Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement of Arizona is a nonprofit delivering free K-12 programs in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship to over 150,000 Arizona students annually through school partnerships, signature events, and 9,500+ corporate volunteers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersTempe, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Junior Achievement does
Junior Achievement of Arizona is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 86-0184349) and a licensed local area of the global JA Worldwide network, headquartered at 636 W Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ with a regional office in Tucson. It was founded as part of the Junior Achievement movement that originated in 1919 and delivers free K-12 educational programs in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship to over 150,000 Arizona students annually. The organization operates in a single U.S. state (Arizona) but participates in a 100+ country global network, with documented activity cited in Cyprus, Hungary, Brazil, and Alabama.
The technology and product portfolio centers on experiential learning delivered through four core programs: JA Inspire (a virtual career exploration and workforce-readiness platform for ages 12–25), JA BizTown (a hands-on simulated town facility where 4th–6th graders operate a student-sized economy), JA Money in Motion (an on-site financial simulation deployed to rural schools for grades 3–12), and 3DE by Junior Achievement (an immersive, case-based re-engineering of the high school instructional model). Supporting these are digital tools including the JA Access Your Future mobile app, JA MyBiz Builder, JA STEMBOT, JA My Way, JA Robo Sellers, and JA Hand in Hand (an American Sign Language accessibility video series), plus a free online resource repository with curriculum for Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12).
The revenue model is donation- and sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. Core educational programs are provided free to students, educators, and schools, with funding sourced from individual donors, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and signature fundraising events (JA Open Golf Tournament, JA Stock Market Challenge, JA Bowl-a-Thons, JA 18 Under 18 Awards). Distribution is multi-modal: school-based direct partnerships with K-12 districts, the physical JA BizTown facility, the self-serve digital resource repository, virtual career fairs via JA Inspire, and corporate employee volunteer programs. Reported unit economics include $44 per student impacted via donation and $37 per student sponsored through Bowl-a-Thon fundraising. Notable corporate partners include Wells Fargo, Citi Foundation, Edward Jones, Charles Schwab, Voya Financial, RSM International, National Bank of Arizona, Tucson Electric Power, United Bank, and Lidl Cyprus. The organization holds Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, WCAG 2.1 Level AA, U.S. Section 508, and Service Enterprise certifications.
Junior Achievement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Junior Achievement
- Legal name
- Junior Achievement Arizona
- Website
- https://jaaz.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Junior Achievement of Arizona is a nonprofit delivering free K-12 programs in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship to over 150,000 Arizona students annually through school partnerships, signature events, and 9,500+ corporate volunteers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Junior Achievement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Financial Literacy Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills (EDAMAIAF), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), College & Career Exploration Camps (Pre-College Samplers, Pathways) (EDAMALAN), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)
Keywords
Where Junior Achievement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tempe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Junior Achievement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: Primary funding from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. Corporate partners sponsor specific programs, events, and student participation. Every $44 donation impacts one student's life.
- Event Revenue: Revenue generated from signature events including JA Open Golf Tournament, JA Stock Market Challenge, JA Bowl-a-Thons, and JA 18 Under 18 Awards. Events include corporate sponsorships, team registrations, and participant fees.
- Global Market Position: Junior Achievement is identified as a key player in the $3.8B global Financial Literacy Education market (2025), projected to reach $8.6B by 2033 at 10.10% CAGR.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free programs for K-25 students |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Junior Achievement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Junior Achievement (JA) of Arizona delivers free, experiential educational programs focused on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students (and learners through age 25). Programs are offered in person through school partnerships and volunteer-led instruction, through a physical simulation facility (JA BizTown in Tempe), and through free digital tools and online curricula. The organization also runs signature fundraising and recognition events such as the JA Stock Market Challenge and JA 18 Under 18 Awards.
Product overview
Junior Achievement of Arizona offers an integrated portfolio of educational programs focused on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship for students K-25. The core programs include JA Inspire (career exploration for ages 12-25), JA BizTown (hands-on town simulation for 4th-6th graders), JA Money in Motion (financial simulation for rural schools), and 3DE (immersive high school instructional model). Supporting these are digital tools including JA Access Your Future app, JA STEMBOT game, JA MyBiz Builder, JA My Way, and JA Robo Sellers game. The organization also provides free online resources organized by grade level (Elementary K-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12, Adult learners) plus specialized offerings like the JA Career Speaker Series with videos across 15 career clusters, and recognition programs like the annual JA 18 Under 18 Awards. Programs reach over 150,000 students annually across Arizona through partnerships with schools and over 9,500 corporate volunteers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- JA Inspire Premier career exploration and workforce readiness program that prepares learners ages 12-25 for post-secondary success through virtual career fairs, networking with employers, and career assessments.
- JA Money in Motion On-site financial simulation program for rural schools teaching 3rd-12th grade students how to plan for their financial futures.
- JA BizTown Hands-on program allowing 4th-6th graders to become employees for a day in a student-sized town, where they learn economic concepts and workplace skills.
- 3DE by Junior Achievement Immersive instructional model that re-engineers high school education to create engaging learning environments connecting education to real-world careers through case-based learning methodology.
- JA Complete Programs Online Online repository of full Junior Achievement programs for Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), featuring video programs, lesson plans, and age-appropriate activities.
- JA Stock Market Challenge Team-based stock trading competition where teams receive $500,000 to buy mock stock in fictitious companies, competing for the largest portfolio.
- JA 18 Under 18 Awards Annual awards program recognizing exceptional young people in Arizona who demonstrate ingenuity, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit while making a difference in their communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90%+ of JA Alumni agree that students who participate in JA will be better prepared for the future
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Junior Achievement
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Junior Achievement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Junior Achievement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- United BankcoreUnited Bank partners with JA to deliver BizTown Summer Camp in Bay Minette, Alabama. The three-day camp teaches financial literacy to elementary students through hands-on Monopoly-style activities, helping students open savings accounts while learning about business and banking operations. Students tour the United Bank branch and Bay Minette City Hall as part of the curriculum.
- Lidl CyprusflagshipLidl Cyprus serves as strategic partner for the mind REset educational environmental programme, now in its 5th edition. The program engages students in sustainable business proposals focused on food waste reduction. Over five years, nearly 16,500 students across Cyprus have participated.
- PixacoreCreative marketing agency partner that helped develop the 2025 JA 18 Under 18 booklet. Ted Raymond and the Pixa team contributed creativity and partnership that amplified JA's brand, helping earn the JA Brand Amplification Award.
- Wells FargocoreCorporate sponsor for JA Bowl-a-Thon events, supporting financial literacy education in Arizona. Participates in year-round fundraising events with company teams.
- Tucson Electric Power (TEP)coreCorporate sponsor for JA Bowl-a-Thon events and recipient of 2018 Copper Cactus Award. JA board member Frank Marino, past SAZ board chair, presented the award.
- National Bank of Arizona (NBAZ)coreCorporate sponsor for JA Stock Market Challenge, supporting financial literacy education through this signature fundraising event.
- Edward JonescoreCorporate sponsor for JA Stock Market Challenge, supporting workforce readiness and financial literacy programs.
- Voya FinancialcoreCorporate sponsor for JA Stock Market Challenge, contributing to financial literacy education for Arizona students.
- Charles SchwabcoreCorporate sponsor for JA Stock Market Challenge, supporting career readiness and financial education initiatives.
- RSM InternationalcoreCorporate sponsor for JA Stock Market Challenge, supporting youth financial education programs.
- JA 18 Under 18 SponsorscoreMultiple corporate sponsors support the annual JA 18 Under 18 Awards program recognizing exceptional Arizona students. Sponsors include businesses from various industries supporting youth recognition and entrepreneurship.
- Corporate Bowl-a-Thon SponsorscoreOver 25 companies sponsor JA Bowl-a-Thons including ADP, Aetna, Alliance Bank, AmTrust, APS, Bank of America, Bank of the West, Caterpillar, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Johnson Controls, KPMG, National Bank of Arizona, Pima Federal Credit Union, Toyota, Wells Fargo, and others. Each $37 raised sponsors one Arizona student to receive JA programming.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Junior Achievement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EVERFI: Edtech company providing K-12 financial literacy, career readiness, and SEL digital curricula to schools at no cost, funded by corporate sponsors. Closest for-profit competitor with parallel delivery model and sponsor base.
- DECA: Student organization focused on career and entrepreneurship education for high school and college students. Overlaps directly with JA's career readiness and entrepreneurship curriculum.
- Council for Economic Education (CEE): National nonprofit focused on K-12 economic and personal finance education. Competes for curriculum adoption, teacher training dollars, and corporate sponsorship in the same school district buyer base.
- Junior Achievement USA: National U.S. federation that coordinates local Junior Achievement areas. Direct sibling organization to JA of Arizona within the JA Worldwide network, sharing brand, curriculum, and mission.
- JA Worldwide: Global parent organization that owns the JA brand and licenses curriculum to 100+ country chapters. Operationally the closest peer as the umbrella under which JA of Arizona delivers programs.
- Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): Nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship education to K-12 students, particularly from under-resourced communities. Closely comparable mission, audience, and program delivery model to JA's entrepreneurship track.
Emerging players
- iCivics: Nonprofit founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor providing K-12 civic and financial education. Adjacent curriculum category with shared school-based distribution and corporate sponsorship model.
- BizWorld Foundation: Nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs to elementary and middle school students. Smaller-scale peer in the same experiential learning category as JA BizTown.
Broad incumbents
- 4-H (National 4-H Council): Large national youth development organization with overlapping life-skills, career, and STEM programming for K-12. Competes for school partnerships, sponsor dollars, and volunteer engagement.
Regional players
- Take Charge Today (University of Arizona): University-hosted K-12 personal finance curriculum provider operating primarily in Arizona. Directly competes for instructional minutes and teacher adoption within JA of Arizona's core geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Junior Achievement social profiles
Digital presenceJunior Achievement compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Junior Achievement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Junior Achievement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Junior Achievement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Junior Achievement 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 Junior Achievement
What does Junior Achievement do?
Junior Achievement (JA) of Arizona delivers free, experiential educational programs focused on financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students (and learners through age 25). Programs are offered in person through school partnerships and volunteer-led instruction, through a physical simulation facility (JA BizTown in Tempe), and through free digital tools and online curricula. The organization also runs signature fundraising and recognition events such as the JA Stock Market Challenge and JA 18 Under 18 Awards.
Is Junior Achievement a public or private company?
Junior Achievement is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Junior Achievement founded?
Junior Achievement was founded in 1919. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Junior Achievement based?
Junior Achievement is headquartered in Tempe, United States, in the North America region.
How does Junior Achievement make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are event Revenue and global Market Position.
Who are Junior Achievement's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EVERFI, DECA, Council for Economic Education (CEE), Junior Achievement USA, JA Worldwide and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Emerging players are iCivics and BizWorld Foundation. 4-H (National 4-H Council) is listed as a broad incumbent. Take Charge Today (University of Arizona) is listed as a regional player.
Does Junior Achievement have an API?
No public API is recorded for Junior Achievement.
What industry is Junior Achievement in?
Junior Achievement's product category is Youth Financial Literacy Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAC, Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.