Special Kids Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1926
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Special Kids Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Special Kids Foundation
- Legal name
- Special Kids Foundation
- Website
- https://specialkidsfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1926
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Special Kids Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Grantmaking Foundation
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)
Keywords
Where Special Kids Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Special Kids Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation receives donations from individuals, including online gifts processed through secure networks, mail-in donations via donation forms, and tribute donations in honor or memory of individuals. These donations fund grants to organizations serving children with developmental disabilities.
- Planned Giving and Bequests: The foundation accepts bequests in wills, gifts of securities (stocks or investments), and charitable remainder trusts that provide income to donors during their lifetime before transferring assets to the foundation.
- Tribute Cards: The foundation sells occasion cards (birthday, anniversary, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.) with artwork created by children with developmental disabilities. Each card purchase represents a donation to the foundation.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Special Kids Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Special Kids Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grant-making foundation that awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving children with developmental disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Grants are distributed across six program areas (Enrichment, Education, Early Intervention, Transition, Treatment, and Parent Support/Outreach/Respite), funded by donations, planned giving, and tribute card purchases.
Product overview
Special Kids Foundation is a private grant-making foundation that provides financial support to 501(c)(3) organizations serving children with developmental disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. The foundation operates as a unified grant program with complementary services including an online donation portal (Tributes Online/Occasion Cards), secure online giving, planned giving options, a resource directory (Resource Links), a professional networking platform (Agency Exchange), and an educational glossary of disorders. The core offering is the annual grant program which funds six program areas: Enrichment, Education, Early Intervention, Transition, Treatment, and Parent Support/Outreach/Respite.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Grant Program Annual grant program awarding funds to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving children with developmental disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area (Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, Lake, McHenry counties). Grants support six program areas: Enrichment, Education, Early Intervention, Transition, Treatment, and Parent Support/Outreach/Respite. Involves an 8-month review process with site visits and quarterly accountability reporting; 2022 grants ranged from $5,699 to $38,000 per organization.
- Online Giving Secure online donation platform allowing individual supporters to make cash gifts directly to the foundation, with one-time or recurring gift options. Processed through PayPal's secure network.
- Planned Giving Estate planning giving options including bequests in wills, gifts of securities (stocks or investments), and charitable remainder trusts that provide income to donors during their lifetime before transferring assets to the foundation.
- Tributes Online (Occasion Cards) Online donation cards available for purchase in honor or memory of someone for occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvahs, and sympathies. Cards feature artwork drawn by children with developmental disabilities, and each purchase represents a donation to the foundation.
- Agency Exchange Networking Events Networking and collaboration platform connecting nonprofit professionals serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Includes storytelling workshops, roundtable discussions, and resource exchange programs. Most recent documented event on March 5, 2020 included 23 participating agencies.
- Glossary of Disorders and Diagnoses Educational resource providing definitions and information about developmental disorders including Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD), Autistic Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and related conditions.
- Resource Links Directory Curated directory of external resources for families and professionals, including Brookes Publishing (early intervention and special education books), The Guided Tour Inc. (accessible travel), Special Kids (learning videos, CD-ROMs, picture books for children with special needs), and Woodbine House (The Special-Needs Collection book series).
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately $3 million in grants distributed to agencies since inception
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Special Kids Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Special Kids Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Special Kids Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Agency Exchange Network (23 participating agencies)coreCollaborative network of 23 nonprofit organizations serving children and adults with developmental disabilities that participate in Agency Exchange events for information sharing, dialogue, and networking. Topics covered include storytelling, resource exchange, and roundtable discussions on best practices.
- Brookes PublishingminorResource link partner that publishes books in the fields of early intervention, inclusive and special education, developmental disabilities, communication and language, and behavior. Provides educational resources relevant to the foundation's mission.
- The Guided Tour, Inc.minorResource link partner providing travel services for persons with developmental and physical challenges. Offers accessible travel options relevant to families served by the foundation.
- Special KidsminorResource link partner founded by parents of a child with autism, selling learning videos, CD-ROMs and picture books for children with special needs.
- Woodbine HouseminorResource link partner publishing The Special-Needs Collection, a series of books on disabilities and related topics. Provides educational materials for families and professionals.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Special Kids Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Dan Marino Foundation: Foundation funding programs for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, including vocational and transition services. Comparable because it operates in the same developmental-disability grantmaking niche, funding transition and inclusion programs similar to several of SKF's six focus areas.
- National Down Syndrome Society: National nonprofit advocating for individuals with Down syndrome and their families through programming, grants, and awareness. Comparable because it funds programs serving children with a specific developmental disability, mirroring SKF's narrow-cause grantmaking approach.
Broad incumbents
- Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, many of whom have developmental conditions. Comparable because it is a charity that distributes meaningful per-child grants and is funded through individual donations and planned giving, mirroring SKF's funding model.
- Autism Speaks: Major autism-focused advocacy and science organization funding research, services, and family support across the U.S. Comparable because it raises charitable dollars and distributes grants to organizations serving children with developmental disabilities, overlapping directly with SKF's beneficiary population.
- Special Olympics: Global organization providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Comparable because it serves the same developmental-disability population and operates both direct programs and grant/affiliate funding to local chapters.
- Easter Seals: National nonprofit network serving individuals with disabilities, including developmental disabilities, through direct services, advocacy, and grantmaking. Comparable because it operates in the same developmental-disability funding space across many geographies, including a strong Metro Chicago affiliate (Easter Seals - Metro Chicago) that is an actual SKF grantee.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities: Global nonprofit supporting family-centered programs for sick children, including grants to local chapters providing housing, education, and care. Comparable because it operates as a federated grantmaking foundation funded by donations, just at much greater scale and geographic reach than SKF.
- The Arc of the United States: Largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Comparable because it channels funding and programmatic support to a national network of disability-focused agencies serving similar populations to SKF's grantees.
- Starlight Children's Foundation: National charity delivering programs and grants that bring joy and support to seriously ill children and their families. Comparable because it operates as a grantmaking and program-delivery nonprofit serving children with special needs through donations and corporate partnerships.
Direct peers
- First Hand Foundation: Nonprofit foundation funding individual children for medical and developmental needs not covered by insurance. Comparable because it is a grantmaking foundation that channels charitable dollars directly to specific children with special needs, the same end-beneficiary population as SKF's grantees.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Special Kids Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSpecial Kids Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Special Kids Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Special Kids Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Special Kids Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Special Kids Foundation
What does Special Kids Foundation do?
Special Kids Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grant-making foundation that awards annual grants to nonprofit organizations serving children with developmental disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Grants are distributed across six program areas (Enrichment, Education, Early Intervention, Transition, Treatment, and Parent Support/Outreach/Respite), funded by donations, planned giving, and tribute card purchases.
Is Special Kids Foundation a public or private company?
Special Kids Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Special Kids Foundation founded?
Special Kids Foundation was founded in 1926. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Special Kids Foundation based?
Special Kids Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Special Kids Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are planned Giving and Bequests and tribute Cards.
Who are Special Kids Foundation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Dan Marino Foundation and National Down Syndrome Society. Broad incumbents are Make-A-Wish Foundation, Autism Speaks, Special Olympics, Easter Seals, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Arc of the United States and Starlight Children's Foundation. First Hand Foundation is listed as a direct peer.
Does Special Kids Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Special Kids Foundation.
What industry is Special Kids Foundation in?
Special Kids Foundation's product category is Nonprofit Grantmaking Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAH, Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.