Grands Stepping Up

What Grands Stepping Up does

Grands Stepping Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, that delivers holistic support programs to grandparents and kinship caregivers raising children. Leadership combines a founder with direct lived experience as a kinship caregiver and a board with explicit expertise across law, finance and accounting, nonprofit management, healthcare, education, and small business. All services are provided at no cost to registered beneficiary families, with operational reach currently concentrated in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and a stated capacity for statewide Pennsylvania reach.

The organization operates eight core programs: Denis' Pantry, a monthly drive-thru food distribution that has served thousands of households since its 2020 launch and was relocated to Bethany Evangelical Presbyterian Church to expand physical capacity; a Legal Clinic anchored by the Law Office of Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq. and a network of 16 attorneys providing pro-bono or discounted legal services; Therapeutic Services; Holiday Programs including a seventh annual Easter distribution; Youth Activities; an Emergent Needs Fund; a Support Group; and a Volunteer Program. A community garden opened in 2023 supplements pantry inventory with fresh produce. The technology footprint is intentionally lightweight: a recently launched digital client registration system captures beneficiary data, and donations are accepted through PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App.

Grands Stepping Up operates as a donation-funded nonprofit with no fee-based revenue. Income is sourced from individual donations, in-kind contributions, corporate and community sponsorships, event proceeds, and discounted or pro-bono professional services, notably legal counsel. The beneficiary model is registration-based rather than transactional, with no per-service pricing, and program scale is reflected in event output (e.g., the seventh annual Easter distribution) and recurring regional media coverage from 6abc, CBS3, WHYY 'Good Souls', and the Philadelphia Inquirer rather than disclosed financial statements.

Name

Grands Stepping Up

Legal name

Grands Stepping Up

Website

https://grandssteppingupinfo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grands Stepping Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 that delivers free programs — including a monthly food pantry, legal clinic, therapeutic services, holiday assistance, and youth activities — to grandparents and kinship caregivers raising children in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Kinship Caregiver Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Community Food Services (624210), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Kinship caregiver support
• Grandfamily assistance programs
• Community food pantry
• Discounted legal clinic services
• Nonprofit family services

Headquarters

HQ city

Drexel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Fundraising: Grands Stepping Up raises operating funds through individual cash/check donations (mailed to the organization), PayPal Giving Fund, Venmo (@GrandsSteppingUp), Cash App ($GrandsSteppingUp), and Facebook fundraisers. The organization holds an annual fundraiser and periodic fundraising events throughout the year.
2. In-Kind Donations: GSU accepts in-kind donations of food, baby supplies, personal care items, household items, pet supplies, holiday items (Easter baskets, Thanksgiving meal components, Christmas gifts), school supplies, and memory bears crafted by volunteers. These support the pantry and holiday programs.
3. Sponsorships: Local businesses and organizations sponsor GSU events and programs, providing financial support and in-kind contributions. Sponsors are publicly acknowledged on the organization's website and at events.
4. Professional Services (Discounted Legal Clinic): The Legal Clinic provides discounted legal services (25% discount at current income-based sliding scale) to grand/kinship families. Future goal is to provide free legal assistance funded by GSU legal clinic funds.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grands Stepping Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a holistic portfolio of programs for grandparents and kinship caregivers raising children. Its flagship community-facing offering, Denis' Pantry, distributes food, baby supplies, and clothing to all Delaware County, PA residents, while its grandfamily-only programs include a discounted Legal Clinic, trauma-based Therapeutic Services, year-round Holiday Programs, Youth Activities, an Emergent Needs Fund, a Support Group, and a Volunteer Program.

Product overview

Grands Stepping Up is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs designed to support grandparents and kinship guardians raising grandchildren due to issues such as the opiate epidemic, incarceration, mental health issues, death, or illness of parents. The organization's service model centers on GSU's Denis' Pantry as the primary community-facing program serving all Delaware County residents with food, baby supplies, and holiday assistance. Beyond the pantry, the organization provides specialized support exclusively for registered grand/kinship families including a Legal Clinic offering discounted legal services, Therapeutic Services providing trauma-based mental health counseling, Holiday Programs delivering year-round seasonal assistance, Youth Activities funding extracurricular participation, an Emergent Needs Fund for financial emergencies, a Support Group for peer connection, and a Volunteer Program. The portfolio is unified by a holistic support philosophy addressing the financial, psychological, legal, and social needs of grandfamilies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GSU's Denis' Pantry A food pantry and clothing closet serving ALL Delaware County residents, providing nonperishable food items, baby supplies, holiday assistance, and clothing to grand/kinship families and the broader community through drive-thru distribution.
• Legal Clinic A legal services clinic offering discounted attorney services in custody, adoption, landlord/tenant, criminal, dependency, juvenile, name change, guardianship, family law, wills, probate, POAs, bankruptcy, traffic, consumer law, estate planning, unemployment/discrimination, immigration law, and social security disability on an income-based sliding scale.
• Therapeutic Services A trauma-based family counseling program providing mental health services, behavioral support, pediatric speech therapy, and physical/occupational health services to assist grandchildren with adjustment disorders, abandonment issues, depression, and anxiety.
• Holiday Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 260,000 children live in grandparent/kinship-led households in Pennsylvania; more than 84,000 grandparents/kinship caregivers are responsible for meeting their grandchildren's basic needs.

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

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bethany Evangelical Presbyterian Church (BEPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEPC hosts GSU's Denis' Pantry at its facility at 5 North Concord Avenue, Havertown, PA. This is a foundational operational partnership — GSU's food pantry runs from BEPC's premises, making it a core anchor for the organization's primary direct service delivery.
• Small Things PhillyminorOthersLocal Philadelphia organization listed as a sponsor/partner on GSU's Sponsors page, indicating financial or in-kind support for GSU's programs.
• Peterson InsuranceminorOthersHavertown-based insurance agency listed as a community sponsor on GSU's website, providing financial or in-kind support.
• Recovery Without BarriersminorOthersCommunity partner listed on GSU's Sponsors page, providing support for GSU's mission.
• The Delco GroupminorOthersListed as a sponsor on GSU's Sponsors page, providing community support for grand/kinship families.
• Drexel Neumann AcademyminorOthersListed as a sponsor on GSU's Sponsors page.
• Havertown Home ImprovementminorOthersLocal home improvement business listed as a sponsor, providing community support.
• Berkshire Hathaway (Bryn Mawr/Haverford)minorOthersReal estate brokerage listed as a sponsor on GSU's Sponsors page.
• Ancient Order of HiberniansminorOthersFraternal organization listed as a community sponsor.
• Law Office of Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKathryn A. Meloni, Esq. serves as the Director and Chair of GSU's Legal Clinic. Her law office coordinates all 16 volunteer attorneys providing discounted legal services (25% discount at 200% of poverty level) to grand/kinship families in custody, adoption, family law, criminal, estate planning, and other practice areas. This is a core programmatic partnership.
• The Home Depot (Ridley & Concordville Locations)minorOthersHome Depot locations sponsor GSU's community garden project and other facility-related needs.
• Girl Scouts Haverford Twp Troop #51108minorOthersLocal Girl Scout troop listed as a community sponsor.
• CityLight ChurchminorOthersFaith-based community organization listed as a sponsor.
• Compass Real EstateminorOthersReal estate company listed as a community sponsor.
• Long & Foster (Media/Havertown/Bryn Mawr)minorOthersReal estate brokerage listed as a community sponsor.
• Delco BeadsminorOthersLocal business that has partnered with GSU for community events and fundraising.
• America's Pie PizzaminorOthersLocal pizzeria listed as a sponsor/donor.
• Giant Food StoresminorOthersGrocery chain listed as a community sponsor, likely contributing food donations for Denis' Pantry.
• Haverford TownshipminorOthersLocal municipal government listed as a community sponsor and partner.
• Haverford Township Recreation DepartmentminorOthersRecreation department listed as a partner, likely supporting youth activities and sports funding programs.
• Havertown TownshipminorOthersMunicipal government listed as a community sponsor.
• The Yard HavertownminorOthersLocal business listed as a community sponsor.
• Kiwanis MainlineminorOthersService organization listed as a sponsor and partner.
• Beatty Lumber CompanyminorOthersLocal lumber/materials supplier listed as a sponsor.
• Mother's HomeminorOthersOrganization supporting families in need, listed as a community partner/sponsor.
• Twirl Performing ArtsminorOthersPerforming arts organization listed as a community sponsor, possibly supporting youth activities.
• Paddy Rooneys PubminorOthersLocal establishment listed as a sponsor and co-chair of the Fund-raising Committee.
• KinConnectorminorOthersOrganization listed as a partner, potentially providing referral pathways for grand/kinship families.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdUM8iLqDxq7T5p5gNq0G4w
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrandsSteppingUp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grands-stepping-up

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 Grands Stepping Up