What Next Up Foundation does

Next Up Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by Brazilian-born Vinicius Tinoco and headquartered in Anaheim, California, that delivers youth empowerment programming through skateboarding. Its core offering is the after-school program currently hosted at The Berrics facility in downtown Los Angeles, where middle and high school students participate in skateboarding instruction alongside academic tutoring, STEM-based activities (notably the Create-A-Skate program), computer lab workshops using Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite, yoga, and skills workshops in art, photography, filmmaking, music, and entrepreneurship. The organization historically operated from the Success Lab facility at 311 E. Broadway in Anaheim from 2016 until relocating to Los Angeles in 2019, and expanded internationally to Brazil in November 2022.

The foundation operates under a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining tax-deductible individual, corporate, and foundation donations (including a PayPal-powered online donation platform) with merchandise sales through its e-commerce store. Branded merchandise includes limited-edition collaborative products with The Berrics (8-inch skateboard decks at $60 designed by program participants) and Vans (Old Skool Pro and Sk8-Hi Pro shoes at $100). Funding sources include the Samueli Foundation Big Heart Award ($10,000 grant in 2018), a sub-recipient share of the $1.5M ACT Anaheim inaugural grant pool (2014), Vans sample sale proceeds, and grassroots fundraising events. Charitable Ventures of Orange County serves as fiscal sponsor, providing administrative infrastructure.

Next Up serves an underserved youth segment in the United States and Brazil, supplemented by a volunteer mentor base recruited from the skateboarding, academic, and wellness communities. Strategic partners span the skateboarding industry, including The Berrics (venue/program partner), Vans (long-standing collaborator with active involvement from Steve Van Doren), Dickies Skateboarding (three-year scholarship partnership), Diamond Supply Co., and Dwindle Distribution, alongside community partners such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Anaheim. Per the most recent scale commentary, the organization has served over 12,000 youth since founding and currently operates programs in both Los Angeles and Brazil.

Name

Next Up Foundation

Legal name

Next Up Foundation

Website

https://nextupfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Next Up Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that empowers underserved youth in Los Angeles and Brazil through skateboarding programs combined with academic tutoring, STEM education, and life skills workshops, funded by donations, grants, and branded merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Skateboarding mentoring
• After-school tutoring
• Nonprofit youth services
• Academic support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting youth empowerment programs through skateboarding.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including skateboard decks and limited edition collaborative products with partners like Vans. Products include decks ($60) and shoes ($100).
3. Fundraising Events: Hosted events such as barbecue fundraisers, benefit parties, and community events to raise funds for programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Next Up Foundation delivers after-school skateboarding and youth empowerment programs for underserved youth, combining skateboarding instruction with academic tutoring, skills workshops (graphic design, photography, filmmaking, music), yoga/wellness sessions, and field trips to action-sports companies. Programs are currently run in partnership with The Berrics in downtown Los Angeles and free skateboarding classes are offered in Brazil. The organization also sells limited-edition collaborative merchandise (skateboard decks and shoes with The Berrics and Vans) as fundraisers to support its programs.

Product overview

Next Up Foundation operates a youth empowerment and skateboarding program for Los Angeles youth, combining skateboarding activities with academic tutoring, skills workshops, and wellness programs. The organization sells merchandise including skateboard decks and shoes through product collaborations with The Berrics and Vans. These products are sold primarily as fundraiser items to support the organization's programs. The core offering is the after-school program at The Berrics facility in downtown Los Angeles, which teaches youth valuable life skills through skateboarding while providing academic support and creative workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Next Up Skateboarding: Youth empowerment program through skateboarding activities teaching problem-solving skills, youth leadership, and social mobility.
• The Berrics Program
• Success Lab

Products and services

• Skateboarding and Youth Empowerment Program After-school skateboarding program where volunteers teach youth valuable life lessons and model a successful, healthy life. Delivered free of charge to middle and high school youth.
• The Berrics Program After-school educational program held at The Berrics facility in downtown Los Angeles, combining academic tutoring, skills workshops, and physical/wellness programs to teach kids valuable skills for life. Open to middle and high school students.
• Brazil Youth Skateboarding Program Free skateboarding classes for boys and girls ages 5 to 16 in Brazil, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM as part of Next Up's international expansion.
• Next Up Skateboarding x Berrics - BLK WHT Skateboard Deck 8-inch collaborative skateboard deck sold as a fundraiser to support Next Up Foundation's youth programs, with $60 unit pricing.
• Next Up Skateboarding x Berrics - BLK YLW Skateboard Deck 8-inch collaborative skateboard deck sold as a fundraiser to support Next Up Foundation's youth programs, with $60 unit pricing.
• Next Up x Vans Old Skool Pro (Limited Edition) Limited edition skate shoe collaboration with Vans featuring canvas and leather uppers, UltraCush HD sockliners, Duracap reinforcement rubber, and Vans original waffle outsoles. Sold at $100 as a fundraiser to benefit Next Up Foundation.
• Next Up x Vans Sk8-Hi Pro (Limited Edition) Limited edition high-top skate shoe collaboration with Vans featuring canvas and suede uppers, UltraCush HD sockliners, DURACAP reinforcement rubber, and Vans original waffle outsoles. Sold at $100 as a fundraiser to benefit Next Up Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 youth served since founding in 2009
• +1 more outcomes

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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The BerricscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022After a 10-year run in Anaheim, Next Up officially moved activities to Los Angeles in partnership with The Berrics. The partnership offers skateboarding and graphic design programs at the renowned Berrics facility, where students create designs for collaborative products.
• VanscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership including $10,000 donation from Vans sample sale proceeds, collaboration on limited edition shoe products (Old Skool Pro and Sk8-Hi Pro), and hosting events at Vans skateparks. Steve Van Doren has been actively involved with programs.
• Diamond Supply Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSkateboarding brand that has hosted field trips to their headquarters and private skate park, providing industry exposure and mentorship opportunities for participants.
• Dwindle DistributionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted educational field trips teaching participants about the company and action sports distribution industry.
• Dickies SkateboardingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThree-year partnership providing Woodward West skate camp scholarships to top-performing students based on academic achievement.
• Boys and Girls ClubsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Anaheim to deliver skateboarding programs as extra-curricular activities at various school locations.
• Look Back LibraryminorOthersSkateboarding archive organization that has collaborated with Next Up programs, contributing to the educational and cultural resources available to participants.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Skateistan: International nonprofit using skateboarding and education to empower youth in countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa. Highly comparable as a skateboarding-driven youth development nonprofit operating across multiple countries.
• Stoked Mentoring: Nonprofit pairing at-risk youth with action-sports mentors (skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing) in NYC. Closely comparable mission and use of action sports as a mentoring hook for underserved youth.
• The Skatepark Project: Tony Hawk-founded nonprofit focused on skatepark access and youth development in underserved communities. Directly comparable as a US-based nonprofit using skateboarding infrastructure for youth empowerment.

Broad incumbents

• Woodward: Action-sports camp and program operator (including Woodward West, with which Next Up has a scholarship partnership through Dickies). Comparable in serving youth through skateboarding and action-sports instruction, though at a more commercial scale.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National nonprofit focused on one-to-one youth mentoring. Comparable in mission around mentoring underserved youth, though uses general mentoring rather than action-sports as the engagement hook.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development nonprofit providing after-school programming, academic support, and mentoring. Next Up has partnered with local Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Ana, Long Beach, and Anaheim for programming delivery.

Others

• Right To Play: International nonprofit using sport and play for child development in regions affected by conflict and poverty. Adjacent comparable as a sport-based youth development nonprofit, though broader than skateboarding specifically.

Emerging players

• Braille Skateboarding (Braille Army): YouTube-driven skateboarding education and community platform with a significant youth audience and grassroots programs. Comparable as a skateboarding community-engagement organization, though primarily digital rather than program-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nextupfound
• Facebookfacebook.com/NextUpFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-up-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Next Up Foundation