King Street Center

What King Street Center does

King Street Center is a Burlington, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization (federal tax ID 23-7236312) founded in 1968, operating a multi-program ecosystem serving children and youth aged 18 months through 18 years, plus their families. Its core programs include a 5-STAR Head Start Early Childhood Education program for toddlers and preschoolers, K-5 Afterschool and Summer Camp, a Middle School Program, the Academic & Career Exploration (ACE) high school program, a Mentor Program (Community Mentor and Book Buddy), a Family Support Program launched in 2024, and the long-running Lemonade Stand youth entrepreneurship program. The Center is anchored at a single physical site at 87 King Street, Burlington, with off-site delivery through 30+ community and employer partnerships. All programs are provided entirely free of charge to participants.

The organization's core capabilities are not technological; they are programmatic — youth development curriculum design, case management, community organizing, and wraparound family support services such as housing advocacy, financial coaching, legal navigation, and food security assistance. The organization does not operate a technology platform, app, or proprietary software; its digital presence consists of a Squarespace website, a monthly email newsletter ("Word on the Street"), and social media channels.

King Street Center's revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: federal Head Start and meal-program funding, individual donations and major gifts, corporate and foundation grants (including named gifts from the Buffum Family Foundation and A.D. Henderson Foundation), event sponsorships (annual golf tournament, block party, High Five Awards), in-kind donations, and planned giving/bequests. It serves a deeply localized customer base of Burlington-area youth (85% of whom come from immigrant or BIPOC families, 95% of families rely on SNAP benefits) and reaches nearly 200 children and youth daily and over 400 community members annually through Family Support. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via community outreach, school relationships (notably Edmunds Elementary), word-of-mouth, and volunteer/mentor recruitment through its website and events.

Name

King Street Center

Legal name

King Street Center

Website

https://kingstreetcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

King Street Center is a Burlington, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free youth development programs for children ages 18 months to 18 years and wraparound family support services to Burlington-area families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA), After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Youth mentorship programs
• Early childhood education
• Afterschool programs
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Philanthropy: Primary revenue driver. King Street Center relies heavily on private philanthropy including one-time gifts, recurring monthly donations, and major gifts from individuals. The organization runs annual appeals, golf tournaments, and fundraising events. Federal tax ID: 23-7236312.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: The organization receives grants from corporations and foundations including corporate sponsorships for events (golf tournament, block party, High Five Awards), program-specific grants, and endowment gifts such as from the Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation and A.D. Henderson Foundation.
3. Government Funding (Head Start): Early childhood education program is a Head Start program funded by federal dollars. Federal funding also supports meal programs (nearly 47,000 meals per year). Many families rely on state and federal financial assistance.
4. Event Sponsorships & In-Kind Support: Revenue raised through event sponsorships (golf tournament, block party, ACE showcase), corporate sponsors, and in-kind donations including wish list items for programs.
5. Planned Giving: Some donors make gifts to King Street Center through wills, life insurance policies, pension plans, living trusts, or charitable remainder trusts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

King Street Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization operating a portfolio of free programs for children and youth aged 18 months to 18 years in Burlington, Vermont. Its core offerings include a Head Start Early Childhood Education program, K-5 afterschool and summer camp, a Middle School Program, the Academic & Career Exploration (ACE) high school program, a Mentor Program (Community Mentor, Book Buddy, Peer Mentoring), a Family Support Program providing wraparound services, and the Lemonade Stand youth entrepreneurship program.

Product overview

King Street Center is a non-profit youth development organization serving children and youth ages 18 months to 18 years old. The organization operates a multi-program ecosystem consisting of Early Childhood Education (Head Start toddler and preschool), K-5 Afterschool & Camps, Middle School Program, High School Program (Academic & Career Exploration/ACE), Mentor Program (including Community Mentor and Book Buddy), Family Support Program, and the Lemonade Stand entrepreneurship program. Programs are provided at no cost to families to ensure equitable access and are designed to provide academic enrichment, career exploration, mentorship, meals, and safe spaces for youth during critical out-of-school hours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACE (Academic & Career Exploration): High school program providing career exposure, financial literacy, paid learning opportunities, mentorship, and individualized support for post-secondary planning.
• King Street Center Lemonade Stand

Products and services

• Early Childhood Education Head Start-funded toddler and preschool classrooms serving children ages 18 months to 5 years with early learning and developmental support.
• K-5 Program Afterschool and summer camp programs for kindergarten through 5th grade children offering academic enrichment, recreation, and positive adult relationships during out-of-school hours.
• Middle School Program Afterschool program for 6th to 8th graders providing homework support, entrepreneurship and project-based learning, field trips, social-emotional skill building, recreation, and summer leadership opportunities.
• Academic & Career Exploration (ACE) High school program preparing students for life beyond graduation through career exposure, financial literacy, paid learning opportunities, mentorship, and individualized post-secondary support across a four-tier 9th to 12th grade model.
• Mentor Program Connects children and youth to positive adult role models through Community Mentor, Book Buddy, and Peer Mentoring tracks to support navigation of adolescence.
• Family Support Program Wraparound care program providing housing advocacy, health and financial support, a care closet, basic needs fund, food security assistance, legal navigation, and language access services for over 400 community members annually.
• Book Buddy Program Volunteer-based literacy program matching volunteers ages 16 and older with kindergarten through 5th grade students for weekly reading and educational game sessions.
• Lemonade Stand Youth entrepreneurship program providing financial literacy, job skills training, and summer money-earning opportunities for middle and high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• ACE program grew from 3 to 42 high school students in 2 years, demonstrating strong demand and trust.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• BETA TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBETA Technologies provides career exposure, resume workshops, mentorship conversations with engineers and innovators, and hands-on facility tours for King Street Center's ACE high school students. They opened their doors to King Street youth for career exploration and have delivered the message that teens 'belong here' through their mentorship and engagement activities.
• Chill FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChill Foundation provides snowboarding programming for King Street Center teens. Both middle school and high school students participate, with high schoolers attending sessions at Stowe and middle schoolers at Bolton Valley. Chill's core values (respect, courage, patience, persistence, responsibility, and pride) are embedded in the programming.
• ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake ChamplaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO hosts the King Street Center Lemonade Stand at its waterfront location (1 College Street, Burlington). This partnership allows teens to run their lemonade business at a high-traffic tourist destination. ECHO's executive director described King Street Center's work as invaluable to Burlington.
• Vermont Juice CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Juice Co. (owner Jehan Dolbashian, King Street Center mentor) collaborated with King Street middle schoolers to develop a bottled lemonade recipe using lemon, maple syrup, and alkaline water. A portion of each bottle sold goes to supporting King Street Center programming. Available year-round at 77 Main Street, Burlington.
• Rokeby MuseumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRokeby Museum staff conducts a biweekly racial learning program with King Street Center preschoolers every other week, introducing diverse human experiences through picture books, persona dolls, art activities, circle discussions, and foods from around the world. Curriculum covers identity, diversity, justice, and action themes including skin color, racism, multiculturalism, economic class, and gender expression.
• Vermont Green FCsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont Green FC professional soccer team has partnered with King Street Center for three years, connecting with youth through games, art projects, and practice sessions. Players serve as role models and community connection points.
• Governor's Institutes of VermontsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner7 ACE students were accepted into Governor's Institutes of Vermont, diving into career-focused tracks including Global Issues, Health & Medicine, and Entrepreneurship.
• UVM's Upward BoundsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner12 teens from ACE enrolled in UVM's Upward Bound pre-college program, which includes intensive academic prep and a campus visit to UConn in Connecticut.
• Champlain Investment Partners Summer FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2 ACE students earned a spot in the Champlain Investment Partners Summer Fellowship, gaining firsthand experience in the financial sector.
• TD BanksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTD Bank hosted King Street Center's K-5 program for a tour and financial literacy discussion, including a visit to the bank vault and conversations about the importance of financial literacy.
• Vermont Professionals of Color NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided career panel discussion for ACE participants, helping teens explore professional pathways and build networks in Vermont's professional community.
• Intervale CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewed partnership with Intervale Center provides weekly fresh vegetable deliveries to King Street Center families throughout the summer growing season, addressing food security.
• Burlington Country ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the 34th Annual Bob Aldrich Memorial Golf Tournament supporting King Street Center summer programming. The tournament was described as one of the most beautiful rounds of golf in Vermont.
• Rockpoint AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHole-In-One Sponsor for the 34th Annual Bob Aldrich Memorial Golf Tournament.
• RedstoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHole-In-One Sponsor for the 34th Annual Bob Aldrich Memorial Golf Tournament.
• City MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner Sponsor of the 2025 High Five Appreciation Awards event.
• Peregrine Design BuildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFriend Sponsor of the 2025 High Five Appreciation Awards event.
• HulacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHula is a proud sponsor of King Street Center and hosted the 'Story Sessions' event featuring King Street Center at Hula Lakeside. Hula also collaborated on the South End Block Party, naming King Street Center as a beneficiary of the dunk tank proceeds. Promotional code 'KSCWELCOME' offered discounted tickets to King Street community.
• Mentor VermontsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentor Vermont helped King Street Center's Community Outreach Director attend the National Mentoring Summit in Washington DC, and provides ongoing support for the organization's mentoring programming.
• Church Street MarketplaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer partner that provided a vendor spot at no cost for the Lemonade Stand for 23 years before the stand moved to ECHO in 2024.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mentor Vermont: Vermont mentoring intermediary supporting youth mentoring programs statewide, including KSC's programs. Comparable in mentoring mission and Vermont nonprofit ecosystem; functions partly as a partner/funding source rather than a direct competitor.
• Lund: Vermont nonprofit serving children, youth, and families through early childhood, education, and family support programs. Highly comparable wraparound model and 501(c)(3) structure, with overlapping ECE and family-services lines.
• Spectrum Youth & Family Services: Burlington-based nonprofit providing youth and family services including housing, counseling, and drop-in support. Comparable in target population and Vermont footprint, though more crisis-oriented than KSC's developmental focus.
• Sara Holbrook Center: Burlington, VT-based community youth center offering afterschool, summer, and teen programs with a similar wraparound social-services mission. Directly comparable in geography, target population, and program mix.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont: Statewide mentoring organization pairing youth with adult mentors. Directly comparable to KSC's Mentor Program and Book Buddy initiatives; both compete for similar volunteer mentors and foundation dollars.
• Boys & Girls Club of Burlington: Burlington affiliate of the Boys & Girls Club movement offering afterschool, teen, and summer programming for local youth. Closest direct competitor to KSC's K-5, middle school, and teen program lines in the same geography.
• Greater Burlington YMCA: Burlington-area YMCA delivering youth development, childcare, afterschool, and family programming. Comparable in mission, service mix, and target demographic, with a broader facility footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National umbrella organization for Boys & Girls Club affiliates. Comparable in mission and program structure to KSC's afterschool/teen work, but operates at vastly greater scale and through an affiliated-club model.

Regional players

• Howard Center: Vermont-based social services agency providing mental health, developmental, and family support services across the state. Comparable in family-support mission and Vermont footprint, with a clinical rather than youth-development focus.

Others

• United Way of Northwest Vermont: Regional United Way affiliate that funds and convenes Burlington-area health and human services nonprofits, including youth-serving organizations. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but a key funder relationship for peers like KSC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kingstreetcenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/kingstreetcenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/kingstreetcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kingstreetcenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/kingstreetcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 King Street Center