CASA Youth Advocates

What CASA Youth Advocates does

CASA Youth Advocates, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 and headquartered in Media, PA, serving children and youth involved in the child welfare system in Delaware and Chester Counties. Its core product is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer program, which recruits adults aged 21+, requires them to complete a 37-hour core training program plus 12 hours of annual ongoing training, and assigns them as court-appointed advocates who provide independent, objective information and recommendations to dependency courts, attend school and treatment meetings, and serve an average of 42 months per case. Supporting programs include the Educational Decision Maker service (launched 2012) for youth with special education needs and the CASA Cares Fund for direct support items such as tablets and sensory tools, while recent specializations include advocacy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder funded by a 2026 Eagles Autism Foundation grant.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving rather than product sales, across individual donations (including the recurring GEMs monthly program), a multi-year Community of Champions major donor pledge program requiring $1,000–$25,000 per year for five years, tiered corporate sponsorships (Silver $5,000, Gold $10,000, Platinum $16,500), foundation grants, employer matching gifts, and stock/securities donations (EIN 23-1901080). The organization supplements direct service with coalition building, notably the Voices for Children Coalition (launched 2019, 250+ individuals and 100+ organizations) and the Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods (3SN) coalition (formed February 2023) addressing youth violence in Chester City, and it has supported Pennsylvania ACT 23 child welfare reform through public advocacy.

The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS: Evinto Solutions' Optima Database for volunteer and case management, Bloomerang for donor CRM, Airtable for event registration, RingCentral for communications, Wix for website hosting, and Microsoft 365 for productivity. Outreach leverages Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Constant Contact email updates, in-person club and organization presentations, the Annual Advocate Conference, the Annual Gala, the Superhero 5K, and the Delco Gives county-wide giving day facilitated by the Foundation for Delaware County. As of 2025, CASA reports 322 children served, 98% of children under 18 achieving a permanent outcome, and 164 youth supported as Educational Decision Makers.

Name

CASA Youth Advocates

Legal name

CASA Youth Advocates, Inc.

Website

https://delcocasa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CASA Youth Advocates is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to serve as court-appointed special advocates for children in foster care across Delaware and Chester Counties. It supplements direct advocacy with coalition-building, policy work, and specialized services for youth with special education needs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Advocacy Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Court-appointed advocacy
• Child welfare services
• Volunteer advocacy training
• Foster care support
• Community-based advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Media

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly GEM (Give Every Month) program with consistent monthly contributions.
2. Major Donor Program: Community of Champions program requiring $1,000+ annual pledges for five years, providing steady predictable funding through monthly, quarterly, or annual payment options.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship packages at Platinum ($16,500), Gold ($10,000), and Silver ($5,000) levels that include event sponsorships, matching gifts, advertising, and event tickets across Delco Gives, Superhero 5K, and Annual Gala.
4. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations such as the Eagles Autism Foundation ($25,000) for specific program expansion and capacity building.
5. Stock and Securities Gifts: Acceptance of appreciated stocks and securities as donations, with tax benefits for donors supporting the mission.
6. Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable contributions, facilitated through EIN 23-1901080.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

CASA Youth Advocates recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers (age 21+) to serve as court-appointed special advocates who provide independent, objective advocacy for children and youth in the child welfare system in Delaware and Chester Counties, Pennsylvania. Supporting offerings include the Educational Decision Maker service for special education advocacy, the Voices for Children and Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods (3SN) coalitions for systemic reform and youth violence prevention, and the CASA Cares Fund for direct material support.

Product overview

CASA Youth Advocates operates as a nonprofit organization offering a volunteer-based advocacy service for children in the child welfare system. The core offering is the CASA Volunteer Program, where recruited and trained community volunteers serve as court-appointed advocates. Supporting services include the Educational Decision Maker program (launched 2012) for special education advocacy, the Voices for Children Coalition (VFC, 2019) for systemic reform, and the Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods (3SN) Coalition (2023) for youth violence intervention. The organization also runs an Annual Advocate Conference and the CASA Cares Fund for direct support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Voices for Children Coalition: Coalition launched in 2019 to strengthen families and systems that support youth, with over 250 individuals and 100 organizations participating
• 3SN (Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods)
• GEMs (Give Every Month)
• Community of Champions

Products and services

• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer Program Core service that recruits, screens, and trains community volunteers (age 21+) through a 37-hour pre-service training program, assigns them as court-appointed special advocates to individual children in foster care, and supervises them over an 18-month minimum commitment (averaging 42 months), with 12 hours/year of ongoing training and 10-15 hours/month per case.
• Educational Decision Maker Service Authorizes CASA volunteers to act as educational decision makers and advocates for youth with special education needs, supporting them in securing appropriate school-based services, evaluations, and accommodations throughout dependency court and school proceedings.
• Voices for Children Coalition (VFC) Coalition that brings together 250+ individuals and 100+ organizations to strengthen families and systems supporting youth, with CASA acting as backbone organization via its Policy and Advocacy Coalition Director.
• Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods (3SN) Coalition Coalition led by CASA to coordinate community organizations (Chester Education Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Chester, Crozer Keystone Health Systems, Widener University, Delaware County DA's Office, and others) in reducing gun and community violence and providing a continuum of care for youth ages 11-24 in Chester City.
• Annual Advocate Conference Annual training and networking conference for CASA volunteer advocates featuring keynotes and presentations on topics such as Independent Living services and Youth Transition Conferences; participants earn 6 service hours.
• CASA Cares Fund Direct support fund that purchases tangible items (such as tablets and sensory tools) for children — particularly those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder — in the child welfare system, supporting their advocates during court and care proceedings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of children served do not re-enter foster care
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Voices for Children CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition launched in 2019 to improve the safety net of services for children and families in Delaware County. Currently has 250+ individuals and 100+ organizations participating. Coalition Director Shakira Hansley Ellerson leads policy and advocacy efforts. Coalition seeks to strengthen families and systems supporting youth.
• Safer Schools Stronger Neighborhoods (3SN) CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition formed February 2023 to increase local coordination between organizations dedicated to reducing gun and community violence among youth ages 11-24 in Chester City. Guided by CASA and coordinated by Cyrise L. Dixon. Funded through PCCD grant. Partner organizations include Chester Education Foundation, Chester Community Coalition, Making a Change Group, Boys and Girls Club of Chester, Crozer Keystone Health Systems, Widener University, Delaware County Council, Delaware County District Attorney's Office, and Chester-Upland School District.
• Foundation for Delaware CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFacilitates Delco Gives, a 24-hour county-wide day of giving where donations are eligible for bonus matches and local businesses sponsor cash prizes.
• Pennsylvania ACT 23 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition supporting Pennsylvania ACT 23 child welfare reform legislation. CASA hosted September 2024 press conference. Shakira Hansley Ellerson served as featured speaker. Partners include Senator Tim Kearney, Delaware County DA Jack Stollsteimer, Family Support Line, Support Center for Child Advocates, and Center for Children's Justice.
• National CASA/GAL Association for ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing standards, resources, and funding to local CASA programs. This website is funded in part by National CASA/GAL Association.
• PA CASA AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level association providing support and coordination for Pennsylvania CASA programs.
• People First Supports CoordinationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeynote speaker at 4th Annual Advocate Conference addressing supporting CASA youth through life's transitions.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Boys & Girls Club of Chester: Direct youth-services provider and 3SN coalition partner in Chester City. Operates a community-based youth programming model that complements CASA's volunteer advocacy work and competes for a similar donor and volunteer base.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Regional affiliate of the national youth-mentoring nonprofit operating in the same southeastern PA geography as CASA Youth Advocates. Competes for the same suburban volunteer pool with a related but mentoring-focused model rather than court advocacy.

Direct peers

• CASA of Travis County (Texas): Texas CASA affiliate providing volunteer court advocacy for children in Travis County child welfare cases. Directly comparable delivery model — recruit, train, and supervise court-appointed volunteer advocates — and useful benchmark for outcomes reporting.
• CASA of Cook County (Chicago): Formerly Voices for Children Chicago, this Cook County CASA affiliate operates an essentially identical volunteer court-advocate program model in a major urban child welfare system. Strong comparability for both operational scaling and outcome benchmarking.
• Voices for Children (San Diego): California CASA program providing Court Appointed Special Advocates to children in San Diego dependency proceedings. Operates the same volunteer-court-advocate model; shares name similarity with CASA Youth Advocates' own Voices for Children coalition but is functionally a CASA peer.
• CASA of Los Angeles (LA CASA): One of the largest CASA affiliates nationally, providing court-appointed volunteer advocates for foster children in LA County dependency courts. Closest functional analog to CASA Youth Advocates' model at substantially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• PA CASA Association: State-level CASA association that coordinates and supports Pennsylvania CASA programs. Provides training, advocacy, and policy support to CASA Youth Advocates and other Pennsylvania county affiliates.
• National Children's Alliance: National nonprofit accrediting and supporting Child Advocacy Centers serving child abuse victims. Operates one level removed from CASA's direct volunteer advocacy but pursues a closely related foster-care and child-welfare mandate and is a relevant peer for federal grant positioning.
• National CASA/GAL Association for Children: National umbrella organization that sets standards, provides resources, and channels funding to nearly 950 state and local CASA/GAL programs including CASA Youth Advocates. Most direct umbrella peer; CASA Youth Advocates' website is partially funded by this entity.

Regional players

• CASA of Philadelphia County: Direct CASA affiliate serving Philadelphia's dependency court system under the same PA CASA umbrella. Operates the identical volunteer-advocate model in an adjacent county; potential collaboration or expansion benchmark for CASA Youth Advocates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/delcocasapa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCE3wSCM9EcXq2G4jHBqeESQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CASAYouthAdvocates
• Instagraminstagram.com/casayouthadvocates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/casa-youth-advocates-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CASA Youth Advocates