Future Ties

What Future Ties does

Future Ties, NFP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Chicago Police Officer Jennifer Maddox, operating a community center at 6330 S. King Dr. on Chicago's South Side adjacent to the Parkway Gardens low-income housing complex. The organization delivers free after-school programs segmented for elementary (K-5) and middle/high school students, summer camp programming, youth mentorship (including for 8th graders at Dulles School of Excellence), teen workforce development for ages 16-24, parent mentoring, and case management. Approximately 40 elementary students attend after-school sessions per cycle, with hundreds of children served annually and a stated target of reaching all 1,500 children in Parkway Gardens and surrounding neighborhoods. Technology use is minimal and operational: a WordPress website, Google Forms for registration, PayPal for donation processing, and the Scholastic ReadAbout literacy program for reading instruction.

The organization does not generate commercial revenue. It is funded through individual donations, corporate contributions (Subaru of America, Operation Warm), and foundation grants, with GO Campaign and Beachbody cited as major early funders that enabled the acquisition of the permanent facility. Its go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals from parents, teachers, and partner organizations (Dulles School of Excellence, Parkway Gardens Apartments managed by Related, Parkway Christian Church), supplemented by earned media such as a WGN-TV Spotlight Chicago feature and a Facebook presence. Marketing channels include community events (Juneteenth, community carnivals, MLK Day, parent mentor graduation), a monthly newsletter, and the organization website. Programs are delivered directly through the community center facility and supplemented by partner sites (e.g., One Summer Chicago for teen employment placements).

Name

Future Ties

Legal name

Future Ties, NFP

Website

https://futureties.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Future Ties is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free after-school, summer camp, mentorship, teen workforce development, and parent mentoring programs to low-income children and families in the Parkway Gardens community on Chicago's South Side.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM), Post-Secondary Transition Planning & Coordination (EDAKANAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• After-school programs
• Community outreach services
• Teen workforce development
• Parent mentoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Future Ties operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (NFP) relying on charitable donations from individuals, corporations (Subaru of America, Operation Warm), and foundation grants. GO Campaign and Beachbody are cited as major early funders who enabled program growth and facility acquisition.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Future Ties is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free after-school programs, summer camps, youth mentorship, teen workforce development, parent mentoring, and community outreach services to low-income children and families on Chicago's South Side. Programming is delivered directly through a community center facility located adjacent to the Parkway Gardens low-income housing complex and serves elementary, middle, and high school students along with their parents.

Product overview

Future Ties is a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of youth and family development programs serving the Parkway Gardens community and surrounding neighborhoods on Chicago's South Side. The core offerings include multiple after-school programs segmented by age group (elementary K-5 and middle/high school), summer camp programming, youth mentorship, teen workforce development, and parent mentoring services. These programs are complemented by the SAI Enrichment Program for Saturday activities, community events and outreach, and case management. The organization operates from a permanent community center facility and serves hundreds of children annually through academic support, life skills training, recreational activities, and family strengthening services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• After School Program (Elementary) After-school programming for elementary school students (Grades K-5, ages 5-12) held three days per week, featuring homework assistance, academic support, life skills workshops, technology access, and literacy instruction using Scholastic's ReadAbout program.
• After School Program (Middle and High School) After-school program for middle and high school students featuring homework help, college preparation including SAT and ACT tutoring, job skills training, restorative justice programming, and workshops on challenges facing teenagers.
• Summer Camp Program Year-round summer programming for elementary schoolers including field trips, sports camp, tennis lessons, arts and crafts, roller skating, beach outings, and activities at Parkway Gardens, with middle and high school students serving as counselors.
• Youth Mentorship Program Mentorship program for 8th-grade students at Dulles School of Excellence and high school teens referred by teachers or administrators, featuring weekly one-on-one or group sessions on goal setting, study skills, job training, and career planning, plus expeditionary learning field trips.
• Teen Workforce Development Workforce development program for teens and young adults ages 16-24, including job skills training and connections to summer employment through the One Summer Chicago program.
• Parent Mentoring Program Parent support services including life skills workshops, technology skills training, domestic violence assessments, mentorship programming, and opportunities for parents to volunteer at youth programs.
• SAI Enrichment Program Saturday enrichment program for youth featuring robotics, science experiments, math and reading games, and dance activities, led by volunteer doctors and teachers from the University of Chicago and local health organizations.
• Community Events and Outreach Community programming including clean and green activities, resource referrals, Playstreets events, Juneteenth celebrations, community carnivals, holiday parties, MLK Day events, and building block clubs for residents.
• Case Management Services Case management services providing support and resource coordination for families and children in under-resourced communities.

Named customers4 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WGN-TVminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026Chicago television station that produced Spotlight Chicago segment featuring Future Ties and its support for school principals and parent mentors.
• One Summer ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025City of Chicago employment program that provides summer job opportunities for Future Ties teen participants ages 16-24.
• Parkway Christian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025Local church whose members serve as mentors for youth in Future Ties programs through volunteer application process.
• Parkway Gardens Apartments (Related)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Property management company that granted access to basement space where founder Jennifer Maddox initially provided after-school programming. Building is adjacent to their low-income housing complex.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: Large established nonprofit operating youth development, after-school, and teen programs across Chicago, including South Side locations. Overlaps with Future Ties in after-school and teen programming but operates as part of a broader national YMCA portfolio rather than a single-site community-embedded model.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large established social services organization operating youth, family, and community programs across Chicago including South Side neighborhoods. Comparable whole-family services orientation and target population, though operates as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Urban League of Chicago: Established Chicago affiliate of the National Urban League providing youth development, workforce training, and family services in Black communities. Comparable focus on Chicago's South Side and overlap in workforce development and youth empowerment programming.

Others

• Greater Chicago Food Depository (community partners): Large Chicago-area social services organization focused on food insecurity. Not a direct competitor but part of the broader community-resource ecosystem that Future Ties families often interact with; partnership potential exists for wraparound services.

Direct peers

• By the Hand Club for Kids: Chicago faith-based nonprofit providing after-school programs, academic support, and mentoring for under-resourced children. Comparable mission and programming mix to Future Ties, with a stronger faith-based affiliation and multiple Chicago locations.
• Chicago Youth Centers: Chicago nonprofit providing after-school, summer, and family support services in under-resourced neighborhoods. Directly comparable scope of services and target population to Future Ties, with multiple sites across the city.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Chicago chapters): National nonprofit operating after-school, mentorship, and youth development programs in low-income communities, including Chicago-area clubs. Directly comparable mission and program mix (homework help, life skills, teen workforce prep) targeting the same demographic as Future Ties.
• After School Matters: Chicago-based nonprofit providing after-school and summer programs for teens, including apprenticeship-style workforce and arts programming. Directly comparable target population (Chicago teens) and program model, though with a larger operating budget and citywide footprint.
• Metropolitan Family Services: Chicago-area human services nonprofit offering youth programs, family case management, and community-based support. Comparable two-generation approach (serving both youth and parents) and similar footprint in underserved Chicago neighborhoods.

Emerging players

• Kids Off the Block / other South Side youth nonprofits: Small community-embedded Chicago South Side youth nonprofits addressing violence prevention and opportunity gaps. Comparable grassroots community-trust model to Future Ties, though often with narrower programmatic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/futureties
• Xx.com/FutureTies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/future-ties-nfp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Future Ties