UMPS CARE Charities

What UMPS CARE Charities does

UMPS CARE Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by Major League Baseball umpires, headquartered in Edgewater, United States. The charity delivers programs that bring joy, mentorship, and educational opportunity to at-risk youth and military families, leveraging MLB umpire volunteers as the core delivery mechanism across five primary programs: the Blue for Kids Hospital Program (in-person visits with Build-A-Bear stuffed animals at 14+ children's hospitals nationwide), the All-Star College Scholarship and Eric Cooper Memorial Scholarship (providing up to $40,000 over four years to children adopted later in life, paired with umpire mentorship), the Official Leadership Program (teaching umpire mechanics and leadership skills to teens in underserved communities), the Blue Crew Tickets program (VIP ballpark experiences for youth organizations and military families), and Stars & Strikes / Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy support (training and recognition for wounded veterans).

The organization operates a website and online donation portal (give.umpscare.com) as its primary digital infrastructure, alongside an umpire-targeted merchandise channel via Ump-Attire.com. There is no proprietary technology stack, no APIs, no AI/ML capabilities, and no mobile applications; the core programmatic deliverable is the Build-A-Bear product combined with in-person umpire volunteer engagement. The organization is lean (1-10 employees), governed by a Board of Directors composed primarily of MLB umpires, and led by President Gary Darling, a retired MLB umpire.

Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring monthly via the tiered Grand Slam Giving program), corporate sponsorships (US Foods, Arby's Foundation, Herr's, Utz, Giants Snacks, Carta Global Logistics), event fundraising (multiple regional golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, and Run for Bears events), and merchandise sales. The organization claims 80 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to programs, a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Cumulative reported impact includes 25,000+ Build-A-Bear deliveries to hospitalized children since 2006 and $410,000+ awarded in college scholarships to adopted youth.

Name

UMPS CARE Charities

Legal name

UMPS CARE Charities

Website

https://umpscare.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UMPS CARE Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 by Major League Baseball umpires that delivers hospital visits, college scholarships, and youth leadership programs to at-risk children, adopted youth, and wounded veterans across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Sports Combine, Tryout & Showcase Programs (MPAKAJAM)

Keywords

• Youth charity programs
• Hospital visitation services
• College scholarship funding
• Nonprofit community outreach
• Military veteran support

Headquarters

HQ city

Edgewater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Program delivery (Build-A-Bear supplies, scholarships, events), Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals supporting the charity's programs for children, veterans, and youth. Monthly donors receive special gifts and recognition.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support specific programs, events, and initiatives. Companies like US Foods, Arby's Foundation, Herr's Snacks, Utz Snacks, Giants Snacks, and Carta Global Logistics provide financial and in-kind support.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated through events including golf tournaments (Golf Classic, East Coast Classic, Fairway to the Rockies, Houston Golf Outing), bowling tournaments (Eric Cooper Memorial Bowling Tournament), runs (Run for Bears), and other fundraising activities.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including limited-edition hats and apparel. Stars & Strikes campaign hats sold through Ump-Attire.com with proceeds supporting Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UMPS CARE Charities delivers a portfolio of charitable programs for at-risk youth, hospitalized children, children adopted later in life, and wounded veterans. Core programs include hospital visits delivering Build-A-Bear stuffed toys (Blue for Kids), college scholarships up to $40,000 with umpire mentorship, the Official Leadership Program teaching umpire mechanics and leadership to underserved teens, and VIP ballpark experiences for youth organizations and military families. Operations are funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event fundraising, and merchandise sales, and executed primarily by volunteer MLB umpires.

Product overview

UMPS CARE Charities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operated by Major League Baseball umpires, offering a portfolio of charitable programs focused on enriching the lives of at-risk youth and supporting military veterans. The organization's core offerings include the Blue for Kids Hospital Program (delivering Build-A-Bear experiences to hospitalized children), the All-Star College Scholarship and Eric Cooper Memorial Scholarship programs (providing financial support and mentorship to children adopted later in life), the Official Leadership Program (teaching umpire mechanics and leadership to underserved teens), and the Blue Crew Tickets program (providing VIP ballpark experiences for youth organizations and military families). Supporting donor programs include the Grand Slam Giving monthly donation initiative and BLUE Crew Insiders program for umpire community members. The organization also runs advocacy campaigns like Take The Pledge for sportsmanship and community grant programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blue for Kids: Hospital program bringing MLB umpires to children's hospitals to deliver Build-A-Bear stuffed toys and joy to young patients
• All-Star College Scholarship
• Official Leadership Program
• Blue Crew Tickets
• Grand Slam Giving Program
• Stars & Strikes Campaign

Products and services

• Blue for Kids Hospital Program Hospital visitation program in which MLB umpires deliver Build-A-Bear stuffed animals and experiences to children undergoing medical treatment at children's hospitals across the U.S.
• All-Star College Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ Build-A-Bear stuffed toys delivered to hospitalized children since 2006
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• US FoodsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2025US Foods employees from San Diego, Los Angeles, and Corona locations participate in the Run for Bears event at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, CA. US Foods team members fundraise and volunteer to help provide Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences for children with cancer and serious illnesses.
• Major League Baseball UmpirescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLB umpires serve as the primary volunteer force and ambassadors for UMPS CARE, participating in hospital visits, mentoring scholarship recipients, supporting official leadership programs, and lending their names and presence to fundraising events. This is a deep, long-standing partnership where umpire volunteers are integral to all programs.
• Wounded Warrior Umpire AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to train wounded veterans to work as umpires in their communities. UMPS CARE provides VIP ballpark experiences for participants through the Stars & Strikes campaign. The Academy provides training and graduates who benefit from UMPS CARE programs.
• Build-A-Bear WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides stuffed teddy bears, puppies, monkeys and other animals for the Blue for Kids hospital program. Over 25,000 Build-A-Bear stuffed toys have been delivered to hospitalized children since 2006.
• Arby's FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Arby's Foundation matches donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 for the annual 100 Bears For The Holidays campaign, enabling double the impact for hospitalized children during the holiday season.
• Ump-Attire.commajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSells limited-edition Stars & Strikes campaign baseball caps and UMPS CARE merchandise. All proceeds from merchandise sales go directly to support Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy programs.
• Herr's SnacksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides snacks for goody bags at Stars & Strikes events for veterans and their families.
• Utz SnacksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides snacks for goody bags at Stars & Strikes events for veterans and their families.
• Giants SnacksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides snacks for goody bags at Stars & Strikes events for veterans and their families.
• Carta Global LogisticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJim Bowman and CARTA Global Logistics provide volunteer and financial support for Phoenix Children's Hospital visits.
• Big Brothers Big SistersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization partner receiving Blue Crew tickets and VIP ballpark experiences for program participants (Littles).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MLB Players Trust: Charitable foundation established by Major League Baseball Players Association supporting youth, education, and community programs; structurally a peer as another MLB-affiliated charitable organization serving youth through baseball.
• Athletes for Hope: 501(c)(3) that mobilizes professional athletes for charitable causes, directly comparable to UMPS CARE's model of organizing professional sports officials (MLB umpires) around community-benefit programs.
• Starlight Children's Foundation: National nonprofit delivering programs, toys, and hospital-based experiences to seriously ill children and their families; comparable target beneficiary (hospitalized children) and program-delivery model to UMPS CARE's Blue for Kids.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large veteran-support nonprofit serving wounded veterans through transition, career, and community programs; directly comparable to UMPS CARE's Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy / Stars & Strikes initiative for wounded veterans.
• Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation: MLB-family-affiliated charitable foundation focused on youth development through sports-based programs for at-risk youth, structurally analogous to UMPS CARE as a baseball-official-led foundation serving underserved young people.
• The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Sports-affiliated (founded by Jim Valvano) cancer charity that pairs celebrity/athlete credibility with measurable program outcomes; comparable to UMPS CARE's blend of MLB credibility and high-impact beneficiary programs.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Youth-mentorship nonprofit that is both a peer (similar youth-development mission, donor-base overlap, and veteran/nonprofit space) and an actual UMPS CARE partner; programs like Blue Crew Tickets directly benefit BBBS Littles.
• Team IMPACT: Matches children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college sports teams for long-term support, directly comparable to UMPS CARE's Blue for Kids hospital visitation model using sports figures to lift hospitalized children.

Emerging players

• Pitch In For Baseball: Nonprofit that collects and distributes baseball and softball equipment to underserved youth; narrower-equipment focus compared to UMPS CARE's broader program portfolio, but operates in the same youth-baseball charitable niche.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large incumbent youth-development nonprofit serving underserved teens nationwide; broader and more general than UMPS CARE's Official Leadership Program but competes for the same teen-development donor dollars and corporate sponsors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UmpsCare
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyACJEXEWYeKuO8Pv8WWZ9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/UmpsCare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umps-care-charities
• Instagraminstagram.com/umps_care

Compliance3 records

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 UMPS CARE Charities