal scored during the regular season. Funds are restricted exclusively to supporting youth hockey participation for under-resourced children in Kansas City. This creates a performance-based donation stream tied to game outcomes.
3. Donor-Designated / Restricted Fund: Donors can make contributions to specific funds such as the Do Like Duke Foundation (restricted fund held under ShareWaves, directed by the Ommert family) or APC scholarship funds. These restricted donations are allocated specifically to the designated purpose.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ShareWaves is a nonprofit foundation that delivers programs and initiatives to expand youth sports access and promote equity in athletic participation. Its work is centered on the Kansas City community and is aimed at removing barriers that prevent young people from participating in organized sports. The organization operates through charitable programs supported by donations rather than paid commercial offerings.

Product overview

ShareWaves is a nonprofit foundation operating as an integrated platform—not a single product—that aligns access, quality movement experiences, and systems change to create sustainable equity in youth sports. The portfolio consists of four interconnected pillars: GameChanging Grants (financial micro-assistance removing cost barriers), Ready2Play (high-quality movement programming delivered in underserved communities), The Play Equity Project (systems-level advocacy and policy work), and the GameGivers Club (recurring donor base funding all programs). These core offerings are supplemented by targeted partnership programs including the CPKC Goals for Kids Hockey initiative, the APC soccer partnership, the Do Like Duke Foundation fund, and the Sports Radio 810WHB media partnership. Together, these programs provide immediate impact for children today while building lasting systemic change for the future.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GameChanging Grants: Microgrants that cover fees, equipment, and access costs for children to participate in sports
• Ready2Play
• The Play Equity Project
• GameGivers Club
• Do Like Duke Foundation
• 810 WHB Partnership

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ children participated in ShareWaves-supported movement experiences in 2025.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sports Radio 810WHB / Union BroadcastingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSports Radio 810WHB (the largest sports-talk radio station in the country, part of Union Broadcasting family) provides airwaves for public service announcements and lends on-air personalities to support ShareWaves nonprofit events and campaigns. This is a long-standing partnership — ShareWaves originated with a microphone and mission powered by 810WHB.
• CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCPKC partners with KC Mavericks and ShareWaves in the Goals for Kids initiative — for every Mavericks home goal, CPKC contributes $250 to ShareWaves, restricted exclusively to youth hockey access for under-resourced children in Kansas City. Typical grants up to $700 per child cover registration, equipment, and ice time.
• KC MaverickscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKC Mavericks (professional hockey team) co-develops the Goals for Kids initiative with CPKC and ShareWaves. Each home goal generates $250 for youth hockey access grants. The partnership leverages Mavericks games and watch party events to drive donations and community engagement around youth hockey access.
• Atletas Performance Center (APC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPC is a top Kansas City youth soccer training center. ShareWaves provides funding (scholarships, free community clinics) so kids who cannot afford APC's training can participate. APC delivers the training; ShareWaves removes the cost barrier. The partnership is branded #Ready2Play. The 2026 World Cup year is used as a platform to amplify the partnership.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City (BBBS-KC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBBS-KC is a trusted referral partner for GameChanging Grants. When costs like league fees, cleats, or gear keep kids (Littles) on the sidelines, BBBS-KC connects them to ShareWaves grants so mentors and Littles can focus on fun and making memories together. GameChanging Grants are co-designed to flow through BBBS-KC's established mentor network.
• Children's MercyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's Mercy (Kansas City pediatric health system) is listed as a community team partner. The partnership aligns with ShareWaves' framing of movement and sports access as preventative health care, and may support health and wellness elements of the programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Greater Kansas City)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoys & Girls Clubs of America (local Kansas City affiliate) is listed as a community team partner. The partnership provides access to existing youth infrastructure for ShareWaves programming and referrals.
• Kansas City Public Schools (KCKPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKansas City Kansas Public Schools is listed as a community team partner. The school district partnership enables ShareWaves programming to reach children directly in educational settings and aligns with the Play Equity Project's systems-change goals.
• Kansas City Physical Activity Plan (KCPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCPA is listed as a community partner. ShareWaves' theory of change is informed by the KCPA framework, which emphasizes equity, collaboration, and shared responsibility in increasing physical activity across the Kansas City region.
• The Aspen Institute / Project PlaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareWaves is a Project Play Champion — a designation by the Aspen Institute recognizing organizations taking meaningful action to improve youth sports. The Aspen Institute provides the strategic framework (Project Play's eight strategies) that informs ShareWaves' systems-level work. ShareWaves also partners with Health and Human Services on the National Youth Sports Strategy.
• The Invisible RiptideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner program providing timely and practical information and strategies to help kids navigate the post-COVID world. Shares resources to help adolescents and families normalize and manage mental health challenges through connection and movement.
• 4D AthletesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner4D Athletes teaches essential life skills (confidence, leadership, gratitude, goal setting) targeting parents and coaches with resources to help kids get the most from youth sports experiences. Listed as a ShareWaves partner program.
• Temple Made FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple Made Fitness delivers the 'Animal Movements' program targeting elementary-aged children through schools and community centers, teaching quality movement and proper food choices. Listed as a ShareWaves partner program on the community partners page.
• Monarchs BaseballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonarchs Baseball is listed as a community team partner. The partnership extends ShareWaves' reach into baseball programming for Kansas City youth.
• Full Throttle FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull Throttle Fitness is listed as a community team partner. The partnership is part of the Ready2Play ecosystem, providing movement experiences in the Kansas City community.
• Do Like Duke FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Do Like Duke Foundation is a restricted fund held under ShareWaves Foundation, honoring Duke Ommert (a 10-year-old who inspired his community through kindness, creativity, and sports). The Ommert family directs all uses of these funds for programs that help children play, belong, lead, and lift one another.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Playworks: National nonprofit focused on improving access to play and sports for low-income elementary-school children. Most directly comparable mission to ShareWaves' cost-removal and movement-access work, though Playworks primarily operates through schools rather than sports-club partners.
• Right to Play: International nonprofit using sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Comparable mission of leveraging sport as developmental infrastructure for marginalized youth, though operating globally rather than regionally.
• The First Tee: Nonprofit providing youth golf access and life-skills instruction, with a national chapter network and strong school-based delivery. Comparable youth-sports-access mission and backbone-style operations, though focused on a single sport.
• Up2Us Sports: Nonprofit that trains and places coaches in under-resourced communities to expand youth sports access. Shares ShareWaves' theory of change around cost and access barriers, with a national footprint and coach-development orientation.
• Kids in the Game: NYC-based nonprofit providing free and subsidized sports programs to children in under-resourced communities. Closely mirrors ShareWaves' backbone model — combining direct programming with partnership-based delivery and grantmaking — but operates at city scale in New York rather than Kansas City.
• Police Athletic League (National PAL): Nonprofit network providing youth sports, education, and mentorship to at-risk children across U.S. cities. Comparable population (under-resourced youth) and program mix (sports + mentorship), with a national chapter structure ShareWaves could conceivably emulate.
• Laureus Sport for Good (USA): Global foundation that funds sport-for-development programs serving under-resourced youth. Closely matches ShareWaves' foundation/fundraising archetype and grantmaking-plus-advocacy model, though at significantly larger scale and international footprint.

Broad incumbents

• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): National nonprofit advancing public parks, recreation, and equitable access to physical activity. Aligned with ShareWaves' Play Equity Project systems-change work and shares a policy-advocacy orientation.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national nonprofit providing youth development programming including sports. ShareWaves treats local Boys & Girls Clubs as referral partners; BGCA is a broader incumbent in the same youth-development space with much larger scale.
• YMCA of the USA: National community-services nonprofit offering youth sports, swim, and recreation programs through local branches. Comparable community-based youth-movement mission but at vastly larger scale and broader programming scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sharewaves

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ShareWaves