Nonprofit · EIN 57-1031173
UPWARD UNLIMITED
Tax-exempt · SPARTANBURG, SC 29304
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $9,347,217 | $7,890,945 | $1,456,272 | $54,109,408 | $2,505,861 | $51,603,547 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $8,932,979 | $10,077,040 | -$1,144,061 | $50,634,019 | $2,207,714 | $48,426,305 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $19,636,661 | $7,952,467 | $11,684,194 | $47,709,418 | $2,051,454 | $45,657,964 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,633
- Program service revenue
- $90,337
- Investment income
- $2,479,283
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $958,809
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $6,770,476
- Other revenue
- $6,771,964
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $302,132
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $478,091
- Other salaries and wages
- $3,501,682
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $4,595,421
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $16,233
- Accounting fees
- $38,850
- Occupancy
- $123,768
- Travel
- $209,143
- Depreciation
- $272,312
- Program services (functional)
- $5,248,629
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,642,316
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $50,634,019
- Total assets, end of year
- $54,109,408
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,505,861
- Net assets, end of year
- $51,603,547
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $4,952,184
- Publicly traded securities
- $5,728,952
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $51,603,547
- Gross unrelated business income
- $400
- Gross receipts
- $20,769,279
- Employees
- 50
- Volunteers
- 6
- Year formed
- 1995
- State of legal domicile
- SC
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Drake | Executive Director Officer | 50 | $274,480 | $2,674 |
| Amie Busbee | CFO/Assistant Treasurer Officer | 50 | $170,416 | $22,462 |
| Mitchell Hollis | Director of Upward Running Highest-paid employee | 50 | $143,773 | $22,154 |
| Matthew Bradley | Director of Supply Chain Highest-paid employee | 50 | $138,109 | $26,533 |
| Brian Tramel | Director of Information Technology Highest-paid employee | 50 | $135,120 | $26,456 |
| Travis Vaughn | Director of Market Research Highest-paid employee | 50 | $143,628 | $14,182 |
| Andrew Provence | Director of Partner Relations Highest-paid employee | 50 | $132,140 | $23,534 |
| Hugh Brantley | Secretary/Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Chibbaro | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tully Brewer | Chairman of Board Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Bob Caldwell Sr | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Courtney Shelton | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| David Bishop | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Drake | Executive Director Officer | 50 | $259,356 | $3,479 |
| Amie Busbee | CFO/Assistant Treasurer Officer | 50 | $167,697 | $20,309 |
| Matthew Bradley | Director of Supply Chain Highest-paid employee | 50 | $130,047 | $28,238 |
| Brian Tramel | Director of Information Technology Highest-paid employee | 50 | $129,687 | $25,513 |
| Andrew Provence | Director of Partner Relations Highest-paid employee | 50 | $123,815 | $21,820 |
| Robert Swink | Sr. Software Architect Highest-paid employee | 50 | $120,526 | $24,973 |
| Travis Vaughn | Director of Market Research Highest-paid employee | 50 | $131,974 | $13,043 |
| Hugh Brantley | Secretary/Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Chibbaro | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Tully Brewer | Chairman of Board Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Bob Caldwell Sr | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Courtney Shelton | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| David Bishop | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Drake | Executive Director Officer | 50 | $242,458 | $5,830 |
| Amie Busbee | CFO/Assist Treasurer Officer | 50 | $143,137 | $12,146 |
| Matthew Bradley | Director of Supply Chain Highest-paid employee | 50 | $103,364 | $29,171 |
| Kenneth Gibson | Sr. Data Architect Highest-paid employee | 50 | $112,758 | $18,475 |
| Brian Tramel | Director of Information Technology Highest-paid employee | 50 | $104,180 | $23,177 |
| Travis Vaughn | Director of Market Research Highest-paid employee | 50 | $102,438 | $12,034 |
| Tully Brewer | Chairman of Board Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Hugh Brantley | Secretary/Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Bob Caldwell | Vice Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| David Bishop | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Courtney Shelton | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Michael Chibbaro | Board Member Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 5157, SPARTANBURG, SC 29304-5157
- In care of
- % AMIE BUSBEE
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Kevin Drake, PO Box 5157, Spartanburg, SC 29304
- Signed the 990
- Amie Busbee, CFO
- Phone
- (864) 949-5700
- Website
- www.upward.org
- Return prepared by
- Forvis Mazars LLP
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- UPWARD SPORTS ("THE ORGANIZATION") EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE DISCOVERY OF JESUS THROUGH SPORTS. THE ORGANIZATION HELPS CHRISTIAN CHURCH LEADERS LEVERAGE THE POWER OF SPORTS AS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, SHARING THE GOSPEL, AND SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. AS A NONDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN SPORTS MINISTRY, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ENGAGING PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT CHURCHES IN PLANNING, TRAINING, AND DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY, WELL-ORGANIZED SPORTS EXPERIENCES. DURING THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 2,100 CHURCHES TO OFFER SPORTS LEAGUES, CAMPS AND CLINICS, REACHING NEARLY 223,000 YOUNG ATHLETES NATIONWIDE.Expenses $5,248,629 · grants $302,132 · revenue $6,770,476
- UPWARD RUNNING IS A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED PROGRAM FOR ADULTS THAT PROVIDES TRAINING, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH WHILE STRENGTHENING THEIR FAITH. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, THERE ARE 449 ACTIVE MEMBERS IN THE PROGRAM.revenue $89,937
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 57-1031173
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Group exemption
- Exempt since
- 1997
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Youth development (O55)
- Group exemption
- 6161 (3 member organizations)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $54,109,408
- Income (IRS master file)
- $20,769,279
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $9,347,217 | $7,890,945 | $54,109,408 | XML |
| 990 | September 2024 | $8,932,979 | $10,077,040 | $50,634,019 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2023 | $19,636,661 | $7,952,467 | $47,709,418 | XML |
| 990-T | September 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2022 | $21,946,822 | $13,801,006 | $35,641,784 | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 57-1031173).
Questions about UPWARD UNLIMITED
- What is the EIN of UPWARD UNLIMITED?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of UPWARD UNLIMITED is 57-1031173.
- Is UPWARD UNLIMITED tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.
- Are donations to UPWARD UNLIMITED tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Group exemption).
- Which annual return does UPWARD UNLIMITED file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of UPWARD UNLIMITED due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did UPWARD UNLIMITED last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of UPWARD UNLIMITED?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Kevin Drake.
- Who are the officers and directors of UPWARD UNLIMITED?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $274,480 (Kevin Drake, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does UPWARD UNLIMITED have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $9,347,217, expenses of $7,890,945 and total assets of $54,109,408 at year end.
Organizations in its group exemption (3)
- UPWARD UNLIMITED EIN 81-1702436 · BRENTWOOD, TN · last filed 990 for 2025
- HOUSTON YOUTH ATHLETIC CLUB EIN 82-1168884 · HOUSTON, TX · last filed 990 for 2024
- STARS SPORTS CLUB EIN 47-3178781 · INMAN, SC · last filed 990 for 2025
Other nonprofits in SPARTANBURG
- NATIONAL HONORARY BETA CLUB EIN 57-0314447 · last filed 990 for 2025
- KIDS UPSTATE EIN 57-0862226 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CHILDRENS CANCER PARTNERS OF THE CAROLINAS INC EIN 20-2511033 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA EIN 57-0314450 · last filed 990 for 2024
- PALMETTO BOYS STATE EIN 57-6021005 · last filed 990 for 2024
- BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE UPSTATE INC EIN 20-4243553 · last filed 990 for 2025
- SIDEWALK HOPE INC EIN 82-0999755 · last filed 990 for 2025
- GIRLS ON THE RUN UPSTATE SC EIN 26-3698330 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in SPARTANBURG · South Carolina · Youth development