The Giving Square Inc

What The Giving Square Inc does

The Giving Square Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 (incorporated and rebranded as a standalone entity) and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. It delivers a K-8 philanthropy education curriculum through school partnerships, with three core programs: Kids for Kids Intro (literacy-based, 2nd-3rd grade), Kids for Kids Fund (participatory grantmaking, 3rd-5th grade, where students allocate $1,000 grants to local nonprofits), and Kids for Kids in Action (experiential civic engagement, 5th-8th grade). Programs are delivered across 75+ partner schools in Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri, reaching more than 2,200 children annually. Complementary offerings include the TGS Selects national children's book award program (with 1,000+ kid reviewers), the kid-hosted podcast "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!", a co-developed card game called The Giving Potato Game, and family and educator workshops.

The organization's revenue model is donation-based across three streams: individual donations (tiered from $25 to $1,000), foundation grants (Rothschild Foundations, Serimus Foundation, Kettering Family Philanthropies, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Maryland Humanities), and podcast sponsorship. Programs are delivered free to partner schools. Distribution is community-led through direct school partnerships, volunteer networks (53 volunteers supporting celebrations), and a multi-channel marketing footprint (website, quarterly newsletter, podcast on major streaming platforms, social media, conference presence). Leadership is founder-led: Executive Director Amy Neugebauer, who received the University of Maryland's Forward for Tomorrow's Trailblazer's Award in 2026. The organization is governed by a board that includes representatives from Politics & Prose, Great Southern Bank, and The Orr Group.

The Giving Square is not a technology company — its core intellectual property is curriculum, methodology, and community ecosystem. Technology infrastructure is limited to a Wix-hosted website and a Bloomerang donation platform; there is no software product, API, or proprietary technology stack. The competitive advantage derives from the depth of its content library, its participatory grantmaking track record (over $100,000 collectively allocated by kids in five years), and its cross-sector network of educators, funders, and nonprofit grantees.

Name

The Giving Square Inc

Legal name

The Giving Square

Website

https://thegivingsquare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Giving Square is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers K-8 philanthropy education through school partnerships across Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri, reaching 2,200+ children annually with participatory grantmaking programs where students allocate real dollars to local nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Philanthropy Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYEDAAAFAC

Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Youth philanthropy education
• School partnership programs
• Kids grantmaking curriculum
• Civic engagement education
• Family philanthropy workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies heavily on individual donations from supporters. The donation page offers specific giving levels: $25 sponsors one student, $100 sponsors four students (average gift), $300 covers a Kids for Kids Library, $750 sponsors one program, $1,000 funds one nonprofit grant.
2. Foundation Grants: The Giving Square receives funding from foundations including Rothschild Foundations, Serimus Foundation, Kettering Family Philanthropies, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and Maryland Humanities.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: The organization offers podcast sponsorship opportunities where individuals or organizations can sponsor an episode or season of the 'Kids are Philanthropists, Too' podcast.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Giving Square delivers school-based, age-appropriate philanthropy and civic-engagement curricula for students in 2nd through 8th grade through its Kids for Kids Intro, Kids for Kids Fund, and Kids for Kids in Action programs. Programs culminate in real participatory grantmaking (students allocating $1,000 grants to local kid-serving nonprofits) and are complemented by The Giving Square Selects children's book awards, a kid-hosted podcast, family/educator workshops, and The Giving Potato card game. All programs are delivered free of charge to partner schools and supported by individual donations and foundation grants.

Product overview

The Giving Square is an educational nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of youth philanthropy programs rather than a software product. The core offerings include: Kids for Kids Intro (literacy-based program for 2nd-3rd graders), Kids for Kids Fund (civic grantmaking experience for 3rd-5th graders), Kids for Kids in Action (civic engagement curriculum for 5th-8th graders), The Giving Square Selects (national children's book award program), the Kids are Philanthropists, Too! podcast, and Family/Educator workshops. These programs are complemented by The Giving Potato Game, a card game for exploring philanthropy. The organization partners with over 75 schools across Maryland, Virginia, and Missouri, reaching over 2,000 children annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids for Kids Fund: A dynamic civic experience program for 3rd-5th graders to develop their philanthropic identity over eight hands-on sessions.
• Kids for Kids Intro
• Kids for Kids in Action
• Kids are Philanthropists, Too!
• The Giving Square Selects

Products and services

• Kids for Kids Intro
• Kids for Kids Fund
• Kids for Kids in Action
• The Giving Square Selects (TGS Selects)
• Kids are Philanthropists, Too! (Podcast)
• Family and Educator Workshops
• Kids for Kids Animal Kingdom

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.4 out of 10 adults reported the program increased empathy in their child/student (2026 post-program survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Politics and Prose BookstorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerD.C.-based bookstore devoted to cultivating community and strengthening common good through books. Shared purpose: recognizing the power of books and personal narratives as critical tools for empathy building. Donna Wells from Politics & Prose serves on The Giving Square board.
• Spur LocalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegion's only locally-focused guide to civic engagement, strengthening communities. Shared purpose: helping more people know and support the great work of local non-profits.
• Do Good InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoused in School of Public Policy at University of Maryland, inspires and equips Terps to make positive impact. Shared purpose: Children and young adults have much to contribute when empowered with support and opportunities.
• Linkages to LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity school partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools focusing on health, social services, community engagement and leadership. Shared purpose: addressing the civic empowerment gap and recognizing all children can be active contributors.
• Hogan LovellsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm creating valuable solutions for clients, particularly at intersection of business and government. Shared purpose: promoting good citizenship and strengthening society.
• Brand JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working to incorporate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging into brand identity. Shared purpose: Together building a more just and equitable world.
• Game GeniusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with The Giving Square to design The Giving Potato Game, a card game that helps kids explore the myriad ways everyone can help others. Peter Williamson from Game Genius co-presented at national conferences.
• Learning to GivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration provides question prompts and ideas for using the 'Kids are Philanthropists, Too' podcast in classrooms, covering topics of grief, health, and immigration.
• Turning the PageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for the TGS Selects book awards program. Kids vet nominated books at various community pop-ups over the summer.
• Dorothy A. Johnson Center for PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael Layton from the Johnson Center co-presented at conferences with Amy Neugebauer and contributed to research on collective giving that references The Giving Square.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Youth Service America: National leader in youth volunteerism and service-learning grants (e.g., Global Youth Service Day). Overlaps TGS on K-12 civic engagement and youth-led grantmaking, though broader than philanthropy alone.
• Learning to Give: Provides K-12 philanthropy and civic education lesson plans and resources. Listed as an explicit TGS collaborator on the podcast; most direct peer in youth philanthropy curriculum space.
• Doing Good Together: Provides family-service and family-philanthropy activities, including books and resources to raise caring, generous children. Closest peer on the parent/family-workshop side of TGS's offering.
• Generation On: Youth service and philanthropy nonprofit (Points of Light family) that mobilizes young people in service projects; comparable in age range (K-12/youth) and mission of building the next generation of givers.

Broad incumbents

• Character.org: National character-education organization promoting ethical and civic character in schools. Comparable as a school-based values/character framework that touches empathy and service themes TGS addresses.
• National Center for Family Philanthropy: Membership organization for philanthropic families; closely aligned with TGS's 'philanthropic families' customer segment and intergenerational giving workshops, though it serves adult family-foundation leaders rather than K-12 students.
• iCivics: Largest civics-education provider for U.S. middle schoolers, founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Adjacent in K-12 civic-identity development, though iCivics focuses on government knowledge rather than philanthropic action.
• Ashoka's Youth Venture / Ashoka: Global social-entrepreneurship network running youth venture and 'Changemaker' programs in schools; comparable audience (K-12 + young adults) and goal of building changemakers, though oriented to ventures rather than grantmaking.

Others

• Cafritz Foundation / Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation: A current TGS funder. Included as ecosystem participant to illustrate the foundation ecosystem TGS operates within, not as a programming competitor.
• KIND (Kids In Need of Defense): Listed as a Kids for Kids Fund grantee. Indirect connection through TGS's grantmaking ecosystem rather than competing programming; included as a downstream nonprofit beneficiary.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thegivingsquare
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegivingsquare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-giving-square
• Instagraminstagram.com/thegivingsquare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Giving Square Inc