Upward Unlimited
Upward Sports is the world's largest Christian sports provider for youth athletics. The mission of Upward Sports is to promote the discovery of Jesus through sports. Upward Sports provides valuable resources that aid in planning, training, and executing first-class, organized, and detailed sports offerings. Upward Sports' values are integrity, collaboration, excellence, innovation and joy.
Upward Unlimited at a glance
In short: Upward Unlimited gave $249K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in Georgia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $249,432
- -92.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -93.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $49,886
- +8.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $54,109,408
- +6.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Georgia (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Upward Unlimited funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North American Mission Board ($200K). Together the top 5 received $249K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 90 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Upward Unlimited gives
- Giving fell 83% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2023) to $3.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $249K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North American Mission Board Alpharetta, GA | Suport for Church Plants | $200,000 |
| Impact Sports Spartanburg, SC | Support Sports Mission Trips | $29,119 |
| First Baptist Church Bethlehem, PA | Gym Floor Replacement | $10,000 |
| Community Church Windsor Mill, MD | Support Sports Missions | $5,313 |
| Bethel Baptist Church Canton, NC | Gym Floor Repairs-Hurricane Damage | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,109,408 | $9,347,217 | $7,890,945 | $249,432 | 5 | $2,479,283 |
| 2024 | $50,634,019 | $8,932,979 | $10,077,040 | $3,268,322 | 71 | $1,952,667 |
| 2023 | $47,709,418 | $19,636,661 | $7,952,467 | $10,000 | 1 | $12,155,858 |
| 2022 | $35,641,784 | $21,946,822 | $13,801,006 | $1,426,765 | 5 | $90,656 |
| 2020 | $45,595,998 | $10,009,588 | $11,097,640 | $84,100 | 8 | $208,546 |
| 2019 | $47,899,524 | $13,293,300 | $12,625,985 | $22,729 | 1 | $298,781 |
About Upward Unlimited
Based on IRS filings
Upward Unlimited is a public charity focused on Youth Development, based in Spartanburg, SC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $54.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $249K. Net investment income was $2.5M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Upward Unlimited is led by Kevin Drake, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 7 of 13 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin Drake
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$186K (2022) → $274K (2025)
Tully Brewer
Chairman of Board
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Tramel
Director of Information Technology
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$104K (2023) → $135K (2025)
Matthew Bradley
Director of Supply Chain
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $138K (2025)
Travis Vaughn
Director of Market Research
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Andrew Provence
Director of Partner Relations
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$124K (2024) → $132K (2025)
Mitchell Hollis
Director of Upward Running
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$144K (2025)
Amie Busbee
CFO & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$33K (2022) → $170K (2025)
Bob Caldwell Sr.
Board Member
Vice Chairman → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Shelton
Board Member
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Bishop
Board Member
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hugh Brantley
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Chibbaro
Vice Chairman
Board Member → Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Robert Swink (2024) — Senior Software Architect
- Former: Kenneth Gibson (2022–2023) — Senior Data Architect
- Former: Nathan Holm (2019–2022) — Former Director of Operations
- Former: Pamela Westbrooks (2019–2022) — Former Director of Administrator & Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Douglas Grote (2022) — Star Center General Mngr
- Former: Gregory McCaslin (2019–2020) — Former President
- Former: Terry Smith (2019–2020) — Director of Corp. Development
- Former: William Palmer (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Catherine Cheves (2019) — Accounting Manager
- Former: Clayton Shill (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Derek Parks (2019) — Product Development Manager
- Former: William McKenzie (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $274K, to Kevin Drake (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Upward Unlimited
How much does Upward Unlimited give each year?
Upward Unlimited gave $249K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.3M across 71 grants.
What is Upward Unlimited's typical grant size?
Upward Unlimited's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $49,886, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Upward Unlimited give grants?
Upward Unlimited gives mostly in Georgia: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (12%).
Does Upward Unlimited give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Upward Unlimited's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Upward Unlimited's largest grantees?
Upward Unlimited's largest 2025 grantees include North American Mission Board ($200,000), Impact Sports ($29,119) and First Baptist Church ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Upward Unlimited?
Upward Unlimited reported $54.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.3M.
What is Upward Unlimited?
Upward Unlimited is a public charity focused on Youth Development, based in Spartanburg, SC. It holds $54.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Upward Unlimited's EIN?
Upward Unlimited's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-1031173. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 30, 2025)
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