AMIkids

What AMIkids does

AMIkids is a Tampa, Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 that operates nearly 50 residential, community-based, workforce development, and charter school programs across at least seven U.S. states (Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, Virginia). It serves at-risk youth ages 11-24, including juvenile justice referrals, foster care youth, and out-of-school young adults, through a portfolio anchored by its registered AMIkids Personal Growth Model® and Family Centric Model™, which integrate education, workforce development, treatment, and behavioral skills training. Specialized product lines include the Marine Technician Apprenticeship Program (registered with the Florida Department of Education, providing paid training over 6,000 hours with OSHA/HAZWOPER/forklift certifications), the Youth-Led Seagrass Restoration STEM program, the Cognia-accredited AMIkids Maritime Academy public charter high school, and Functional Family Therapy-based family services. AMIkids also provides regional service coordination for state juvenile justice systems, managing subcontracted provider networks.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of multi-state government contracts (U.S. Department of Labor workforce development grants, Florida and South Carolina Departments of Juvenile Justice, Florida Department of Children and Families, New Mexico CYFD, Virginia DJJ), foundation grants (Florida Blue Foundation, Lennar Homes Foundation, Mandelblatt Foundation, Community Foundation Tampa Bay), corporate partnerships and individual donations, and a distinctive Yacht Donation Program that has accepted over 6,000 vessels over five decades. Services are provided at no cost to youth participants. Headcount is reported in the 1,001-5,000 range, consistent with a multi-state service delivery organization operating both 24/7 residential facilities and community-based day programs. Notable supporter endorsements include NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, and the organization publishes outcome metrics including 80% average program completion, 98% in-program law-compliance rate, and 172,000+ youth served since founding.

Name

AMIkids

Legal name

AMIkids, Inc.

Website

https://amikids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

AMIkids is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 operating nearly 50 residential, community-based, workforce development, and charter school programs across 7+ U.S. states, serving at-risk youth ages 11-24 through education, treatment, and behavioral skills training funded by government contracts, foundation grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth residential services
• Juvenile justice programs
• Workforce development training
• Alternative education services
• Family therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices35 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Direct donations from individuals and corporations support program operations and youth services. The organization accepts various donation types including yacht donations, planned giving, and general contributions.
2. Foundation Grants: Major foundation partnerships provide substantial funding for youth programs. Florida Blue Foundation announced $3.1 million in mental health grants. Other partners include Lennar Foundation, Mandelblatt Foundation, and various corporate foundations.
3. Government Contracts and Grants: U.S. Department of Labor funds workforce development programs (YouthBuild, pre-apprenticeship) with multi-million dollar commitments including $5 million grants to Tampa, White Pines, and Greater Fort Lauderdale locations. Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and Department of Children and Families provide operational contracts.
4. Yacht Donation Program: Premium yacht donation program generating revenue through sale of donated vessels. With over 6,000 boat donations over five decades, this specialized program provides tax deductions for donors and generates proceeds supporting youth programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AMIkids is a non-profit organization delivering a continuum of youth development services, including residential treatment, community-based alternative education, workforce development, family therapy, and behavioral health, to at-risk youth ages 11–24. Programs are organized under four categories—Community-based, Residential, Program Enhancements, and Service Coordination—and unified by the proprietary AMIkids Personal Growth Model® combining education, workforce development, treatment, and behavioral skills training. The organization operates nearly 50 programs across multiple U.S. states, with services provided at no cost to youth and funded by government contracts, foundation grants, and donations.

Product overview

AMIkids is a national youth-serving nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around four main categories: Community-based Programs, Residential Programs, Program Enhancements, and Service Coordination. The organization operates nearly 50 locations nationwide and uses its proprietary AMIkids Personal Growth Model as the foundational framework tying together education, workforce development, treatment, and behavioral skills training. Key products include the Marine Services Apprenticeship Program (a registered apprenticeship in maritime trades), the Youth-Led Seagrass Restoration Program (environmental STEM education), and AMIkids Maritime Academy (a Cognia-accredited public charter high school with marine-focused curriculum). Workforce Development Programs serve youth ages 16-24 with Career and Technical Education and industry certifications. Family Services include the AMIkids Family Centric Model and Functional Family Therapy. The Experiential Education component delivers adventure-based challenges (Summer, Winter, Wilderness, and Marine Challenges) that complement classroom learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMIkids WINGS: A specialized program designed specifically for young women, providing comprehensive care management, therapeutic support services, student-centered education, family engagement, skills building, and leadership development in a healing-centered environment.
• AMIkids Maritime Academy
• AMIkids Family Centric Model (FCM)
• Personal Growth Model
• AMIkids Marine Apprenticeship Program

Products and services

• Community-based Programs Daily, non-residential programs serving youth and families across the United States; participants return home each day. Includes eight unique service types such as delinquency prevention and alternative education, delivered at multiple AMIkids community sites in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and New Mexico.
• Residential Programs 24-hour, on-campus residential care for at-risk youth. Programs implement trauma-responsive services and serve youth through contracts with state juvenile justice and child welfare agencies, including specialized sites such as AMIkids WINGS Piedmont (girls 13–18) and AMIkids Sand Hills, White Pines, Gateways, Polk, Space Coast, and Farmington.
• Service Coordination Regional service coordination for state Departments of Juvenile Justice, including the Virginia DJJ transformation initiative. AMIkids develops and manages a continuum of community-based and residential services delivered through subcontracted direct-service providers on behalf of state agencies.
• Marine Services Apprenticeship Program Registered apprenticeship program sponsored with the Florida Department of Education providing 6,000 hours of paid training in boatbuilding, marine mechanics, and systems repair, including OSHA-30, HAZWOPER-40, forklift, and maritime fire safety certifications. Open to AMIkids youth ages 16–24 pursuing maritime careers, with marine industry employers providing on-the-job training and employment for graduates.
• Youth-Led Seagrass Restoration Program Environmental STEM program in which youth participate in seagrass meadow restoration activities including scientific research, planning, hands-on fieldwork, and monitoring. Integrates marine biology, conservation, and environmental stewardship education as part of AMIkids' broader experiential education platform.
• Workforce Development Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of youth successfully complete program requirements
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way Northeast FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way Northeast Florida provides workforce development services to youth ages 16-19, including industry-recognized certifications and career preparation.
• Enterprise Rent-A-CarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnterprise Rental A Car Group fleet manager Drew Akers volunteers with AMIkids, demonstrating corporate community engagement.
• AdventHealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventHealth employees volunteer with AMIkids programs. Corporate volunteer program supporting youth services.
• AppleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApple employees engage through volunteer programs. Senior Manager Diana Rierson describes volunteering as 'the heartbeat of fulfillment.'
• Florida Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered apprenticeship program with Florida Department of Education providing marine technician apprenticeship with official certifications.
• South Carolina Department of Juvenile JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SC DJJ for residential programs serving non-violent juvenile offenders. AMIkids White Pines partners with DJJ for evidence-based Personal Growth Model programs.
• New Mexico Children, Youth and Families DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NM CYFD for residential treatment services at AMIkids Farmington. Also delivers Family Centric Model in Valencia, Santa Fe, Sandoval, and Bernalillo counties.
• Marine Industry EmployersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine industry employers serve as sponsors for Marine Technician Apprenticeship program, providing on-the-job training and employment for graduates.
• Florida Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth referred to AMIkids Space Coast through community-based care agencies under contract with DCF.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian Health, Molina, UHC, and Turquoise Care Medicaid Managed Care Plans for residential treatment services at AMIkids Farmington.
• CareerSource North Central FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for paid internships and workforce development services at AMIkids Gainesville.
• Huntington Ingalls IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local manufacturer of underwater submersible technology at Maritime Academy to expose students to latest ROV technology.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaetz Aerospace Institute partnership provides dual enrollment college credit classes in Unmanned Aircraft Systems and aviation at Maritime Academy.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Eckerd Connects: Florida-headquartered nonprofit operating residential, workforce development, and family services for at-risk and justice-involved youth. Highly comparable operating model, geography overlap, and contracting relationships with state juvenile justice agencies.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit delivering after-school, workforce readiness, and mentoring programs to at-risk youth. Comparable mission, scale (1,400+ clubs), and youth-segment focus, though less residential and juvenile-justice heavy.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating behavioral health, residential treatment, and family services for at-risk youth across multiple states. Directly comparable in residential, behavioral health, and family therapy offerings.
• Youth Villages: Nonprofit providing residential, in-home counseling (similar to FFT), and workforce programs for at-risk youth. Closely comparable model around evidence-based family therapy and intervention services.
• YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit network delivering YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship programs for out-of-school youth ages 16-24. AMIkids is a YouthBuild grantee, making YouthBuild USA a direct peer in the DOL-funded workforce development niche.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth across the U.S. Comparable youth-segment and mentoring/behavioral outcomes focus, though without AMIkids' residential or workforce offerings.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit embedding social services inside K-12 schools to keep at-risk students on track to graduation. Comparable outcomes focus (graduation, attendance) and youth-segment, but school- rather than residential-based.
• Florence Crittenton Services: Nonprofit providing residential, behavioral health, and pregnancy/parenting services for at-risk adolescent girls. Closely comparable to AMIkids WINGS Piedmont's gender-specific residential model.
• Job Corps: Federal workforce development program for low-income youth ages 16-24 offering residential training and industry certifications. Comparable DOL-aligned, residential workforce development model for the same age cohort.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: National charter school network focused on college preparation for underserved students. Comparable only on the AMIkids Maritime Academy charter school dimension; does not operate residential or juvenile justice programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AMIkids/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/amkids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amkids
• Xx.com/AMIKids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 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 AMIkids