Partner with us 

As we invest in the lives of young people across Cleveland’s near West Side neighborhoods, we invite you to partner with us through whatever level of generosity you feel called to give. Every gift directly supports the youth, programs, mentorship, and ongoing work of Embody Youth Academy. Embody operates in partnership with Building Hope in the City, our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, allowing donations made in support of Embody to be tax-deductible

Monthly or One-Time Financial Support

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Checks, Corporate Match, Donor-Advised Funds

Giving Details
2026 Year-End Campaign

Help us finish 2026 strong.

Your partnership helps Embody strengthen the programs our students rely on today while building the foundation for even greater impact in 2027.

$62,500 Raised
2026 Goal: $155,000
40% Funded
$92,500 remaining toward our full 2026 goal
Based on current recurring partners and committed support, we are projecting approximately $95,000 by year-end — leaving roughly $60,000 in new partnership opportunities to fully reach our goal.
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A black-and-white photo of a boxing gym with punching bags, workout equipment, and fans
A fitness trainer in a t-shirt and boxing gloves sparring with a young boy wearing a t-shirt and boxing gloves in a gym.
A group of seven children and one adult sitting on a basketball court in a circle, engaging in a discussion or activity.
A young man wearing boxing gloves practicing with an adult trainer using focus mitts in a gym.
Two men practicing boxing in a gym, one with curly hair and glasses wearing a light shirt and boxing gloves, the other with short curly hair wearing a dark shirt and boxing gloves, face each other as they spar.
Black-and-white framed print of a lion on a brick wall in an industrial-style interior.
Two boys training in a boxing gym, with one practicing punches on a heavy punching bag and the other holding focus mitts. The gym has a brick wall and an American flag in the background.
A young man in a white T-shirt pries open a punching bag in a gym, with fitness equipment in the background and a white brick wall.
A young man is exercising with resistance bands in a gym, while an instructor or trainer shows him something on his phone. The gym has weights and equipment in the background.
A young male boxer wearing boxing gloves, with his arms raised in a defensive stance, looking intently at a punching bag in a gym or training environment.

We’ve partnered with Building Hope in the City as our fiscal agent, managing our funds to help us begin our program. All donations support Embody Youth Academy and the youth we walk alongside. In partnership with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all donations are tax-deductible.

Logos of Building Hope in the City and an organization with a geometric star symbol, connected with a cross, on a black background.

Fundraising Goals

We are striving for excellence in our programming and for transparency with any support raised, so you can find a breakdown of our projected budgets below.

2026 Funding Snapshot

Embody Youth Academy is growing—and so is the opportunity to walk alongside more young people with consistency, purpose, and care.

Our 2026 fundraising goal is $155,000, supporting both our current programs and the next phase of development at our West 58th Street home.

2026 Fundraising Goal: $155,000
Received through mid-September: ~$62,500
Projected Year-End Support: ~$95,000
Remaining Opportunity: ~$60,000

Building Sustainable Monthly Support

Consistent monthly partners give Embody the stability to keep showing up week after week.

Current Monthly Support: ~$5,500/month
Monthly Support Goal: $10,000/month
Current Monthly Gap: ~$4,500/month

Growing recurring support allows us to strengthen our team, deepen programming, plan ahead with confidence, and provide consistent relationships for the young people we serve.

Your generosity fuels whole-person development.

Every gift helps create an environment where young people can -

TRAIN — Martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, grappling, athletics, health and discipline

LEARN — Tutoring, academic support, practical life skills and opportunities to discover new interests

GROW — Mentorship, character formation, faith, relationships and emotional development

SERVE — Leadership, responsibility and opportunities to contribute to their community

At the center of all of it are consistent adults who know our students, invest in them and walk alongside them.

Building the Next Phase on West 58th Street

Phase 1 Facility Expansion — $50,000

A portion of our 2026 fundraising goal is dedicated to expanding and improving our current home so we can serve students more effectively in 2027.

Phase 1 will help us develop additional training space, strengthen our learning and tutoring environment, improve gathering and mentorship areas, add equipment, and complete essential facility improvements.

Rather than expanding to another neighborhood right now, our focus is simple:

Build out West 58th Street. Serve more youth. Deepen impact.

As resources grow, we also hope to expand transportation access so more students can consistently participate in after-school, evening and weekend programming.

Help Build What Comes Next

Whether you give monthly or make a one-time year-end gift, your partnership helps Embody continue becoming a place where young people are known, challenged, equipped and given opportunities to realize their potential and lead in their communities.

Give Monthly. Give Once. Help Build the Future.

2025 Impact: A Year-End Summary

A year of consistency, presence, and growth.

Training That Builds More Than Strength

Throughout the year, Embody Youth Academy provided consistent, training environments designed to build discipline, faith confidence, and purpose.

At a Glance: Overview

  • 156 training sessions

  • 75+ Individual Youth Served

  • 312 hours of structured programming

  • 1,092 student training experiences

2,184 total student-hours of engagement

Skilled Training • Character formation • Relational mentorship

Character & Faith Integrated

Approximately two-thirds of all sessions included a structured team talk and Scripture, reinforcing identity, integrity, and purpose alongside physical training.

  • ~104 sessions included Scripture

  • ~1,456 student-hours took place in sessions with intentional spiritual formation

Mentorship Beyond the Gym

Our impact extends far beyond scheduled sessions.

  • ~5 days per week of mentorship engagement

  • ~260 days per year of student contact outside of training

  • 500–780 additional mentorship touchpoints annually

Anchored Consistent Presence

Providing students with a steady rhythm of discipline, accountability, and community.

  • 2,184 student-hours of engagement

Small-group environments fostering trust and growth

Community, outdoor experiences service events throughout the year

Long-Term Vision

We hope to bring Embody’s model to more Cleveland neighborhoods in the years ahead, but our current focus is clear:

Build out West 58th Street. Serve more youth. Deepen impact.

Expansion Goals: Building the Future on West 58th Street

Beyond our baseline budget, additional giving fuels the full build-out of our home on West 58th Street. This expansion allows us to serve more students, improve training quality, and create a multi-use hub for youth and families.

Total West Side Facility Expansion - $250,000
Estimated allocation of project costs:

  • Expanded Mats & MMA Training Space — $45,000
    New mats, wall padding, mirrors, and safety upgrades.

  • Community Space & Student Lounge — $35,000
    Dining tables, chairs, kitchen needs, couches/seating, AV system.

  • Building Safety + Infrastructure Upgrades — $20,000
    Electrical, lighting, ventilation, and security improvements.

  • Multi Purpose Field House — $75,000
    turf field, sport equipment, Netting, cage structure, pitching machine.

  • Expanded Strength & Conditioning Area — $25,000
    Racks, weights, cardio equipment, storage, flooring.

  • Creative Arts Studio — $30,000
    Art supplies, editing computers, tablets, cameras, audio equipment, furniture, and storage.

  • Learning Lab/STEM Program — $20,000
    Study space, computers, robotics kits, desks, whiteboards, learning tools.

This full build-out transforms our current facility into a long-term home for students to learn more about who they were created to be through training, creativity, mentorship, and community.