Press
About AlumniUp
AlumniUp is a crowdfunding platform that connects Detroit public school alumni and corporate sponsors with verified funding needs posted by coaches, teachers, and administrators. Founded in 2025 by Risha Smith, a Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School alumna, AlumniUp is fiscally sponsored by Childs Play Foundation, Inc. (501(c)(3) EIN 86-2707543), ensuring every donation is tax-deductible and every dollar is accounted for.
Founder Bio
Risha Smith is a Detroit-born engineer, cybersecurity professional, and proud alumna of Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School (King High). After building a career in technology and cybersecurity, she founded AlumniUp to address the chronic underfunding of Detroit public schools by directly connecting alumni with specific, verified funding needs. She is the founder of Lexis Sapphire Studio and is passionate about using technology to serve her hometown.
Key Facts
| Founded | 2025 |
| Location | Detroit, MI |
| Fiscal Sponsor | Childs Play Foundation, Inc. (501(c)(3) EIN 86-2707543) |
| Founding School | Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School |
| Fee Structure | 88% school, 7% AlumniUp, 5% CPF fiscal sponsor |
| Built By | Lexis Sapphire Studio |
Press Contact
For press inquiries, please contact: press@alumniup.org