Side by Side

What Side by Side does

Side by Side is a community-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Anselmo, California, providing behavioral and mental health services, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, special education, and individualized care coordination to at-risk young people ages 5-26 and their families. Founded in 1894 and operating under the DBA 'Side by Side Youth,' the organization runs additional offices in Oakland, Santa Rosa, and Napa, serving Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa counties. Side by Side holds Joint Commission accreditation for behavioral health care and employs between 101 and 250 staff; there is no proprietary technology platform — service delivery occurs in person through school-based programs, community centers, and residential facilities.

Financially, Side by Side functions as a free-of-charge service provider funded through individual donations (monthly giving, end-of-year appeals, legacy giving, workplace giving, and gift of stocks), corporate sponsorships, and government grants including funds tied to Enhanced Care Management. Notable strategic partnerships include the California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) — which Side by Side collaborates with to operate the TAY Action Team — and Bank of Marin, which sponsors an annual golf tournament benefiting the organization. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Side by Side served more than 3,100 youth and family members while marking 130 years of continuous operation in the Bay Area.

The organization runs marketing and donor-cultivation activity through its website, Instagram (@sidebysideyouth), email newsletters, and recurring events such as the Reach for the Stars gala, Queer Love Youth Pride, Marin Valentine's Ball, and the Sonoma County Human Race. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors (currently led by Board President Deanna Brock), with operational staff including the TAY Action Team Coordinator (Jamila McCallum). Side by Side files no public revenue disclosure in the source material; ownership is independent with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital backing identified.

Name

Side by Side

Legal name

Side by Side

Website

https://sidebysideyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1894

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Side by Side is a community-based nonprofit providing behavioral and mental health services, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing, special education, and care coordination to at-risk youth ages 5-26 and their families across four California Bay Area counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Behavioral Health and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Youth mental health services
• Behavioral health care
• Transitional housing programs
• Special education services
• Community-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

San Anselmo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations through monthly giving programs, end-of-year appeals, legacy giving, workplace giving, and gift of stocks
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorships for events and programs
3. Grants and Government Funding: Funding through Enhanced Care Management and other government-funded programs for behavioral health services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Side by Side is a community-based nonprofit that provides behavioral and mental health services, LGBTQIA+ affirming programs, special education support, transitional housing for foster youth, and individualized care coordination to at-risk young people ages 5-26 and their families. Services are delivered in-person at no cost across four Bay Area counties and are funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and government grants.

Product overview

Side by Side is a community-based non-profit organization (not a technology company) that provides social services including behavioral and mental health care, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support programs, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education services to young people ages 5-26 and their families across four Bay Area counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral and Mental Health Services Behavioral and mental health care for at-risk youth ages 5-26 and their families across the Bay Area, including Enhanced Care Management services funded through government programs.
• LGBTQIA+ Support Programs Affirming programs and support services for LGBTQIA+ young people facing discrimination and identity-based stress, including the annual Queer Love Youth Pride event.
• Special Education Services Special education services for youth with educational barriers, including instruction at the Irene M. Hunt School, supporting students such as Ben Freeman highlighted in the 'Ben's Journey' video.
• Transitional Housing for Foster Youth Transitional housing and life-skills support for foster youth aging out of the foster care system, including the Independent Living Program.
• Individualized Care Coordination Individualized care coordination linking at-risk youth and families to the appropriate combination of mental health, education, housing, and life-skills services.
• Early Intervention in Schools School-based early intervention services delivered to youth across the Bay Area as part of Side by Side's community-based service model.
• TAY Action Team Youth Leadership Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Served more than 3,100 youth and family members in 2024-2025

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAYEN and Side By Side collaborate on the TAY Action Team, recruiting 9 youth leaders ages 15-26 to shape local and statewide public policy. CAYEN was formed in 2006 to develop, educate, and strengthen the voices of Transition Age Youth.
• Bank of MarinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of Marin sponsors the annual Bank of Marin Golf Tournament benefiting Side by Side.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Seneca Family of Agencies: Bay Area-based nonprofit serving high-need youth and families with wraparound behavioral health, education, and foster care services. Direct comparable in service model, target population, and regional footprint.
• Fred Finch Youth & Family Services: Oakland-headquartered nonprofit providing mental health, special education, and transition services for children, youth, and young adults. Closely comparable in therapeutic services, special education, and Bay Area footprint.
• Huckleberry Youth Programs: San Francisco-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth with mental health, housing, and juvenile justice diversion services. Comparable in target population (at-risk adolescents) and mix of mental health and transitional support.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and education services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24. Highly comparable in transitional housing, behavioral health, and TAY-focused programming.
• Edgewood Center for Children and Families: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering behavioral health, residential, and educational programs for children and youth with mental health challenges. Comparable in residential/clinical care for youth and Bay Area presence.
• Bill Wilson Center: Santa Clara County nonprofit serving at-risk and homeless youth with housing, counseling, and education programs. Comparable in service mix and TAY focus, though operating in a different Bay Area sub-region.
• Lincoln (formerly Lincoln Child Center): Oakland-based nonprofit providing mental health, special education, and family services for children and youth impacted by trauma. Comparable in trauma-informed care, mental health focus, and Bay Area operations.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of San Francisco: Large regional YMCA offering youth development, behavioral health, and family support services across the Bay Area. Comparable in youth services scale and geographic reach, though services are broader and less specialized.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco: Major youth development nonprofit serving San Francisco youth with education, behavioral health, and wraparound programs. Comparable in scale and youth focus, though less clinically intensive.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of the East Bay: Alameda and Contra Costa County-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, housing, and youth/family services. Comparable in mental health and family services for vulnerable populations in overlapping Bay Area geography.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sidebysideyouth
• Xx.com/sidebyside4kids
• Facebookfacebook.com/sidebysideyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Side by Side