Foundation to Be Named Later

What Foundation to Be Named Later does

Foundation To Be Named Later (FTBNL) is a private 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit foundation founded in 2005 by twin brothers Theo and Paul Epstein, operating from Boston, MA, with a secondary footprint in Chicago, IL. The foundation runs two flagship scholarship programs — the Peter Gammons College Scholars Program in Boston and the Lin Brehmer College Scholars Program in Chicago — that award tuition-gap scholarships, mentorship, and leadership training to under-resourced college-bound students nominated through a network of nonprofit partner organizations (The BASE, Beacon Academy, Big Sister Boston, Project 351, College Possible, Youth Guidance, Chicago Children's Choir, and others). As of the most recent disclosures, the foundation has invested in 360+ college students with a stated 99% retention rate and supported 500+ nonprofit organizations with grants, tickets, and auction items.

The foundation's primary fundraising mechanism is the Hot Stove Cool Music (HSCM) annual benefit concert series, held at Paradise Rock Club in Boston and Metro in Chicago, featuring celebrity musicians (members of Wilco, Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, J Geils Band, Dropkick Murphys, and others) alongside MLB figures. HSCM has featured 250+ musical acts since 2000 and has raised more than $16 million cumulatively. Supporting revenue lines include corporate sponsorships (PNC, Google, Greenberg Traurig, William Blair), individual donations via Givebutter and Square checkout, live and silent auctions, VIP ticket packages ($65-$500 per ticket), and ancillary events such as the Summer Concert Series at Fenway Park and Business of Baseball panel luncheons.

The foundation has a small team (1-10 employees) led by founding CEO Allyce Najimy, with Theo Epstein, Paul Epstein, and Peter Gammons (Baseball Hall of Fame journalist) as co-founders. Distribution is event-driven and relationship-driven rather than technology-driven; there is no software product, app, API, or proprietary technology platform. The organization's value proposition rests on the celebrity credibility of its co-founders, deep integration with Red Sox and Cubs charitable ecosystems, and a track record of high college retention among scholars.

Name

Foundation to Be Named Later

Legal name

The Foundation To Be Named Later

Website

https://ftbnl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Foundation To Be Named Later is a Boston- and Chicago-based nonprofit that funds college scholarships, mentorship, and youth development for under-resourced students through its Hot Stove Cool Music benefit concerts and a network of nonprofit partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• College scholarship programs
• Youth development nonprofit
• Fundraising concert events
• Community youth education
• Charitable foundation grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event-Based Fundraising: Hot Stove Cool Music annual concerts in Boston and Chicago featuring celebrity musicians and baseball players. All performers, venues, and participants donate their time and talents. Proceeds fund scholarship programs and nonprofit grants.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Civically minded corporations and foundations sponsor events and programs. Sponsors include PNC, Google, Greenberg Traurig, William Blair, and others.
3. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals through website (Givebutter, Square checkout) and at events. VIP ticket packages available.
4. Auction Proceeds: Live and silent auctions featuring music memorabilia and entertainment experiences generate additional funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Foundation to Be Named Later is a nonprofit organization that provides college scholarships and youth development programs. It funds tuition-gap scholarships, one-on-one mentorship, and leadership training for under-resourced college-bound students via the Peter Gammons (Boston) and Lin Brehmer (Chicago) College Scholars Programs. Programs are financed through signature Hot Stove Cool Music benefit concerts, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and live/silent auctions, with additional grant funding distributed to a network of nonprofit partners serving urban youth.

Product overview

Foundation To Be Named Later is a nonprofit organization that operates as a single unified charitable entity focused on youth empowerment through education and community engagement. The organization comprises three interconnected programs: the Peter Gammons College Scholars Program (Boston) and Lin Brehmer College Scholars Program (Chicago), which provide tuition grants, mentorship, and leadership training to under-resourced college students; and Hot Stove Cool Music, the signature annual fundraising event featuring concerts and baseball panels. Supporting programs include Business of Baseball panel luncheons, Summer Concert Series VIP events, and grant funding to nonprofit partners. The organization's revenue-generating activities (events) directly fund the scholarship programs, creating an integrated charitable ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hot Stove Cool Music: Signature fundraising event celebrating music, baseball and giving, held annually in Boston and Chicago featuring musical performances and celebrity appearances
• Peter Gammons College Scholars Program
• Lin Brehmer College Scholars Program

Products and services

• Peter Gammons College Scholars Program Scholarship program in Boston providing tuition grants, leadership training, and one-on-one mentors to under-resourced college-bound students nominated by nonprofit partners. Serves Gammons Scholars at four-year colleges.
• Lin Brehmer College Scholars Program Scholarship program in Chicago providing tuition grants, leadership training, and mentors to support under-resourced college students, honoring the legacy of late HSCM emcee Lin Brehmer.
• Hot Stove Cool Music Signature annual fundraising concert series held in Boston and Chicago featuring live music, celebrity appearances, panel discussions, and auctions. All performers and venues donate their time to raise funds for FTBNL scholarships and nonprofit grants.
• Nonprofit Partner Grants Grant program distributing funds, concert tickets, and auction items to nonprofit organizations in Boston and Chicago that serve urban youth and families in underserved neighborhoods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% college retention rate among scholarship recipients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The BASEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston nonprofit partner organization serving urban youth through baseball and educational programs. FTBNL provides grants and identifies scholarship candidates through this partnership.
• Beacon AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston nonprofit partner. FTBNL supports through grants and scholarship program referrals.
• Big Sister BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston nonprofit partner providing mentorship services. FTBNL provides grants and connects scholars with mentorship opportunities.
• Brookline Teen CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Paul Epstein (FTBNL co-founder) and his wife Saskia. Core partner for youth programming in Boston.
• Project 351coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston nonprofit youth service organization. FTBNL provides grants and identifies scholarship candidates.
• Red Sox ScholarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Red Sox Foundation program. FTBNL collaborates on youth programming and shares nonprofit partner network.
• Chicago Children's ChoircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago nonprofit music organization. Partner for HSCM Chicago events and scholarship referrals.
• College PossiblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago nonprofit helping low-income students access college. FTBNL provides grants and scholarship referrals.
• Youth Guidance BAM & WOWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago nonprofit providing youth development programs. FTBNL supports through grants and scholarship opportunities.
• Boston Red Sox FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial charitable arm of Boston Red Sox. Collaborates on events, grants, and youth programming. Bekah Salwasser serves as Major League Advisor to FTBNL.
• Chicago Cubs CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial charitable arm of Chicago Cubs. Alicia Gonzalez represents Cubs Charities as Major League Advisor to FTBNL.
• Allen & GerritsenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative agency that has provided original art for FTBNL event posters for over 20 years.
• Metro ChicagocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoe Shanahan's Metro club is home to Hot Stove Cool Music Chicago events. Venue operates as in-kind partner providing space for fundraisers.
• Paradise Rock ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistoric Boston venue that has hosted Hot Stove Cool Music since 2000. Venue owners (Declan Mehigan, Don Law, Joe Dunne) donate space for annual events.
• Fenway ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome of Boston Red Sox. FTBNL hosts Summer Concert Series VIP parties at Fenway, including right field roof deck and private suites.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Project 351: Boston-based youth service organization and core FTBNL partner. Serves as a scholar referral pipeline and operates comparable Massachusetts youth-leadership programming.
• Boston Bruins Foundation: Charitable arm of Boston's NHL franchise, applying a sports-celebrity fundraising model similar to FTBNL's MLB/music hybrid, targeting youth education in the same Boston geography.
• Boston Red Sox Foundation: Official charitable arm of the Boston Red Sox and a core strategic partner of FTBNL. Operates Red Sox Scholars program in the same Boston market with similar youth-education and mentorship focus, sharing the MLB/celebrity-driven fundraising DNA that defines FTBNL.
• The BASE: Boston nonprofit using baseball and education to serve urban youth, identified as a core FTBNL nonprofit partner and scholar referral source. Directly comparable mission (urban youth, college access, baseball engagement).
• Beacon Academy: Boston nonprofit preparing under-resourced students for college success and a listed FTBNL core partner. Shares the targeted urban-youth college-access mission and provides scholar referrals.
• Chicago Cubs Charities: Official charitable arm of the Chicago Cubs and core partner of FTBNL. Mirrors FTBNL's Chicago expansion story and shares MLB-affiliated youth-development programming, providing directly comparable sport-anchored grantmaking.
• Big Sister Association of Greater Boston: Boston mentorship nonprofit and listed core FTBNL partner. Directly comparable one-on-one mentorship model that complements FTBNL's scholarship-plus-mentor scholar experience.
• Youth Guidance: Chicago nonprofit providing youth development programs including BAM and WOW, listed as a core FTBNL Chicago partner. Operates in the same urban-youth-development space in the same geography.
• College Possible: National nonprofit helping low-income students access college, listed as a core Chicago FTBNL partner. Operates the same college-access mission as FTBNL's scholarship programs with deeper coaching infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• The Boston Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in New England and referenced in FTBNL CEO Allyce Najimy's consulting history. Operates at significantly greater scale with broader grantmaking programs but shares the Boston civic-foundation mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FTBNL
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoundationToBeNamedLater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-to-be-named-later

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Foundation to Be Named Later