Willkie House Inc

What Willkie House Inc does

Willkie House Inc is an Iowa-based nonprofit organization headquartered at 900 17th St, Des Moines, that delivers afterschool childcare, summer camp, and literacy programming to youth ages 5 to 12 (Kindergarten through 7th grade) drawn primarily from working and low-income families. The organization's mission is to develop character and esteem in young people through academics, social skill building, health, and recreation. Core service lines include the Afterschool Program (operated free for middle schoolers, weekdays 2:40 pm to 6:00 pm during the school year, with transportation from multiple Des Moines Public Schools sites), the Summer Program (starting June 15, 2026, organized into three age-based classes with differentiated developmental objectives), and the Lit League youth reading initiative supported by community volunteers.

The organization operates from a single physical facility containing a gym, classrooms, kitchen, and outdoor spaces, which are also offered as hourly rentals to community groups, churches, and event organizers at $30-$50 per hour. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses third-party tools including Brightwheel for program enrollment and management, Wix for its public website, PayPal for donations, and Givecloud for event ticketing.

Revenue is generated primarily through a hybrid nonprofit model combining donations and charitable contributions (one-time and recurring via PayPal), partially subsidized program fees, scholarships, and childcare assistance funding, plus facility rental income. The customer base spans three segments: the primary youth beneficiaries and their families, community members and volunteers, and local organizations renting facility space. Strategic operations are supported by a Board of Directors led by Executive Director Weslyn Caldwell and partnerships with Des Moines Public Schools, Studio MELEE (architects for the renovation), and the Gardner Cowles Foundation as a major historical funder.

Name

Willkie House Inc

Legal name

Willkie House Inc

Website

https://willkiehouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Willkie House Inc is a Des Moines, Iowa nonprofit providing afterschool childcare, summer camp, and literacy programming for youth ages 5-12 from working and low-income families, operating from a single facility with transportation partnerships with Des Moines Public Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers (EDACAHAB), After-School Enrichment & Activities Facilitation (Arts/STEM/Clubs) (HSAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Afterschool childcare
• Summer camp programs
• Community nonprofit services
• Youth literacy mentorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Willkie House generates revenue through one-time and recurring donations via PayPal, with options to direct funds to general operations or capital campaign. Donors can give monthly or annually.
2. Facility Rentals: The organization rents out various spaces within their facility including gym, outdoor areas, recreational space, conference/classroom rooms, and kitchen facilities on an hourly basis.
3. Program Fees: The organization charges fees for afterschool and summer programs. Childcare assistance and scholarships are accepted to ensure accessibility for low-income families. Afterschool program is free for middle schoolers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Willkie House Inc operates a community-based youth development center in Des Moines, Iowa providing afterschool academic reinforcement and summer childcare programs for children ages 5 to 12, including free afterschool programming for middle schoolers and age-stratified summer classrooms. It also runs the Lit League one-on-one literacy mentorship program pairing students with adult reading mentors, and supplements program funding by renting its historic building to community groups and event planners.

Product overview

Willkie House Inc is a nonprofit youth development organization offering a portfolio of childcare and enrichment programs. The core offerings include the Afterschool Program (free for middle schoolers, operating weekdays during school hours) and the Summer Program (starting June 15, 2026, with age-stratified programming). Supporting programs include Lit League reading initiative and facility rentals. The organization is undertaking a multi-phase building renovation project adding a STEM classroom and upgrading facilities with 21st-century technology. Annual events include a Juneteenth celebration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lit League: Willkie House's youth reading program designed to spark a love for literacy through fun, engaging, and community-based reading sessions.

Products and services

• Afterschool Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% increase in reading comprehension and greater confidence in school participation for youth who participate in structured reading programs with adult mentors

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

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

• The Iowa Club of Des MoinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2024Partnered with Willkie House for the Juneteenth celebration event on July 19, 2024. The Iowa Club sponsored/participated in the community party event.
• Hazel's LLCminorOthers · 19 July 2024Provided food services for the Juneteenth celebration event hosted by Willkie House on July 19, 2024.
• Des Moines Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial community partner of Des Moines Public Schools. The partnership provides afterschool programming with transportation from multiple elementary and middle schools (Downtown, Edmunds, Greenwood, Hubbell, Perkins, Walnut Street, Callanan, Merrill). The organizations work together to support youth from the district.
• Studio MELEEcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural firm based in Des Moines providing design services for Willkie House's building renovation project. Created floor plan mock-ups and renderings for the facility improvement project, including lobby, upstairs classrooms, and future renovation designs.
• BrightwheelcoreTechnology or IntegrationEducation technology platform used for program applications and enrollment. Families create accounts through Brightwheel to submit afterschool and summer program applications.
• Lillian EdmundsmajorOthersLed the effort to build the new Willkie House facility in the 1940s-1950s, spearheading the fundraising campaign that resulted in the June 17, 1951 opening of the renamed Willkie House.
• Community Legacy MattersminorOthersPartner organization that created the Hall of History exhibit documenting Willkie House's 100+ year history with stories and photos in the lower level of the building.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa: Multi-site youth-development nonprofit serving Des Moines-area youth with afterschool, summer, and enrichment programming. Directly comparable to Willkie House in mission, age range served, and reliance on donations and school partnerships.
• YMCA of Greater Des Moines: Regional YMCA operating afterschool, summer camp, childcare, and youth enrichment programs across the Des Moines metro with a comparable fee + scholarship + donation model to Willkie House.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa: Youth-mentoring nonprofit serving Des Moines-area children with volunteer-driven programming. Comparable to Willkie House's volunteer-mentor model (Lit League) and its mission of out-of-school youth support.

Emerging players

• EMBARC Iowa: Des Moines-based nonprofit focused on ethnic minority community development including youth programs. Comparable as a smaller Des Moines nonprofit offering youth-development services with similar community-cultural emphasis.

Regional players

• EveryStep (formerly Visiting Nurse/Hawthorn Hill): Central Iowa nonprofit offering family support and youth services historically rooted in the Des Moines Black community. Comparable as a regional Des Moines-based nonprofit providing youth and family programming.
• Children & Families of Iowa: Iowa-based nonprofit providing child welfare, family support, and youth services across the state. Comparable in nonprofit youth-services mission and central-Iowa footprint, though broader in scope than Willkie House.
• Community Youth Concepts: Iowa nonprofit dedicated to advancing youth work and out-of-school-time programming. Comparable as an Iowa-based nonprofit serving youth-serving organizations and youth, with overlapping afterschool and summer programming themes.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Central Iowa: Regional umbrella funder and convener for Central Iowa human-service nonprofits. Comparable as a key funder and community-coordination layer overlapping Willkie House's donor and partner ecosystem, though operating at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WillkieHouseDSM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willkie-house-inc

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 Willkie House Inc