PLATINUM2022

Urban Ventures

aka Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation   |   Minneapolis, MN   |  www.urbanventures.org

Mission

Educating children, strengthening their families, and building a healthy community.

Ruling year info

1989

CEO

Mr. David Hawn

Main address

2924 4th Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55408 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

36-3558710

NTEE code info

Human Service Organizations (P20)

Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (P99)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Register now

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

In a neighborhood where more than 50 percent of children are trapped in the cycle of poverty, Urban Ventures has one big goal—to prepare and send every youth in a 25-block area to college or some form of postsecondary education. To get there, we’re supporting children and their parents holistically―in mind, body, and heart―across the five critical stages of development between cradle and career. We’re making great strides, and we’re excited to report on our progress.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Athletics

With four full size gymnasiums and two soccer fields, UV offers a multitude of basketball and soccer programs as well as organized open gym and summer camps for over 1000 area youth.

Population(s) Served
Non-adult children
Economically disadvantaged people

Each year, 50+ four-year, full-tuition, full-need scholarships are provided to emerging community leaders who want to use their college education to make a positive impact on their campus and home community. Urban Ventures Act Six scholars receive leadership training and ongoing support as they learn to lead for real.

Population(s) Served
Students

UV provides a weekly session for ESL community members to practice English. A staff member or volunteer guides the conversation of an interesting topic in a safe environment - a way to help participants improve their English skills and become more confident.

Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent
Economically disadvantaged people

Our urban and rural farms supply organically grown vegetables at an affordable cost to families in a food desert neighborhood. Families have access to nutritious food July through October via an urban food stand and food truck.

Population(s) Served
Families
Economically disadvantaged people

The goal of the program is to give first-time offenders a second chance. Rather than jail time for their nonviolent firearms convictions, they can attend a weekly program at Urban Ventures. Successful completion of the program, and no other infractions during probation, means their record will be expunged.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Adults

Our Urban Ventures Young Life program offers high school youth a venue to connect, have fun and let down in a safe environment. High school students experience one-on-one relationships with young community leaders who know the challenges faced when growing up in poverty-stricken urban areas.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
At-risk youth

The literacy initiative is a one-on-one program geared to narrow a reading gap that if filled early-on can mean the difference in an entire academic career. This pilot program is changing local classrooms and schools too. In a neighborhood with one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation, students are now able to get the resources they need.

Population(s) Served
Students
Economically disadvantaged people

Real-world musicians teach small group lessons twice per week. Lessons are available for guitar, piano, drums, and vocals. Young musicians learn the technique and artistry of music performance and production.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
At-risk youth

A forum for parents to develop practical tools to form deeper relationships, implement a positive family culture, and build resilience.

Topics include the role of the parent, parenting as a team, effective communication, managing conflict, personal finances, and much more. Participants enjoy one-on-one support from our dedicated staff.

Population(s) Served
Parents
Economically disadvantaged people

Our classes provide practical tools to help Latina mothers navigate pregnancy and take care of their newborns. The women have the opportunity to connect with a supportive group of women who are going through the same stage of life, and who understand the language and culture. Classes are taught in Spanish.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Families, Parents, Children and youth

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Over 1,700 community members benefit holistically―in mind, body, and heart―from UV programs and services that offer cradle to career support.

Number of first-entry undergraduate program students who identify themselves as 'visible minorities'or 'non-white'

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

College Scholarship

Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of employer partners offering jobs to clients

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

College Scholarship

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of students receiving personal instruction and feedback about their performance

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

143 students enrolled in our summer program. 90% of post tests showed students successfully fought off the "summer slide" by maintaining or improving assessment scores in literacy and math.

Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

College Scholarship

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Act Six Scholars are attending or have graduated from six partner schools on full-tuition, full-need leadership scholarships worth more than $25 million over four years.

Number of youth served in youth programs.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Urban Venture's holistic approach to programming provides neighborhood youth with opportunities in literacy, music, athletics, nutrition, as well as emotional and spiritual support.

Number of families served on a weekly basis.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Parenting Classes

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

234 households attended weekly programming as a family. 100% report they improved their parenting skills. 90%report spending more time reading to kids.

Pounds of produce distributed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Farm & Nutrition

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

12,688 pounds of produce grown and distributed by 15 neighborhood youth through our urban farm.

Number of rallies/events/conferences/lectures held to further mission

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

319 households learned more about UV through our Family Fest and other outreach events. 1,118 households in our 25-block core area. All received information about UV and an invitation to join us.

Number of nonproft and community organizations with a cross-referral partnership.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

81 nonprofit and community organizations with a cross-referral partnership.

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

745 households, corporations, foundations, and churches donated in 2018. 494 volunteers served a record-setting 15,784 hours.

Number of athletic teams.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Athletics

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

31 basketball and soccer teams used sports to build character.

Total number of students participating in private lessons

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Athletics

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

1,267 music lessons and recording studio sessions of neighborhood youth, who learn musical storytelling, production techniques, and be a part of a creative community.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

In a neighborhood where more than 50 percent of children are trapped in the cycle of poverty, Urban Ventures has one big goal—to prepare and send every youth in a 25-block area to college or some form of postsecondary education.
To get there, we’re supporting children and their parents holistically―in mind, body, and heart―across the five critical stages of development between cradle and career. We’re making great strides, and we’re excited to report on our progress.

ONE BIG GOAL:
To break the cycle of poverty by sending every child in our neighborhood to college.

3
THREE THINGS:
Mind, body, and heart. Holistic growth sets Urban Ventures apart.

5
FIVE STAGES:
A cradle-to-career pipeline of support for kids and their families.

10
TEN METRICS:
We measure our progress and make adjustments to ensure success.

143
students enrolled in our summer program. 90% of post tests showed students successfully fought off the "summer slide" by maintaining or improving assessment scores in literacy and math.

85%
of seniors in Urban Ventures Young Life, our high school mentoring program, graduated on time (compared to less than 57% for students of similar backgrounds).

127
Act Six Scholars are attending or have graduated from six partner schools on full-tuition, full-need leadership scholarships worth more than $25 million over four years.

YOUTH PROGRAMS
1,055
youth served in 2018.

31
basketball and soccer teams used sports to build character.

1,267
music lessons and recording studio sessions.

2
Act Six scholarship recipients elected student body presidents.

FAMILY PROGRAMS
234
households attended weekly programming as a family.

100%
report UV helped change their family’s trajectory.

100%
report they improved their parenting skills.

90%
report spending more time reading to their kids.

COMMUNITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES
12,688
pounds of produce grown and distributed by 15 neighborhood youth through our urban farm.

319
households learned more about UV through our Family Fest and other outreach events.

1,118
households in our 25-block core area. All received information about UV and an invitation to join us.

81
nonprofit and community organizations with a cross-referral partnership.

PARTNERSHIPS
745
households, corporations, foundations, and churches donated in 2018.

494
volunteers served a record-setting 15,784 hours.

168
Urban Ventures Coffee Company partners.

Financials

Urban Ventures
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Urban Ventures

Board of directors
as of 09/21/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Kathryn Graves Unger

Karen Baumberger

Oracle

Roy Ferber

Drop Ship Express (Ret)

Dean Hager

Jamf

Gaylen Knack

Lantrhop GPM

Mark Morse

Morsekode

Cristina Plaza Ruiz

Center for International Health

Samantha Sommerness

University of Minnesota

Kathryn Graves Unger

Cargill

David Vanterpool

Minnesota Timberwolves

Shanequa Williams

Pentair

Jeremy Williamson

North Central University

Ann Folkman

CarVal Investors

Edwin (Skip) Gage

Gage Marketing

Dennis Gould

Kellogg's

Carrie Plack

Ameriprise Financial

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 9/21/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 09/21/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.