FAQ

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Beat the Streets™ is an association of regional non-profit organizations serving 10 regions and 37 cities. BTS organizations strive to improve opportunities for underprivileged youth in communities across America by motivating a passion for exceptional work, honesty, teamwork, and persistence through the sport of wrestling. Beat the Streets serves over 7,366 youth and 257 teams a year in 10 major markets (New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Lancaster, Cleveland, the Bay Area, New England, Detroit, Baltimore, and Washington DC). Since its inception in 2006 the donors of Beat the Streets have invested thirty-two million dollars into opportunities in the sport of wrestling for kids from at-risk communities.

The startup growth of a program’s revenues may be as follows:

In year 1 revenue for a startup program averages $35,000-$70,000 and is supporting 2-3 programming sites and around 100 kids. In year 2 revenue is targeted at building out the infrastructure to support scaling, revenue averages $80,000-120,000. Year three revenue averages $130,000-185,000 to sustain and expand opportunities for kids in the community. A typical Tier 2 ($250,000-$499,000 annual budget) Beat the Streets regional organization supports between 6-12 afterschool locations and serves around 300-500 youth. Tier 3 and Tier 4 Beat the Streets organizations have budgets that exceed $500,000 annually and serve 400-1,200 youth directly at 30+ afterschool or community-based locations in their market.

Regional Beat the Streets organizations bring in roughly 90% of their revenue through individual and corporate giving that is driven through their board’s relationships. Meaning donors like you are directly supporting the opportunities kids have through the programs we offer. Over time as an organization matures their revenue starts to diversity through local partnerships, local grant opportunities, private and corporate foundation support, and event sponsorships. A well-diversified budget represents 60% individual giving, 30% grant or foundation support, and 10% local partnerships.

We get many calls at the national level from individuals interested in starting a Beat the Streets organization. We all share the same passion for helping kids through sports.

The best regional organizations build 1 year, 3 years, and 10 year plans for programming growth, plan their revenue and donation needs and build out support for their afterschool sites slowly and strategically with a long-term plan to support an entire region that is underserved to wrestling. What separates Beat the Streets programs from individual clubs is this plan to support the sport in an entire region. Our focus is first on creating access and using high-quality coaching and mentorship, as well as empowering the local community, to leave a deep impact on the kids our programs serve. Beat the Streets organizations are set up to empower the local community and drive resources into new and pre-existing programs and opportunities for the youth in them.

The Board of directors plays a vital role in the success of regional organizations. Board members must possess a diverse skill set of time, treasure, and talent. 

https://www.501c3.org/nonprofits-board-directors/

The board of directors is the governing body of individuals who collectively support the mission of the organization by focusing on strategic development and fundraising goals. They build the foundational structure of the organization in order to achieve these goals and grow the organization. The most critical skill to a strong board of directors is the ability to develop resources as well as strategically govern the non-profit and its staff. The Board of directors is the vital key to the sustainability and success of a Beat the Streets regional organization.

Non-profits interested in becoming an Accredited Beat the Streets program should look for board members with experience in Board Development, Fund Development, Governance, Legal, Organizational growth experience, health care, education and a passion for helping children.

School or community center partnerships vary greatly by community. In the tier 1 organization phase partnerships will need to be vetted closely to make sure you are starting programming with the RIGHT partner site. Often times getting a school or community partner to add programming is the easy part, the follow-up is what takes the work.

Schools fall into two categories or tiers:

• Tier 1: There is no evidence of having had previous youth development sports programs (no success in the community), there is no impact yet, typically 80% of costs are covered by BTS, and schools cover transportation, insruance and facility costs.

• Tier 2: Programs getting buy in for paid partnerships with the schools, deeper impact, more opportunities to pursue, can show impact for schools to cover certain costs, typically 80% of costs is covered by the school, BTS covers one time start-up costs, equipment, and insurance, paying for management, staff expenses, coaches education & programming staff support

Both a single team or club and a Beat the Streets organization have the same goals; to help kids through the sport of wrestling. What separates a club or school doing great work from a BTS organization? The ability to support an entire region by operating at scale. Across the nation, there are many amazing coaches doing incredible work that some people would consider a Beat the Streets type program. Often these coaches work in some of the most challenging communities and barriers get in their way; the funding to get kids transportation to events, equipment so kids can have pride in their participating on a team, the resources to provide a safe place to play. Or even a place to play. Beat the Streets works hard with local supporters and community leaders to eliminate these barriers so coaches can be empowered to focus on what they are great at, inspiring and helping kids. 

Beat the Streets differentiates itself from other SBYD clubs because it raises funds and strives to eliminate barriers at a regional scale, supporting the growth of opportunities and access to the sport of wrestling in an entire region. Several of the founding Beat the Streets programs were founded around pre-existing wrestling clubs or afterschool sites and the work was expanded to encompass an entire region. All Beat the Streets programs hold a License for the branding of Beat the Streets™ and have gone through an extensive and intense vetting and an accreditation process to ensure donors know their funds are being directed in a manner that supports the community’s needs. 

We encourage you to start a youth development wrestling club and are happy to share ideas on how to do this successfully. To become an accredited Beat the Streets™ regional organization and use the branding of Beat the Streets ad resources that come with that, an organization must meet the following criteria:

• Have an impact and mission that directly aligns with ours
• Comply with all marks within the Beat the Streets™ SOP
• Align with the growth plan of Beat the Streets National and serve a major metropolitan area that is underserved as related to wrestling
• Demonstrate sustainability in programming, fundraising, and governance
• Complete Accreditation through the Beat the Streets National Executive Committee