Youth Leadership Institute

What Youth Leadership Institute does

Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 (EIN 68-0184712) that operates a four-pillar youth development model centered on Leadership, Research, Storytelling, and Campaigns. Headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Fresno, Merced, and Eastern Coachella Valley, YLI delivers programs across nine California regions to high-school and college-age youth, embedding in schools through Friday Night Live chapters, operating youth commissions in multiple counties, and running youth-led journalism initiatives including the acquired YouthWire platform, the Calafia statewide policy journal, We'Ced Youth Media in Merced, and Coachella Unincorporated in the Eastern Coachella Valley.

YLI's core products and services include leadership development programs, youth participatory action research (YPAR), media and storytelling programs, social-justice campaigns organized across six issue platforms (economic, education, environmental, gender, health, and racial justice), and fee-based training and consulting services such as the Communities Mobilizing for Change (CMCA) curriculum. The organization's technology footprint is concentrated in digital media and publication platforms rather than software infrastructure; no APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. YLI's policy and advocacy track record includes 102 documented policy wins over 25 years, with signature outcomes such as Measure W ($80M annually for 30 years in San Mateo County transit funding), San Francisco Tobacco 21, and the Responsible Neighborhood Market Ordinance in Fresno.

YLI's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven, with the organization accepting online, stock, property, and monthly sustaining donations; earning foundation grants from the James Irvine Foundation ($250K Leadership Award in 2019), the Obama Foundation, San Francisco Foundation's Koshland Program, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Latino Community Foundation ($100K in 2023); selling branded merchandise; and quoting-based fees for CMCA training and consulting. All core youth development programs are offered free of charge to participants. The organization is privately governed by a Board of Directors with no parent company, no institutional investor ownership, and one wholly-owned subsidiary (YouthWire). Leadership transitioned from founder Maureen Sedonaen (departed November 2012) to Jon Marker (CEO February 2015 to June 2019) to current CEO Patty Barahona (June 2019 to present, internally promoted from a Program Coordinator role).

Name

Youth Leadership Institute

Legal name

Youth Leadership Institute

Website

https://yli.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Youth Leadership Institute is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a four-pillar youth development model (Leadership, Research, Storytelling, Campaigns) across nine regions, serving young people with free leadership training, youth-led campaigns, journalism programs, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Civic Engagement Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Youth leadership training
• Community organizing services
• Policy advocacy campaigns
• Youth media production

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations through its website, including online donations, stock donations, check donations, property donations, and monthly sustaining contributions. EIN: 68-0184712.
2. Merchandise Sales: YLI operates a merch store selling branded apparel including hoodies, t-shirts, and specialty items. Proceeds support youth voice programs.
3. Training and Consulting Services: The organization provides training and consulting services including the Communities Mobilizing for Change (CMCA) training program to external clients such as the Siskiyou Substance Abuse Coalition.
4. Grants and Foundation Funding: Funded by foundations including James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award ($250,000 investment), San Francisco Foundation Koshland Program, and Obama Foundation awards to specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Youth Leadership Institute delivers a four-pillar youth development model (Leadership, Research, Storytelling, and Campaigns) through free regional programs across nine California areas, enabling young people to conduct participatory action research, produce journalism and media content, lead advocacy campaigns, and serve on youth commissions. The organization supplements free youth programming with fee-based training and consulting services, including the Communities Mobilizing for Change (CMCA) training program delivered to external coalitions and organizations.

Product overview

Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) is a nonprofit organization that operates a multi-component youth development model centered on four pillars: Leadership, Research, Storytelling, and Campaigns. The organization runs numerous youth programs across nine California regions (San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Merced, Fresno, Eastern Coachella Valley, Long Beach, Madera, and Statewide). YLI offers training and consulting services, publishes the Calafia youth policy journal, operates youth media initiatives including We'Ced Youth Media and Coachella Unincorporated, and acquired YouthWire in 2018 to expand its media capabilities. Programs focus on social justice issues including economic, education, environmental, gender, health, and racial justice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthWire: Youth media organization acquired by YLI that produces hyper-local news content in underserved communities.
• Calafia
• Coachella Unincorporated
• We'Ced Youth Media

Products and services

• Leadership Programs Youth leadership development programs that engage young people in advocacy, community organizing, and civic participation across multiple California regions, including Youth Advisory Boards, Student Advocacy Councils, and Friday Night Live chapters.
• Research Programs Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) initiatives where young people conduct research on issues affecting their communities and translate findings into advocacy.
• Storytelling Programs Media and storytelling programs that train youth in journalism, documentary filmmaking, and narrative creation to amplify youth voice on community issues.
• Campaigns Youth-led advocacy campaigns on social justice issues including economic justice, education justice, environmental justice, gender justice, health justice, and racial justice.
• Training & Consulting Services Professional fee-based training services including the Communities Mobilizing for Change (CMCA) training program delivered to external coalitions and organizations on community mobilization and substance abuse prevention.
• Calafia Youth Policy Journal YLI's statewide youth policy journal that amplifies the narratives of young people on topics important to them and their communities, featuring intersectional feminism and social justice themes.
• YouthWire Youth media organization acquired by YLI in 2018 that produces hyper-local news content in underserved communities.
• Merchandise Store Branded apparel merchandise store selling hoodies, t-shirts, and specialty items, with proceeds supporting youth voice programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86,000 youth served and 102 policy wins over 25 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SamTrans (San Mateo County Transit District)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018YLI's TEAMC coalition partnered with SamTrans over one year to develop Measure W transportation expenditure plan. Coalition collected surveys, hosted community meetings, and advocated for community priorities. SamTrans Board approved the plan in July 2018. Measure W passed November 2018, generating $80M annually for 30 years.
• Transportation Equity Allied Movement Coalition (TEAMC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of approximately 20-28 organizations coordinated by YLI working to advance transportation solutions promoting social equity, public health, and environmental protection in San Mateo County. Led successful Measure W campaign.
• Silicon Valley Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to run the SVCF Journalism Program - a county-wide program where youth share perspectives on pressing community issues through Op-Eds, personal narratives, digital/multimedia, and blogs. Youth build skills with local media outlets.
• Official Latino Film and Arts FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstamos Aqui documentary by Coachella Unincorporated selected for screening at the Official Latino Film and Arts Festival in 2019 at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California.
• South Coast AQMDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Youth Leadership in Air Quality Award to Coachella Unincorporated youth filmmakers for Estamos Aqui documentary highlighting environmental issues affecting Eastern Coachella Valley communities.
• Loma Linda University School of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoachella Unincorporated team presented Estamos Aqui documentary at Loma Linda University for the School of Public Health, Institute for Health Policy and Leadership and Children's Hospital staff.
• Dominican University of CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for yli's annual Peer Summit 2020, bringing hundreds of local middle schoolers together for presentations, performances and workshops organized entirely by youth.
• Powerful Beyond MeasureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth empowerment organization that provided workshop facilitation and self-love grounding session at yli's Peer Summit 2020 event.
• San Francisco Foundation Koshland ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellowship program strengthening grassroots community leaders in Marin County's Canal neighborhood. YLI partnered with three other local organizations to identify and support Koshland fellows. Three yli youth selected for 2020 cohort.
• Fresno Barrios UnidosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in establishing Youth Advisory Council to represent youth voice within the Fresno Police Board alongside YLI and PolicyLink.
• PolicyLinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research and action institute focused on advancing economic and social equity. Partnered with YLI and Fresno Barrios Unidos to add Youth Advisory Council to Fresno Police Board.
• Fresno Police BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Youth Advisory Council through partnership with YLI, Fresno Barrios Unidos, and PolicyLink to represent youth voice within police governance.
• Friends of CaltrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit advocacy organization supporting Measure W. Executive Director Adina Levin praised measure's focus on transit and active transportation.
• Silicon Valley Bicycle CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBicycle advocacy organization supporting Measure W. Emma Schlaes highlighted measure's investment in transportation options including bikes.
• Design Action CollectiveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign Action Collective provides website design and development services for YLI. They provide graphic design and visual communications for progressive, non-profit and social change organizations.
• Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarding body that honored YLI with Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence award at annual recognition ceremony.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Public Achievement: Youth civic engagement program (originating from the Center for Democracy and Citizenship) where young people research community issues and run campaigns — directly aligned with YLI's Leadership/Research/Campaigns model.
• iCivics: Founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics provides civic education curricula and games for K–12 students, with strong policy and advocacy focus — directly comparable to YLI's education justice and civic engagement work, though delivered more digitally.
• Close Up Foundation: Civic education nonprofit serving middle and high school students through civic programs, youth summits, and Washington-based programming — comparable in target audience (youth) and civic-education mission.
• DoSomething.org: Large youth-centered nonprofit driving volunteerism and social impact campaigns among young people; comparable in its youth-empowerment and campaigns focus but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• Junior State of America (JSA): Student-run organization focused on civic engagement, debate, and political leadership development for high schoolers — comparable audience and youth-leadership development model.
• Generation Citizen: National nonprofit bringing action civics to high school students through semester-long programs, with strong focus on youth-led advocacy on community issues — closely mirrors YLI's campaign and leadership pillars.
• Mikva Challenge: Chicago-based nonprofit that develops youth civic engagement and leadership through action civics programs, youth councils, and policy campaigns — directly comparable to YLI's youth-led policy advocacy model.
• Sadie Nash Leadership Project: NYC-based nonprofit building leadership skills among young women and gender-nonconforming youth through civic engagement and activism — comparable youth leadership development model with a gender-justice focus.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Youth & Government: Long-running statewide youth civic engagement programs including model legislatures and youth commissions, run within a much larger national YMCA network — comparable activity set within a broader institutional umbrella.

Regional players

• Children Now: California-based advocacy organization advancing children's policy across health, education, and justice — comparable California-rooted, policy-driven advocacy model, with broader child-age scope than YLI's youth focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/9BGbGuXcWY0
• Instagraminstagram.com/yli
• Xx.com/ylinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/youthleadershipinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/48032

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Youth Leadership Institute