Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center

What Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center does

The Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 in South Los Angeles by Myrtle Faye Rumph following the 1989 drive-by shooting death of her son, Al Wooten Jr. The center provides tuition-free and low-cost youth development programming for more than 300 students annually in grades 3-12, anchored by three core offerings: the CollegeTrek Afterschool Program (a hybrid Zoom + onsite program delivering homework help, i-Ready-based personalized tutoring, STEM, arts, sports, and college/career readiness), the Summer Fun Camp (a 5-week onsite summer program for grades 3-8 with academic enrichment and recreational activities), and MyCollegeTrek for teens (college tours, SAT prep, Teen Scholars advising, Teen Job Shop, and internship placement). The center also administers the Ron Glass Memorial Scholarship for high school seniors and undergraduates. Program delivery combines an onsite facility of six storefront buildings at 9106 S. Western Ave. with virtual delivery via Zoom and the i-Ready adaptive learning platform; registration is handled through the Trax Solutions online portal.

The organization's revenue model is grant-dependent and diversified across foundation grants (CalVIP/Girls Club of Los Angeles $525K, LA County CFCI/Amity ~$497K, Weingart $200K, Arrillaga $150K, John Mohme $150K, S. Mark Taper $75K, Bank of America $30K, Ralph M. Parsons $35K, Rose Hills $25K, LA84 $10K), corporate giving (Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Kaiser Permanente, AEG), individual donations (PayPal, Zelle, credit/debit, stock), event fundraising (32nd annual Vision Awards Dinner in 2026 with $100K Sapphire sponsorships and $200/person tickets; John Lapham Golf Classic with $50K Sapphire sponsorships), in-kind contributions, and a $30 one-time family registration fee. The center has approximately 9 paid staff plus volunteer and intern support from university partners including Loyola Marymount University, USC, Pepperdine, and UCLA, and operates under the STEP pedagogical model (Self-Directed, Team-Oriented, Experiential, Project-Based). Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals, LAUSD and school partnerships, faith-based institution networks, and an active Family Alumni Network. The center carries the GuideStar/Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and its founder received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Obama in 2010.

Name

Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center

Legal name

Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center

Website

https://wootencenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 in South Los Angeles serving 300+ students annually in grades 3-12 through free afterschool programs, summer camps, and college/career readiness initiatives funded by grants, donations, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), Homework Clubs & After-School Learning Centers (EDANAHAB), After-School Enrichment & Activities Facilitation (Arts/STEM/Clubs) (HSAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Afterschool programs
• College readiness programs
• Summer camp services
• Youth education nonprofits

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major funding from foundations including Arrillaga Foundation ($150,000), Girls Club of Los Angeles/CalVIP ($525,000), John Mohme Foundation ($150,000), Weingart Foundation ($200,000), LA County CFCI/Amity ($497,327 total), and others. Mix of programmatic and operational support.
2. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals, board members, and event sponsors. Accepts online donations via PayPal, Zelle, credit/debit cards, and stock donations.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual Vision Awards Dinner (32nd in 2026) and John Lapham Golf Classic as major fundraisers. Sponsorship levels from $500 (Supporter) to $100,000 (Sapphire). Ticket sales at $200/person.
4. In-Kind Contributions: Professional pro bono services, school/office supplies, toys, gift cards, snacks, sports equipment, STEM kits donated by supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center operates the tuition-free CollegeTrek Afterschool Program for students in grades 3-12, a 5-week low-cost Summer Fun Camp for grades 3-8, and the MyCollegeTrek teen program for grades 8-12 focused on college and career readiness. Programs are delivered via a hybrid model combining onsite activities at the South Los Angeles facility with online Zoom sessions and include homework help, i-Ready-based tutoring, STEM, arts, sports, SAT prep, and college tours. The center also administers the Ron Glass Memorial Scholarship to support college attendance.

Product overview

The Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center operates three interconnected programs centered on college and career readiness for students in grades 3-12: the core CollegeTrek Afterschool Program (a hybrid program delivered online via Zoom and onsite offering tutoring, STEM, and enrichment), the Summer Fun Camp (a 5-week onsite summer program for grades 3-8), and MyCollegeTrek for Teens (college and career prep activities including SAT prep, college tours, and job training for grades 8-12). The center also administers the Ron Glass Memorial Scholarship to support college attendance. All programs serve the South Los Angeles community free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CollegeTrek: Afterschool program focused on college and career readiness for students in grades 3-12
• MyCollegeTrek
• Summer Fun Camp

Products and services

• CollegeTrek Afterschool Program A hybrid, tuition-free afterschool program for students in grades 3-12, delivered online via Zoom and onsite at the youth center in South Los Angeles. Activities include homework assistance, private tutoring using i-Ready diagnostics, STEM, arts, leadership development, sports, and college advisement.
• Summer Fun Camp A 5-week summer program with onsite activities for students in grades 3-8, featuring basketball camps, academic enrichment, and recreational activities, offered at low cost.
• MyCollegeTrek Program A teen-focused college and career preparation program for students in grades 8-12, including Teen Scholars advisement, college tours, SAT prep workshops, Teen Job Shop, and internship opportunities.
• Ron Glass Memorial Scholarship Annual scholarship program for high school seniors and undergraduate college students, ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars based on need, supporting college attendance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 300+ students annually across grades 3-12
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AKA Sorority, Inc., Tau Beta Omega ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Leadership Institute programming. College admissions process workshops. CollegeTrek Program partnership for helping students attend college. Stacey Whitehead, Chapter President, states programs complement each other.
• Loyola Marymount UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple partnerships: Community-based Learning program for volunteer tutors, Crimson Circle student organization, William H. Hannon Library, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Studio Arts Department. SAT-prep workshops at Loyola campus.
• USC Viterbi School of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoding and Robotics program partnership bringing STEM education to Wooten students.
• AEG WorldwidemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor events and entertainment industry partner supporting youth programs.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLA admissions workshop hosted at Kaiser facility. Health and wellness programming partner.
• Pepperdine University Seaver College of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Grandparent Program, Teen Scholars meetings held at Pepperdine campus, board member Dr. Connie James (Professor of Business, Strategy, and Ethics), board member Dr. Scott Miller (Associate Professor of Finance at University of Tampa).
• Strategies for YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped Juvenile Justice Jeopardy program - discussion group on juvenile law and rights. Attorney Lisa Thurau's organization provides program content.
• Community Response System of South Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored 'Sharing Hope' video project on teen depression ($1,500 grant). Collaborative of agencies mitigating COVID-19 impacts in South LA.
• LA Rams Community Impact and EngagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL team community partnership supporting youth programs.
• LA28 Summer OlympicsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics for youth engagement and opportunities.
• The Engineer FactorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering education and career pathway programs for Wooten students.
• Hire LA's YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth employment programming connecting teens to job opportunities and Teen Job Shop workshops.
• USC Credit UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeen Job Shop workshop partner hosting employment readiness sessions.
• Office of Councilman Marqueece Harris-DawsoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner8th District Councilman and LA City Council President. Honored at 2026 Vision Awards Dinner. Secured $75,000 CD8 Community Grant for center.
• PS SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience education programming for youth STEM development.
• Brotherhood CrusadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth LA community organization. Youth services partnership. Joint volunteer programming.
• Create NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts and creative programming for youth.
• Junior AchievementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy and entrepreneurship programming.
• White Hall Arts AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education partnership.
• South LA RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobotics and technology education for youth.
• Brentwood Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual arts programming for students.
• California School-Age ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional development for out-of-school time workforce. Staff training and development partner.
• UCLA Volunteer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity volunteer coordination for tutoring and program support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LA's Best (Better Educated Students for Tomorrow): LAUSD-affiliated after-school program serving elementary students in Los Angeles with academic enrichment, homework help, and enrichment activities. Operates in many of the same schools and neighborhoods as the Wooten Center.
• Para Los Niños: Los Angeles nonprofit serving low-income youth and families with education, after-school, and youth development services, sharing the same South LA/greater LA service population and funder base.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs including academic support, enrichment, and college/career readiness to underserved youth, with strong presence in Los Angeles.
• Challengers Boys & Girls Club: South LA youth center offering after-school programs, STEM, sports, and college preparation. Most directly comparable South LA peer — and notably the prior employer of Wooten's current Executive Director.
• Variety Boys & Girls Club: Long-running LA-based youth center offering after-school programming, athletics, and academic enrichment to underserved youth — comparable mission, geography, and program mix.
• Brotherhood Crusade: South LA community organization delivering youth services, education, and community programs; Wooten's existing joint volunteer partner and a directly comparable peer for funding and program collaboration.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National federation of youth centers providing after-school academic support, STEM, arts, and college/career readiness. The largest comparable network; the Wooten Center competes for the same families, donors, and corporate partners across South LA.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Regional YMCA operating youth development, after-school care, and teen programs across LA, competing for similar families, school partnerships, and corporate/foundation funding in the same geography.

Emerging players

• Communities in Schools of Los Angeles: Site-based youth services nonprofit placing coordinators in LA schools to deliver dropout prevention, college prep, and after-school support — overlapping mission and funder base with Wooten.

Others

• California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC): Workforce development and capacity-building organization for California's out-of-school time field. Wooten's Education Director Beverly Matthews spent 12+ years there as senior trainer — adjacent enabling organization rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wootencenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/wootencenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/wootencenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/wootencenter.la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/al-wooten-jr.-heritage-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al Wooten Jr. Youth Center