Oai, Inc.
OAI, Inc. is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers workforce development, safety certification, and job placement services to underemployed individuals across 25+ U.S. states through training academies, employer-matching, and social enterprise programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Oai, Inc. does
OAI, Inc. is a Chicago-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 36-4385280) that provides workforce development, skills training, and job placement services, founded in 1976 originally to integrate Indochinese refugees and pivoting in the mid-1990s into environmental remediation, hazardous materials safety, and manufacturing workforce pipelines. Its core program portfolio comprises Training and Education (job readiness, OSHA/specialized safety certifications, and advanced skill development), Employment Services (workforce matching, job placement, and career advancement support), and three auxiliary initiatives: Southworks Robotics (K-12 STEM/robotics with South Suburban College and partners), High Bridge (a 2015-launched social enterprise installing and maintaining green infrastructure), and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (a United Way/Cook County Transforming Places Initiative coalition). The organization operates from four sites (Chicago Admin, Dawson Tech Training Hub, Chicago Southland in Park Forest, IL) and reports reach across 25+ states via a consortium delivery model with 50+ partners including federal agencies (NIEHS, US EPA, US Department of Labor), state agencies (Illinois DCEO), foundations (United Way of Metro Chicago, Lloyd A. Fry, Polk Bros, Chicago Community Trust), and corporate funders (Amazon, ComEd, Bank of America, Turner Construction, Dot Foods). Its revenue model is a diversified mix of government grants and contracts, foundation and corporate funding, and individual donations, with suggested donation tiers ranging $50-$1,000; services are delivered free to job seekers while employer partners (e.g., Republic Services, Ardagh Group, Federal Signal, Arkema, Chicago Transit Authority) absorb placement intake as part of the model. The technology layer is conventional SaaS (Salesforce as CRM) with no AI/ML capabilities, proprietary software, or APIs, and the organization has 11-50 employees including an Executive Director, COO, and program/career coaching staff governed by a board with EHS and workforce development expertise.
Oai, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oai, Inc.
- Legal name
- OAI, Inc.
- Website
- https://oaiinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OAI, Inc. is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that delivers workforce development, safety certification, and job placement services to underemployed individuals across 25+ U.S. states through training academies, employer-matching, and social enterprise programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Oai, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Oai, Inc. 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
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 36-4385280), OAI relies on donations from individuals and organizations. Donation tiers include $50 for training materials, $100 for community workshops, $500 for trainee certifications and job placement, and $1000 for health and safety training.
- Government Grants and Contracts: Funded by government entities including National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Labor, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and various Cook County departments.
- Foundation and Corporate Funding: Support from foundations and corporations including United Way of Metro Chicago, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Amazon, ComEd, Turner Construction, Bank of America, and others.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Oai, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OAI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers workforce development, job readiness, and safety training programs to under- and unemployed individuals, while connecting trained candidates with employers in manufacturing, environmental, and industrial sectors. Services are provided free to job seekers and funded by donations, government grants, and foundation/corporate contributions, with operations spanning training hubs, community-based programs, and social enterprises such as High Bridge.
Product overview
OAI, Inc. is a workforce development nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of integrated services focused on skills training and employment. Its core offerings include Training and Education (job readiness, safety training, and specialized skill development) and Employment Services (workforce development, job matching, and career support). The organization also operates community initiatives including Southworks Robotics (STEM/robotics program for high school students), High Bridge (a green infrastructure social enterprise), and the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN) community revitalization program. These programs work together to provide individuals with career pathways while serving employers and communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- High Bridge: OAI's first social enterprise venture, focused on water conservation and environmental sustainability. Links green jobs training programs with environmental stewardship and economic development. Installs and maintains high-quality green infrastructure and low-impact landscaping while providing graduates and local residents with employment.
- Southworks Robotics
Products and services
- Training and Education
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ individuals trained through workforce development programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Oai, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Oai, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Oai, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- South Suburban CollegecoreOAI Inc, in partnership with South Suburban College, 3Seeds, Governor State University and CSEDC, engages teams of engineering and robotics students in High School in STEM activities through the Southworks Robotics program.
- 3SeedssupportingPartner in Southworks Robotics initiative engaging high school students in STEM activities.
- Governor State UniversitycoreUniversity partner in Southworks Robotics program and workforce development initiatives in the south Cook County region.
- CSEDCsupportingPartner in Southworks Robotics initiative serving the Calumet region.
- Southworks RoboticscoreOAI Inc's flagship STEM initiative in partnership with South Suburban College, engaging high school students in engineering and robotics activities culminating in a Robotics Olympics event.
- United Way Transforming Places InitiativecoreOAI Inc serves as the quarterback for United Way and Cook County's Transforming Places Initiative through the Park Forest Richton Park Neighborhood Network (PRNN), a community-driven approach to neighborhood revitalization.
- Cook CountycorePartner in Transforming Places Initiative alongside United Way, supporting neighborhood revitalization efforts in south suburban Cook County.
- Environmental Careers Training Program ConsortiumcoreConsortium partners including CitySquare (Dallas), NuStart Career Builders (Kansas City), and Era Environmental providing environmental career training.
- Hazardous Waste Workers Training ConsortiumcoreMulti-state consortium providing hazmat training including State of Kentucky Fire and Police, State of Minnesota Fire, Boat People SOS, YouthBuild USA, and others.
- Moraine Valley Community CollegesupportingEducational institution partner in Palos Hills, IL providing pathway opportunities for workforce training.
- Prairie State CollegesupportingCommunity college partner in Chicago Heights, IL.
- South Suburban CollegesupportingCommunity college partner in South Holland, IL for workforce development programs.
- University of Illinois at ChicagosupportingUniversity partner providing academic pathways and research collaboration.
- Governors State UniversitysupportingUniversity partner in University Park, IL with Board member Jun Zhao serving as Board Treasurer.
- YouthBuild USAcoreNationwide partner providing workforce development for opportunity youth through Hazardous Waste Workers Training Consortium.
- Chicago Jobs CouncilsupportingBusiness association partner in Chicago focused on workforce development.
- Chicago Southland Chamber of CommercesupportingRegional chamber partner in East Hazel Crest, IL supporting business connections.
- The Nature ConservancysupportingEnvironmental organization partner supporting green jobs training and conservation efforts.
- YouthBuild PeoriasupportingPartner providing workforce development for youth in Peoria, Illinois.
- Greencorps ChicagosupportingGreen jobs workforce development partner in Chicago.
- Chicago Women in TradessupportingPartner supporting women in skilled trades workforce development.
- Republic ServicessupportingEmployer partner in Chicago providing job placement opportunities for trained individuals.
- Ardagh GroupsupportingManufacturing employer partner in Dolton, IL.
- Federal SignalsupportingManufacturing employer partner in University Park, IL.
- CitySquare (Dallas)supportingPartner in Dallas, TX providing environmental remediation and construction training.
- Boat People SOS (Atlanta)supportingPartner in Atlanta providing hazard awareness training for nail salon workers.
- Mendez Environmental (New Orleans)supportingPartner in New Orleans providing environmental remediation and construction training.
- Cold Zone Conference (Minnesota)supportingPartner providing annual hazmat training for first responders in Minneapolis.
- San Gabriel Valley Service Corps (California)supportingPartner in Los Angeles providing job training in OSHA safety for at-risk youth.
- YouthBuild Manhattan & Long IslandsupportingPartner providing workforce development in New York.
- Greater Miami Service CorpssupportingPartner providing workforce development in Miami, Florida.
- Jane Adams Resource Corp (Baltimore)supportingPartner in Baltimore providing manufacturing and OSHA safety training.
- Keystone Smiles & YouthBuild (Pennsylvania)supportingPartner providing workforce development in Knox, Pennsylvania.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Oai, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Cara Program: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on workforce development for individuals affected by homelessness and poverty, providing training, coaching, and employer placement. Directly comparable to OAI in mission, geography, and the populations served.
- Skills for Chicagoland's Future: Chicago-area employer-driven nonprofit providing demand-driven workforce training and placement, with strong employer partnerships and no-cost services to job seekers. Closely aligned with OAI's employer-matching model.
- Safer Foundation: Chicago-based workforce development organization serving people with criminal records, providing job readiness training, placement, and retention support. Direct overlap with OAI's formerly incarcerated target population.
- Jewish Vocational Service (JVS Chicago): Chicago-area nonprofit providing job training, career coaching, and placement across multiple populations including refugees and low-income adults. Directly comparable service mix and geography.
- Year Up: National nonprofit providing skills training, work experience, and corporate placement for opportunity youth aged 18–24. Closely comparable training-to-employment model and target population.
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology and skilled trades training paired with employer placement services. Comparable mission of bridging underemployed populations to skilled careers through employer partnerships.
- Towards Employment: Cleveland-based nonprofit providing workforce training, transitional employment, and reentry support for low-income and justice-involved adults. Comparable training-plus-placement model serving similar barriers-to-employment populations.
- YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit operating construction and workforce training programs for opportunity youth. OAI is itself a YouthBuild USA partner through the Hazardous Waste Workers Training Consortium, indicating direct service-model overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development network, providing job training, placement, and employer services across many populations and geographies. Overlaps with OAI's training and placement mission but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- National Skills Coalition: National advocacy and policy organization advancing skills training and workforce policy. Comparable focus area but operates in policy/advocacy rather than direct service delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oai, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceOai, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Oai, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oai, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Oai, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Oai, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oai, Inc. 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 Oai, Inc.
What does Oai, Inc. do?
OAI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers workforce development, job readiness, and safety training programs to under- and unemployed individuals, while connecting trained candidates with employers in manufacturing, environmental, and industrial sectors. Services are provided free to job seekers and funded by donations, government grants, and foundation/corporate contributions, with operations spanning training hubs, community-based programs, and social enterprises such as High Bridge.
Is Oai, Inc. a public or private company?
Oai, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oai, Inc. founded?
Oai, Inc. was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oai, Inc. based?
Oai, Inc. is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oai, Inc. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Contracts and foundation and Corporate Funding.
Who are Oai, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Cara Program, Skills for Chicagoland's Future, Safer Foundation, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS Chicago), Year Up, Per Scholas, Towards Employment and YouthBuild USA. Broad incumbents are Goodwill Industries International and National Skills Coalition.
Does Oai, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oai, Inc..