Starting Right, Now
Starting Right, Now is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides long-term housing, mentoring, academic support, and holistic wrap-around services to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Florida, referred exclusively through local public school districts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersTampa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Starting Right, Now does
Starting Right, Now (SRN) is a Tampa, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 by Vicki Sokolik that delivers holistic, wrap-around support to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The organization was created at the request of then-Mayor Pam Iorio after Sokolik's years of one-on-one mentoring of a homeless high schooler beginning in 2005. Service delivery is organized as a single "Holistic Youth Support" program composed of seven interlocking modules: long-term 24/7-supervised Safe Housing, Social Services and Healthcare Access (Food Stamps, Medicaid, mental and preventative healthcare), Academic Support (tutoring, credit recovery via Florida Virtual School, post-secondary planning), one-on-one Mentoring, Financial Stability (employment, banking, budgeting, financial literacy), a trauma-informed after-school Self-Esteem / Life Skills curriculum, and Advocacy. Youth are referred exclusively through Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pinellas County Public Schools social workers; self-referrals are not accepted and youth in foster care are not served.
SRN's technology footprint is intentionally lightweight and operationally focused: DonorPerfect (SofterWare) powers the secure online donation portal and event registration, Florida Virtual School is used for credit recovery, and the program relies on human-delivered, in-person service rather than software. A 30+ member civic and corporate Board of Directors (Mayor of Tampa, HCPS/PCS superintendents, presidents/CEOs of Tampa Bay Rays, Raymond James Bank, Crown Automotive, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa Bay Times, Columbia Restaurant Group, Wells Fargo Gulf Coast, and Bank of America) provides governance, fundraising reach, and brand credibility. The model has been validated through a deep national brand (CNN Hero 2019, George W. Bush Point of Light Award 2020, AARP Purpose Prize Fellow 2019, Paul H. Chapman Gold Medal 2019, WEDU Be More Nonprofit of the Year in 2012 and 2018, Candid Platinum Transparency 2023) and a substantive regulatory track record — SRN has co-authored or amended ten Florida laws protecting unaccompanied youth, covering identification documents, emancipation, healthcare consent, tuition waivers, the Keys to Independence program, and college homelessness supports.
Commercially, SRN is donor-funded through foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual contributions processed via DonorPerfect, with cumulative giving tracked since FY2022 across a tiered ladder (Angels $500K+, Illuminators $100K-$499K, Sustainers $50K-$99K, Builders $25K-$49K, Supporters $10K-$24K, Friends $5K-$9K). Its signature fundraising vehicle is the "Lend a Hand" Annual Luncheon, and in September 2024 it launched a new productized expansion channel — the SRN Affiliate Program, a $5,000-per-ticket two-day "We See Them" conference at Hotel Haya in Tampa that licenses the proprietary model to up to 10 nonprofit organizations in other counties per cohort. Headline impact metrics on the SRN website (partially obscured in the source) cite 14%, 11%, 12%, and 1 across graduating high school, completing college, careers with benefits, and laws amended. SRN's only paid service pricing is the $100 mentor fingerprinting fee (paid to the school district) and the $5,000 Affiliate Program conference ticket.
Starting Right, Now firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starting Right, Now
- Legal name
- STARTING RIGHT, NOW
- Website
- https://startingrightnow.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Starting Right, Now is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides long-term housing, mentoring, academic support, and holistic wrap-around services to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Florida, referred exclusively through local public school districts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starting Right, Now industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Homelessness Social Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)
Keywords
Where Starting Right, Now is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tampa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Starting Right, Now business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and corporate donations: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations processed through DonorPerfect secure donation portal. Donors receive a letter acknowledging their donation. SRN is a recognized 501c3 non-profit organization.
- Foundation and corporate grants: Multi-year grant funding from foundations including Florida Blue Foundation, Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Pinellas Community Foundation, Raymond James, and United Way Suncoast. Cumulative donations tracked since FY2022 across tiered giving levels (Angels $500K+, Illuminators $100K-$499K, Sustainers $50K-$99K, Builders $25K-$49K, Supporters $10K-$24K, Friends $5K-$9K).
- Annual Luncheon event revenue: SRN Annual Luncheon ('Lend a Hand') generates revenue through table reservations, sponsorships, and ticket sales via DonorPerfect event registration.
- Affiliate Program conference fees: Affiliate Program conference tickets priced at $5,000 each (good for two registered attendees), sold to nonprofit organizations seeking to replicate SRN's model in other counties. Conference includes meals and tour access (does not include hotel or airfare). Non-refundable and non-transferable.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Mentor onboarding fee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Affiliate Program conference ticket |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Charitable donation (free / pay-what-you-wish) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Starting Right, Now product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starting Right, Now (SRN) is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides long-term safe housing, one-on-one mentorship, and seven wrap-around service modules (academic support, social services and healthcare access, financial literacy, trauma-informed life skills, and legislative advocacy) to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 referred through Hillsborough and Pinellas County Public Schools. The organization is now packaging its proprietary holistic care model for replication by other nonprofits in additional counties via a paid Affiliate Program conference.
Product overview
Starting Right, Now (SRN) is a single, unified non-profit service program — not a multi-product SaaS platform — that delivers holistic, wrap-around support to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties (Florida). The offering is organized as one overarching "Holistic Youth Support" model composed of seven interlocking service modules: Safe Housing, Social Services and Healthcare Access, Academic Support, Support Systems (mentoring), Financial Stability, Self-Esteem Building, and Advocacy. Layered on top of this core model are volunteer-engagement sub-offerings (the Become a Mentor and Become a Tutor programs), a media sub-brand (the Raising Me podcast and the book "If You See Them"), a recurring fundraising event (the SRN Annual Luncheon), and a franchise-style expansion vehicle (the SRN Affiliate Program / "We See Them" conference that teaches other non-profits to replicate the model). Online donations are technically routed through a DonorPerfect integration rather than processed on-site.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SRN Affiliate Program: Program launched to expand Starting Right, Now's proprietary holistic youth support model to nonprofits in other counties through conferences and non-negotiable program standards.
- Raising Me (Podcast)
Products and services
- Holistic Youth Support Comprehensive, free, long-term holistic care program for unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19, combining safe housing, healthcare access, academic support, financial literacy, life skills, and one-on-one mentorship. Participants are referred exclusively by Hillsborough County Public Schools and Pinellas County Public Schools social workers; the school district also provides student transportation to/from school.
- SRN Affiliate Program / "We See Them" Conference Paid two-day training conference plus ongoing affiliate licensing framework that teaches other nonprofit organizations to replicate Starting Right, Now's proprietary holistic unaccompanied homeless youth model in their own counties. Includes breakfast and lunch both days, dinner on the first evening, and a tour of SRN's housing facility.
- Raising Me Podcast Podcast produced in partnership with WEDU PBS station on which SRN students recount their struggles as unaccompanied homeless youth and the value of programs like Starting Right, Now. Available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms.
- If You See Them (Book) Published book authored by SRN Founder/CEO Vicki Sokolik and released by Spiegel & Grau (Penguin Random House), examining youth homelessness in America and featuring first-person stories from the youth served by the program.
- SRN Lend a Hand Annual Luncheon Starting Right, Now's signature annual fundraising event (the 2026 iteration titled 'Lend a Hand'), offering table reservations, sponsorships, and ticket sales via DonorPerfect to engage donors and community supporters.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ten Florida laws co-authored/amended to reduce barriers for unaccompanied homeless youth
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Starting Right, Now
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Starting Right, Now technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Starting Right, Now partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship - exclusive referral partner, strategic - founding support and ongoing collaboration, strategic - media partnership, operational - conference hotel partner, operational - educational service partner, operational - donation platform partner, strategic - book publication partner, strategic - board/governance partner, strategic - board/governance and healthcare partner, strategic - media/board partner, strategic - board/governance and funder, strategic - academic/board partner and strategic - government partner.
- Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS)flagship - exclusive referral partnerHCPS is one of two exclusive referral channels for SRN youth participants (Hillsborough or Pinellas public high school social workers refer students). School district provides student transportation to/from school, administers $100 mentor fingerprinting fees, and the Superintendent (Van Ayres) sits on SRN's Board of Directors.
- Pinellas County Public Schools (PCS)flagship - exclusive referral partnerPCS is one of two exclusive referral channels for SRN youth participants. Former Pinellas County Schools Superintendent (Dr. Michael Grego) and current Superintendent (Kevin K. Hendrick) serve on SRN's Board of Directors.
- City of Tampa Mayor's Officestrategic - founding support and ongoing collaborationMayor Pam Iorio approached Vicki Sokolik to create a citywide nonprofit, leading to the founding of SRN. Current Mayor Jane Castor sits on SRN's Board of Directors, and the Administrator of Neighborhood and Community Affairs (Ocea Wynn) is also a board member.
- WEDU (PBS station)strategic - media partnershipWEDU produces the 'Raising Me' podcast with SRN, where students recount their struggles as unaccompanied homeless youth. Podcast was a 2021 NETA Public Media Awards finalist. WEDU is also the host of the Be More Awards that SRN has won twice.
- Hotel Hayaoperational - conference hotel partnerConference hotel hosting SRN's Affiliate Program conferences. Provides group rate of $169/night plus taxes for King or Queen rooms with complimentary wifi. Guests inquire about the 'Starting Right, Now Conference' rate.
- Florida Virtual School (FLVS)operational - educational service partnerFLVS is used by SRN to facilitate work for credit recovery for students who have missed significant periods of schooling. SRN youth can also use FLVS for additional academic support.
- DonorPerfectoperational - donation platform partnerDonorPerfect (SofterWare) powers SRN's secure online donation portal at interland3.donorperfect.net. Used for online monetary donations and event registration (Annual Luncheon). SofterWare is also listed in SRN's 'Builders' tier funding partners ($25,000-$49,999 since FY2022).
- Spiegel & Grau (Penguin Random House)strategic - book publication partnerPublisher of Founder/CEO Vicki Sokolik's book 'If You See Them: Young, Unhoused, and Alone in America'. Book generates national awareness for SRN's mission and the youth homelessness crisis, with endorsements from NYT bestselling authors Robert Kolker and Larissa MacFarquhar.
- Tampa Bay Raysstrategic - board/governance partnerPresident Matthew Silverman serves as SRN's Chairman Emeritus. Rays Baseball Foundation is also an 'Illuminators' tier funding partner ($100,000-$499,999 since FY2022). Tampa Bay Rays awarded SRN the Strikeout Campaign in 2017 and 2018.
- Foley & Lardnerstrategic - board/governance partnerMegan A. Odroniec (Esquire, Foley & Lardner) serves as SRN's Board Secretary. Provides legal counsel and governance support.
- Ajax Constructionstrategic - board/governance partnerPresident Bill Byrne serves as SRN's Board Vice Chair. AJAX Building Corporation is also a 'Friends' tier funding partner ($5,000-$9,999 since FY2022), and AJAX Paving Company is a 'Supporters' tier partner ($10,000-$24,999).
- Tampa General Hospitalstrategic - board/governance and healthcare partnerSenior VP External Affairs Robin DeLaVergne (also a 'Supporters' tier funder $10,000-$24,999) sits on SRN's Board. Tampa General Hospital is a 'Builders' tier funding partner ($25,000-$49,999 since FY2022). Healthcare access is a core component of SRN's holistic model.
- Tampa Bay Timesstrategic - media/board partnerCEO Conan Gallaty sits on SRN's Board of Directors. Major regional media outlet providing earned media coverage.
- Columbia Restaurant Groupstrategic - board/governance partnerPresident Richard Gonzmart sits on SRN's Board of Directors. González family and Columbia Restaurant are notable Tampa Bay community leaders supporting SRN.
- Crown Automotivestrategic - board/governance and funderPresident & COO Jim Myers sits on SRN's Board of Directors. James and Melissa Myers are also 'Builders' tier funding partners ($25,000-$49,999 since FY2022).
- University of South Florida (USF)strategic - academic/board partnerBill Goede (DBA, Assistant Professor of Instruction, USF) serves on SRN's Board of Directors. Provides academic expertise to SRN programming.
- Pinellas County Board of County Commissionersstrategic - government partner'Sustainers' tier funding partner ($50,000-$99,999 since FY2022). Government partner supporting SRN's Pinellas county operations.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Starting Right, Now competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing housing, education, employment, and health services to homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24. Closely comparable holistic wraparound model and youth-only focus.
- Ruth Ellis Center: Detroit-area nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and supportive services for LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness. Comparable specialized niche focus on a vulnerable youth subpopulation.
- Sasha Bruce Youthwork: Washington, D.C. nonprofit offering shelter, housing, and wraparound support for homeless youth and their families. Comparable mission, age range, and integrated services approach.
- Covenant House: National 501(c)(3) serving homeless and trafficking-survivor youth with shelter, education, and workforce programs across more than 30 cities. Most direct operational peer to SRN given its holistic, housing-led model for unaccompanied minors and young adults.
- Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development: Phoenix-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and behavioral health services to homeless and at-risk youth. Comparable youth-only housing and case-management model.
Emerging players
- Point Source Youth: National nonprofit advancing innovations to end homelessness for LGBTQ youth. Comparable mix of direct-program innovation and national advocacy/law-reform activity.
- SchoolHouse Connection: National nonprofit focused on the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including those who are unaccompanied. Comparable reliance on the McKinney-Vento framework and school-district partnerships.
Others
- National Center for Youth Law: National nonprofit legal organization advancing the rights of low-income children and youth, including unaccompanied and homeless minors. Comparable legislative advocacy and impact-law-reform work but operates through legal representation rather than direct service.
Broad incumbents
- A Way Home America: National initiative working to prevent and end homelessness among young people through collective impact. Comparable systems-change and cross-sector coalition-building orientation.
- National Network for Youth: National advocacy and membership organization for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth service providers. Comparable federal-policy advocacy focus but serves the field rather than operating direct services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Starting Right, Now social profiles
Digital presenceStarting Right, Now compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Starting Right, Now financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starting Right, Now leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Starting Right, Now subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Starting Right, Now funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starting Right, Now M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starting Right, Now
What does Starting Right, Now do?
Starting Right, Now (SRN) is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides long-term safe housing, one-on-one mentorship, and seven wrap-around service modules (academic support, social services and healthcare access, financial literacy, trauma-informed life skills, and legislative advocacy) to unaccompanied homeless youth aged 15-19 referred through Hillsborough and Pinellas County Public Schools. The organization is now packaging its proprietary holistic care model for replication by other nonprofits in additional counties via a paid Affiliate Program conference.
Is Starting Right, Now a public or private company?
Starting Right, Now is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Starting Right, Now founded?
Starting Right, Now was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Starting Right, Now based?
Starting Right, Now is headquartered in Tampa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Starting Right, Now make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and corporate donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and corporate grants, annual Luncheon event revenue and affiliate Program conference fees.
Who are Starting Right, Now's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Larkin Street Youth Services, Ruth Ellis Center, Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Covenant House and Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development. Emerging players are Point Source Youth and SchoolHouse Connection. National Center for Youth Law is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are A Way Home America and National Network for Youth.
Does Starting Right, Now have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starting Right, Now.
What industry is Starting Right, Now in?
Starting Right, Now's product category is Youth Homelessness Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.