YES Institute

What YES Institute does

YES Institute (legally Project Y.E.S., Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and headquartered in Miami, Florida. The organization provides education and communication training focused on gender, orientation, and youth suicide prevention. Its core product is a portfolio of facilitator-led courses including the trademarked Communication Solutions™ (a 2-day intensive), Communication Toolbox (4-hour workshop), Leadership in Action™, Deciphering Gender & Orientation, and topical modules on bullying, masculinity, neurodiversity, and well-being. Courses are delivered in-person at the Miami office and via Zoom, with continuing-education accreditation from the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Florida Board of Nursing, and Florida Certification Board. The organization serves an annual base of 6,000-8,000+ participants spanning youth and families, educators, medical and mental-health professionals, business leaders, and faith communities.

Revenue derives from three streams: nominal individual course fees ($10-$150 per participant), donations through structured giving societies (Kiaora Society at $1,000+/year and Professionals Society at $250-$999/year), and customized workplace training and consultation for institutional clients such as healthcare systems, schools, and hospitality organizations. Eighty-seven percent of every dollar is invested directly into educational programs. Distribution is community- and event-driven, leveraging partnerships with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the Miami-Dade LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, SAMHSA's Technical Assistance Network, and Thriving Mind of South Florida. The organization holds a 3-Star Charity Navigator ranking and Gold Candid/GuideStar transparency designation, and 95% of participants have rated its programs as "Worthwhile" or "Extremely Worthwhile" for over 25 years.

Name

YES Institute

Legal name

Project Y.E.S., Inc.

Website

https://yesinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Diversity Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sexual Health & Relationship Wellness Education (EDAAAHAM)

Keywords

• Communication training courses
• Gender orientation education
• Workplace inclusion training
• Diversity consulting services
• Youth suicide prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Course Fees: Revenue from registration fees for educational courses including Communication Solutions™ (Adults $100, Students $50, Licensed Professionals $150 for 12 CE Units), Communication Toolbox (Adults $50, Students $25), Leadership in Action (Adults $30, Students $10), and other courses. CE unit accreditation available for additional fees.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Vital financial contributions from donors supporting educational programs. Organization invests 87% of every dollar directly into educational programs. Donation options include one-time donations, monthly sustaining donations through Kiaora Society ($1000+/year) and Professionals Society ($250-$999/year). Also accepts Donor-Advised Fund grants.
3. Workplace Training & Consultation: Customized professional development and consulting services for organizations seeking to implement inclusive practices around gender and orientation. Includes leadership training, communication workshops, and technical assistance for healthcare systems, workplaces, schools, and community organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YES Institute delivers a portfolio of proprietary communication and gender/orientation education courses to youth, families, professionals, and organizations. Offerings include the flagship 2-day Communication Solutions™ course, the condensed 4-hour Communication Toolbox, Leadership in Action™, and topical courses (Deciphering Gender & Orientation, Essentials of Gender & Orientation, Masculinity Distinguished, A Communication Called "Bullying", Neurodiversity & Identity Family Empowerment Group, Well-being in Times of Uncertainty). Services are delivered in-person at the Miami office, on-site at client organizations, and via Zoom, with CEU accreditation for licensed mental health, nursing, and behavioral health professionals, plus customized workplace training and consultation.

Product overview

YES Institute is a nonprofit educational organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of communication and gender/orientation courses. The core product suite includes Communication Solutions™ (flagship 2-day in-person course), Communication Toolbox (condensed 4-hour version), and Leadership in Action™ (leadership principles course). Education offerings span gender and orientation topics through Deciphering Gender & Orientation, Essentials of Gender & Orientation, Masculinity Distinguished, A Communication Called "Bullying", Exploring Machismo, and Neurodiversity & Identity Family Empowerment Group. The organization also delivers Workplace Trainings & Consultation for organizations seeking inclusion expertise, manages a Youth Advisory Leadership Council (YALC) for peer empowerment, and produces a podcast series. Courses are offered both in-person and via Zoom, with accreditation for continuing education units (CEUs) for licensed professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Communication Solutions™ A flagship 2-day in-person course teaching powerful authentic communication for navigating challenging conversations on gender, orientation, and other topics, enabling participants to generate win/win outcomes even amid disagreement. Offered with CEU accreditation for licensed mental health, nursing, and Florida Certification Board professionals.
• Communication Toolbox A condensed 4-hour course providing practical communication tools for relating authentically and working across lines of difference, based on distinctions from Communication Solutions™. CE accreditation available for licensed mental health, nursing, and Florida Certification Board professionals.
• Leadership in Action™ A course teaching foundational principles of leadership, strategic goal alignment, and embodied action to help participants produce results and become extraordinary leaders, based on the principles that have made YES Institute successful for over 20 years.
• Deciphering Gender & Orientation An interactive session exploring gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender experiences, and latest research to help participants create safe, inclusive environments for all youth.
• Essentials of Gender & Orientation An introductory 2-hour interactive session on gender and orientation topics providing practical tools and strategies for creating welcoming communities and school environments.
• Masculinity Distinguished A course examining constraints of masculine gender expectations and exploring new definitions that grant freedom, safety, and connection beyond traditional paradigms.
• A Communication Called "Bullying" A course examining bullying through a communication lens, redefining contexts and providing pathways to win/win lasting solutions rather than reactive fixes.
• Hospitality that Authentically Welcomes All (Workplace Training) Customized diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility training for hospitality industry staff to strengthen workplace culture and create welcoming experiences for customers, including the Pink Flamingo Hospitality Certification Program.
• Neurodiversity & Identity Family Empowerment Group A community meeting providing support and resources for families navigating neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ identity experiences.
• Well-being in Times of Uncertainty A 4-hour session addressing stress and burnout with practical strategies for cultivating well-being in fast-paced environments.
• Workplace Training and Consultation Customized professional development and consulting services for healthcare systems, workplaces, schools, hospitality operators, and community organizations seeking to implement inclusive practices, leadership training, communication workshops, and policy guidance around gender and orientation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of participants rate programs as 'Worthwhile' and 'Extremely Worthwhile'
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and flagship.

• Tech Hub South FloridasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Technology industry association membership providing diversity and inclusion training to member companies. YES Institute offers communication and gender/orientation education to tech sector employees.
• The Mission Continues Miami PlatoonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Veterans organization partnership for community service projects. US Veterans partnered with YES Institute volunteers for office and community space renovation efforts, including painting, carpet replacement, and network infrastructure updates.
• Miami-Dade LGBTQ+ & Allied Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Pink Flamingo Hospitality Certification Program, expanding LGBTQ+ welcoming practices across South Florida's hospitality industry. YES Institute provides training content while the Chamber facilitates industry connections and program promotion.
• University of Miami Miller School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity workshop partnership providing tools for affirming care, mindfulness, and wellbeing. YES Institute shares expertise on gender and orientation with medical students and faculty for patient-centered care training.
• Alper JCC Miami Pride Empowerment CirclesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community workshops on affirming care, mindfulness, and wellbeing for Pride community members.
• SAMHSA's TA NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYES Institute serves communities throughout the U.S. through SAMHSA's TA Network, providing cultural and linguistic consultation to systems of care with youth and adult mental health and substance abuse prevention populations.
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors BureauflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYES Institute co-produced and directed the LGBTQ Diversity & Inclusion video training for the Miami Begins With Me hospitality online training certification program. This is a flagship partnership creating standardized industry training.
• HistoryMiami MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Legacy Couples Project documenting 400 years of LGBTQ+ love stories. YES Institute contributed youth interviewers through YALC members.
• Miami Beach PridesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for Legacy Couples Project exhibition and Pride events. YALC members served as youth interviewers for the project.
• Kindness Matters 365supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for virtual conversations around gender. YES Institute youth leaders Neptune and Felix co-facilitated national discussions with high schools across the nation.
• Thriving Mind of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural & Linguistic Competency Trainer & Consultant for Beyond Empowerment, FACES Expansion, and FACES programs. YES Institute provides expertise on cultural competency for behavioral health systems.
• SAMHSA Children's Behavioral Health UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural & Linguistic Competency Hub partnership. YES Institute provides cultural and linguistic competency training through this federal network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PFLAG National: PFLAG is a national LGBTQ+ education and family-support organization offering dialogue-based programs, chapter networks, and training for parents, educators, and faith communities. Like YES Institute, it focuses on education and communication across difference rather than political advocacy, serving families and youth in similar demographic segments.
• GLSEN: GLSEN provides K-12 LGBTQ+ education programming including anti-bullying curriculum, educator training, and the No Name-Calling Week initiative. YES Institute's school-based dialogue programs with Killian HS and Campbell Drive K-8 mirror GLSEN's educator-and-youth-facing model.
• Out & Equal Workplace Advocates: Out & Equal is the leading nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, delivering D&I training, executive education, and corporate consulting. YES Institute's workplace training and Communication Toolbox consulting overlap directly with Out & Equal's enterprise D&I practice.
• Welcoming Schools: Welcoming Schools is the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's K-12 program providing LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive professional development, lesson plans, and family engagement for schools. Both organizations focus on educator training and inclusive school climate work.

Broad incumbents

• GLAAD: GLAAD is a national LGBTQ+ media and public-education organization training journalists, creators, and corporate communicators on inclusive storytelling. Both groups share an education-first, anti-advocacy posture and large national visibility footprint.
• CenterLink: CenterLink is the national network of 200+ LGBTQ+ community centers providing shared services, training, and program resources. YES Institute operates as a South Florida educational hub similar in role to CenterLink member centers.
• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the largest US organization focused on LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention, offering crisis intervention, research, and education. YES Institute's suicide-prevention mission and youth dialogues overlap thematically, though Trevor operates crisis-services at much larger national scale.
• Human Rights Campaign Foundation: HRC is the largest US civil-rights organization advancing LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, corporate-equality programs, and educational initiatives including Welcoming Schools. YES Institute's workplace and K-12 work complements HRC's broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Pridelines Miami: Pridelines is a Miami-based LGBTQ+ youth center offering drop-in services, leadership programs, and HIV/STD education. It is named in YES Institute's own customer/partner ecosystem and operates adjacent youth-empowerment programming.
• SunServe: SunServe is a South Florida nonprofit providing LGBTQ+ mental health, senior services, and education programs in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Yes Institute shares SunServe's South Florida geography and youth/family service population.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/142837985896
• Instagraminstagram.com/yesinstitute
• Xx.com/yes_institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 YES Institute