ASAP/After School Activities partnerships

What ASAP/After School Activities partnerships does

ASAP/After School Activities Partnerships is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 by educator Marciene Mattleman to provide free, structured after-school enrichment to Philadelphia youth during the high-risk 3-6pm window. The organization operates four citywide programs — Chess, Debate, Drama, and Scrabble — delivered through volunteer-led clubs at 200+ partner schools, libraries, and recreation centers, reaching over 5,000 K-12 youth annually and more than 105,000 since inception. Each program operates an affiliated competitive league (Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League with 50+ teams, Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League with 40+ teams, Philadelphia Scholastic Scrabble League) and citywide tournaments that function as the organization's core competitive and community-building infrastructure.

ASAP has no proprietary technology platform; programs are delivered through in-person club meetings, tournaments, and events. The only digital product is the After School and Summer Program Locator, a searchable database originally developed from the ASAP Directory and now integrated with the City of Philadelphia's Cityspan database as civic infrastructure. The organization's revenue is entirely donation- and grant-funded — no fees are charged to youth, schools, or partner sites — drawing from individual donors, corporate sponsors (Wawa Foundation, Independence Blue Cross, PECO/Exelon, Lindy Communities, Hamilton Family Charitable Trust), institutional grants (GSK IMPACT, NBCUniversal Foundation, Impact100), and city/foundation partnerships (City of Philadelphia Office of Children and Families, School District of Philadelphia).

In 2022, ASAP launched the Adaptive Plan targeting 50% program expansion in Philadelphia public schools by 2025 (an additional 1,000-2,000 youth), coinciding with the 20th anniversary fundraiser that raised $50,000+. The organization is currently undergoing a leadership transition: Sara Morningstar served as Interim Executive Director following Justin Ennis's departure, and Beth Tomlinson joined as Executive Director in 2025, bringing prior experience at the City of Philadelphia's Office of Children and Families and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. ASAP has received multiple regional and national recognitions, including two GSK IMPACT Awards (2014, 2019) and the US Chess Federation's "Chess City of the Year" (2019).

Name

ASAP/After School Activities partnerships

Legal name

After School Activities Partnerships

Website

https://phillyasap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASAP is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating four citywide after-school enrichment programs — Chess, Debate, Drama, and Scrabble — serving over 5,000 K-12 youth annually at no cost through 200+ partner schools, libraries, and recreation centers, funded entirely by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Enrichment and After-School Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Afterschool enrichment programs
• Youth education nonprofit
• Scholastic chess programs
• Youth debate programs
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Fundraising: ASAP raises funds from individual donors and corporate sponsors to support its programming. The 20th anniversary event raised more than $50,000 toward expanding ASAP programs in Philadelphia public schools by 50% to serve an additional 1,000-2,000 kids by 2025.
2. Institutional Grants and Government Partnerships: ASAP receives grant funding and programmatic support from city agencies, foundations, and institutional partners including the City of Philadelphia, School District of Philadelphia, and various charitable trusts and foundations such as Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, Glazer Family Foundation, and Independence Blue Cross.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors including Wawa Foundation, Independence Blue Cross, and others provide event and program sponsorship. Sponsors support specific programs such as state and national chess championship travel for students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASAP runs four citywide after-school enrichment programs — Chess, Debate, Drama, and Scrabble — for Philadelphia youth in grades K-12, delivered free of charge through volunteer-led clubs hosted at more than 200 partner schools, libraries, and recreation centers. The organization recruits and trains volunteer club leaders, supplies curriculum and equipment, and coordinates monthly tournaments and citywide competitive leagues. Programs collectively engage approximately 5,000 youth annually and have served more than 105,000 students since the organization's founding in 2002.

Product overview

ASAP (After School Activities Partnerships) is a nonprofit organization operating four citywide after-school enrichment programs: ASAP Chess, ASAP Debate, ASAP Drama, and ASAP Scrabble. These programs engage over 5,000 Philadelphia youth annually across 200+ partner schools, libraries, and recreation centers. The organization also maintains the After School and Summer Program Locator, a searchable database of OST programs for families. Each program includes affiliated leagues, tournaments, and citywide events that connect youth to competitive and enrichment opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASAP Chess ASAP Chess provides after-school chess clubs and competitive tournaments for Philadelphia youth, serving over 2,500 students across more than 150 clubs. The program includes weekly club meetings, monthly tournaments, the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League, the Philly Girls Play Chess initiative (launched 2008), the PECO/ASAP Checkmate Violence Chess Marathon, and travel support for state and national chess championships.
• ASAP Debate ASAP Debate offers public-forum debate clubs and tournaments where students develop public-speaking, critical thinking, and research skills. The program operates through the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League with more than 40 middle and high school teams, supported by Penn For Youth Debate undergraduate assistant coaches and corporate volunteer judges.
• ASAP Drama ASAP Drama provides drama clubs, professional teaching-artist residencies, and an annual bilingual multi-school musical production in partnership with ASPIRA of PA. The program serves nearly 500 youth across 20 clubs and has trained club leaders in partnership with the Lantern Theater Company.
• ASAP Scrabble ASAP Scrabble runs the largest scholastic Scrabble program in the country, with 1,100+ students across 85 clubs. The program includes the Philadelphia Scholastic Scrabble League with novice, intermediate, and advanced divisions, and is coordinated by veteran instructor Johnny Green ("Johnny Scrabble").
• After School and Summer Program Locator The After School and Summer Program Locator is a searchable database of hundreds of out-of-school-time programs throughout Philadelphia, providing families with a single online tool to find enrichment activities for youth.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of ASAP club leaders believe ASAP programming helps students develop habits important to academic success
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ASPIRA of PA, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Since 2015, ASAP Drama and ASPIRA of PA, Inc. have collaborated on an annual bilingual multi-school musical theatre production to inspire the city's emerging LatinX population. Each production engages dozens of students from ASPIRA's five schools in all aspects of production, including acting, stage management, and sound and lighting.
• Penn For Youth Debate (PFYD) - University of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009ASAP established a formal partnership with Penn For Youth Debate to place undergraduate students from the University of Pennsylvania as assistant coaches at ASAP Debate clubs in West Philadelphia schools and hosts two annual tournaments for Philadelphia youth. PFYD leadership holds perennial seats on ASAP's Board of Directors.
• Drexel Institute for Women's Health & LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Philly Girls Play Chess, created in 2008, partners with the Drexel Institute for Women's Health & Leadership to host an all-girls tournament each Spring. ASAP Chess also runs a free girls summer camp to further develop the skills and camaraderie of Philadelphia's chess-playing girls.
• Philadelphia Scholastic Debate LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007ASAP assumed leadership of the Philadelphia Scholastic Debate League in 2007. At the time, only 6 middle and high school teams remained. Today ASAP Debate consists of more than 40 middle and high school teams.
• Lantern Theater CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005ASAP established a partnership with Lantern Theater in 2005 to provide professional training for drama club leaders.
• Philadelphia Scholastic Chess LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004ASAP assumed leadership of the Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League in 2004. At the time, only 12 middle and high school teams remained. Today the league consists of more than 45 elementary, middle, and high school teams competing in the US Chess Federation-rated league.
• School District of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASAP works with the School District of Philadelphia to raise funds to help students in ASAP Chess clubs represent Philadelphia at various national championship events. In 2018, the District resumed providing extracurricular dollars for teachers who run ASAP clubs in District-operated schools.
• Philadelphia Chess SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASAP works with the Philadelphia Chess Society to raise funds to help students in ASAP Chess clubs represent Philadelphia at national championship events.
• Philadelphia EaglesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhiladelphia Eagles were a Tier 1 raffle partner contributing to ASAP's 20th anniversary fundraising event.
• Philadelphia 76ersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhiladelphia 76ers were a Tier 1 raffle partner contributing to ASAP's 20th anniversary fundraising event.
• Philadelphia FlyersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhiladelphia Flyers were a Tier 1 raffle partner contributing to ASAP's 20th anniversary fundraising event.
• Philadelphia PhilliesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhiladelphia Phillies were a Tier 1 raffle partner contributing to ASAP's 20th anniversary fundraising event.
• United States Chess FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe US Chess Federation provides ratings for ASAP's Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League matches and tournaments. ASAP holds US Chess Federation-rated tournaments and sponsors students to attend US Chess national championship events.
• City of Philadelphia (Office of Children and Families)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Philadelphia's Office of Children and Families partners with ASAP on youth programming. The After School and Summer Program Locator was developed in 2020 as an update to the ASAP Directory, pulling information from the City of Philadelphia's Cityspan database.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• City Year Philadelphia: AmeriCorps-powered education nonprofit placing near-peer tutors in Philadelphia public schools. Serves the same schools and youth demographic as ASAP, with multiple ASAP alumni (e.g., Interim ED Sara Morningstar) crossing between the two organizations.
• United States Chess Federation: National governing body for chess that rates ASAP's Philadelphia Scholastic Chess League and co-sponsors student travel to state and national championships. Critical ecosystem partner and indirect capability provider, not a competitor.

Direct peers

• After-School All-Stars: National 501(c)(3) that runs free after-school enrichment programming for K–12 youth in underserved communities, directly comparable to ASAP's citywide model. Operates in multiple cities versus ASAP's single-city focus, making it a scaling analog.
• Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN): Philadelphia-based intermediary that funds and coordinates out-of-school time, workforce, and education programs citywide. Closely aligned with ASAP's hybrid model of being a direct service provider plus a citywide convener (e.g., the Program Locator).
• Chess in the Schools: New York-based nonprofit that brings scholastic chess to inner-city youth through after-school programs, schools, and tournaments. Highly comparable to ASAP Chess (2,500+ students, 150+ clubs) and the broader scholastic-chess-league structure.
• 826 National: Network of nonprofit writing and tutoring centers that provide free after-school creative-writing and academic support to K–12 students. Mirrors ASAP's free, volunteer-supported, site-based enrichment model with similar fundraising mechanics.

Regional players

• Police Athletic League (PAL) of Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing athletic and enrichment programming to city youth, including chess and recreational leagues. Competes for the same partner sites and youth as ASAP but with a sports-and-mentoring orientation rather than enrichment depth.
• Steppingstone Scholars: Philadelphia nonprofit focused on college access and academic enrichment for underrepresented students from middle school through college. Targets the same Philadelphia public and charter school population and competes for overlapping school partnerships and donor dollars.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia: Local chapter of a national youth-development organization serving Philadelphia youth with after-school programming, athletics, and academic support. Overlapping population and use cases, but a much broader portfolio than ASAP's four enrichment verticals.
• Junior Achievement of Southeastern PA: Regional affiliate of a national youth education nonprofit delivering in-school and after-school programming on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Comparable Philadelphia footprint and school-district relationships, broader curriculum focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASAP/After School Activities partnerships