Upward Bound Youth is a nonprofit organization centered on the good news of Jesus Christ. We aim to teach truth and equip youth to be transformed in every area of their lives through local youth nights, family support, community events, a Bible gap year program, and global partnerships with mission-aligned organizations.
A 2025 grant of $5,851,000 to Warm Beach Christian Camp sets the tone for Upward Bound Youth’s giving: large awards tied to Christian ministry, youth formation, and mission-aligned service. The foundation’s recent grants also show sustained support for orphan care, education, community support, and medical emergency assistance, alongside funding for religious organizations and youth development programs. One year, it backed Lifesong for Orphans with $5,755,000; another, it gave $3,100,000 to Open Door Christian Schools for educational support. Those awards sit within a broader pattern of multi-purpose ministry funding rather than a single program niche. Upward Bound Youth’s own mission centers on the good news of Jesus Christ and on equipping youth through local youth nights, family support, community events, a Bible gap year program, and global partnerships. Its active grantmaking programs also point to ministry training and gospel partnerships, with service to local and global organizations that advance youth-focused programming and holistic care. The recent grant record reflects that mix in practice, with gifts reaching camps, schools, orphan-serving groups, and faith-based service providers.
In orphan care and orphan education, Upward Bound Youth gave $5,755,000 to Lifesong for Orphans and $2,125,000 to the same organization in the prior year, showing repeated support for that work. In youth development, it awarded $1,815,000 to Summit Ministries for 2025 and $1,100,000 in 2024, alongside a $200,000 grant to Triway Athletic Booster Club for youth development. The foundation also funds education and Christian formation. It gave $3,100,000 to Open Door Christian Schools for educational support and $1,000,000 to Northrise University for educational support. For ministry and religious support, it backed Warm Beach Christian Camp with $5,851,000 and Alliance Defending Freedom with $1,450,275. Medical and family-focused grants appear as well, including $1,000,004 to Samaritan's Purse for medical emergency support and $125,000 to Tri-Cities Pregnancy Network for medical and family support.
Upward Bound Youth’s typical grant size sits at a median of $25,218, with a p25 of $12,375 and a p75 of $91,875. The recent record also shows many grants far above that range, indicating a pattern that includes both smaller community awards and very large strategic gifts. Recipient names appear across multiple years, including Lifesong for Orphans, Summit Ministries, Lifeline New York, Miracle Mountain Ranch, and Fostering Family Ministries, suggesting recurring relationships rather than one-off support only. The foundation reports that it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Public application details are not provided in the active grant programs listed, and those programs note that unsolicited requests are not accepted.
$25.9M
$206.7M
$222.2M
$32.1M
Most grants fall between $12K and $92K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$92K
About 33% of grants go to recipients in NY.
RICHARD JANKOV
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Most grants go to U.S. recipients, and 33% of grants are made in Ohio, the foundation’s HQ state. New York is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation is headquartered in Wooster, Ohio. Recent grants reached cities including Wooster, New York, Phoenix, Manhattan? No; among named recipient cities, examples include Stanwood, Gridley, Elyria, New York, and Kennewick. The record also shows grants in Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio, with no non-U.S. recipient countries in the recent data.
The foundation gives to Christian camps and ministries, orphan care organizations, schools, youth development groups, medical and family support nonprofits, and community service organizations. Recent grants include support for religious activities, educational support, youth development, medical emergency support, foster and family services, and disability support.
No. The active grant programs listed for Gospel Partnerships and the ministry mentoring program say they do not accept unsolicited requests, and the website does not provide public application details or grant terms for grantmaking to mission-aligned partners.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $12,375, a median of $25,218, and a p75 of $91,875. Recent awards range from small five-figure gifts to multi-million-dollar grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Lifesong for Orphans, Summit Ministries, Lifeline New York, Miracle Mountain Ranch, Fostering Family Ministries, Apostolic Christian Church Foundation, and Life Without Limbs.
The foundation gives nationally across the United States, with 33% of grants to recipients in Ohio and New York as the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Wooster, Elyria, Stanwood, Gridley, Phoenix, and Kennewick.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WARM BEACH CHRISTIAN CAMP | STANWOOD, WA | $5,851,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LIFESONG FOR ORPHANS | GRIDLEY, IL | $5,755,000 | 2025 | ORPHAN CARE & EDUC |
| OPEN DOOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | ELYRIA, OH | $3,100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL | PHOENIX, AZ | $2,020,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| SUMMIT MINISTRIES | MANITOU SPRINGS, CO | $1,815,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $1,450,275 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $1,000,004 | 2025 | MED. EMERGENCY SUP. |
| NORTHRISE UNIVERSITY | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $1,000,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| LIFELINE NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $792,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL SUPPORT |
| LIFE WITHOUT LIMBS | PLANO, TX | $500,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOUNDATI ION | WOOSTER, OH | $271,200 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| JONI & FRIENDS | ALBERT LEA, MN | $245,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR DISABLED |
| TRIWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB | WOOSTER, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FARMING WITH FRIENDS | MEDINA, OH | $180,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| FOSTERING FAMILY MINISTRIES | SAVANNAH, OH | $125,974 | 2025 | FOSTER & FAMILY SUP. |
| TRI-CITIES PREGNANCY NETWORK | KENNEWICK, WA | $125,000 | 2025 | MED & FAMILY SUPPORT |
| IFES | MADISON, WI | $110,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF WAYNE CO | WOOSTER, OH | $110,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE MOUNTAIN RANCH | SPRING CREEK, PA | $102,000 | 2025 | YOUTH & COMM. SUP. |
| FIELDSTONE COUNSELING (V) | UNIONTOWN, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | YOUTH SUPPORT |
| WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WOOSTER, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MERCY SHIPS | LINDALE, TX | $100,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL SUPPORT |
| COLSON CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| THE BIG BRO JOE FOUNDATION | KENNEWICK, WA | $92,400 | 2025 | YOUTH SUPPORT & EDU. |
| SPIRIT OF LIGHT MINISTRIES | BARBERTON, OH | $60,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| CASA DE RESTAURACION | AURORA, CO | $53,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| THE ARK OF FREEMAN PROJECT INC | REYNOLDSBURG, OH | $50,500 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| BARNABAS FUND INC | LANCASTER, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| TRI-CITY UNION GOSPEL MISSION | PASCO, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | LA PORTE, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| FAITH FARMS | JOELTON, TN | $35,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| OHUDDLE INC | WOOSTER, OH | $31,334 | 2025 | YOUTH SUPPORT |
| WAYNE COUNTY CHILDREN'S STEAM PLA YLAB | DALTON, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BEESON MINISTRIES | FINDLAY, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | KIDS TO CAMP |
| FAMILIA DEVELOPMENT CENTER | AURORA, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| MAVEN FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | YOUTH EDUC SUPPORT |
| SCHOOL MINISTRIES INC | COLUMBIA, SC | $20,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| ONE STEP BEYOND INC | PEORIA, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | YOUTH & FAM SUPPORT |
| WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS INC | ORLANDO, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| TIMBER RIDGE RANCH | MARIETTA, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| COLUMBIANA COUNTY INSTEP | COLUMBIANA, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NORTON APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH N AZAREAN | NORTON, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| RECONCILIATION MINISTRIES SC | COLUMBIA, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ABWE | HARRISBURG, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS SUPPORT |
| LIFESONG FOR ORPHANS | GRIDLEY, IL | $2,125,000 | 2024 | ORPHAN CARE & PUR. |
| SUMMIT MINISTRIES | MANITOU SPRINGS, CO | $1,100,000 | 2024 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| LIFELINE NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $229,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| MIRACLE MOUNTAIN RANCH | SPRING CREEK, PA | $210,000 | 2024 | YOUTH & COMM. SUP. |
| FOSTERING FAMILY MINISTRIES | SAVANNAH, OH | $153,000 | 2024 | FOSTER & FAMILY SUP. |
| PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF WAYNE CO | WOOSTER, OH | $115,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
WARM BEACH CHRISTIAN CAMP
$5,851,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LIFESONG FOR ORPHANS
$5,755,000ORPHAN CARE & EDUC
OPEN DOOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$3,100,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL
$2,020,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
SUMMIT MINISTRIES
$1,815,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM
$1,450,275RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
SAMARITAN'S PURSE
$1,000,004MED. EMERGENCY SUP.
NORTHRISE UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
LIFELINE NEW YORK
$792,000MEDICAL SUPPORT
LIFE WITHOUT LIMBS
$500,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOUNDATI ION
$271,200RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
JONI & FRIENDS
$245,000SUPPORT FOR DISABLED
TRIWAY ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB
$200,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
FARMING WITH FRIENDS
$180,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
FOSTERING FAMILY MINISTRIES
$125,974FOSTER & FAMILY SUP.
TRI-CITIES PREGNANCY NETWORK
$125,000MED & FAMILY SUPPORT
IFES
$110,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF WAYNE CO
$110,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MIRACLE MOUNTAIN RANCH
$102,000YOUTH & COMM. SUP.
FIELDSTONE COUNSELING (V)
$100,000YOUTH SUPPORT
WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MERCY SHIPS
$100,000MEDICAL SUPPORT
COLSON CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN
$100,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
THE BIG BRO JOE FOUNDATION
$92,400YOUTH SUPPORT & EDU.
SPIRIT OF LIGHT MINISTRIES
$60,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
CASA DE RESTAURACION
$53,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
THE ARK OF FREEMAN PROJECT INC
$50,500RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
BARNABAS FUND INC
$50,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
TRI-CITY UNION GOSPEL MISSION
$50,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
HOPE MINISTRIES
$50,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
FAITH FARMS
$35,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
OHUDDLE INC
$31,334YOUTH SUPPORT
WAYNE COUNTY CHILDREN'S STEAM PLA YLAB
$30,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
BEESON MINISTRIES
$25,000KIDS TO CAMP
FAMILIA DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$25,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
MAVEN FOUNDATION
$20,000YOUTH EDUC SUPPORT
SCHOOL MINISTRIES INC
$20,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
ONE STEP BEYOND INC
$20,000YOUTH & FAM SUPPORT
WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS INC
$20,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
TIMBER RIDGE RANCH
$20,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
COLUMBIANA COUNTY INSTEP
$15,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
NORTON APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH N AZAREAN
$15,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
RECONCILIATION MINISTRIES SC
$10,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ABWE
$10,000RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
LIFESONG FOR ORPHANS
$2,125,000ORPHAN CARE & PUR.
SUMMIT MINISTRIES
$1,100,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
LIFELINE NEW YORK
$229,500COMMUNITY SUPPORT
MIRACLE MOUNTAIN RANCH
$210,000YOUTH & COMM. SUP.
FOSTERING FAMILY MINISTRIES
$153,000FOSTER & FAMILY SUP.
PREGNANCY CARE CENTER OF WAYNE CO
$115,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT