GOSO

What GOSO does

GOSO (Getting Out and Staying Out, legally Getting Out and Staying Out, Inc., a 501(c)(3)) is a New York City-based nonprofit founded in 2003 by retired cosmetics executive Mark L. Goldsmith after a volunteer experience at the Horizon Academy school inside Rikers Island. The organization reduces recidivism among justice-involved youth ages 16-24 in East Harlem through a "Three E's" service model spanning Education, Employment, and Emotional Well-Being, and reports that fewer than 7% of participants return to jail versus a 54% national average for the cohort. GOSO serves more than 1,500 young people annually and operates from three locations: directly inside Rikers Island, a main East Harlem office on East 116th Street, and a dedicated Education Center at 1400 Fifth Avenue opened in 2018. The 11-50 person organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person and high-touch.

The service portfolio is organized through several branded programs: GOSOWorks (a workforce development arm with 70-80+ employer partners operating an Internship2Employment model), the GOSO Education Center (HSE preparation, literacy, and college access), SAVE/Stand Against Violence East Harlem (a Cure Violence-modeled gun violence interruption program launched in 2016), GOSOArts, Coaches Club (mentoring), GOSOGives (community service), Leaders In Training (peer mentorship), and an in-house mental health clinic offering counseling and psychiatric care. Employer and corporate partners include Dos Toros, Madison Square Park Conservancy, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Flatiron School, Renzo Gracie Academy, and NBA Voices, among others. There is no consumer-facing software product; the digital footprint is limited to the gosonyc.org website, a Classy.org donation portal, Constant Contact email, and Google Forms-based participant intake.

Revenue is generated exclusively through grants, donations, and events. Recent disclosed inflows include a $400,000 grant from Trinity Church and a $300,000 award from the Manhattan District Attorney's Criminal Justice Investment Initiative, both announced in June 2026. Additional revenue streams include individual donations via Classy.org and an annual fundraising gala. Leadership transitioned in 2024 when Michelle Pryce-Screen, previously Chief Program Officer, succeeded founder Mark Goldsmith as President and CEO; founder Goldsmith holds the title CEO Emeritus. No venture capital, private equity, or parent-company ownership is indicated.

Name

GOSO

Legal name

Getting Out and Staying Out

Website

https://gosonyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GOSO (Getting Out and Staying Out) is a New York City nonprofit that reduces recidivism among justice-involved youth ages 16-24 in East Harlem through education, employment, and emotional well-being programs, reporting under 7% recidivism versus a 54% national average.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Reentry and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Crisis Response & Threat Assessment (Suicide Prevention, Violence Prevention) (EDAJAIAH)

Keywords

• Youth reentry services
• Workforce development
• Violence interruption programs
• Alternative education
• Mentorship and counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Institutional Grants: GOSO receives significant funding from foundations (Trinity Church awarded $400,000) and government grants (DA Bragg's office awarded $300,000) to fund specific programs including education, employment, and gun violence prevention initiatives.
2. Individual Donations: GOSO relies on individual donors for support, with a donation portal through Classy.org and ongoing fundraising campaigns.
3. Annual Gala and Events: Annual fundraising gala serves as a major revenue generation event, with corporate sponsors and individual supporters attending.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GOSO is a nonprofit social services organization that provides a portfolio of free programs to justice-involved and at-risk young people ages 16-24 in New York City, focused on reducing recidivism. Its core offerings combine education support (high school equivalency, college access, literacy), employment services (paid internships and job placement through GOSOWorks and 70+ employer partners), and emotional well-being services (mental health, counseling, peer mentorship, anti-violence intervention via SAVE/Cure Violence). Programs are delivered directly in-person at Rikers Island, the East Harlem office, and the GOSO Education Center.

Product overview

GOSO (Getting Out and Staying Out) is a nonprofit reentry organization offering a multi-component program portfolio focused on reducing recidivism among justice-involved youth ages 16-24 in New York City. The core programming centers on three pillars known as the 'Three E's': Education, Employment, and Emotional Well-Being. Key programs include GOSOWorks (employment/job placement), the GOSO Education Center (academic support), SAVE/Cure Violence (anti-violence intervention), GOSOArts (creative arts), Coaches Club (mentoring), GOSOGives (community service), and Leaders In Training (peer mentorship). The organization also provides mental health services including psychiatric care, forming an integrated ecosystem designed to support young people through education, workforce development, and emotional support to prevent return to incarceration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAVE (Stand Against Violence East Harlem): A Cure Violence program that treats violence as a disease and works to spread a cure by changing community norms through outreach and violence interrupters.
• GOSOWorks
• GOSOArts

Products and services

• GOSOWorks

Quantifiable outcome

• Recidivism reduced to fewer than 7% vs 54% national average for ages 16-24
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Dos ToroscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC taqueria chain that has been a long-term employment partner with GOSO, hiring formerly incarcerated individuals through GOSOWorks. Honored by GOSO in 2016 for providing employment opportunities.
• Goldman SachscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoldman Sachs employees volunteer with GOSO through Community TeamWorks, providing workshop facilitation, career readiness training, and mentoring. VP Reginald Andre served as GOSO Board Chair and recruited over 50 Goldman Sachs volunteers.
• DeloittesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner that has conducted team building activities with GOSO participants, including Pizza School workshops and other skill-building sessions.
• Stella Adler Studio of ActingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partnership including Young Playwrights Festival and theatrical programming, providing creative expression opportunities for GOSO participants.
• Stargate Theatre Company (Manhattan Theatre Club)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOSOArts program in partnership with Stargate Theatre Company, providing paid positions for youth to learn writing, directing, and acting skills through stage productions.
• Flatiron SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoding education partnership where Flatiron School co-founder Avi Flombaum personally teaches coding classes to GOSO participants.
• Renzo Gracie AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartial arts training partnership providing Muay Thai classes as part of the Coaches Club mentoring program.
• NBA VoicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOSO joined NBA Voices Community Network, the NBA's initiative to address social justice, promote inclusion, and uplift voices in communities.
• BuzzFeedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and media company that has conducted tours and workshops for GOSO participants, exposing them to tech industry careers.
• JustLeadershipUSAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCriminal justice reform organization that partners with GOSO on voter registration drives and advocacy efforts.
• The Osborne AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing additional reentry services and co-hosting community events including voter registration drives.
• The Legal Aid SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services organization partnering with GOSO on criminal justice reform advocacy and community events.
• Concrete SafarissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnering with GOSO on GOSOGives service projects including urban gardening and community beautification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Fortune Society: Long-standing NYC nonprofit providing reentry services, housing, workforce development, and education to formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable mission and service portfolio; multiple GOSO staff previously worked at The Fortune Society.
• Center for Justice Innovation: NYC-based nonprofit operating problem-solving courts, reentry programs, and youth justice initiatives. Directly comparable criminal justice reform focus; GOSO's Director of Measurement previously worked at the Center for Justice Innovation.
• The Osborne Association: NYC nonprofit providing reentry services, family support, and advocacy for justice-involved individuals. Directly comparable reentry mission and explicitly named as a GOSO partner on co-hosted community events.
• JustLeadershipUSA: National criminal justice reform nonprofit led by directly impacted individuals. Directly comparable advocacy and reentry focus; explicitly named as a GOSO partner on voter registration and advocacy work.
• The Doe Fund: NYC nonprofit offering workforce development, transitional housing, and reentry services for formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals. Comparable reentry and workforce development model to GOSOWorks.
• Exodus Transitional Community: NYC reentry nonprofit providing workforce development, housing, and counseling to formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable service portfolio to GOSO's three-pillar model.
• Phoenix House: National nonprofit providing behavioral health, substance use treatment, and reentry services. Comparable social services portfolio; GOSO's CEO previously served as Director of Resident Services and Programs at Phoenix House.

Broad incumbents

• Cure Violence Global: Parent organization of the Cure Violence model that GOSO's SAVE program operates under. Operates across multiple cities globally; broader scope but the framework and methodology GOSO uses for violence interruption.
• Children's Aid Society: Large NYC youth services nonprofit providing education, health, and community programs. Broader scope but overlaps on youth services; Omar Jackson (GOSO's SAVE Director) volunteers as head basketball coach there.

Regional players

• Northwell Health: Large NYC-area health system with behavioral health and community health programming. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but relevant for value-based behavioral health contracting that could anchor GOSO's in-house clinic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GOSONYC
• Xx.com/gosonyc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/getting-out-and-staying-out

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 GOSO