Karate For Change

What Karate For Change does

Karate For Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Yonkers, New York, founded around 2020 to deliver martial arts training to Black and Brown youth. Its core programmatic offering is karate instruction oriented toward underserved communities, with an explicit equity-focused mission of using martial arts as a vehicle for empowerment, mentorship, and personal development. The organization also extends programming to women through the Guardian Girls self-defense program and an annual All Female Karate Conference now in its fourth iteration (scheduled for March 2026), supplemented by panel discussions and sports psychology consulting services.

The product surface is service-based rather than technology-based, with no proprietary software platform, mobile application, or digital learning infrastructure described in available materials. Programs are delivered through in-person instruction at the Yonkers base, with an affiliate network that extends reach through partner instructors and locations. The organization appears to operate without a dedicated technology layer, relying on community-based delivery and event programming rather than a digital product moat.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded, with revenue sourced from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants (including a recent award from the Women's Sports Foundation dated 2025-10-06), and program-specific donations. The organization is volunteer-run, with the leadership team and a small cohort of eight volunteers serving as the operating backbone, indicating minimal fixed-cost overhead and a lean cost structure typical of community-based nonprofits.

Name

Karate For Change

Legal name

Karate for Change Inc.

Website

https://karateforchange.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Karate For Change is a Yonkers, NY-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing martial arts training, women's self-defense (Guardian Girls), and an annual karate conference for Black and Brown youth, funded by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Martial Arts Training Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Competition & Tournament Team Training (HSADADAJ), Women’s Self-Defense Classes (HSADADAH)

Keywords

• Martial arts training
• Youth development programs
• Self-defense education
• Community nonprofit services
• Sports psychology consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Yonkers

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Receives individual donations via Cash App, Venmo (@karateforchangeinc), and Fidelity Charitable. Donors include Joy Levy, Keven Satterfield Esq, Dr. Neal Desai, Sasha Gerritson, and Caren Lesser.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide financial support. Named sponsors include Carlos Stevenson AquaPS, Endurance Athletics, and Elite Athletics of Lansdale.
3. Grants: The organization has a dedicated grants page indicating pursuit of grant funding for programs and operations.
4. Program-Specific Donations: Accepts donations in specific amounts tied to program needs: $300 for local training and equipment, $500 for tournament registration, $1500 for national travel expenses, and $2500 for international travel expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Karate For Change Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers karate training, character-building, self-defense, and athlete support services to Black and Brown youth. Programs span beginner to elite Olympic-level training, supplemented by women's self-defense classes, an annual all-female karate conference, sports psychology consulting, panel discussions on diversity, and an affiliate network of partner dojos.

Product overview

Karate for Change Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing martial arts training and athlete support services. The core offering is karate training programs spanning beginner to elite Olympic levels. Supporting programs include the Women's Self-Defense Guardian Girls program, the annual All Female Karate Conference, and panel discussions on diversity and inclusion. Additional services include sports psychology consulting, donation programs (with tiered giving levels: $300 for local training/equipment, $500 for tournament registration, $1500 for national travel, $2500 for international travel), grant programs for athletes, and an affiliate network of partner dojos and service providers. The organization focuses on providing equitable opportunities in karate and sports for black and brown communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Karate Training Programs Character-building karate instruction providing classes, advanced training, supplies, transportation, equipment, and a safe learning environment for students and athletes from beginner level to elite Olympians.
• Women's Self-Defense Guardian Girls Self-defense training program designed to empower women and girls with practical safety skills, confidence, and karate instruction.
• All Female Karate Conference Annual empowerment conference bringing international women karate instructors together to provide training, sport psychology sessions, nutrition workshops, and empowerment panels for girls and women.
• Panel Discussions Series of discussions addressing diversity, equity, inclusion, race, gender, and international Black experience in the karate and martial arts community. Past topics include The International Black Experience and Diversity Equity and Inclusion Training.
• Sports Psychology Consulting Mental performance consulting provided by certified sport psychology consultants to help athletes develop mental resilience, focus, and peak performance skills.
• Affiliate Program Partnership network connecting athletes with affiliated service providers including dojos, photographers, and other martial arts businesses to support athlete success.

Quantifiable outcome

• From beginner level students to elite Olympians supported

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Carlos Stevenson AquaPSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support to Karate for Change Inc. Logo appears on donors and sponsors page.
• Endurance Athletics (EA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the organization. Logo appears on sponsors page.
• Elite Athletics of LansdaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor. Logo appears on sponsors page.
• MarketMuscles LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite development and technical infrastructure partner. Operates the organization's website platform and online request services. Processes donations and inquiries.
• Cheryl Murphy SKAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate partner providing services to help athletes succeed. Cheryl Murphy serves as President of Karate for Change.
• EGN International KarateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate partner. Dojo owner Elhadji Ndour is featured in panel discussions. Multi-time champion and WSKA World Champion.
• SMAI USA KarateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate partner providing services to help athletes succeed.
• BlitzdojominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate partner providing services to help athletes succeed.
• Forrest Briggs PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate partner providing photography services to support athletes and events.
• Joy LevyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donor who made a donation specifically in support of the All Women's Training Conference.
• Keven Satterfield EsqminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donor supporting Karate for Change Inc.
• Dr. Neal DesaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donor supporting the organization.
• Sasha GerritsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donor supporting the organization.
• Caren LesserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donor supporting the organization.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth-development nonprofit offering athletic, educational, and character-building programming. Comparable as a broad incumbent addressing similar youth-development outcomes, though with a much wider programmatic footprint.
• YMCA of the USA: National community recreation organization offering martial arts and youth programming. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating community martial arts classes with a similar youth-and-community focus, though at a far larger scale.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): National youth development nonprofit offering athletic programs including martial arts to underserved urban youth. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating youth sports programming with a similar community-service and equitable-access mission.
• USA Karate: National governing body for sport karate in the United States. Comparable as the broad institutional player in the same karate category, operating athlete-development pipelines and competitions that Karate for Change's elite athletes participate in.

Emerging players

• After-School All-Stars: Nonprofit providing after-school programming including sports and enrichment to underserved youth. Comparable as an emerging player in the youth-development space with overlapping athlete-support and equitable-access missions.
• Guardian Self-Defense: Community-focused self-defense and women's empowerment program. Comparable as an emerging player in the niche of women's self-defense instruction, intersecting with Karate for Change's Guardian Girls program.
• 100 Black Men of America: National nonprofit focused on mentoring and youth development in Black communities. Comparable as an organization addressing similar equity-focused youth development outcomes through community engagement and volunteer networks.

Direct peers

• Kids Kicking Cancer: Nonprofit that uses martial arts instruction as a vehicle to empower children facing serious illness. Directly comparable as a martial-arts-centered nonprofit serving a vulnerable youth population through volunteer-driven instruction and donations.
• Fight for Life Foundation: Philadelphia-based nonprofit using boxing and martial arts to empower underserved youth with character development. Directly comparable mission and operating model: community-led martial-arts instruction for at-risk youth funded by donations and sponsorships.

Others

• Women's Sports Foundation: National nonprofit advancing women's athletics through funding, advocacy, and research. Listed in Karate for Change's funding history as an investor per the funding rounds section; relevant as a funder and ecosystem participant in women's and girls' karate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Karate For Change