p:ear
p:ear is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides free creative mentoring, education, arts, recreation, and job-training programs to homeless youth aged 15-25, serving roughly 800 youth annually across two physical sites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What p:ear does
p:ear is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that builds relationships with homeless youth aged 15-25 through creative mentoring in education, art, recreation, and job training. The organization operates a drop-in facility at 338 NW 6th Ave (open Tuesday-Friday, 9am-2pm) plus a second East Portland site at 141st and Stark housing Bike Works. Programs are organized into three tiers: Core Programs (Education, Arts & Music, Recreation); Supporting Programs (Kitchen, Parenting, Safe Space); and p:ear Works, a job-training division comprising Coffee Works, Art Works/Gallery, Bike Works, and Flower Works. The organization serves approximately 65 youth per day, 800+ annually, with cumulative enrollment of 5,200+ since opening; in 2019 youth logged 24,730 program hours and the kitchen provided roughly 15,000-23,160 meals annually.
The organization does not develop proprietary technology; service delivery is human-capital intensive and grounded in volunteer engagement (~100 volunteers annually, ~4,000 hours/year, one-third retained 5+ years) and a lean professional staff of approximately 15 across executive, program, education, art, recreation, safe space, shop, development, and operations roles. All services are provided free of charge to youth. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (including a monthly giving club), corporate sponsorships and Adopt-A-Program partnerships, an annual p:earblossoms gala and fall campaign, planned giving/bequests, foundation and government grants, and a youth art sales channel in which youth retain 90% of proceeds. Marketing is community-led through organic social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, SoundCloud), email newsletters, and earned media coverage.
p:ear's strategic posture emphasizes relationship-based, long-term engagement rather than transactional service delivery. Key recent moves include the 2022 Bike Works expansion in partnership with the Rosewood Initiative in East Portland and the diversification of the Works division into floral and agricultural training. The organization maintains a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt structure (Tax ID 93-1327944), is independently governed by an 11-member board, and reports no parent company or external equity investment. Geographic scope remains Portland-only.
p:ear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- p:ear
- Legal name
- p:ear
- Website
- https://pearmentor.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- p:ear is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides free creative mentoring, education, arts, recreation, and job-training programs to homeless youth aged 15-25, serving roughly 800 youth annually across two physical sites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
p:ear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Homeless Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- School Transition & Independent Living Skills (OT) (EDAKAFAK)
Keywords
Where p:ear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
p:ear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly recurring donations from individual donors through the p:ear Core monthly giving club and one-time donation options on the website.
- Corporate Sponsorships & Events: Sponsorship of fundraising events (p:earblossoms gala, fall campaign) and Adopt-A-Program partnerships with corporations seeking to support specific youth programs.
- Estate Planning & Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, insurance, and stock transfers through estate planning options for long-term donor engagement.
- Youth Art Sales: p:ear gallery sells artwork created by homeless youth. Youth retain 90% of proceeds from sales, providing income while supporting the organization.
- Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations and government entities to support youth programming and operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
p:ear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
p:ear is a nonprofit organization that builds positive relationships with homeless youth ages 15-25 in Portland, Oregon through creative mentoring programs in education, arts, recreation, and job training. It operates a physical drop-in facility, serves daily meals, provides a safe community space, and runs four job training enterprises: Coffee Works, Bike Works, Art Works/Gallery, and Flower Works. All services are provided free of charge to participating youth and funded by donations, grants, and program revenue.
Product overview
p:ear is a single-purpose nonprofit organization providing creative mentoring services for homeless youth aged 15-25 in Portland, OR. The organization operates through three interconnected program tiers: Core Programs (Education, Arts & Music, Recreation) that offer safe space and developmental opportunities; Supporting Programs (Kitchen, Parenting) that meet basic needs; and p:ear Works, a job training division encompassing Coffee Works, Art Works/Gallery, Bike Works, and Flower Works. Youth access services by visiting the physical location during open hours (Tuesday-Friday, 9am-2pm). The organization does not operate as a technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Coffee Works: 8-week onsite job training program preparing youth for Portland's competitive coffee market, including barista skills and customer service training.
- Bike Works
- Art Works / p:ear Gallery
- Flower Works
Products and services
- Core Programs (Education, Arts & Music, Recreation) Three foundational program pillars offering education (academic counseling, scholarship assistance), arts and music (creative self-expression, gallery opportunities), and recreation (cross-country skiing, rock climbing, kayaking, day trips, seasonal camps). Targeted at homeless youth aged 15-25 in Portland, Oregon.
- Supporting Programs (Kitchen and Parenting) Programs addressing basic needs and family support, including the Kitchen program (serving approximately 15,000 meals annually, with cooking classes and food cultural education) and the Parenting Program (safe space, weekly groups, guidance and community for pregnant and parenting youth).
- p:ear Works (Job Training Division) A job training and paid experience division consisting of four sub-programs (Coffee Works, Art Works/Gallery, Bike Works, Flower Works) that prepare homeless youth ages 15-25 for employment in Portland's coffee, cycling, art, and floral industries through hands-on training, stipends, and soft skills development.
- Coffee Works An 8-10 week onsite job training program teaching barista skills, customer service, and daily cafe operations to homeless youth. Graduates can apply to work at p:ear's walk-up coffee window for real-world cafe experience and earn stipends.
- Bike Works by p:ear A nonprofit bike shop and youth internship program in East Portland offering bicycle mechanic training, resume building, interview skills, conflict resolution, finance, and customer service training. Operates in partnership with the Rosewood Initiative and provides paid internship opportunities for youth.
- Art Works / p:ear Gallery An art program where youth partner with local artists to learn technical skills in acrylic paints, silk screens, and Adobe digital design. Monthly gallery showings during Portland's art walk (First Thursdays, 5pm-8pm) sell youth artwork; youth retain 90% of sales proceeds to generate income.
- Flower Works An agricultural education and floral enterprise program where youth learn sustainable agriculture, floriculture, environmental stewardship, and creative design through tending land from seed to bouquet, with paid training opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,200+ youth enrolled since 2002
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use p:ear
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
p:ear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
p:ear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Rosewood Initiativecorep:ear's Bike Works has partnered with the Rosewood Initiative, a community development nonprofit, to expand bike shop services in East Portland. The two organizations have teamed up to lease a larger space at 141st and Stark, allowing both to expand their footprint and missions in the southeastern edge of Portland.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
p:ear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Covenant House: National nonprofit operating shelters and programs for homeless and trafficked youth across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable mission serving homeless youth, but at significantly greater scale and with national brand recognition.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro: Affiliated youth-development organization serving Portland-area youth with education, recreation, and mentoring programs. Larger, more established, and broader in age range, but with comparable youth-mentoring and recreation programming.
- Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth with housing, education, and workforce programs. Larger and more established, but operates a comparable holistic youth-homelessness model with deeper institutional funding.
Direct peers
- Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI): Portland-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth with comprehensive education, mentorship, and community programming. Directly comparable holistic youth-development model and shared Portland footprint.
- New Avenues for Youth: Portland-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth with education, employment, and housing services. Directly comparable given shared geography, target demographic (ages 15–25), and holistic service model combining education, job training, and basic needs.
- Janus Youth Programs: Portland-area nonprofit serving at-risk and homeless youth through housing, employment, and education programs. Operates in the same metro and addresses the same population with overlapping program categories.
- Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA): Portland nonprofit providing culturally specific youth and family services including education, housing, and workforce development. Comparable youth-focused wraparound model in the same metro.
- Outside In: Portland nonprofit serving homeless youth and other marginalized populations with medical, housing, and education services. Comparable target demographic and Portland-only geographic footprint, with similarly holistic wraparound services.
Regional players
- ROSE (Resource Outreach Services for Education): Portland-area community development nonprofit partnered with p:ear on Bike Works. Comparable local community-development and youth-services mission in the same metro.
- Huckleberry Youth Programs: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit serving at-risk and homeless youth with education, health, and workforce development. Comparable program mix and target population, but operates in a different metro.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
p:ear social profiles
Digital presencep:ear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
p:ear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
p:ear subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
p:ear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
p:ear 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 p:ear
What does p:ear do?
p:ear is a nonprofit organization that builds positive relationships with homeless youth ages 15-25 in Portland, Oregon through creative mentoring programs in education, arts, recreation, and job training. It operates a physical drop-in facility, serves daily meals, provides a safe community space, and runs four job training enterprises: Coffee Works, Bike Works, Art Works/Gallery, and Flower Works. All services are provided free of charge to participating youth and funded by donations, grants, and program revenue.
Is p:ear a public or private company?
p:ear is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was p:ear founded?
p:ear was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is p:ear based?
p:ear is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does p:ear make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships & Events, estate Planning & Planned Giving, youth Art Sales and foundation Grants.
Who are p:ear's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Covenant House, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro and Larkin Street Youth Services. Direct peers are Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), New Avenues for Youth, Janus Youth Programs, Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) and Outside In. Regional players are ROSE (Resource Outreach Services for Education) and Huckleberry Youth Programs.
Does p:ear have an API?
No public API is recorded for p:ear.
What industry is p:ear in?
p:ear's product category is Youth Homeless Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of EDAKAFAK, School Transition & Independent Living Skills (OT). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8300.