Upward Unlimited / Upward Sports 
The information on this page was last updated 3/1/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Upward Sports helps church leaders leverage the power of sports to connect with families in their community. Our mission is promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports. For over two decades, we have been a partner to churches in leveraging the power of sports to achieve and increase the impact of their mission.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Upward Sports
198 White Star Pt
Spartanburg, SC 29301
Website: upward.org
Phone: 864-949-5700
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 571031173
CEO/President: Kevin Drake
Chairman: Tully Brewer
Board size: 6
Founder: Caz McCaslin
Ruling year: 1997
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2004
Purpose
For over twenty years, our purpose has remained the same: to use the power of sports to share the gospel and promote the discovery of Jesus in every community.
Walking alongside churches in pursuing their mission, helping to overcome challenges and solve problems, and seeking to understand their unique circumstances and resources, we bring proven and innovative solutions to create transformational sports experiences.
We believe the local church plays a key role in building up and fostering their community. We support churches with strategic consulting, logistics, materials and spiritual support to do just that.
We view sport through the lens of a greater purpose - which means the impact can extend far beyond the game. Sports break down barriers and create a powerful catalyst for churches to build relationships and serve others.
All children deserve opportunities to be active, learn and have fun! That's why we value co-creating new and different play experiences with church partners to welcome and reach all children.
Based on Luke 2:52 "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." our experiences are designed to equip churches to engage the whole athlete - mind, body, spirit and soul.
Mission statement
Our Mission is promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports.
Statement of faith
We Believe...
The Bible to be the inspired, authoritative, Word of God.
That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
That for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of eternal punishment.
In the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Fellowship Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 638 of 1106 | 20 of 32 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 213 of 1107 | 7 of 32 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 551 of 1107 | 18 of 32 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1033 of 1106 | 28 of 32 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 86% | 47% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 14% | 53% | 100% | 99% | 99% | 100% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 83% | 77% | 70% | 73% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 91% | 63% | 166% | 111% | 95% | 117% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 74% | 52% | 127% | 78% | 70% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 9% | 37% | -66% | -11% | 5% | -17% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 11% | 24% | -15% | -4% | 2% | -8% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 17% | 23% | 30% | 27% | 29% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.15 | 0.39 | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.34 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.42 | 2.85 | 2.44 | 2.35 | 2.31 | 2.48 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.61 | 1.10 | 0.58 | 0.57 | 0.61 | 0.83 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.62 | 7.23 | 9.65 | 12.60 | 7.97 | 6.31 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.16 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.72 | 9.37 | 18.64 | 19.35 | 17.25 | 12.12 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 5% | 38% | 35% | 35% | 36% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 34% | 31% | 30% | 30% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 81% | 246% | 261% | 268% | 246% | 189% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $4,966,315 | $4,232,435 | $5,243,047 | $4,393,678 | $3,310,155 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,747,566 | $8,141,865 | $8,376,844 | $8,162,620 | $7,949,770 |
| Short-term investments | $4,787,866 | $4,831,313 | $5,813,551 | $8,202,138 | $8,020,414 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $12,501,747 | $17,205,613 | $19,433,442 | $20,758,436 | $19,280,339 |
| Long-term investments | $424,559 | $424,559 | $424,559 | $425,499 | $425,499 |
| Fixed assets | $22,715,478 | $24,360,117 | $25,737,997 | $26,715,589 | $28,024,670 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $23,140,037 | $24,784,676 | $26,162,556 | $27,141,088 | $28,450,169 |
| Total assets | $35,641,784 | $41,990,289 | $45,595,998 | $47,899,524 | $47,730,508 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,701,583 | $1,759,774 | $1,442,275 | $2,385,811 | $2,727,985 |
| Other current liabilities | $28,622 | $22,743 | $99,593 | $218,250 | $326,286 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,730,205 | $1,782,517 | $1,541,868 | $2,604,061 | $3,054,271 |
| Debt | $0 | $14,326,678 | $14,298,623 | $14,270,567 | $14,242,512 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $14,326,678 | $14,298,623 | $14,270,567 | $14,242,512 |
| Total liabilities | $1,730,205 | $16,109,195 | $15,840,491 | $16,874,628 | $17,296,783 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $33,911,579 | $25,881,094 | $29,755,507 | $31,024,896 | $30,433,725 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $33,911,579 | $25,881,094 | $29,755,507 | $31,024,896 | $30,433,725 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $10,300,031 | $4,614 | $81,746 | $90,914 | $896 |
| Program service revenue | $675,026 | $727,397 | $740,498 | $1,389,680 | $1,426,806 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $90,656 | $69,837 | $208,546 | $298,781 | ($1,610,845) |
| Other revenue | $10,881,109 | $5,182,776 | $8,978,798 | $11,513,925 | $13,859,582 |
| Total other revenue | $11,646,791 | $5,980,010 | $9,927,842 | $13,202,386 | $13,675,543 |
| Total revenue | $21,946,822 | $5,984,624 | $10,009,588 | $13,293,300 | $13,676,439 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $11,484,901 | $7,607,612 | $7,766,229 | $9,277,307 | $11,358,755 |
| Management and general | $2,316,105 | $2,321,253 | $3,331,411 | $3,348,678 | $4,701,992 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $13,801,006 | $9,928,865 | $11,097,640 | $12,625,985 | $16,060,747 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $8,145,816 | ($3,944,241) | ($1,088,052) | $667,315 | ($2,384,308) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $8,145,816 | ($3,944,241) | ($1,088,052) | $667,315 | ($2,384,308) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Kevin Drake | Executive Director | $210,499 |
| Pamela Westbrooks | Former Dir of Admin/Assist Treas | $129,198 |
| Kenneth Gibson | Sr. Data Architect | $124,886 |
| Nathan Holm | Former Director of Operations | $116,529 |
| Douglas Grote | Star Center Gen Mngr (ended 12/21) | $106,979 |
| Amie Busbee | CFO/Assist Treasurer (began 10/21) | $35,189 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2022
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/1/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Founded in 1995 out of a church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, founder Caz McCaslin had a passion for sports and a deep desire to reach his community. He created a sports experience that met the unmet needs of children and their families, focused on the sports experience and sharing the love of Jesus Christ. This vision for one community quickly grew into a team of individuals committed to supporting churches everywhere to maximize their unique resources and personalities to serve and meet the needs of their communities.
Today, there are over 2,800 Upward sports experiences across the U.S. serving hundreds of thousands of young athletes playing basketball, soccer, cheerleading and flag football. What began as a local, recreational basketball league focused on reaching the surrounding community with the message of Jesus Christ has grown into a nationwide movement helping churches use sports to engage their local communities with the gospel.
Program accomplishments
In our history, we have been grateful for the impact that's been made...
5,000 church partners
7,000,000 & more children playing
45,000 sports experiences