Activities Beyond the Classroom enters new chapter as KidFuture CPS

Activities Beyond the Classroom is entering its next chapter with a new name, a closer partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools and new leadership.

The Cincinnati nonprofit is now operating as KidFuture CPS, a new identity that reflects its exclusive focus on Cincinnati Public Schools students and families. The change follows a five-year memorandum of understanding that formalizes the organization’s strategic partnership with the district while maintaining its independence.

Under the agreement, KidFuture has committed to raising more than $20 million by 2030 to support priorities including early literacy, workforce development and holistic student care. CPS, meanwhile, will cover some of the nonprofit’s administrative costs during the five-year agreement, according to KidFuture spokesperson Carmen Lawrence-Bille.

“While our name and branding may be different, day-to-day operations at KidFuture CPS have remained fairly steady,” said Lawrence-Bille, the nonprofit’s senior manager of grants and foundations. “Many of our programs remain untouched, and we’ve even added new programs born of strategies with the district.”

New name, evolving mission

The nonprofit’s legal name remains Activities Beyond the Classroom, but Lawrence-Bille said the “KidFuture CPS” identity reflects a clearer mission.

The organization previously worked more broadly in education. Now, its work is focused exclusively on CPS students and is intentionally aligned with district priorities.

Despite the closer relationship, Lawrence-Bille said KidFuture remains an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with its own board, leadership and decision-making authority. She noted that district officials, including the superintendent, treasurer and a member of the Board of Education, serve as nonvoting ex officio board members to strengthen collaboration. But, she stressed, CPS does not control the organization’s operations.

“As long as we are KidFuture CPS, we will focus exclusively on CPS students (all 34,000 of them) and their families,” Lawrence-Bille said.

The memorandum of understanding outlines how the district and KidFuture will collaborate through shared planning, data-informed decision-making and community engagement. Lawrence-Bille said the agreement is designed to align community resources with district priorities while holding both organizations accountable to measurable goals.

The organization plans to officially launch its new branding around the start of the school year.

Leadership transition

The transition to KidFuture also comes with a change in leadership.

Executive Director Sally Grimes has stepped down after nearly a decade leading the organization. Lawrence-Bille said Grimes’ departure is unrelated to the organization’s transition and was a personal career decision.

During her tenure, Grimes helped guide Activities Beyond the Classroom through the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership changes within Cincinnati Public Schools and negotiations that resulted in the memorandum of understanding with the district.

Deputy Director Rachel Stallings, who has overseen programming for about a decade, is serving as interim executive director while the board searches for a permanent replacement. 

Lawrence-Bille said the transition has been seamless, with programming and day-to-day operations continuing without interruption during the organization’s summer planning season.

The organization expects to name a permanent executive director this fall along with the roll out of the full transition.