A Lemonade Stand Became a Nonprofit for Young Founders Ages 4 to 18

Quick question. What if your lemonade stand could turn into a whole program that helps other kids start their own businesses?

That's close to what happened in Rhode Island. A little fruit-and-lemonade stand got neighbors interested, and a parent saw that kids could learn a lot from running something of their own. Today there's a nonprofit built around that idea.

This week, a local TV station named it a community treasure. Let's see what the group does and what you can borrow for your own young founder.

It's a nonprofit that introduces kids ages 4 to 18 to entrepreneurship through after-school programs, camps, and business fairs. NBC 10 News reported on the group on October 28, 2026.

According to the station, the program focuses on children from low- to moderate-income communities. Volunteers, coaches, and parents help kids develop ideas and build skills. The kids can explore interests like music, jewelry-making, and baking, while learning things they can use as adults.

Rhode Island Monthly adds that the nonprofit, known as MERI, was founded in 2023 and that its founder runs it full time. A planned mentorship program would connect young entrepreneurs with leaders in different careers.

Erica Campbell, the founder and executive director, used to work as an academic adviser at the Met School. According to Rhode Island Monthly, the idea began during COVID-19, when she wanted her own children to have hands-on learning.

The spark was her young child's fruit-and-lemonade stand, called Bubba's Snack Shack, which drew interest from nearby families.

Notice how small that is. A snack stand. No fancy plan, no investors. Just a kid, a table, and some customers who showed up.

Campbell's advice about starting is worth writing on a sticky note: "You don't have to be great at something to start it."

Meet Julius Morris. He's 12 and has been with the organization for five years, according to NBC 10. He's an artist, performer, and composer. He's earning grants, runs his own YouTube channel, and performs at events around Rhode Island. He recently organized a back-to-school bash with his mother.

When he talked about the program, he said, "They taught me hard work and how to value myself."

That last part is easy to miss. Business skills matter, but so does the feeling that your work is worth something. A kid who sets a price and hears "yes" learns both lessons at once.

His mom, Sara Monteiro, is also a coach with the group. She says his friends "rely on him to be that trailblazer."

Quite a lot, and not only about money.

Rhode Island Monthly lists social and critical thinking skills, working together, using resources, and the basics of entrepreneurship. Add a few more that any fair teaches:

• How to greet a stranger and explain what you made
• How to set a price and defend it kindly
• How to handle a customer who says "no thanks"
• How to count change
• How to keep going when the table is quiet for twenty minutes

The next big showcase is coming up. NBC 10 says participants will present their work at Farm Fresh Rhode Island on Saturday, November 7. If you live nearby, it could be a fun outing and a way to support young sellers.

You don't need a nonprofit to start. Here's a simple path for a family.

1. Ask your child what they love doing. Drawing, baking, music, fixing things, anything.
2. Pick one small product or service. Friendship bracelets, homemade dog treats, a car-washing service for neighbors, a short custom song.
3. Make a mini price list. Count what the supplies cost, then add a fair profit.
4. Choose a place to sell. A family gathering, a school event, a porch table, or a local kids fair.
5. Let your child do the talking. Parents can stand nearby, but the pitch belongs to the kid.

A 2025 fair run by the group, according to Rhode Island Monthly, asked parents to work with their child beforehand to develop the business and the product or service. That's a nice model: the grown-up helps prepare, then steps back.

Let's use a pretend example. Say a child makes ten bracelets. The beads and string for all ten cost $5, so each bracelet costs 50 cents to make. If the child sells each for $3, the profit is $2.50 per bracelet. Sell all ten and the child earns $25 in profit.

But what if the child spent an hour making each one? That's a good conversation. Time has value too, even for kids. It doesn't mean they must charge a lot. It means they can see why handmade items often cost more than store ones.

Keep the math friendly. A small notebook with three columns works: what I spent, what I sold for, what I kept.

If you'd like a tool for this, a notebook or spreadsheet works great, and a planning tool like Foundra can help a young founder lay out products, costs, and goals. Whatever you pick, keep it simple.

Because kids learn faster when somebody walks beside them. The group's coaches and volunteers give feedback, cheer small wins, and nudge kids when they're stuck.

A mentor doesn't have to be a famous businessperson. It can be a neighbor who runs a bakery, an older cousin who sells crafts online, or a teacher who loves a good spreadsheet. Ask one question: "What was the hardest part of your first year?"

The answers tend to be honest and useful.

Plenty of young founders are. The good news is that a business gives a shy kid something to talk about besides themselves. It's easier to say "I made these myself" than to make small talk.

Try these gentle steps:

1. Start with a family-and-friends sale before any public event.
2. Practice a short script: "Hi, I made these. Would you like to take a look?"
3. Let your child pick a job at the table that feels comfortable, like counting change or arranging the display, then add the talking later.
4. Celebrate one small win after each sale, such as eye contact or a clear "thank you."

Confidence tends to grow through repetition. One fair won't turn a shy child into a salesperson overnight, but it can show them they're braver than they thought.

Often, yes. Counting change builds math skills. Writing a sign builds writing skills. Explaining a product builds speaking skills. Tracking sales in a notebook builds an early habit of looking at numbers without fear.

And there's a quieter benefit. A child who has run a table learns that effort and results are connected. Work harder on the display, ask better questions, smile more, and sales might go up. Skip the preparation and they might not.

That lesson travels well, from science projects to sports to someday job interviews.

Don't treat it as a one-day event. Try a monthly check-in at the kitchen table. Ask what sold, what felt hard, and what your child wants to try next.

Visit local markets together as customers and notice what other sellers do. Read a library book about a young inventor or a small business. Save a share of any profit, spend a share, and maybe donate a share. Three jars on a shelf can teach more than a lecture.

The point isn't to raise a tiny CEO. It's to give your child a safe place to try, stumble, and try again.

• Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island serves kids ages 4 to 18 with after-school programs, camps, and business fairs.
• It began with a child's fruit-and-lemonade stand and was founded as a nonprofit in 2023.
• Erica Campbell says, "You don't have to be great at something to start it."
• Julius Morris, 12, performs, composes, and runs his own YouTube channel.
• Participants will showcase at Farm Fresh Rhode Island on Saturday, November 7.
• At home, start small: one product, one price list, one place to sell.

Who can join Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island? NBC 10 reports the nonprofit serves kids ages 4 to 18. Check the group's website, merikids.org, for current details.

Does my child need a big idea to start? No. Start with something they enjoy and can make well. Small ideas teach big lessons.

How do I help without taking over? Help with supplies, safety, and practice. Let your child set prices, greet customers, and answer questions.

What if my child gets nervous? Practice a one-sentence pitch at home. Role-play a customer. Start with a friendly audience, like family or classmates.

Can kids really earn money from a small business? Some do, and many earn modest amounts. The biggest return is usually the skills they pick up.

Where is the next showcase? According to NBC 10, participants will present at Farm Fresh Rhode Island on Saturday, November 7.

1. Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island helps young creators build big ideas, NBC 10 News, October 28, 2026
2. Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island Helps Kids Find Their Passions, Rhode Island Monthly
3. Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island, GuideStar profile
4. Mini Kids Entrepreneur Fair of Rhode Island, Awesome Foundation