Keep Playing Baseball

A nonprofit organization

We created Keep Playing Baseball ("KPB") in memory of Scott Heinig, a young high school coach and former Division 1 pitcher who passed away in 2011. Scott was dedicated to helping high school players succeed and have the opportunity to play baseball in college. Scott's family, friends, and former teammates created KPB to continue this effort. Today, KPB supports players at all levels of youth baseball with cost-free educational resources, programming, and financial support. Thanks to generous supporters like you, our ability to deliver on our mission has never been stronger. 

KPB's aims to support youth ballplayers throughout their baseball journey and ensure the path to college baseball is attainable for players of all backgrounds. We launched KPB in 2011, took steps to incorporate in 2015, and received our 501(c)(3) non-profit designation in 2016. In 2017, we started our in-person educational outreach efforts. The following year, we forged a partnership with the Junior Giants, the flagship youth baseball program of the San Francisco Giants. In 2019, we reached well over 1,000 players and parents with free educational programming. Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic, we pivoted to providing free online courses and launched our Registration Assistance Program (RAP) to cover participation costs for players who can’t afford them.

Since baseball’s post-pandemic return in 2021, we have grown our registration assistance program, expanded our educational resources, partnered with MLB players and local high schools to run an annual series of free baseball camps that serve over 300 Little Leaguers each year, and launched a college tuition scholarship program for first-generation college baseball players.

While growing these support programs, our website has continued to provide essential, free resources to players and families trying to navigate the college search and recruiting process. The website received over 148,000 visitors in 2024.

KPB's scope extends well beyond the playing field. KPB leverages high school players' interest in baseball to encourage them to focus on academics, organizational skills, and leadership, among other important life skills. Our mission thus extends to creating a level educational as well as athletic playing field. In providing an A to Z support system for baseball players of all backgrounds from Little League through the college search and recruiting process, KPB is working to create a more equitable and affordable route to college success, both on the field and in the classroom. Watch the video below or reach out to learn more about our work and impact!




Mission

We believe baseball can act as a vehicle to higher education and better life outcomes. Our mission is to provide youth baseball players with cost-free access to the knowledge, resources, and support needed to play college baseball and earn a college degree.

Needs

With multiple programs running at once, unrestricted funding allows us to immediately allocate resources to the projects and places where they are needed most. This will be especially important in 2025, as we look to grow several local programs and update our website. Unrestricted funding improves our ability to be responsive to the needs of the individuals that our programs serve and has the biggest impact on our ability to create positive change.

Donors also have the ability to provide funding to the program or project that is most important to them. Program specific funding will be used strictly for the project or purpose specified.

We are always looking for in-kind donations for the prize and silent auction portions of our annual fundraising events. Past donations have included Lake Tahoe vacation rentals, tickets to sporting events, tickets to concerts, sports and music memorabilia, home furnishings, gift baskets, and much more.

Partnerships are a cornerstone of our strategic plan, and we are always looking to partner with individuals, businesses, or organizations who share our values and vision. Partnerships come in many forms and encompass everything from working together on a specific project to underwriting KPB resources or sponsoring one of our many educational programs. If you are interested in exploring a partnership and working together, we'd love to hear from you.

Equity Statement

Equity is a pillar of KPB's core values. Keep Playing Baseball promotes equity, creates opportunity, and improves the lives of the youth athletes we serve by providing free support at various levels of the baseball journey, improving the likelihood of positive baseball and educational outcomes.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Keep Playing Baseball

other names

KPB

Year Established

2011

Tax id (EIN)

81-1920544

Mission Category

Youth Development

Operating Budget

$0-$50,000

Organization Need

Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, In-Kind Donations, Other, Volunteers

Demographics Served

Youth & Children

Local Counties Served

Sacramento, Yolo

Equity Statement

Equity Statement

Address

5097 Veranda Terrace
Davis, CA 95618

Service areas

Yolo, CA, US

Sacramento, CA, US

Phone

530-760-9898

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