America's Kids Belong

What America's Kids Belong does

America's Kids Belong (AKB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, that addresses the U.S. foster care crisis through two complementary strategies: recruiting foster and adoptive families and retaining existing foster families. The organization operates two flagship programs: the I Belong Project™, a video storytelling initiative launched in 2016 that has produced over 4,353 professional trauma-informed video profiles of adoption-eligible children, and the Foster Friendly® Communities initiative, which activates businesses, faith communities, nonprofits, and local governments to support foster families through discounts, services, and wrap-around care. The Foster Friendly® App, available on iOS and Android, is the operational platform connecting 22,531 foster and kinship families with 4,017 participating businesses and faith communities across seven states.

AKB operates nine state-level chapters (California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia), each with local state directors and field operations. The product portfolio has expanded to include FosterCon™ (a free webinar series offering continuing education credits for foster parents), the Foster Friendly Podcast, the Fostering Front Door information hub, the Dream Makers program for youth aging out of foster care, and trauma-awareness training resources. The organization partners with major sports franchises including the Atlanta Braves and Nashville Predators Foundation, and with foundations such as Jockey Being Family, to extend program reach. All services are provided free to foster families; business participation in the Foster Friendly network is also free.

Revenue derives entirely from individual donations (monthly giving starting at $10), foundation grants, and corporate contributions, with active fundraising via GivingFuel and GiveButter portals. AKB has earned a Charity Navigator four-star rating (2024), GuideStar/Candid Platinum transparency rating (2023), and Excellence in Giving certification. The organization is led by co-founder and Executive Director Brian Mavis, with Tim Shirk as Board Chair; co-founder Janet Vestal Kelly departed in July 2024 upon appointment as Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources.

Name

America's Kids Belong

Legal name

America's Kids Belong

Website

https://americaskidsbelong.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

America's Kids Belong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating across nine U.S. states that recruits foster and adoptive families via video storytelling (I Belong Project) and retains foster families through the Foster Friendly app and community network connecting 22,531 foster parents with 4,017 supporting businesses and faith communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Family recruitment
• Community mobilization
• Child welfare support
• Adoption programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Loveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, monthly giving programs, and one-time donations. Monthly giving starts at $10/month for partner contributions.
2. Grants: Funding from foundations and government grants to support specific programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

America's Kids Belong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that recruits and supports foster and adoptive families through the I Belong Project, mobilizes communities via the Foster Friendly movement and mobile app, and delivers direct support to youth in care and caregivers through webinars, workshops, podcasts, and a Dreams program. Its programs connect prospective families, businesses offering discounts, faith communities, and state child welfare systems to improve outcomes for kids in foster care.

Product overview

America's Kids Belong is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and digital platforms focused on improving outcomes for children in foster care. The core offerings include the Foster Friendly App (a mobile platform connecting foster families with business discounts and faith community support), the I Belong Project™ video storytelling initiative (creating professional video profiles of adoption-eligible children), FosterCon™ Webinars (continuing education for foster parents), and the Foster Friendly Podcast. These products work together as a comprehensive ecosystem: the I Belong Project™ recruits adoptive families, the Foster Friendly App/Communities retain foster families through community support, and the podcasts/webinars/resources educate and inspire engagement. Additional offerings include Fostering Front Door (information hub), Trauma Sensitivity Workshop Training, and Dream Makers (support for youth aging out).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I Belong Project™: Video storytelling initiative that creates professional photo and video profiles of adoption-eligible children in foster care to help connect them with families. Since 2016, over 4,353 stories have been captured.
• Foster Friendly® Communities
• Foster Friendly® App
• FosterCon™
• Dream Makers
• Fostering Front Door

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,531 foster parents accessing resources through the Foster Friendly App
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Nashville Predators FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner hosting I Belong Project events at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators Foundation provided support for a day of belonging where children in foster care experienced professional videos, photos, and special activities with players.
• Atlanta BravesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst MLB team to become a Foster Friendly partner, offering discounts and community support to foster families in their region.
• White Shepherd CoffeeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for Bridgestone Arena I Belong Project event, providing refreshments.
• Long Hollow Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor faith community partner in Tennessee, part of the Foster Friendly Faith initiative, providing wrap-around support services for foster families.
• Camel Express Car WashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTennessee-based Foster Friendly business partner providing car wash services to foster families in the community.
• Belmont Office of Music TherapyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing music therapy services for I Belong Project events.
• Canines for ChristminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTherapy dog organization providing comfort services at community events for foster families.
• State Child Welfare AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with state agencies in California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Virginia for I Belong Project implementation and foster care programs.
• Every Child TNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partnership connecting Tennessee Kids Belong with statewide foster care initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Together We Rise: Nonprofit supporting foster youth through welcome boxes, scholarships, and Sweet Cases. Directly comparable as a private nonprofit focused on foster care recruitment and retention via tangible support programs.
• Foster Love: Nonprofit providing essential items and support to foster children and families. Comparable as a private nonprofit focused on foster care material support and family engagement programs.
• FosterClub: National network for current and former foster youth focused on transition support and advocacy. Comparable as a peer serving foster youth and foster families through community and resource programs.
• Comfort Cases: Nonprofit providing backpacks and essentials to children entering foster care. Comparable as a private nonprofit focused on foster care support and child welfare outcomes.
• National Foster Youth Institute: Nonprofit amplifying foster youth voices through advocacy, leadership training, and storytelling. Comparable in its storytelling-driven approach to foster care reform and youth-focused engagement.
• Everyone's Children (formerly Raise the Future): Nonprofit focused on adoption and permanency for children in foster care. Comparable as a peer organization working to connect adoption-eligible foster youth with permanent families.

Broad incumbents

• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Large national nonprofit focused on foster care adoption, operating Wendy's Wonderful Kids program. Broader incumbent serving similar adoptive-recruitment mission but with significantly larger scale and corporate backing.
• AdoptUSKids: Federally-funded national project to recruit adoptive families for waiting children in foster care. Comparable as a much larger incumbent serving the same adoption-from-foster-care mission.
• Bethany Christian Services: Large faith-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and family support services nationwide. Comparable as a broader incumbent operating foster care and adoption programs at national scale.
• National CASA/GAL Association for Children: National organization supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster children. Broader incumbent in the foster care advocacy space with a similar mission of supporting children in care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqG2Hc3ALOiBBbBjN_YZwpg
• Facebookfacebook.com/americaskidsbelong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/america-s-kids-belong
• Instagraminstagram.com/americaskidsbelong
• Xx.com/AKidsBelong

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries14 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 America's Kids Belong