Solutions for Change
Solutions for Change is a Vista, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a 700-day vocational program called Solutions Academy, plus workforce development and national replication initiatives, to help homeless and low-income families in North County San Diego achieve self-sufficiency.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersVista, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Solutions for Change does
Solutions for Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Vista, California, founded in 1999 to address family homelessness in North County San Diego. The organization operates three integrated programs under the 'Solutions' umbrella: Solutions Academy, a 700-day vocational program that combines education, employment training, coaching, housing support, and a therapeutic community built on Servant Leadership principles, delivered to accepted families at an approximate scholarship value of $60,000 per family; Solutions Enterprise, a workforce development arm connecting Academy participants to employers and entrepreneurial opportunities to expand income stability and long-term housing security; and Solutions Institute, an initiative to codify and elevate the Academy model into a nationally recognized best practice. The organization serves families experiencing homelessness, addiction, trauma, domestic violence, incarceration history, and generational poverty, and reports supporting 1,522 parents and 3,278 children to date.
The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding streams include individual tax-deductible donations, foundation and corporate grants underwriting scholarships, faith-based support, in-kind donations of goods, and proceeds from special events such as the annual Boots & Bling Gala. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-star rating and a GuideStar (Candid) Platinum Transparency Award. Distribution is direct: families apply to Solutions Academy through a screening and acceptance process, while donors engage through the website, Charity Navigator listing, community tours, morning meetups, and volunteer programs.
The organization is in a transitional governance phase. In 2023-2024 it repaid more than $500,000 improperly withdrawn from mandated reserve accounts, set aside a $10.5 million expansion plan at Green Oak Ranch in favor of workforce training initiatives, and in 2026 appointed Aaron Byzak as permanent CEO after the dismissal of founder Chris Megison, who has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging dismissal without cause to avoid severance and back pay.
Solutions for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solutions for Change
- Legal name
- Solutions for Change
- Website
- https://solutionsforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solutions for Change is a Vista, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a 700-day vocational program called Solutions Academy, plus workforce development and national replication initiatives, to help homeless and low-income families in North County San Diego achieve self-sufficiency.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solutions for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless and Social Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)
Keywords
Where Solutions for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vista
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solutions for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Solutions for Change receives tax-deductible donations from individuals through its website. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: The organization receives support from private foundations and corporate contributions to underwrite scholarships for families in the program.
- Faith-Based Support: Additional funding comes from faith-based organizations and religious community support.
- Special Events: The organization hosts fundraising events such as the annual Boots & Bling Gala to raise funds and community awareness.
- In-Kind Donations: The organization accepts donations of clothing, household items, and other goods to support families in their program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Solutions for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solutions for Change operates a 700-day vocational program (Solutions Academy) that equips families experiencing homelessness with education, employment training, coaching, and transformational housing support. The organization combines personal development, financial literacy, leadership training, and therapeutic community with an approximate scholarship value of $60,000 per family, fully funded by private donations, foundation grants, corporate contributions, and faith-based support.
Product overview
Solutions for Change operates as a three-program integrated system addressing family homelessness. The core program is Solutions Academy, a 700-day vocational school providing education, employment training, coaching, and housing support with an approximate scholarship value of $60,000. Solutions Enterprise extends the model by connecting Academy graduates to employers and entrepreneurial opportunities for income stability. Solutions Institute works to elevate and refine the Academy model for national recognition. The organization is grounded in Servant Leadership principles, teaching families to lead by example through self-awareness, humility, and accountability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solutions Academy A comprehensive 700-day vocational program that prepares families experiencing homelessness for lifelong success through career pathways, work experience, leadership training, family management skills, teamwork, financial literacy, personal development, accountability, and connection. Services are provided free of charge to accepted families, with an approximate scholarship value of $60,000 covering education, employment training, coaching, and housing costs.
- Solutions Enterprise A workforce development program that connects Solutions Academy participants to employers and entrepreneurial opportunities, expanding income stability and long-term housing security for graduates of the program.
- Solutions Institute An aspirational initiative that elevates and refines the Solutions Academy model into a nationally recognized best practice for solving family homelessness, developing proprietary program content and methodology for replication.
- Servant Leadership Training A leadership philosophy and training approach that equips families with leadership skills built on trust, honesty, respect, and concern, teaching them to inspire and equip those they influence.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,522 parents and 3,278 children supported through the program
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Solutions for Change
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Solutions for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Solutions for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Sleep in Heavenly PeaceminorStudents helped build bunk beds for children without beds. SHP provides bunk beds to children sleeping on floors. Students built beds from donated materials and delivered them to families in North County.
- Anthem ChurchminorStudents helped Anthem Church with deep cleaning and event setup. Students collaborated and worked together as a team on community service projects.
- Coyote CafeminorLed by a former homeless individual now sober business owner, graduates and residents constructed a 1,000 sq. ft. covered platform/deck for outdoor dining.
- Brewed VistaminorWith only 4 outdoor tables during Covid dining restrictions, residents and graduates built an outdoor patio quadrupling seating capacity to help the family business survive.
- Mom's KitchenminorGraduates and current residents built a new outside dining area including fencing, artificial grass, and canopies for the restaurant known for biscuits and gravy.
- Mini Miracles AcademyminorLongtime supporter accepting children into daycare before family funding is available. Students helped clean demoed areas and assembled a new playground.
- Green Oceanside (Coastal Cleanup Day)minorOrganization participated in Oceanside's annual Coastal Cleanup Day to give back to the community that has supported them over the years.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Solutions for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Family Promise: National nonprofit addressing family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs. Closely comparable to Solutions for Change in target population (homeless families with children), integrated services model, and community-based volunteer engagement.
- Chrysalis: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing workforce development, job placement, and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. Directly comparable to Solutions Enterprise's workforce-development arm in mission, model, and target population.
Regional players
- Father Joe's Villages: San Diego's largest homeless services provider offering housing, meals, health care, and workforce development. Operates in the same regional market as Solutions for Change with overlapping service lines (housing, vocational training, family services) but at much greater scale.
- PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): San Diego- and Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and employment services for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable to Solutions for Change in its housing-plus-workforce integration and regional California footprint.
- San Diego Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Diego with emergency shelter, recovery programs, and vocational training. Comparable regional competitor in the same faith-rooted, multi-program service model.
- Alpha Project for the Homeless: San Diego nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and supportive services including substance abuse recovery and workforce programs. Directly comparable regional peer with similar integrated programming for homeless adults and families.
Broad incumbents
- Tipping Point Community: Bay Area anti-poverty funder and nonprofit operator that invests in housing, education, and employment programs for low-income families. Comparable in its evidence-based, integrated approach to breaking generational poverty through wraparound services.
Others
- Community Solutions: National nonprofit running Built for Zero, a data-driven initiative helping communities end homelessness. Comparable as a thought leader and systems-change partner that Solutions for Change could collaborate with as it scales Solutions Institute nationally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solutions for Change social profiles
Digital presenceSolutions for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solutions for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Solutions for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solutions for Change 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 Solutions for Change
What does Solutions for Change do?
Solutions for Change operates a 700-day vocational program (Solutions Academy) that equips families experiencing homelessness with education, employment training, coaching, and transformational housing support. The organization combines personal development, financial literacy, leadership training, and therapeutic community with an approximate scholarship value of $60,000 per family, fully funded by private donations, foundation grants, corporate contributions, and faith-based support.
Is Solutions for Change a public or private company?
Solutions for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Solutions for Change founded?
Solutions for Change was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solutions for Change based?
Solutions for Change is headquartered in Vista, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solutions for Change make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants, faith-Based Support, special Events and in-Kind Donations.
Who are Solutions for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Family Promise and Chrysalis. Regional players are Father Joe's Villages, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), San Diego Rescue Mission and Alpha Project for the Homeless. Tipping Point Community is listed as a broad incumbent. Community Solutions is listed as an others.
Does Solutions for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solutions for Change.
What industry is Solutions for Change in?
Solutions for Change's product category is Homeless and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAEAG, Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services, with a secondary code of EDAJAEAF, Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth). Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.