What Youthcare does

YouthCare is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that provides a comprehensive continuum of care for youth experiencing homelessness, ages 12–24, in King County, Washington. Services are organized around five pillars — Engagement (Orion Center drop-in and overnight shelter, University District Youth Center, South Seattle Youth Center, Safe Place network), Shelter & Housing (emergency shelter, transitional programs including James Place Studios and the LGBTQ-targeted ISIS House), Client Service Navigation, Education, and Employment (YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship, Barista Training, Tile Project, YouthGrow, Doorways Internships). The organization operates six physical locations across Seattle, a 24/7 crisis hotline (800-495-7802), and a centralized case management framework overseen by a Program, Quality & Impact function. Direct services are delivered free to beneficiaries; there is no pricing model and no revenue from service fees.

Funding comes exclusively from charitable contributions: individual donations (including monthly giving and planned/legacy gifts), corporate and foundation grants (Schultz Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Raikes Foundation, Cambia Health Foundation, United Way of King County), in-kind donations via Amazon Wishlist, and major fundraising events including the 40th Annual Luncheon and the Evening of H.O.P.E. gala. The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS (WordPress, Blackbaud OnlineExpress, SurveyMonkey, Google Analytics, Microsoft Booking) with no proprietary technology or AI components. Key institutional partnerships span healthcare (Kaiser Permanente, Seattle Children's, Neighborcare Health), education (Seattle Central College, Interagency Academy), and workforce (Starbucks, FareStart). YouthCare is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), holds a 2019 GuideStar Platinum Seal, a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, and BBB Accredited Charity status.

The organization is mid-pivot: it is executing a 2025–2026 strategic restructuring (real-estate divestiture, staff reductions, budget rebalancing toward a balanced 2026 budget) while simultaneously breaking ground on the Constellation Center, a $37 million workforce navigation hub on Capitol Hill scheduled to open in early 2027 with adjacent 84-unit affordable housing. Marty Hartman's interim-CEO tenure ended June 30, 2026, and a permanent Executive Director search is underway at a $160K–$200K salary band.

Name

Youthcare

Legal name

YouthCare

Website

https://youthcare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

YouthCare is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers shelter, housing, education, employment, and wraparound services to over 1,000 youth ages 12–24 experiencing homelessness each year in King County, WA, funded entirely through donations, grants, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Emergency youth shelter
• Transitional housing programs
• Workforce development training
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals, including one-time donations, monthly giving programs, and tribute gifts made in honor or memory of loved ones.
2. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Grant funding from foundations and corporate giving programs to support specific programs and operational costs.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual luncheons and galas including the 40th Annual Luncheon and Evening of H.O.P.E. events that generate significant community support and donations.
4. Planned Giving & Legacy Donations: Legacy giving through wills, beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, and IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions.
5. In-Kind Donations: Physical goods including Amazon Wishlist items, meal donations, and gift cards that support youth services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

YouthCare delivers a comprehensive continuum of care for youth experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 in Seattle and King County. Core offerings include emergency overnight shelter and drop-in services at the Orion Center, neighborhood-based youth centers (University District Youth Center, South Seattle Youth Center), transitional and supportive housing (James Place Studios, ISIS House), education and GED programs, and workforce development tracks (YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship, Barista Training, Tile Project, YouthGrow agriculture, Doorways Internships). All services are provided free of charge to youth beneficiaries and coordinated through centralized case management.

Product overview

YouthCare operates as a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive continuum of care for youth experiencing homelessness, ages 12-24. The organization offers integrated core programs organized around five service pillars: Engagement (Orion Center, UDYC, South Seattle Youth Center, Safe Place), Shelter & Housing (emergency shelter, community living, independent living, James Place Studios, ISIS House), Client Service Navigation (prevention services), Education, and Employment (YouthBuild, Barista Training, Tile Project, YouthGrow, Doorways Internships). These programs are coordinated through centralized case management and client tracking systems, supported by a Program, Quality & Impact (PQI) framework. An upcoming major expansion is the Constellation Center (opening 2027), a workforce navigation hub on Capitol Hill that will integrate education, workforce training, financial empowerment, and social services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orion Center and Shelter A central drop-in center and overnight shelter at 1828 Yale Avenue serving youth ages 12-24 with meals, computers, laundry, showers, clothing, medical care, mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, lockers, case management, and overnight shelter beds (open 8pm-8am for shelter, 10am-6pm for drop-in services).
• Orion Clinic A medical clinic partnership with Kaiser Permanente offering walk-in medical care, mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, STI/STD checks, family planning, hormone therapy, wound care, and connections to outside care for fractures for youth experiencing homelessness.
• University District Youth Center (UDYC) A drop-in center at 4516 15th Ave NE serving youth in the University District neighborhood, providing access to services, meals, and community resources including legal aid services.
• South Seattle Youth Center A youth center serving young people in South Seattle, providing shelter, education, and employment services.
• Shelter and Housing Programs Comprehensive housing programs including emergency shelter, community living, and independent living programs that help young people build independent living skills and provide stable foundations to pursue education and employment.
• James Place Studios Transitional housing program named in honor of John Zmolek's late son James, providing stable housing for youth exiting homelessness.
• ISIS House Transitional living program specifically serving LGBTQ youth ages 18-21, providing safe housing and supportive services.
• Phoenix Program A program serving refugee youth who have entered foster care after arriving in the United States, providing a place to land, heal, and begin building new lives.
• Client Service Navigation Prevention services engaging and supporting young people at risk of homelessness, including work with caring adults in youth's lives to ensure each youth stays safely housed or returns home quickly.
• Safe Place A national network partnership providing immediate help and safe places for youth in crisis. Youth can text 'SAFE' and their location to 44357 or call 1-800-422-8336 to find the nearest Safe Place site.
• Education Programs Programs helping young people reconnect to school and work toward post-secondary education options, partnering with Interagency Academy, Northwest Education Access, South Seattle College, and Seattle Central College.
• YouthBuild A six-month pre-apprenticeship workforce development program allowing young people to earn their GED while gaining construction trades skills and preparing for careers in the trades. Participants receive a $50/day stipend.
• Barista Training and Customer Service Program Job readiness training program preparing young people for employment in customer service and food service industries, with partnerships including Starbucks.
• Tile Project An art therapy and workforce development program where youth create tile mosaics, building artistic skills while developing focus, discipline, and community connections.
• YouthGrow An agriculture and gardening program providing hands-on training in horticultural and urban farming skills while building employment pathways.
• Doorways Internships Internship program connecting youth with employment opportunities and workforce development experiences.
• Employment Services Comprehensive employment programs ranging from job readiness to internships and employment placement in the local economy, including employer engagement partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients maintain housing stability with no periods of homelessness one year after program exit
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

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

• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing medical services at the Orion Clinic including mental health, chemical dependency treatment, primary care, and wellness services for youth.
• Neighborcare HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing pediatric and primary care services at multiple clinic locations.
• Seattle Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing specialized pediatric services and referrals for youth experiencing homelessness.
• Seattle Central CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership connecting youth to post-secondary education pathways and workforce training programs.
• FareStartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood service and culinary training partnership supporting the Constellation Center workforce development programming.
• Community Roots HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing development partnership for the Broadway Center for Youth project adjacent to the Constellation Center, providing 84 affordable housing units.
• United Way of King CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner and collaborative organization working to address youth homelessness in King County.
• YouthBuild USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational workforce development partnership providing pre-apprenticeship training and GED programs for out-of-school youth.
• Interagency AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlternative education partnership with Seattle Public Schools providing educational services for youth experiencing homelessness.
• Starbucks Coffee CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocate sponsor and corporate partner supporting youth employment and workforce development programs.
• A Way Home WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide advocacy coalition working to prevent and end youth homelessness.
• Food LifelineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnership providing meals and food resources for youth programs.
• Friends of YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services partner providing engagement and basic needs support.
• ROOTS Young Adult ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung adult shelter partner providing services and referrals.
• Housing ConnectorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership helping place youth in permanent housing units.
• Humble DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurnishing and home setup services for youth moving into housing.
• Junior Achievement of WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce readiness and employment partnership for youth.
• Doorway Project (UW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Washington partnership providing services and engagement at the Doorway Project location.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mary's Place: Seattle-based nonprofit operating emergency family shelters and housing programs. Direct geographic and service-model peer to YouthCare; both serve homeless populations in King County and share overlapping leadership alumni (Marty Hartman and Kristi Tollner came from Mary's Place).
• Friends of Youth: Eastside King County nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and behavioral health services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Direct peer in geography, age band (12-24), and wraparound service model; listed as a YouthCare community partner.
• ROOTS Young Adult Shelter: Seattle-based nonprofit operating an emergency shelter for young adults ages 18-25. Direct peer operating in the same geography and age band; listed as a YouthCare referral and services partner.
• New Horizons (Washington): Washington-state nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for homeless youth and young adults. Direct peer in mission and geography; the Transition Team's Program lead (Rob Stewart) was previously its Executive Director.

Others

• Starbucks Opportunity Youth Program: Starbucks's program hiring and training Opportunity Youth (ages 16-24). Strategic employer partner for YouthCare's Barista Training program; relevant comparable as a corporate workforce pathway serving similar youth demographics.
• Northwest Education Access: Seattle-area nonprofit connecting low-income young adults to post-secondary education. Listed as a YouthCare education partner; comparable in serving Opportunity Youth and providing wraparound education-to-employment pathways.
• A Way Home Washington: Statewide advocacy coalition working to prevent and end youth homelessness in Washington. Ecosystem partner and policy advocate that channels resources and referrals to YouthCare and similar providers.

Broad incumbents

• Covenant House: National nonprofit operating shelters and housing programs for youth experiencing homelessness across the U.S. and Latin America. Larger incumbent offering overlapping shelter, education, and workforce development services; relevant benchmark for YouthCare's service model and scale ambition.
• Pioneer Human Services: Washington-state nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and workforce development for adults and youth experiencing homelessness, substance use, and reentry. Larger incumbent offering overlapping housing-plus-employment model with broader population focus.

Emerging players

• Treehouse: Seattle-based nonprofit focused on educational support for youth in foster care. Adjacent peer serving overlapping age band and vulnerable-youth population with a narrower education-focused service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youthcaresea
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfRctZVKuy66mS2XCvDrGTw
• Facebookfacebook.com/YouthCare
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthcaresea

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Youthcare