What Hopeworks does

Hopeworks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, founded in 1999 and operating three in-house technology service businesses — Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Web Design and Development, and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) — that deliver commercial services to enterprise clients while serving as the training environment for the organization's core program. The technology stack is modest and applied rather than proprietary: the GIS business produces mapping, drone-based aerial photography, and 3D modeling for clients such as American Water, The Aspen Institute, and Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority; the Web business delivers WordPress development, UX and accessibility audits, and site maintenance for clients including Comcast and Philabundance; and the RCM business uses AI-supported automation for insurance verification, claims management, denial tracking, and prior authorizations in healthcare workflows. AI adoption extends to trainee-facing tooling through a partnership with UneeQ that delivers digital-human interview-prep roleplay, and in 2025 Hopeworks launched an AI Innovation Hub in Philadelphia and Camden with Dell Technologies and NVIDIA to provide AI upskilling. AI capability is best characterized as featured rather than native, with no in-house models or research disclosed.

The business model blends earned revenue from the three social enterprises, free workforce-solutions services to employer partners (customized training, direct hire placement, and contractor placement), and philanthropic funding from individual donors, recurring giving programs, and foundation grants — including $1.2M from The Hg Foundation in March 2026, $650K from the same foundation for the Newark launch, $660K from the Haines Family organization in November 2024, a $75K Foxwynd Foundation matching grant, and American Water Charitable Foundation and Horizon Foundation for New Jersey awards. Individual giving is structured by suggested levels ranging from $15 (program support) to $150 (one week of training). Customer segments split between the primary youth-trainee cohort (unemployed young adults aged 17-26 in Camden, Philadelphia, and Newark, with 94%+ identifying as Black, Brown, and/or Latinx and average pre-program income under $400 annually) and the secondary commercial buyer cohort (utilities, healthcare providers, municipalities, nonprofits, and banks purchasing GIS, Web, and RCM services).

Geographic footprint spans Camden NJ (808 Market St., HQ, expanded 2018 and 2023), Philadelphia's Kensington section (3400 J Street, opened 2022 with a 3,000 sq ft expansion in 2024), and Newark NJ (550 Broad St., permanent facility opening September 2026). Reported outcomes include $1.88M in wages and stipends paid to participants over the trailing 12 months, 94.12% 12-month retention in jobs post-placement, an average exit wage of $46,023, and over 250 jobs generated annually through the social enterprises. Leadership includes CEO Dan Rhoton, COO Onome Pela-Emore, Senior Director of Workforce Solutions Jay Jackson, and Newark Executive Director Jheryn Kenney, with a deeply bicoastal staff mix that is over 75% people of color.

Name

Hopeworks

Legal name

Hopeworks

Website

https://hopeworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hopeworks is a Camden-based 501(c)(3) social enterprise that runs in-house GIS, Web Development, and Revenue Cycle Management businesses to deliver paid technology training, trauma-informed support, and job placement for unemployed young adults aged 17-26 across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, expanding to Newark in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development and Technology Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (611420), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK), Innovation & Design Thinking Programs (EDAMAHAD)

Keywords

• Workforce development training
• Youth technology training
• Social enterprise services
• GIS mapping services
• Revenue cycle management

Headquarters

HQ city

Camden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Enterprise Service Fees: Revenue from providing GIS mapping, Revenue Cycle Management, and web development services to businesses and organizations. These social enterprises generate income while providing real-world training for young professionals.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the mission. Multiple giving options including one-time, monthly recurring, stock gifts, IRA donations, and donor-advised fund grants.
3. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations including The Hg Foundation ($650,000 strategic investment for Newark expansion), Foxwynd Foundation ($75,000 matching grant), and other philanthropic organizations.
4. Workforce Solutions Partnership Fees: Companies pay for customized training programs, direct hire placement services, and contractor placement. Water UP! workforce program with American Water is a notable example.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hopeworks is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides paid technology training, trauma-informed care, and entrepreneurship programming to young adults ages 17-26 from underserved communities. It operates three in-house technology service businesses—Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Web Design and Development, and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)—which deliver commercial services to external clients while serving as real-world training environments. It also offers employer workforce solutions including customized training programs and direct hire placement.

Product overview

Hopeworks is a social enterprise operating as a unified portfolio of workforce development programs and technology service businesses. The core offering, Hopeworks Technology Solutions, encompasses three in-house service divisions—Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Web Design and Development, and Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)—that serve commercial clients while providing real-world training and employment for young adults. Supporting these operations are workforce development programs including Training and Internship Programs, Workforce Solutions (customized training and direct hire), and the AI Innovation Hub (in partnership with Dell Technologies). The flagship youth program, Recode Your Future, integrates trauma-informed care with technical training to prepare 17-26 year-olds for careers averaging over $43,000 annually with 92%+ retention rates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hopeworks Technology Solutions: Social enterprise providing technology solutions including GIS, web development, and revenue cycle management services to businesses
• Recode Your Future
• The CRIB
• Cohen Technology Center
• Water UP!
• HOPE Summit
• AI Innovation Hub

Products and services

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Services
• Web Design and Development Services
• Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Services
• Training and Internship Programs
• Workforce Solutions for Employers
• AI Innovation Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of young adults earn high-wage jobs at the end of their work experience
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Dell TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for AI Innovation Hub in Philadelphia and Camden locations. Dell, along with NVIDIA, provides technology infrastructure enabling AI upskilling for young adults in the workforce development program.
• Truist BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor for the annual HOPE Summit career development event. Supports workforce development by connecting young professionals with employers through workshops, networking, and career fair activities.
• American WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater UP! workforce development program partnership with Jingoli Construction and APEX Solutions Group. Paid 11-week training program for young adults in water utility industry including STEM lessons, customer service training, and OSHA 30 certification.
• Rowan University / Rutgers CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMT training program collaboration with Cooper University Health Care and Camden County College. Also partnered for Virtual Camden Experience 3D platform development using Cesium for Unreal.
• Cooper University Health CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMT training program collaboration alongside Rowan College of South Jersey and Camden County College. Provides clinical experience for students and trauma-informed care education for faculty.
• LinodecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustomer Support Internship program providing 6-month full-time paid internships for Hopeworks participants at $17/hr. Interns complete Linux 101 course and gain practical support team experience.
• Seer InteractivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital marketing internship program for Hopeworks participants. Self-paced curriculum covering digital marketing strategies and channels with agency and in-house career pathways.
• Comcast NBCUniversalflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through NBCUniversal's Creative Impact Lab providing marketing support and visibility. LinkedIn collaboration for nonprofit amplification through Ad Grants. Corporate partnership for digital inclusion initiatives.
• HolmancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Code of Hope documentary film and ongoing corporate partnership supporting workforce development programs. Employs Hopeworks graduates.
• SubarucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDocumentary film sponsor for Code of Hope and ongoing corporate partner supporting volunteer programs and community events.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting workforce development and technology training initiatives.
• UneeQcoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered digital human technology provider for interview preparation training. Hopeworks uses UneeQ's platform to deliver immersive AI roleplay sessions achieving 95% training effectiveness.
• TribajaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for Diversitech 2026 national tech conference. Supporting workforce development initiatives alongside INROADS and Hopeworks.
• ZillowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Diversitech 2026 national tech conference, positioning Philadelphia as a global tech hub.
• TD BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHOPE Summit sponsor and host of site tours for Hopeworks youth. Provides workplace exposure and career exploration opportunities.
• IntuitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Diversitech 2026 national tech conference supporting tech talent connection events.
• AccentureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Diversitech 2026 national tech conference supporting tech workforce development.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Per Scholas: National tech-training nonprofit offering tuition-free IT certification and career pathways to adults from underserved communities, mirroring Hopeworks' combination of technical skills training, employer partnerships, and wraparound support.
• Generation: Global nonprofit that trains and places underserved adults into tech and adjacent careers, with employer co-designed curricula - structurally analogous to Hopeworks' customized employer training and direct-hire workflow.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing technical training and corporate internships for low-income young adults ages 18-24, with a similar social-enterprise-aligned model that places cohorts at Fortune 500 employer partners.
• Genesys Works: Workforce development nonprofit providing high-school-to-career pathways that include paid corporate internships for underserved youth, similar in mission and corporate-partnership-led placement model.
• The Marcy Lab School: Brooklyn-based nonprofit coding and career school for young adults from underserved NYC communities, with a similar target demographic (youth of color from low-income backgrounds) and employer-aligned tech curriculum.
• NPower: Nonprofit that provides free tech training and job placement to underserved young adults and military veterans, overlapping with Hopeworks' trainee demographic (17-26, underemployed) and tech-skills training focus.
• Pursuit: NYC-based nonprofit offering long-form, employer-funded tech training and job placement to low-income adults, sharing Hopeworks' emphasis on intensive training, employer partnerships, and career-readiness coaching.

Broad incumbents

• JFF (Jobs for the Future): National nonprofit driving workforce transformation through policy, research, and program design across education and employer systems - a broader incumbent shaping the same workforce-development ecosystem Hopeworks operates in.

Others

• Benetech: Nonprofit software provider that runs social-enterprise technology services (book accessibility, data, AI for social good) - a comparable nonprofit-tech-services model that combines commercial tech delivery with mission-driven workforce and impact outcomes.
• Opportunity@Work: National nonprofit focused on STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) workers, employer engagement, and policy change around hiring practices - adjacent mission of expanding economic opportunity for workers without bachelor's degrees, overlapping with Hopeworks' employer-diversity thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hopeworkscamden
• Facebookfacebook.com/hopeworksyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopeworks-'n-camden
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopeworkscamden
• Pinterestpinterest.com/hopeworkscamden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 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 Hopeworks