What Foster Success does

Foster Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, delivering a comprehensive portfolio of programs to teens and young adults aged 14-26 transitioning out of the foster care system. The organization's service surface spans five interconnected domains: Educational Success (including the federal Education and Training Voucher program, dorm funding, and college coaching); Financial Empowerment (Online Financial Modules, the trademarked Opportunity Passport matched-savings program, and Credit Build with partners Apprisen and Justine Petersen); Health & Well-Being (Vital Documents, Basic Needs, M.A.P.S. mental health services, the Insuring Foster Youth Trust Fund, and State Park Passes); Workforce Readiness (the trademarked Works Wonders curriculum, career coaching, and employer engagement); and Youth Engagement (IFYA, LEAD ambassadors, and the annual conference). All programs are delivered at no cost to participants through a Salesforce-based client portal, regional Education Coordinators, and a referral pipeline from the Indiana Department of Child Services.

The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack with no direct fees to end-users. Funding is drawn from state government contracts (Indiana DCS, IHCDA, Department of Health, DMHA), foundation grants (Glick Philanthropies, Zotec Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield), corporate sponsorships (organized into Leader, Investor, Associate, and Supporter tiers from $2,500 to $15,000+), and individual contributions (including the YELL Society recurring-giving program and the annual FriendsGiving appeal, which raised $153,626 in 2025). Direct economic value flows to participants via matched savings, stipends, emergency aid, educational vouchers, and employer-connected career opportunities, with $4.6M+ disbursed to participants across all states served.

The organization has scaled from an Indiana-focused operation to a multi-state nonprofit with active programs in Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky, operating under a 2024-2027 Strategic Plan developed with Taylor Advising and backed by a staff of 51-100 distributed across regional offices and the Indianapolis headquarters at 550 North Meridian Street.

Name

Foster Success

Legal name

Foster Success

Website

https://fostersuccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Foster Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Indianapolis that delivers educational, financial, health, and workforce programs to teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care across Indiana, Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, Missouri, and Kentucky, funded through government contracts, grants, and corporate and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Foster youth services
• Youth transition support
• Educational financial assistance
• Workforce readiness training
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: State government contracts allow Foster Success to partner with Indiana and other states to meet basic needs of teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care.
2. Private Grants: Foundation grants allow expansion of programs, meeting unexpected needs, and innovation in program development.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide funding at various tiers (Leader $15,000+, Investor $7,500, Associate $5,000, Supporter $2,500+) with benefits including employee engagement and brand visibility.
4. Individual Contributions: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, recurring monthly donations (YELL Society), and planned giving (Now & Forever Society). FriendsGiving campaign raised record $153,626 in 61 days.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Foster Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free programs and direct services to teens and young adults aged 14-26 transitioning out of the foster care system. Its offerings span educational funding (ETV vouchers, dorm support, college coaching), financial empowerment (savings matching, credit building, financial literacy), health and well-being (housing assistance, mental health, vital documents, auto insurance), workforce readiness (job skills curriculum, career coaching, employer connections), and youth engagement (advisory boards, leadership development, annual conference). All programs are delivered at no cost to eligible participants through state partnerships and a client portal.

Product overview

Foster Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive portfolio of programs supporting teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care toward self-sufficiency by age 26. The organization operates across five interconnected impact areas: Educational Success (ETV, Dorm Funding, College Student Support), Financial Empowerment (Online Financial Modules, Opportunity Passport, Credit Build), Health & Well-Being (Vital Documents, Basic Needs, M.A.P.S., Insuring Foster Youth Trust Fund, State Park Passes), Workforce Readiness (Works Wonders, Career Coaching, Employer Engagement), and Youth Engagement (IFYA, LEAD, Annual Conference). Programs are accessed through a client portal and supported by state partnerships in Indiana, Arizona, Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Opportunity Passport®: A multi-year financial education program that provides matched savings funds (up to $3,500) to help young adults who have experienced foster care purchase assets like homes, vehicles, or education expenses.
• Works Wonders®
• IFYA (Indiana Foster Youth Alliance)

Products and services

• Education and Training Voucher (ETV) – Indiana A federally-funded, state-administered program administered by Foster Success that provides financial, academic, and human support for young adults who have left the foster care system and are enrolled in qualified colleges, universities, or vocational education programs in Indiana. Recipients must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
• Dorm Funding A program administered by Foster Success that provides room and board support for young adults who have experienced foster care and choose to live in a dorm setting at public or private colleges and universities throughout Indiana.
• College Student Support One-on-one support services helping college students with foster care experience navigate higher education through monthly meetings with regional coordinators who assist with financial aid issues, academic decisions, and ETV fund administration.
• Online Financial Modules A series of online courses teaching financial topics including banking, insurance, budgeting, credit basics, and employment skills, with participants able to earn a $100 completion stipend by scoring 80% or higher on all courses.
• Opportunity Passport® A multi-year financial education program that teaches budgeting, investing, and savings skills; after completing course requirements, participants are eligible for up to $3,500 in matched funds for approved assets such as housing, education, vehicles, or microenterprise.
• Credit Build A 12-month credit-building program that helps young adults establish or improve credit through a $300 credit-building loan; monthly payments are reported to all three credit bureaus, and the $300 is returned to participants upon completion.
• Vital Documents A program that helps young people track and access essential documents including birth certificates, Social Security cards, health insurance cards, medical records, immunization records, and diplomas needed to navigate adulthood, supported by the iFoster Digital Locker platform.
• Basic Needs An emergency support program built on Solve, Support, and Sustain pillars that helps teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care with housing, utilities, transportation, childcare, and healthcare connections.
• Mental Health Acceptance, Promotion & Support (M.A.P.S.) A mental health initiative providing up to 8 free therapy sessions for young adults not already connected to a mental health provider, with up to $100 in stipends available for completing intake and surveys.
• Insuring Foster Youth Trust Fund (IFYTF) A trust fund that ensures older foster youth have equitable access to driver's licenses and affordable auto insurance, covering up to 80% of supervised driving hours and up to 80% of 6-month car insurance policy costs on a declining scale for repeated applications.
• State Park Passes A program providing annual Indiana State Park passes at no cost to eligible older foster youth and foster families for access to Indiana DNR properties.
• Works Wonders® A nationally-recognized workforce readiness curriculum providing 16-hour job readiness skill-building classes followed by six career coaching appointments for teens and young adults ages 18-25 who have experienced foster care.
• Career Coaching & Workforce Credentials Personalized career coaching supporting young people ages 18-25 in finding immediate employment through one-on-one coaching, employer connections, and assistance pursuing credentials including CDL, CPR, phlebotomy, and welding certifications.
• Employer Engagement A program connecting employer partners with young adults transitioning out of foster care through internships, job shadowing, work-based learning experiences, and apprenticeships.
• Indiana Foster Youth Alliance (IFYA) A youth-led advisory board for teens and young adults ages 14-22 currently in or with lived experience in foster care. IFYA advises the Indiana Department of Child Services on issues impacting those in foster care and provides a safe space for peer connection.
• LEAD Ambassador Program A leadership development program for young people with foster care experience committed to improving the lives of peers through advocacy, education, and leadership opportunities, with ongoing training for public speaking and policy engagement.
• IFYA Annual Conference An annual youth conference hosted by IFYA and designed by its members that provides resources, education, and tools to young people ages 14-22 with foster care experience, including breakout sessions, an awards ceremony, and a statewide IFYA meeting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants report meeting financial goals
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SPARC (Structured Planning, Advocacy, and Resource Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster Success works with SPARC at state and national levels to advance data-driven, youth-informed legislation and policy changes for foster youth.
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunity InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner working to improve outcomes for young people in foster care through advocacy and policy advancement.
• Journey to Success CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational campaign partner focused on improving foster youth transitions to adulthood.
• Bone Dry RoofingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partner hosting Career Day events for young people, providing hands-on experience and winter coat donations.
• Taylor AdvisingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic planning consultant who helped develop the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan through research with program participants.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education partner for workforce credentials program and career pathways.
• Dot FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partner actively hiring in Central Indiana.
• Easterseals CrossroadsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDisability services partner for workforce development programs.
• KLR CertificationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCertification partner providing pharmacy technician and other workforce credentials.
• RADCare ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare employer partner providing career pathways for foster youth.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Children's Home Society of California / Foster Care Programs: Children's Home Society of California operates foster care, adoption, and transition-age youth services across California, including Independent Living and college support programs. Comparable as a regional nonprofit providing foster-youth transition services with similar program types (education, financial, housing), though focused exclusively on California rather than the multi-state footprint of Foster Success.

Broad incumbents

• Youth Villages: Youth Villages is a large national nonprofit providing residential and community-based services for children, teens, and young adults, including the YVLifeSet program for transition-age foster youth. Comparable because its YVLifeSet program directly overlaps with Foster Success's transition coaching, but Youth Villages is broader in scope (also serving non-foster youth and operating residential facilities).
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative: The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, housed at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national effort to improve outcomes for young people transitioning from foster care through policy advocacy, grants, and direct technical assistance. Comparable because Foster Success is a Jim Casey partner; the initiative operates at a national/policy level rather than delivering direct services in a single state.

Direct peers

• National Foster Youth Institute: NFYI is a national nonprofit advocating for and developing leaders among current and former foster youth, with focus on policy, leadership development, and youth voice. Comparable because both organizations prioritize lived-experience leadership and target the same transition-age foster youth population, though NFYI leans more heavily on policy and advocacy.
• Better Futures Minnesota: Better Futures Minnesota provides holistic support — including education, employment, housing, and financial literacy — to young people aging out of foster care, with a strong coaching-based service model. Highly comparable because its program structure mirrors Foster Success's Educational Success, Financial Empowerment, Workforce Readiness, and Health & Well-Being pillars for the same target population.
• FosterClub: FosterClub is a national nonprofit led by young people with foster care experience that provides peer support, advocacy training, and transition resources to current and former foster youth. Comparable because both organizations center lived-experience leadership (IFYA / LEAD in Foster Success, FosterClub's youth-run model) and focus on the same 14-26 transition population.
• College Success Foundation: College Success Foundation supports low-income and foster youth in achieving college completion through scholarships, advising, and mentoring. Comparable because it overlaps with Foster Success's ETV, Dorm Funding, and College Student Support programs and serves similar college-bound foster youth.
• Treehouse: Treehouse is a Washington-state nonprofit dedicated to helping foster youth achieve educational and life success through coaching, financial aid, and post-secondary support. Comparable because it focuses on the same foster-youth-to-self-sufficiency mission, operates statewide, and combines education, financial, and coaching services similar to Foster Success's five program pillars.
• iFoster: iFoster is a national nonprofit that uses a technology-enabled platform (including a digital locker, benefits access, and resource marketplace) to support foster youth across the country. Highly comparable to Foster Success because it serves the same foster youth population, has expanded across multiple states, and operates programs in education, financial empowerment, and health — including the iFoster Digital Locker partnership Foster Success itself uses.
• First Star Inc. First Star operates college-prep and life-skills academies for foster youth across multiple states, combining residential programming, academic support, and adult transition planning. Comparable because both organizations serve foster youth transitioning to adulthood and operate across multiple U.S. states with educational and life-skills programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FosterSuccessUS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/fostersuccessus
• Facebookfacebook.com/FosterSuccessUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fostersuccess
• Instagraminstagram.com/fostersuccessus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Foster Success