backside learning center
Backside Learning Center is a Louisville, Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers adult education, youth, wellness, and human services to more than 1,000 Thoroughbred racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What backside learning center does
Backside Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, founded in 2004 and granted federal tax-exempt status in 2015. It serves more than 1,000 backside workers and their families — primarily immigrant laborers employed in the Thoroughbred racing industry — at Churchill Downs and, more recently, Trackside Training Center. Programming is delivered in person on the backside and spans five pillars: adult education (ESL, financial and computer literacy), youth programs, human services (case management and immigration legal referrals), health and wellness, and culture and community. A new "Say & Play with Words" early childhood curriculum was added in 2024, extending service scope to the 0–5 age cohort.
There is no proprietary technology platform or digital product; service delivery is in-person and relationship-driven, reliant on physical access to the track backside — a controlled-access environment that functions as a structural distribution advantage. Backside Learning Center does not sell a product or license technology; its revenue model is philanthropic, drawing on individual major gifts, corporate sponsorships, event-tied charitable bets, memorial campaigns, and grant funding. The organization employs approximately 13–14 staff under Executive Director Sherry Stanley.
The funding base is broad but large-gift dependent. Notable 2024 contributions include a $100,000 gift from owner John Stewart, a $60,000 donation from the connections of Breeders' Cup winner Sierra Leone, $200,000–$400,000 in Derby-cycle charitable-bet commitments, and $30,000+ from a memorial campaign. Corporate and institutional supporters include Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, FanDuel, Brown-Forman, US Bank, and the Kentucky Colonels. In 2024, the organization received the Joe Palmer Award from the National HBPA, reinforcing its standing as the principal charitable provider within the Kentucky backside worker community.
backside learning center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- backside learning center
- Legal name
- Backside Learning Center
- Website
- https://backsidelearningcenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Backside Learning Center is a Louisville, Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers adult education, youth, wellness, and human services to more than 1,000 Thoroughbred racetrack workers and their families at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
backside learning center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Homework Clubs & After-School Learning Centers (EDANAHAB), Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF), Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)
Keywords
Where backside learning center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
backside learning center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization receives donations from individuals through its website, mail, and the Winner's Circle monthly giving program with tiers at $25, $50, $75, and $100 per month.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: BLC receives funding from corporate sponsors, foundations, and organizations including Churchill Downs, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, and others.
- Purses for a Purpose Program: Horse owners donate a customizable portion of their horse's winnings to the BLC. The program has generated significant donations including nearly $60,000 from Sierra Leone's Breeders' Cup Classic win.
- Derby Bets and Wagers: Supporters place Kentucky Derby future wagers with BLC as the beneficiary, generating substantial donations when horses win.
- Event Fundraising: Annual Benefit for the Backside and other events including live/silent auctions, bourbon pulls, and sponsorship opportunities.
- Kroger Community Rewards: Donors can designate BLC on their Kroger Rewards card for free donations from grocery purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Winner's Circle - $25/month sustaining donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Winner's Circle - $50/month sustaining donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Winner's Circle - $75/month sustaining donor |
| Subscription | Monthly | Winner's Circle - $100/month sustaining donor |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
backside learning center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Backside Learning Center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free educational, human, health, and cultural services to racetrack backstretch workers (primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants) and their families at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center in Louisville, KY. Programs include adult English language and citizenship classes, after-school academic and literacy tutoring for youth, case management with translation and housing assistance, weekly fresh food markets, and cultural enrichment outings. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, fundraising events, and horse-racing industry initiatives.
Product overview
The Backside Learning Center operates as a community non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs rather than a technology product. The organization provides educational services (adult English language and youth academic programming), human services (case management, translation, housing and mental health support), health and wellness programming (food security through partnerships with Dare to Care Food Bank), and culture/community engagement initiatives. Fundraising programs include 'Purses for a Purpose' for horse racing industry donations and the 'Winner's Circle' sustaining donor program. All offerings are community-facing social services, not technology products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Purses for a Purpose: An initiative providing horse owners a way to give back by donating a customizable portion of their horse's winnings to support backside workers and their families.
- Winner's Circle
- Front Runners
- Creciendo Juntos
- El Grupo De Mamás
Products and services
- Adult Educational Programming English language acquisition classes (beginner, intermediate, advanced), citizenship support, adult mentorship program, and Conversation Partners language exchange for adult racetrack workers and family members at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center.
- Youth Educational Programming Front Runners after-school program, academic tutoring, summer reading, summer literacy camps, and social emotional learning support for K-12 children of backside workers.
- Human Services Comprehensive case management including translation and interpretation, housing support, community financial resource navigation, legal advocacy, mental health support, transportation access, digital literacy, and referrals to external providers.
- Health & Wellness Programs Health and wellness initiatives including weekly fresh food markets in partnership with Dare to Care Food Bank, community resource fairs, health information sessions, first aid access, and referrals to Kentucky Racing Health Services Center and other providers.
- Culture and Community Engagement Cultural enrichment and adventure outings to Bernheim Forest, Passionist Earth & Spirit Center, and outdoor partners, plus arts experiences with Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville Ballet, Kentucky Shakespeare, Speed Art Museum, KMAC, and Louisville Visual Arts.
- Youth & Family Empowerment Programs Family empowerment services including El Grupo De Mamás (Mom's Group) parent support, Creciendo Juntos teen leadership program, Say & Play with Words early childhood literacy in partnership with NCFL and LENA, and bilingual informational workshops.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving 1,000+ backside workers and their families
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use backside learning center
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
backside learning center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
backside learning center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Churchill DownscorePrimary host location and founding partner of the Backside Learning Center; provides physical space on the backside of the racetrack; major funding partner through Purses for a Purpose program
- Trackside Training CentercoreSecond location for BLC programming serving off-season backside workers
- Dare to Care Food BankcoreWeekly fresh food market partnership providing produce, meats, grains, and dairy products to clients at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center locations
- Kentucky Racing Health Services CentermajorReferral partner for healthcare services for backside workers
- Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective AssociationmajorReferral partner providing additional support services to racetrack workers
- Kentucky Race Track ChaplaincymajorReferral partner for spiritual and social services
- The Healing PlacemajorReferral partner for addiction and recovery services
- Kentucky Center for the Arts / Actors TheaterminorArts programming partner providing cultural experiences for clients
- Louisville BalletminorArts programming partner for cultural enrichment
- Kentucky ShakespeareminorArts programming partner
- Speed Art MuseumminorCultural partner for art experiences
- KMAC (Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft)minorArts partner for creative programming
- Louisville Visual ArtsminorArts programming partner
- Bernheim Forest & Research ArboretumminorNature partner providing enrichment and adventure outings for clients
- Louisville Engaging Children Outdoors (ECHO)minorOutdoor education partner for youth programming
- Passionist Earth & Spirit CenterminorNature and mindfulness partner for community outings
- Louisville Public LibraryminorCommunity resource partner
- JCPS (Jefferson County Public Schools)majorEducation partner for youth programming and school coordination
- Evolve502minorCommunity initiative partner
- National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)majorPartner for Say & Play with Words early childhood literacy program
- LENA (Language Environment Analysis)majorPartner for Say & Play with Words early childhood programming
- Rocket Ship Racing, LLC (Brook Smith)coreFounded Purses for a Purpose program; donated portions of horse winnings including nearly $60,000 from Sierra Leone's Breeders' Cup win; long-time supporter and advocate
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
backside learning center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Belmont Child Care Association: Operates the Backstretch Children's Center serving racetrack worker families at Belmont Park. Closest functional analog to BLC's youth and family programs in a different racetrack ecosystem.
- Backstretch Employee Service Team (NYRA): NYRA-affiliated program delivering health, social, and educational services to backstretch workers in New York. Directly comparable service portfolio to BLC for the same hidden workforce.
- Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy: Provides spiritual and social services to backside workers at Kentucky tracks. Overlaps directly with BLC's human services mission for the same population and is a current referral partner.
Broad incumbents
- After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing after-school programming to youth in underserved communities. Highly comparable youth-academic enrichment offering to BLC's Front Runners program.
- Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA): National organization representing thoroughbred owners and trainers with affiliated charitable arms serving backside workers. A broader industry incumbent overlapping BLC's beneficiary population.
Emerging players
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana: Local youth development nonprofit offering after-school and academic enrichment in Louisville. Comparable after-school and youth programming model for a similar geography.
- Casa de Esperanza / Hispanic immigrant-services nonprofits: Hispanic-family support organization providing education, advocacy, and social services to Latino immigrant families. Comparable case-management, ESL, and youth development orientation.
Regional players
- Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Foundation: Regional horse industry nonprofit supporting backstretch workers and families in Maryland. Similar community-services orientation in a different U.S. racing jurisdiction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
backside learning center social profiles
Digital presencebackside learning center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
backside learning center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
backside learning center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
backside learning center 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 backside learning center
What does backside learning center do?
Backside Learning Center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free educational, human, health, and cultural services to racetrack backstretch workers (primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants) and their families at Churchill Downs and Trackside Training Center in Louisville, KY. Programs include adult English language and citizenship classes, after-school academic and literacy tutoring for youth, case management with translation and housing assistance, weekly fresh food markets, and cultural enrichment outings. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, fundraising events, and horse-racing industry initiatives.
Is backside learning center a public or private company?
backside learning center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was backside learning center founded?
backside learning center was founded in 2004.
Where is backside learning center based?
backside learning center is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does backside learning center make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants, purses for a Purpose Program, derby Bets and Wagers, event Fundraising and kroger Community Rewards.
Who are backside learning center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Belmont Child Care Association, Backstretch Employee Service Team (NYRA) and Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy. Broad incumbents are After-School All-Stars and Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). Emerging players are Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana and Casa de Esperanza / Hispanic immigrant-services nonprofits. Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does backside learning center have an API?
No public API is recorded for backside learning center.
What industry is backside learning center in?
backside learning center's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDANAHAB, Homework Clubs & After-School Learning Centers. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.