What creative life does

Creative Life, Inc. (CLI) is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 by Dr. Carolyn Bibbs that operates as an integrated youth empowerment community serving more than 1,500 Memphis children, youth, and families annually. Its program stack is delivered primarily from a 24,000 sq ft debt-free facility at 1222 Riverside Blvd that houses a 300-seat auditorium (renovated in 2017), classrooms, and program space, and includes: Creative Life Preparatory School (accredited K-12, opened 1996 under Tennessee Department of Education governance); Kiddie College early childhood academy (six weeks through Pre-K); an After School Program (homework help, tutoring, life skills, arts, sports); a Summer Learning Enrichment program ($600 per student for a six-week term, June 1 – July 10, 2026); a Performing Arts School producing seven seasonal plays; Warriors Leadership development; the Feeding the Children nutrition program (daily meals plus weekend backpacks via Mid-South Food Bank); the Transportation Ministry serving local feeder schools; and faith-rooted outreach products including Impact Nation, Word & Rhythm, Worship Without Words, and The Silent Protest march.

Revenue mechanics combine three streams: modest program fees (most publicly disclosed: $600/student for Summer Learning with partial scholarships), charitable donations and corporate Champion sponsorships (Valero, Morgan Steel, Barnhart, MCC Solutions, First Evan, Rising Sun, Brown Baptist), and government program participation including the Tennessee School Nutrition Program and the Children and Adult Feeding Program. The operating model is community-led: a Champions volunteer and donor network drives word-of-mouth referrals, facility tours, and direct outreach to families, with mobile community events extending reach beyond the Riverside Blvd campus.

Leadership consists of Founder Dr. Carolyn Bibbs, Executive Director Marilyn Williams, Executive Administrator Willean Lee, and a small named operational team. Academically, Preparatory School and Kiddie College are publicly framed as 'transitioning into a STEAM academy,' signaling a curriculum repositioning. The organization has no disclosed corporate ownership, no subsidiaries, no M&A activity, and is not publicly traded.

Name

creative life

Legal name

Creative Life, Inc.

Website

https://creativelifeinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Creative Life, Inc. is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that runs an integrated Pre-K through 12 school, early childhood academy, after-school program, performing arts theater, summer enrichment, youth feeding, and leadership programming from a single 24,000 sq ft facility serving more than 1,500 Memphis students and families annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Community Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Youth education services
• Performing arts training
• After-school programs
• Community outreach programs
• Nonprofit youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Creative Life charges program fees for educational services such as the Summer Learning Enrichment program ($600 per student), with partial scholarships available for families in need.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, Creative Life relies on financial gifts from Champions (donors), corporate sponsors, and community supporters to fund operations and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Creative Life, Inc. is a Memphis-based nonprofit youth empowerment organization that delivers year-round educational, performing arts, leadership, and basic-needs programs for children, youth, and families from a 24,000 sq ft facility. Programs include Creative Life Preparatory School (Pre-K-12), Kiddie College early childhood academy, After-School Program, Summer Enrichment Camp, Performing Arts School & Theater, Warriors Leadership, Feeding the Children nutrition program, and faith-based community outreach initiatives.

Product overview

Creative Life Incorporated (CLI) is a nonprofit youth empowerment organization operating as a multi-program community center serving Memphis children, youth, and families since 1978. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs including formal education (Creative Life Preparatory School K-12, Kiddie College Early Childhood Academy), enrichment programs (After School Program, Summer Enrichment Camp, Summer Learning Enrichment), performing arts (Performing Arts School & Theater with 300-seat auditorium), youth leadership development (Warriors Leadership), community outreach (Feeding the Children nutrition program, Transportation Ministry), and faith-based programming (Impact Nation, Worship Without Words, Word & Rhythm). The programs collectively serve over 1,500 students and families annually, providing academic, social, spiritual, and basic needs services through year-round programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ students and families served annually
• +3 more outcomes

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Urban Child InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Kiddie College to focus on prevention, wellness, and educational and scientific research activities for children and parents.
• Department of Human ServicescoreOthersPartners through the Children and Adult Feeding Program to provide daily meals and snacks to local students at Creative Life.
• Tennessee Department of EducationcoreOthersPartners through the School Nutrition Program to provide breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks to Creative Life students. Governs Creative Life Preparatory School and Kiddie College through state accreditation.
• Mid-South Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Backpack Program, provides nine non-perishable meals in backpacks to children to provide nourishment through the weekend.
• Feed the NeedyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides food baskets to families during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis: Memphis-based youth development nonprofit operating multiple club sites; directly comparable mission of serving Memphis children and youth with multi-program education, arts, and leadership offerings.
• YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South: Regional nonprofit operating youth programs, after-school care, and aquatics/arts programming for children and families across Memphis; comparable integrated youth-services business model.
• Stax Music Academy: Memphis-based performing arts and music education nonprofit for youth; directly comparable in operating a structured performing-arts school for underserved Memphis children through year-round programming.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South: Memphis youth mentoring nonprofit serving the same demographic; comparable in mission (youth development), funding model (donations + Champions/sponsors), and reliance on community-led GTM.
• Agape Child & Family Services: Memphis-based nonprofit providing integrated child and family services including education, child welfare, and community programs; comparable integrated service model for Memphis children and families.
• Porter-Leath: Memphis early childhood and family services nonprofit; directly comparable in operating accredited early childhood programming (overlapping with Creative Life's Kiddie College) and partnering with Tennessee Department of Human Services for feeding programs.
• MIFA (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association): Memphis faith-rooted nonprofit delivering basic needs, senior, and family support services; comparable in faith-based service delivery and donor-funded operating model for vulnerable Memphis populations.

Emerging players

• KIPP Memphis Academy: Memphis charter school network serving K-12 students; overlapping in providing academic instruction, tutoring, and enrichment to Memphis youth though without the performing-arts/faith-based overlay.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of the Mid-South: Mid-South umbrella funder supporting many of the same Memphis-area youth and family service organizations; comparable as a peer in the Memphis nonprofit funding ecosystem with broad programmatic reach.

Regional players

• Soulsville Charter School: Memphis charter school grounded in the city's musical heritage, combining academics with performing arts; comparable in operating an arts-integrated Pre-K-12 model within the Memphis market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/creative-life-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 creative life