2025-05-30T07:19:56+00:00 2024-09-30 440160260 Forvis Mazars LLP 500 Ridgefield Court Asheville NC 28806 990 2023-10-01 571031173 Upward Unlimited UPWA 8649495700 198 White Star Point Spartanburg SC 29301 Amie Busbee CFO 8649495700 2025-05-30 true Amy Bibby P00445891 8282542254 2025-05-29 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Upward Sports Kevin Drake 198 White Star Point Spartanburg SC 29301 21258477 false 6161 X www.upward.org X 1995 SC Upward Sports is a non-denominational Christian sports ministry that partners with churches to provide programming for children. 6 6 86 6 8600 0 127062 16600 431886 161979 12155858 1952667 6921855 6801733 19636661 8932979 37322 3359788 0 0 4128947 4366058 0 0 0 3786198 2351194 7952467 10077040 11684194 -1144061 47709418 50634019 2051454 2207714 45657964 48426305 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. false false 7492723 3359788 6800642 Upward Sports ("the Organization") exists to promote the discovery of Jesus through sports. The Organization helps Christian church leaders leverage the power of sport to serve their communities using the universal language of sports as a platform for sharing the gospel and increasing their impact on the communities they serve. As a nondenominational Christian sports ministry provider, the Organization offers programs for young athletes from Kindergarten through High School. The Organization provides valuable resources that aid in planning, training, and executing firstclass, organized, and detailed sports offerings. During the year ended September 30, 2024, the Organization partnered with more than 2,000 churches to offer sports leagues, camps and clinics, reaching 220,000 young athletes. 153379 Upward Running is a new subscription-based program for adults that offers training and support for individuals to improve their physical well-being while deepening their connection to their faith. There are 861 active members in the program. 7492723 true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true true false false true 41 0 true 86 true true true false false false false false false false false false false false X 6 6 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false CO FL GA HI AK MA MI MN MS NH NY ND OR PA SC TN VA WA WV WI X Amie Busbee 8649495700 198 White Star Point Spartanburg SC 29301 Hugh Brantley Secretary/Treasurer 5.0 X X 0 0 0 Michael Chibbaro Vice Chairman 5.0 X X 0 0 0 Tully Brewer Chairman of Board 5.0 X X 0 0 0 Bob Caldwell Sr Board Member 5.0 X 0 0 0 Courtney Shelton Board Member 5.0 X 0 0 0 David Bishop Board Member 5.0 X 0 0 0 Amie Busbee CFO/Assistant Treasurer 50.0 X 167697 0 20309 Kevin Drake Executive Director 50.0 X 259356 0 3479 Andrew Provence Director of Partner Relations 50.0 X 123815 0 21820 Brian Tramel Director of Information Technology 50.0 X 129687 0 25513 Matthew Bradley Director of Supply Chain 50.0 X 130047 0 28238 Robert Swink Sr. Software Architect 50.0 X 120526 0 24973 Travis Vaughn Director of Market Research 50.0 X 131974 0 13043 1063102 0 137375 8 false true false Momentec Brands 425 Park W Drive Grovetown GA 30813 Shipping Services 745918 Velosio 5747 Perimeter Drive Suite 200 Dublin OH 43017 Software Implementation 191375 Taylormade Technology Solutions Inc 33 Shellstone Drive Fountain Inn SC 29644 Software Development 173485 Womble Bond Dickinson LLP 550 South Main St Suite 400 Greenville SC 29301 Legal Services 128822 4 16600 16600 Run for God 611620 161979 153379 8600 0 0 0 0 161979 1923154 1923154 0 0 4140170 4110657 29513 0 29513 29513 15015483 8214841 6800642 6800642 Miscellaneous Revenue 900099 1091 1091 0 0 0 0 1091 8932979 6954021 8600 1953758 3359488 3359488 300 300 464097 138733 325364 3288309 2304639 983670 49243 34433 14810 284028 206635 77393 280381 186452 93929 14462 14462 65342 65342 117659 117659 376886 306615 70271 0 420673 420673 132303 90518 41785 337364 99080 238284 82743 66849 15894 176461 165527 10934 27667 20908 6759 142245 107844 34401 96809 68869 27940 Freight 157365 145980 11385 Inventory Obsolescence 115532 115532 Supplies 46284 39426 6858 Training 41399 34895 6504 0 0 0 0 10077040 7492723 2584317 0 836577 1096773 30272939 31421272 652265 723855 0 0 7200000 7080000 3147030 3199068 188072 233037 1826205 435844 283107 1390361 5093399 5457320 0 0 36029 32333 0 0 47709418 50634019 2036700 2181997 14754 25717 0 0 0 2051454 2207714 X 45657964 48426305 45657964 48426305 47709418 50634019 -1144061 3912402 0 X false true X true false X 81746 4614 10300031 127062 16600 10530053 13785761 6955153 12901679 15238923 15168862 64050378 0 0 0 13867507 6959767 23201710 15365985 15185462 74580431 73725 0 10296823 104352 0 10474900 0 0 0 50459 57195 107654 73725 0 10296823 154811 57195 10582554 63997877 587916 462071 494045 711106 1923154 4178292 0 587916 462071 494045 711106 1923154 4178292 0 76224 644664 4804354 16155 1091 5542488 14531647 8066502 28500109 16093246 17109707 84301211 0.7592 0.7819 0.05 0.0302 X Schedule A, Part III, Line 12 Other income includes miscellaneous income and benefit from New Markets Tax Credit financing. Schedule A, Part III, Line 12 Other Income DESCRIPTION - OTHER INCOME, COLUMN A - 76224.0, COLUMN B - 644664.0, COLUMN C - 4804354.0, COLUMN D - 16155.0, COLUMN E - 1091.0, COLUMN F - 5542488.0; 794603 794603 73336 17927 55409 610691 417917 192774 347575 347575 1390361 0 X 20940083 3912402 -2480 3909922 17030161 117659 -8214841 -8097182 8932979 18171742 8214841 8214841 9956901 117659 2480 120139 10077040 Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 FIN 48 (ASC 740) footnote Upward is exempt from federal income tax as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and from state income tax pursuant to state law. Upward is further classified as a public charity and not a private foundation for federal tax purposes. Upward engages in certain unrelated business activities. Income taxes, if any, generated by Upward are immaterial and are recognized as expenses when paid. As a result, no income tax provision or liability has been provided for in the accompanying financial statements. Schedule D, Part XI, Line 2(d) Other revenues in audited financial statements not in form 990 Grants included in revenues - -2480 Schedule D, Part XI, Line 4(b) Other revenues in form 990 not in audited financial statements Cost of Goods Sold - -8214841 Schedule D, Part XII, Line 2(d) Other expenses in audited financial statements not in form 990 Cost of Goods Sold - 8214841 Schedule D, Part XII, Line 4(b) Other expenses in form 990 not in audited financial statements Grants included in revenues - 2480 true ADs for Christ 2929 Carlisle St Suite 115 Dallas TX 75202 611931211 501(c)(3) 12500 Equip Athletic Directors Advance Global 309 Silhouette Trace Boiling Springs SC 29316 883592683 501(c)(3) 12500 Advance Gospel Internationally Alpha International Ministries P O Box 38838 Greensboro NC 27438 134268364 501(c)(3) 12500 Provide Hope of Gospel Anderson University 316 Boulevard Anderson SC 29621 570324906 501(c)(3) 50000 Support Inner City Camps Bailey Christian Church 17635 Pearl St Bailey MI 49303 382112336 501(c)(3) 26000 Support Community Upward Programs Band of Brothers Prison Ministry Inc 311 Piedmont Highway Piedmont SC 29673 542095440 501(c)(3) 15000 Prison Ministry Providing Housing Brown Family Ministries P O Box 638 Travelers Rest SC 29690 264659508 501(c)(3) 10500 Share Christ Through Music Campus Crusade for Christ 100 Lake Hart Drive-MC-3900 Orlando FL 32832 956006173 501(c)(3) 75000 Ministry on Upstate College Campuses Campus Outreach Columbia 701 Gervais Street Suite 150-200 Columbia SC 29201 843091034 501(c)(3) 150000 Campus Ministry at Spartanburg Methodist Carolina Pregnancy Center 7425 Westlake Drive Spartanburg SC 29303 570791115 501(c)(3) 12500 Experience Life Through Christ with Preganancy Issues Carolina Thunderbirds 17 Heatherfield Drive Simpsonville SC 29680 274641608 501(c)(3) 10000 Christian Ministry for Underserved High School Graduates Christian Families Against Destructive Decisions 150 Kensington Drive Spartanburg SC 29306 261274843 501(c)(3) 10500 Promote Families Through Biblical Worldview Church at the Mill 4455 Anderson Mill Road Moore SC 29369 570869762 501(c)(3) 450000 Support for New Churches Clark County Youth Sports Assoc Inc 15 Redwing Drive Winchester KY 40391 834632390 501(c)(3) 25000 Share Christ Through Upward Programs Collins Home Family Ministry 110 Collins Home Drive Senaca SC 29672 570689153 501(c)(3) 40000 Support Christ-Centered Children's Home Concoxions 199 Sundyal Drive Moore SC 29369 570693756 501(c)(3) 5000 Gospel Through Music, Drama, Art CSRM co REACHgathering P O Box 9110 Canton OH 44711 010636494 501(c)(3) 5000 Assistance Contribution Cudd Memorial Baptist Church 1301 Boiling Springs Road Spartanburg SC 29303 570758024 501(c)(3) 5000 Support Youth Outreach David's Table 18 Aldridge Drive Greenville SC 29607 271040161 501(c)(3) 15000 Support Adult's with Disabilities Dayton Church of God 3314 Rhea County Hwy Dayton TN 37321 621182471 501(c)(3) 6000 Bleachers for Upward Basketball League Disciples Village 211 Huckleberry Lane Lexington SC 29072 272540240 501(c)(3) 9000 Raise pastors in Haiti Faith Home Inc 144 Faith Home Road Greenwood SC 29649 576034112 501(c)(3) 14500 Substance Abuse Support Fire Pit Ranch 147 Graystone Drive Moore SC 29369 811126622 501(c)(3) 20342 Christian Mentorship for Boys Grades 5-12 First Free Will Baptist Church 90 Blackstock Road Inman SC 29349 570551965 501(c)(3) 25000 Share Gospel Fourth Watch Ministries 840 Mt Loop Road NW Sugar Valley GA 30746 260590702 501(c)(3) 25000 Share Gospel Front Porch Housing 1433 Cleveland St Greenville SC 29607 881353078 501(c)(3) 15000 Substance Abuse Support Grace Community Church of SC 2801 Pelham Road Greenville SC 29607 571023259 501(c)(3) 25000 Youth Camps Grace Klein Community Inc 1678 Montgomery Hwy 104 Box 304 Birmingham AL 35216 800569639 501(c)(3) 9000 Share Gospel in Kochi India Greer Christian Learning Center P O Box 2013 Greer SC 29652 571059261 501(c)(3) 10500 Biblical Training for Students Griggs Memorial Independent Baptist Church 300 Poinsett Hwy Greenville SC 29609 820831816 501(c)(3) 25000 Assist Underserved Communities in Greenville Hands and Feet Project Inc P O Box 682105 Franklin TN 37068 201368997 501(c)(3) 20500 Christ-Centered Residential Orphan Care Hearts 4 Ukraine 409 Glen Oaks Drive Brandon MS 39047 274411376 501(c)(3) 15000 Introduce Jesus to Families Hearts for Eternity Inc 5835 Lake Heights Circle Johns Creek GA 30022 863353047 501(c)(3) 25000 Christ-Centered Discipleship Ministry Holly Springs Baptist Church 251 Hannon Road Inman SC 29349 576022118 501(c)(3) 50000 Scholarships for Ministry Students Holston Creek Baptist Church 311 Holston Creek Church Road Inman SC 29349 570468989 501(c)(3) 10000 Support Church Programs and Outreach Hope Remains Ranch 1771 John Dodd Road Wellford SC 29385 260554902 501(c)(3) 15400 Christ-Centered Hope and Healing Impact Sports International 121 East Daniel Morgan Ave Spartanburg SC 29306 203995547 501(c)(3) 31000 Support Sports Missions International Mission Board 3806 Monument Avenue Richmond VA 232303932 540213930 501(c)(3) 130000 Sharing Christ Through Sports Isaiah 117 House 1705 State Line Road Elizabethton TN 37643 820631497 501(c)(3) 20000 Support Foster Children Awaiting Placement Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 955 Johnson Ferry Rd Marietta GA 30068 581540748 501(c)(3) 9680 Book Value Donated Inventory Upward Program Assistance JUMPSTART USA 951 South Pine Street Spartanburg SC 29302 474829697 501(c)(3) 375000 Support Prison Transition Programs in Other States Lead Collective dba Eleos Ministry 1220 Laurens Road Station B Greenville SC 29607 264046643 501(c)(3) 15000 Christ-Centered Equipping of Leaders Lone Oak First Baptist Church 3601 Lone Oak Rd Paducah KY 42003 610568164 501(c)(3) 5000 Upward Program Assistance Mexico Orphan Missions Inc 7056 Stoneybrook Crossing Leeds AL 35094 273378014 501(c)(3) 12500 Christ-Centered Care for Orphans Miracle Hill 490 South Pleasantburg Drive Greenville SC 29607 570425826 501(c)(3) 42300 Christ-Centered Care for Homeless Mission Increase 109 Morton Grove Lane Simpsonville SC 29681 834503439 501(c)(3) 15000 Assist Gospel-Centered Ministries Mission Metroplex Inc 210 W South Street Arlington TX 76010 752354962 501(c)(3) 15000 Christ-Centered Service Mountain Creek Baptist Church 710 Mountain Creek Road Rutherfordton NC 28139 561373082 501(c)(3) 30000 Share Christ Through Church Ministry Mountain Creek Baptist Church 255 W Mountain Creek Church Road Greenville SC 29609 570360087 501(c)(3) 10000 Church Outreach Neighborhood Focus 6914 White Horse Road Greenville SC 29611 204280877 501(c)(3) 40000 Support Christ-Centered Community Center in Greenville New Day Orphanage P O Box 1452 Granbury TX 76048 264129913 501(c)(3) 10500 Share Christ in Zambia North American Mission Board 4200 North Point Parkway Alpharetta GA 30022 582379481 501(c)(3) 100000 Support Church Plants Through Sports One Life Institute-Sakanaga GA 544 N Penryn Road Manheim PA 17545 611525165 501(c)(3) 9000 Christian Program for High School Graduates Prison Fellowship Ministries 44180 Riverside Parkway Lansdowne VA 20176 620988294 501(c)(3) 20000 Camps for Children of Incarcerated Parents Providence Presbyterian Church 1665 Fernwood Glendale Road Spartanburg SC 29307 570733124 501(c)(3) 10000 Ministry Support Ro-Twelve Ministries 1674 Jeters Chapel Road Vinton VA 24179 843796251 501(c)(3) 25000 Share Christ in Guatemala Second Presbyterian Church 438 N Church Street Spartanburg SC 29303 570362064 501(c)(3) 7500 Revitalization Project Sidewalk Hope 298 Moore Road Spartanburg SC 29302 820999755 501(c)(3) 12500 Mobile Children's Church Serving Low Income SonShine Club 5969 Hwy 221 Roebuck SC 29376 450948731 501(c)(3) 20000 Serving Special Needs Including Worship & Bible Study South Carolina Baptist Convention-Camp McCall 190 Stoneridge Drive Columbia SC 29210 570360087 501(c)(3) 26000 Evangelize, Disciple & Mentor Through Summer Camps South Carolina Christian Foundation 775 Spartan Blvd Spartanburg SC 29301 582362123 501(c)(3) 730000 Support Various Christian Ministries Switch P O Box 5394 Greenville SC 29606 900905775 501(c)(3) 20000 End Sex Trafficking Through God's Light Switzer First Baptist Church 7840 Highway 221 Moore SC 29369 570538107 501(c)(3) 10000 Support Church Ministry Taylors Free Medical 400 West Main Street Taylors SC 29687 201715911 501(c)(3) 10500 Christian Healthcare for Underprivileged Teleios Ministry 28 Eula Street Greenville SC 29609 571109271 501(c)(3) 25000 Support Christ-Centered Support Tanzania The Comfort Cause 120 Florence St Pickens SC 29671 932574101 501(c)(3) 10000 Christian Comfort Baskets for Cancer Patients The Wilds Christian Association Inc 3201 Rutherford Road Taylors SC 29687 576036401 501(c)(3) 5100 Presenting Truth of God to Change Lives Turningpoint Church 7019 Tylersville Road West Chester OH 45069 316167151 501(c)(3) 7000 Support & Expand Church Ministry Westminster Presbyterian Church 309 Fernwood Drive Spartanburg SC 29307 570424982 501(c)(3) 12500 Support Youth Department WIN Awakening 1506 Bailey Court NE Cullman AL 35055 920514526 501(c)(3) 35000 Christ-Centered Support for Coaches & Atheletes Young Life 420 N Cascade Colorado Springs CO 80903 840385934 501(c)(3) 150000 Sharing Gospel Amongst Spartanburg College Campuses 71 0 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Procedures for monitoring use of grant funds. The Organization makes grants exclusively to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations whose purposes are consistent with that of the Organization. Therefore, no additional monitoring of granted funds is considered necessary. X X true true X X X X X false false false false false false false false false Kevin Drake Executive Director 227232 0 30000 0 2124 0 3479 0 0 0 262835 0 0 0 Amie Busbee CFO/Assistant Treasurer 145640 0 20000 0 2057 0 3739 0 16570 0 188006 0 0 0 Matthew Bradley Director of Supply Chain 108505 0 20000 0 1542 0 2883 0 25355 0 158285 0 0 0 Brian Tramel Director of Information Technology 107999 0 20000 0 1688 0 0 0 25513 0 155200 0 0 0 Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a First-class or charter travel First Class Air Travel: The Executive Director is 6'5" tall and may occasionally fly first class if there is no Comfort Plus available as regular seats don't allow him enough leg room. This occasionally occurs if a situation arises that requires travel arrangements on short notice as may happen a few times during the year. Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a Tax indemnification and gross-up payments Gross-up payments: The Organization grosses up taxable fringe benefits and company paid disability insurance premiums for all employees. All are reported as wages on W-2. These benefits are documented and approved during annual compensation reviews. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b Review of form 990 by governing body The Organization's top management official and top financial official each review the Form 990 prior to its filing with the IRS. A copy of the final Form 990 is also provided to the voting members of the Organization's governing body prior to its filing with the IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c Conflict of interest policy The Organization's conflict of interest policy is distributed to each member of the Organization's governing body, its officers and its key employees on an annual basis. Each such individual provides an annual disclosure statement indicating that they have received, read, understood and agreed to comply with the policy, certifying that: (1) they have no relationships or interests that present a conflict of interest, (2) they have one or more conflicts of interest that have been fully disclosed as required by the policy and have been properly administered in conformity with the policy, or (3) they have previously undisclosed conflicts of interest and disclosing the details of such conflicts. Any disclosure statements with previously undisclosed conflicts of interest are forwarded to appropriate Organization officials to take appropriate actions as required by the policy. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a Process to establish compensation of top management official The Organization has adopted an executive compensation-setting policy applicable to all of the Organization's key executives, including the Organization's CEO, officers and key employees. Under the policy, the Board of Directors annually reviews and approves the compensation levels of all individuals subject to the policy. The deliberations and decisions of the Board are contemporaneously substantiated. The Board utilizes comparability data in its deliberations; updated comparability data is generally obtained every two years. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15b Process to establish compensation of other employees The Organization has adopted an executive compensation-setting policy applicable to all of the Organization's key executives, including the Organization's CEO, officers and key employees. Under the policy, the Board of Directors annually reviews and approves the compensation levels of all individuals subject to the policy. The deliberations and decisions of the Board are contemporaneously substantiated. The Board utilizes comparability data in its deliberations; updated comparability data is generally obtained every two years. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 Required documents available to the public The Organization's audited financial statements are made available to the public on the Organization's website: www.upward.org. The Organization provides, upon request, copies of its Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and conflict of interest policy. Form 990, Part VIII, Line 10c Program sales revenue is reported net of cost of goods sold to inform the Form 990 reader of the expenses directly related to the activity. Consequently, both revenue on Part VIII 10c and program expenses on Part IX are understated in comparison to the audited financial statements to reflect this reporting. If cost of goods sold were removed from Part VIII, Line 10b, both gross revenue and program expenses would increase by $8,214,841. Additionally, the percentage of program expenses to total expenses reported on Part IX, Line 25 would be 85.87%. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c The Organization's Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, assumes responsibility for the oversight of the audit of its financial statements and the selection of an independent accountant. This process has not changed from the prior year. South Carolina Christian Foundation PO Box 2397 Spartanburg SC 29304 582362123 Funding Christian causes SC 501(c)(3) 10 Upward Unlimited true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false South Carolina Christian Foundation B 730000 Schedule R, Part II South Carolina Christian Foundation (SCCF) is considered a related organization that is directly controlled (as those terms are defined for purposes of Schedule R reporting) by Upward Unlimited due to the fact that a majority of the members of the board of directors of SCCF also serve as officers, directors, or employees of Upward Unlimited. Upward Unlimited does not have the authority to appoint a majority of the members of the board of directors of SCCF. In addition, SCCF is not considered to be controlled by Upward Unlimited for financial reporting purposes under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).