Junior Achievement USA

What Junior Achievement USA does

Junior Achievement USA (JA USA), founded in 1919 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work-readiness programming to K-12 students and, increasingly, post-high-school young adults across nearly 100 U.S. markets. As a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the organization reached 4,828,747 students through 158,644 classes delivered by 185,953 business volunteers across 22,557 schools in the 2024–2025 school year. Its portfolio spans more than 30 registered, branded programs organized across three pillars: Financial Literacy (JA Finance Park, JA Personal Finance, JA Economics, JA Financial Literacy), Entrepreneurship (JA Company Program, JA Be Entrepreneurial, JA Launch Lesson), and Work and Career Readiness (JA Inspire, JA Career Success, JA Job Shadow), with delivery modes ranging from classroom curriculum and virtual platforms (JA Connect Learning Pathways, JA Here to Career, JA Tools for Success) to immersive Experiential Learning Centers such as JA BizTown, JA Finance Park facilities, and the expanding JA Dream Accelerator network.

The underlying technology is an experiential learning platform combining classroom curriculum, hands-on simulations, and virtual environments; notable recent features include AI-powered financial literacy modules within JA Finance Park (via Chime partnership) and a redesigned K-5 curriculum with new digital resources (supported by Z Zurich Foundation). Distribution is event-driven and free to schools, funded through foundation grants and corporate sponsorships. JA USA is funded primarily through foundation grants (Lilly Endowment $22.5M, Allstate Foundation $15M coalition, Charles Schwab Foundation $1.5M, Paychex Charitable Foundation $1M, American Express $820K, Citi Foundation), corporate sponsorships from 50+ organizations (Delta Air Lines, Accenture, EY, PwC, Staples, Janus Henderson, ManpowerGroup), and individual donations. Programs are delivered at no cost to schools, educators, or students, with corporate partners also supplying volunteers and in-kind resources. Recent strategic positioning emphasizes the "Education for What's Next" framework, targeting AI-era workforce preparedness.

Name

Junior Achievement USA

Legal name

Junior Achievement USA

Website

https://jausa.ja.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Junior Achievement USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1919 that delivers financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work-readiness programs to K-12 and post-high-school students across nearly 100 U.S. markets, funded by corporate sponsors and foundation grants and delivered free through schools and Experiential Learning Centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Financial Literacy and Workforce Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Readiness & College Prep (In-School) (EDAJAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), Virtual Test Prep & Online Supplemental Instruction (K–12) (EDAJADAI)

Keywords

• Youth financial literacy
• Entrepreneurship education
• Career readiness programs
• K-12 education
• Experiential learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including Lilly Endowment ($22.5M), Charles Schwab Foundation ($1.5M over 3 years), Paychex Charitable Foundation ($1M over 4 years), Allstate Foundation ($15M multi-year), Citi Foundation, and others fund program development, expansion, and delivery
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide funding, volunteer support, and in-kind resources. Major sponsors include Delta Air Lines ($16.5M commitment), Staples, Accenture, Citizens, Pacific Life Foundation, Chick-fil-A, CNA, FedEx, and 50+ other organizations
3. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support programs, with opportunities for one-time and recurring donations through the website

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Junior Achievement USA delivers K-12 educational programs at no cost to schools and students, focused on three pillars: financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work/career readiness. Programs are delivered through classroom curricula, simulated experiential learning centers (JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, JA Dream Accelerator), and self-guided online platforms, supported by 185,000+ business volunteers and funded through corporate sponsorships and foundation grants.

Product overview

Junior Achievement USA offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs organized across multiple pathways: Financial Literacy (including JA Finance Park, JA Personal Finance, JA Financial Literacy, JA Economics), Entrepreneurship (including JA Company Program, JA Be Entrepreneurial, JA Launch Lesson), and Work and Career Readiness (including JA Inspire, JA Career Success, JA Job Shadow). The portfolio spans elementary (grades K-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12) with delivery options including classroom-based, experiential learning centers (JA BizTown, JA Dream Accelerator, JA Finance Park facilities), virtual/remote live, after-school, and self-guided online platforms (JA Connect Learning Pathways). Programs range from single-session volunteers delivered experiences to full-semester teacher-led courses, supplemented by digital tools including JA Here to Career, JA Afford Your Future, JA Money Quiz, and JA Tools for Success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JA BizTown: Combined in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town for elementary school students to operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor
• JA Finance Park
• JA Company Program
• JA Career Success
• JA Connect
• Future Bound
• JA Dream Accelerator

Products and services

• JA Connect Learning Pathways Self-guided online student experience platform providing a flexible, modular repository of activities covering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work/career readiness for K-12 students. Designed to enable knowledge acquisition and skill application inside or outside the classroom.
• JA Finance Park Capstone program for middle and high school students combining personal financial planning curriculum with a one-day simulation visit at a JA Finance Park facility (on-site, mobile, or virtual). Students develop and commit to personal budgets based on career and lifestyle selections.
• JA BizTown Elementary school experiential program combining classroom lessons with a day-long visit to a simulated town where students operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor, connecting academic learning to real-world economics.
• JA Company Program High school entrepreneurship program empowering students to address community needs or solve problems by conceptualizing, capitalizing, and managing their own business venture with guidance from community volunteer mentors.
• JA Inspire Multi-segment career exploration program pairing business community volunteers with middle school students through pre-event sessions, a JA Inspire event, and post-event reflection activities to introduce future education and career paths.
• JA Our Community

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,828,747 students reached nationally (2024-2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ChimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Strategic partnership to support JA Finance Park with AI-powered financial literacy modules covering interactive money management and career readiness. Rollout in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Denver, and Peoria.
• StaplescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Multi-year partnership for career-connected learning and work readiness programs. Staples serves as Presenting Sponsor for Future Bound national student conference. Includes local program support and volunteer engagement.
• PwCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint creation of JA Afford Your Future program helping teens explore career income and education funding options to make informed decisions and minimize college debt.
• AccenturemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of program redesign including JA Our Community, JA Economics for Success, JA Community Coders, and JA Tools for Success. Supporter of JA Connect Learning Pathways portal development.
• Ernst & YoungmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport for entrepreneurial programs including JA Connect Learning Pathway for Entrepreneurship and JA Launch Lesson.
• ManpowerGroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of JA Career Success program redevelopment.
• MarketWisemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupport for financial literacy programs on JA Connect Learning Pathway to ensure students are prepared as smart money experts.
• Janus Henderson InvestorsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of JA Titan program redevelopment.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• EVERFI: EVERFI is a K-12 digital education company (Blackbaud-owned) providing financial literacy, career readiness, and social-emotional learning curricula used by thousands of school districts. Overlaps with JA on financial literacy but delivers as licensed digital software rather than volunteer-led programs.

Emerging players

• Take Stock in Children: Take Stock in Children is a Florida-based nonprofit providing mentoring, scholarships, and college/career readiness programming to low-income K-12 students. Comparable as a smaller-scale nonprofit targeting similar underserved populations with similar funding models.
• Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF): NGPF is a nonprofit providing free personal finance curricula to high school teachers, rapidly growing adoption in U.S. schools. Directly competes with JA Personal Finance/Financial Literacy courses on the same instructional minutes.

Direct peers

• National 4-H Council: National 4-H Council is a youth development nonprofit delivering K-12 programs in STEM, citizenship, healthy living, and career readiness through cooperative extension networks. Highly comparable as a U.S. nonprofit youth-education organization funded by corporate sponsors and federal partners.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): FBLA is a student business career and technology organization serving middle and high school students with leadership, business, and financial literacy programs. Comparable as a co-member of the Allstate youth-led service coalition alongside JA.
• DECA (formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America): DECA is a student organization focused on marketing, finance, hospitality, and management career preparation for high school and college students. Comparable to JA's career-readiness and entrepreneurship focus with strong corporate sponsorship.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: BGCA is a youth development nonprofit serving 4M+ youth at club locations and schools nationwide, with a focus on academic success, career exploration, and character. Comparable as a large national K-12 youth services nonprofit co-funded by Allstate and other shared corporate sponsors.
• National Academy Foundation (NAF): NAF is a K-12 nonprofit network of career academies focused on finance, hospitality, health sciences, and technology, serving ~120,000 students in 600+ academies. Comparable as a corporate-sponsored career-readiness curriculum provider for high schoolers.
• Junior Achievement Worldwide: JA Worldwide is the parent organization of Junior Achievement USA, coordinating JA's global network across more than 100 countries. Operates the same K-12 financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness curriculum model with locally adapted delivery.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): NFTE is a nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship education curricula to middle and high school students, often in under-resourced schools. Directly comparable to JA's entrepreneurship pathway, with similar corporate-sponsored delivery model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JA_USA
• Facebookfacebook.com/JuniorAchievement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/junior-achievement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Junior Achievement USA