Camp Fire Heartland

What Camp Fire Heartland does

Camp Fire Heartland is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization (EIN 84-2263257) headquartered at 1800 Wyandotte St., Suite 204 in Kansas City, Missouri, serving children ages 5-14 across the Kansas City metro on both the Kansas and Missouri sides. It became an independent local council in 2020 under founding President and CEO Erin Balleine, separating from Camp Fire National, the parent organization that operates 47 councils in 24 states and Washington D.C. The organization delivers before and afterschool programming at 9-12 partner school sites (including KIPP Endeavor Academy, St. Therese, Holy Rosary, Midtown Community School, Scuola Vita Nuova Charter, and St. Michael the Archangel), licensed all-day summer camps in Kansas City, KS and South Overland Park, KS (American Camp Association accredited and KDHE licensed), the Thrive trauma-informed program in partnership with the Jackson County Juvenile Justice System, weekend Outdoor Clubs, and volunteer engagement tracks such as Spark Champions and Literacy Leaders. Its proprietary framework centers on helping youth identify and nurture their "spark" through STEM, outdoor education, art, leadership, and community service programming.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: program tuition and fees (with Kansas and Missouri childcare subsidies and summer camp scholarships accepted), individual donations including monthly recurring giving at a $10/month suggested level, corporate and foundation grants (e.g., Northrop Grumman), and planned giving and bequests. Distribution is hybrid: families register directly through the Jumbula self-serve online platform while programs are delivered on-site at partner schools, two summer camp locations, and through the juvenile-justice referral pipeline. Marketing relies on community-led and event-driven channels, including community races, trivia nights, Spark Showcase, Lights on Afterschool, and Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, supplemented by Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, an email newsletter, and earned media in the Kansas City Star and philanthropy outlets.

The organization is small (11-50 employees) and serves approximately 500-650 youth annually with 522 average service hours per child per year. Operational scale is evidenced by 67,696 meals and snacks served during afterschool in the 2024/2025 school year. Governance is provided by a board chaired by Trudie Hall (Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City), with strong local institutional linkages across corporate, legal, public policy, and education sectors. The 2025 Candid/GuideStar Gold Transparency Seal and ACA accreditation are central credibility assets supporting fundraising and compliance.

Name

Camp Fire Heartland

Legal name

Camp Fire Heartland

Website

https://campfireheartland.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Camp Fire Heartland is an independent Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers before/after-school care, licensed summer camps, and trauma-informed youth programs to approximately 500-650 children ages 5-14 across the bi-state Kansas City metro, funded by tuition, donations, grants, and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Afterschool care
• Summer day camps
• Social-emotional learning
• Outdoor education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition and Fees: Fees charged for before and afterschool programs and all-day summer camps. Families may qualify for childcare subsidies from Kansas and Missouri, as well as scholarships for summer camp to ensure accessibility.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, including monthly recurring giving (e.g., $10/month suggested), one-time gifts, and donor-advised fund contributions.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from corporate partners (e.g., Northrop Grumman), foundation grants, and workplace matching gift programs.
4. Planned Giving and Bequests: Legacy gifts through wills and bequests, securities donations, and other planned giving vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Camp Fire Heartland is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates before and afterschool programs at school-based sites, all-day licensed summer day camps, the Thrive social-emotional learning program for trauma-affected youth, and Outdoor Club weekend programs for children ages 5-14. Programs emphasize STEM, outdoor exploration, art, leadership, and community service, delivered under the proprietary 'Spark' framework that helps youth identify and nurture their unique passions.

Product overview

Camp Fire Heartland offers a unified suite of youth development programs serving children ages 5-14 in the Kansas City metro area. The core offerings include Before & Afterschool Programs operating at six school sites, All Day Summer Camps in Kansas City, KS and Overland Park, KS, and the Thrive Program for trauma-affected youth. These programs are connected by a common framework centered on helping youth discover their 'spark' (unique passions), with activities spanning STEM, outdoor exploration, literacy, leadership, and community service. The organization also runs an Outdoor Club and engages volunteers through Spark Champion and Literacy Leaders programs. All programs emphasize social-emotional learning, connection to nature, and building inclusive community spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Before & Afterschool Programs Structured before and afterschool programming five days a week at schools across the Kansas City metro, serving children ages 5-14 with STEM projects, outdoor exploration, reading support, art, archery, leadership development, and community service. Accepts Kansas and Missouri childcare subsidies.
• All Day Summer Camps Licensed all-day summer day camp programs in Kansas City, Kansas (8-week STEM camp) and South Overland Park, Kansas (10-week adventure camp) for children ages 5½-14. Weekly activities include field trips, sports, science and nature projects, crafts, outdoor survival skills, and Spark Champion visitor programs. Accredited by the American Camp Association and licensed by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment.
• Thrive Program Customized social-emotional learning, resilience, and life skills program for young people who have experienced trauma, offered in partnership with the Jackson County Juvenile Justice System with 2-3 sessions per week in a safe, supportive environment.
• Outdoor Club Weekend club programs providing ongoing outdoor education and nature engagement activities for youth participants in the Kansas City metro area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of youth feel happy, heard, and supported
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jackson County Juvenile Justice SystemcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Camp Fire Heartland partners with the Jackson County Juvenile Justice System to deliver the Thrive program, providing 2–3 sessions per week focused on social-emotional learning, resilience, and life skills for young people who have experienced trauma.
• Total Man KCcoreOthersTotal Man KC is a partner organization that supports Camp Fire Heartland, including through meal provision for youth during afterschool programs. The partnership helps address food insecurity among program participants.
• Children's Service Fund of Jackson CountycoreOthersThe Children's Service Fund of Jackson County is a community partner supporting youth development programs in the Kansas City area, providing resources that help sustain Camp Fire Heartland's programming for local families.
• Turn the Page KCminorOthersTurn the Page KC partners with Camp Fire Heartland to support youth literacy and educational outcomes through collaborative programming.
• American Camp AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Fire Heartland holds American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation for its summer camp programs. ACA sets national standards for camp safety, programming, and youth protection, and Camp Fire Heartland is listed as an ACA-accredited camp.
• Northrop GrummanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthrop Grumman is listed as a partner on the Camp Fire partnerships page, representing a corporate sponsorship and marketing partnership supporting youth development initiatives.
• Midwest Academic Consortium (MACP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization collaborating with Camp Fire on youth development programming.
• PlayworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Fire and Playworks announced a partnership in 2023 to launch a new youth development program in Anchorage and Kansas City. Playworks brings expertise in safe and healthy play to schools, and the collaboration aims to expand high-quality youth development programming in both markets.
• Camp Fire National HeadquarterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp Fire Heartland is a local council affiliated with Camp Fire National Headquarters, which provides national youth protection standards, policy frameworks, branding, and the Absolutely Incredible Kid Day program.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Police Athletic League of Kansas City: Regional peer providing afterschool programs, athletics, and youth-development services to Kansas City youth, often with a focus on at-risk populations in similar neighborhoods.

Direct peers

• YMCA of Greater Kansas City: Direct peer providing afterschool care, summer day camps, swim/sports instruction, and youth programming throughout the KC metro using a comparable school- and facility-based delivery model.
• Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri: Direct peer offering youth development programming, summer camps, and outdoor education to girls in the same KC region, competing for similar donor and volunteer pools.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City: Direct peer serving Kansas City youth through mentoring, afterschool engagement, and one-to-one youth development programs targeting similar at-risk populations.
• Scouts BSA - Heart of America Council: Direct peer delivering youth outdoor education, leadership development, and adventure programming to similar age groups across the Kansas City metro and surrounding region.
• Kansas City 4-H / Kansas State Research and Extension: Direct peer offering youth development, outdoor education, and STEM programming to similar age groups across Kansas and Missouri counties with comparable volunteer-led and club-based delivery.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City: Direct local peer operating afterschool, summer, and youth development programs across the same Kansas City metro serving similar 5-18 age youth with comparable programming and donor base.

Emerging players

• Playworks: National nonprofit partner bringing safe-play and recess programming into schools; already partners with Camp Fire Heartland in KC and Anchorage and represents both a collaborator and adjacent programmatic peer.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Club of America: National umbrella for the largest youth-development network in the U.S., with broader resources, deeper donor pipelines, and similar afterschool and summer programming targeting the same demographic.
• Camp Fire National Headquarters: National parent organization and 47-council network that provides brand, policy frameworks, and youth protection standards to Camp Fire Heartland; also operates as a peer at the national programming level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CFHeartland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camp-fire-heartland
• Instagraminstagram.com/CFHeartland

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Camp Fire Heartland