U.P. Kids

Child Welfare and Family Servicesupkids.com

U.P. Kids is a Michigan-based nonprofit (founded 1899) delivering foster care, adoption, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring, and family preservation services to children and families across Michigan's Upper Peninsula through five regional offices.

Company typePrivate
Founded1899
HeadquartersHoughton, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What U.P. Kids does

U.P. Kids is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services organization founded in 1899 (originally as Good Will Farm, rebranded to U.P. Kids in 2012) that delivers an integrated portfolio of child welfare, family preservation, and youth development services across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The organization's core service lines include foster care placement and licensing, adoption services (both state and private pathways), post-adoption resource support via its Post Adoption Resource Center (PARC), Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring programs (community-based, site-based, and High Five school-based variants), Families UPward early intervention, Family Assistance Program in-home support, Families Together Building Solutions family preservation, and Parenting for Success supportive visitation (State of Michigan funded).

The organization operates from five physical offices spanning Houghton (headquarters), Marquette, Escanaba, Sault Ste. Marie, and Ironwood, with service territory extending into Iron County, Wisconsin. Its technology footprint is limited to a Drupal-based public website serving as the primary digital touchpoint; service delivery is fundamentally people-driven, relying on case workers, social workers, licensing supervisors, program managers, and volunteer mentors rather than automated systems.

Revenue is generated through a mix of State of Michigan government contracts (particularly DHHS-funded family preservation and parenting programs), individual and corporate charitable donations, dedicated Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraising (Defenders Circle monthly giving, Bowl for Kids' Sake events), and special events such as Mom Prom Keweenaw. Services are provided free of charge to families engaging through Michigan's child welfare system, with private adoption placements carrying fees. The customer base comprises families, children, foster parents, adoptive families, and at-risk youth across the Upper Peninsula, with intake routed through professional referrals (DHS, schools, social workers) and direct family self-referrals. The organization also operates sub-brands including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western Upper Peninsula and the Post Adoption Resource Center.

U.P. Kids firmographics

Firmographics

Name: U.P. Kids
Legal name: U.P. Kids
Website: https://upkids.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1899
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: U.P. Kids is a Michigan-based nonprofit (founded 1899) delivering foster care, adoption, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring, and family preservation services to children and families across Michigan's Upper Peninsula through five regional offices.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

U.P. Kids industry classification

Industry

Product category: Child Welfare and Family Services
NAICS: Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
SIC: Services-Social Services (8300)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYEDACALAH
Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services
Education/Early Childhood Education/Parent Education & Family Engagement Programs

Keywords

Child welfare services
Foster care placement
Adoption services
Youth mentoring programs
Family support services

Where U.P. Kids is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Houghton
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

U.P. Kids business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Individual Donations: Direct financial contributions from individuals supporting children and families. Donation portal available at give.classy.org with options for one-time and recurring gifts.
Corporate Sponsorships: Philanthropic gifts from business partners including employee volunteer programs and cause marketing relationships.
State of Michigan Funding: Parenting for Success program is State of Michigan funded. DHHS and private agencies serve as gateways for family referrals to various programs.
BBBS Program Revenue: Donations specifically designated for Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs, including Defenders Circle monthly giving and Bowl for Kids' Sake event fundraising.
Free Services to Families: Foster care, adoption (via Michigan's child welfare system), and BBBS mentoring programs are free to qualifying families. Private adoptions may have associated fees.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Others	Free services for Michigan child welfare system families
Freemium	Others	Free mentoring programs for children and families
Other	Others	Private adoption fees apply

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

U.P. Kids product offering

Product offering

Core offering

U.P. Kids is a nonprofit human services organization that delivers foster care placement, adoption services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one youth mentoring, along with family preservation and in-home support programs. It also runs ancillary community programs such as Read to Ride (literacy incentive) and Mom Prom Keweenaw (adoption assistance fundraiser). All services are offered free to qualifying families across Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Product overview

U.P. Kids is a human services organization offering an integrated portfolio of child welfare and family support programs across Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The organization operates a unified service model centered on foster care, adoption placement, and post-adoption support, supplemented by Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring programs (including community-based, site-based, and High Five school-based options). Additional services include Families UPward early intervention, Family Assistance Program, Families Together Building Solutions family preservation, In-Home Family Services, and Parenting for Success supportive visitation. The organization also runs community programs such as Read to Ride literacy incentive and hosts fundraising events like Mom Prom Keweenaw for adoption assistance. Services are delivered through regional offices in Houghton, Marquette, Escanaba, Sault Ste. Marie, and Ironwood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Foster Care Services Provides temporary foster home placements and licensing for children who cannot remain with their birth families, offering safe and nurturing environments until reunification or permanent placement.
Adoption Services

Quantifiable outcome

One of only 3 BBBS agencies nationwide to receive Pinnacle Award for Program Excellence from over 230 agencies
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use U.P. Kids

Customer profile

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

U.P. Kids technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

U.P. Kids partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

CLK Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing partnership for High Five site-based mentoring program matching high school mentors with elementary students.
L'Anse Area SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Long-standing partnership for High Five site-based mentoring program.
Hurley School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024New partnership in 2024 for High Five Mentoring program.
Houghton Rotary ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides significant funding for Read to Ride program, awarding 20 mountain bikes and helmets annually to children ages 6-14.
Ironwood-Hurley Rotary ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContributes funding for Read to Ride mountain bike program.
Copper Country Intermediate School DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides posters, registration and outreach to schools and libraries for Read to Ride program.
Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides posters, registration and outreach to schools and libraries for Read to Ride program.
Daily Mining GazetteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner supporting Read to Ride program through advertising and awareness.
Cross Country SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bike shop providing quality bikes and helmets for Read to Ride program.
Down Wind SportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bike shop providing quality bikes and helmets for Read to Ride program.
Hancock Bike ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bike shop providing quality bikes and helmets for Read to Ride program.
The Hobby WheelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bike shop providing quality bikes and helmets for Read to Ride program.
REMC#1minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational technology consortium partner for Read to Ride program promotion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

U.P. Kids competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

U.P. Kids financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

U.P. Kids leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

U.P. Kids funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

U.P. Kids M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.P. Kids

What does U.P. Kids do?

Is U.P. Kids a public or private company?

U.P. Kids is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was U.P. Kids founded?

U.P. Kids was founded in 1899. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is U.P. Kids based?

U.P. Kids is headquartered in Houghton, United States, in the North America region.

How does U.P. Kids make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, state of Michigan Funding, BBBS Program Revenue and free Services to Families.

Does U.P. Kids have an API?

No public API is recorded for U.P. Kids.

What industry is U.P. Kids in?

U.P. Kids's product category is Child Welfare and Family Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACALAH, Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.