What Waymakers does

Waymakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Irvine, California, founded in 1973 by Dr. Arnold Binder, professor emeritus of criminology at UC Irvine. The organization delivers a comprehensive continuum of services across Orange County spanning five functional pillars: sheltering children through youth shelters in Huntington Beach and Tustin (after consolidating the Laguna Beach shelter into Tustin in August 2025); supporting victims of crime through 24/7 crisis intervention, Sexual Assault Victim Services, court advocacy, and administration of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force; counseling families and at-risk youth; resolving conflicts through community mediation; and educating communities through programs such as Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (GRIP), Positive Action Toward Health (PATH), and the Elevate Youth Leadership Development Program. The Youthful Offender Wraparound (YOW) Full-Service Partnership targets youthful offenders ages 18-21 with career training and wraparound support. Waymakers does not develop proprietary technology; it relies on standard nonprofit case management systems and Triple Data Encryption Standard (TDES) for payment processing.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of mid-sized community nonprofits: individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably a $1 million grant from Anaheim Union High School District and an $80,000 gift from Tennis Serves Others), government contracts with six Orange County cities (Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Westminster, Orange, Tustin, La Habra) for youth diversion programs and with school districts for prevention education, event-based fundraising (Swing for Kids Golf Tournament raising $105,000 in 2025, Chari-TEA Party raising $101,000 in April 2026), and a transactional revenue line from court-ordered Victim Emergency Fund payments processed at four Orange County justice centers with a 3% convenience fee. The organization reports serving 10,000+ young people annually and demonstrating measurable outcomes including a 94% family reunification rate, a 45% reduction in incarceration and 72% decrease in homelessness days among YOW participants, and service to 231 human trafficking victims in a recent year.

Name

Waymakers

Legal name

Waymakers

Website

https://waymakersoc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Waymakers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Irvine, California, providing youth shelter, victim advocacy, counseling, conflict resolution, and prevention education to at-risk youth, crime victims, and families across Orange County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Youth shelter services
• Victim assistance programs
• Family counseling services
• Conflict resolution mediation
• Community prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Waymakers receives monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization runs annual fundraising events including the Swing for Kids Golf Tournament, Chari-TEA Party, and accepts general donations through its website. Donation payments are processed securely with credit/debit cards.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: Waymakers receives grant funding from government agencies and private foundations. Notable grants include $1 million to the Anaheim Union High School District for youth leadership development, $80,000 from Tennis Serves Others, and participation in the Samueli Foundation's Breakaway Fund. Grant funding supports specific programs and services.
3. City and School District Contracts: Waymakers contracts with cities for youth diversion programs as an alternative to incarceration, and with school districts for prevention education programs. Services include gang prevention, substance abuse education, and conflict resolution programming delivered in educational settings.
4. Court-Ordered Payments Processing: Waymakers processes victim emergency fund (VEF) payments and court-ordered restitution payments. A 3% convenience fee is charged for credit/debit card transactions. This service is offered at multiple justice centers across Orange County.
5. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual signature events including the Swing for Kids Golf Tournament (raising $105,000 in 2025), Chari-TEA Party (raising $101,000 in 2026), and Light a Light of Love parade generate significant fundraising revenue while building community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Waymakers is a nonprofit social services organization that provides crisis intervention, emergency youth sheltering, victim advocacy, family counseling, conflict resolution, and community prevention education to individuals and families across Orange County, California. The organization also administers the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and processes court-ordered Victim Emergency Fund and restitution payments at four justice centers.

Product overview

Waymakers is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of community services organized around five core areas: sheltering children through youth shelters in Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Tustin; supporting victims of crime through victim assistance programs and Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS); counseling families with wraparound support services; resolving conflicts through mediation; and educating communities through prevention programs including GRIP (Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership), PATH (Positive Action Toward Health), and the Elevate Youth Leadership Program. The organization also administers the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and operates a court-ordered payment system. These programs work together to provide a continuum of care from crisis intervention through prevention education, with the goal of building safer communities by helping individuals and families navigate from conflict and crisis to strength and stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Shelters (Huntington Beach and Tustin) Emergency shelter services for at-risk youth ages 11-17 providing 24-hour supervision, therapy, coping skills development, and family reunification programs with over 90% reunification rate.
• Victim Assistance Programs Comprehensive support services for victims of crime including crisis intervention, court accompaniment, criminal justice system navigation, victim impact statement preparation, and referrals to mental health and social services.
• Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS) 24-hour hotline and hospital-based crisis response for sexual assault survivors, providing emergency advocacy, counseling referrals, and prevention education programs.
• Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (GRIP) School-based gang prevention program in Anaheim Union High School District providing Parent Greeter programs, teacher mentorship, and positive youth development activities.
• Positive Action Toward Health (PATH) Community health education program addressing substance abuse, vaping, tobacco, alcohol prevention, and smoke-free housing initiatives.
• Elevate Youth Leadership Program Youth leadership development program in partnership with Anaheim Union High School District, empowering students through advocacy, service learning, and mentorship.
• Youthful Offender Wraparound (YOW) Full-Service Partnership Comprehensive services for youthful offenders ages 18-21 including career training, job placement assistance, counseling, and enrichment activities to prevent incarceration, producing a 45% reduction in incarceration rates and 72% decrease in days of homelessness.
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation Services Mediation and conflict resolution services for families, youth, and community members to resolve disputes and build peaceful relationships.
• Court-Ordered Payments Processing Online and phone payment portal for victim restitution and Victim Emergency Fund (VEF) payments via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit/debit cards with a 3% convenience fee. Services offered at Central Justice Center (Santa Ana), North Justice Center (Fullerton), West Justice Center (Westminster), and Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach).
• Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force Administration Waymakers serves as administrator of the county-wide task force providing victim services, law enforcement training, and prevention education for human trafficking across Orange County.
• Domestic Violence Response Team Emergency response services for domestic violence victims in partnership with local law enforcement, providing immediate support and resources.
• City Youth Diversion Programs Youth diversion programs as an alternative to incarceration for young first-time offenders of minor crimes, contracted with cities including Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Westminster, Orange, Tustin, and La Habra.
• Clothesline Project Public awareness campaign displaying T-shirts with messages from sexual assault and violence survivors to give victims a voice and promote healing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of shelter guests successfully reunited with family members
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AALRR (Allen, Austin, Loya, Ruud & Romo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner providing employment and labor law expertise. Jonathan Judge, head of the Private Labor and Employment Group's Advice and Counsel Team at AALRR, serves on Waymakers' Board of Directors.
• Orange County Human Trafficking Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaymakers serves as administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, coordinating comprehensive response to human trafficking including law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers, and community organizations.
• Anaheim Union High School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for youth leadership development. Funded by $1 million grant for Elevate Youth Leadership Development Program to empower youth against substance abuse.
• Newport Mesa Unified School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partnership through Newport Mesa Collective Impact group overseeing Mental Health Awareness Month initiatives and student wellness programs.
• Girl Scout Troop 6170minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for substance misuse prevention. Troop members developed bus shelter artwork as part of Girl Scout Silver Award project addressing unused prescription medications.
• Save Our YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosta Mesa-based nonprofit partner collaborating on substance use prevention messaging and youth programs.
• Laguna Beach Youth Shelter Community PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Mary's Episcopal Church and UPS volunteers provide donations, clothing drives, and holiday support for shelter residents.
• Orange County Cities (Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Westminster, Orange, Tustin, La Habra)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Reinvestment Grant partnerships providing alternatives to incarceration for young first-time offenders of minor crimes through Waymakers diversion programs.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Save Our Youth: Save Our Youth is a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit partnering with Waymakers on substance use prevention messaging and youth programs in Orange County. A direct program collaborator with overlapping youth development and prevention education focus in the same service region.

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: Boys Town is a national nonprofit providing youth shelter, family services, behavioral health, and crisis intervention across the U.S. Directly aligned with Waymakers' integrated model of shelter, counseling, and family support but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Covenant House: Covenant House is a national nonprofit operating shelter and supportive housing programs for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking. Comparable to Waymakers' youth shelter model but at much larger national scale across 30+ cities.
• National Children's Alliance: National Children's Alliance is a national nonprofit accrediting and supporting Children's Advocacy Centers serving child abuse victims. Comparable to Waymakers' victim services for minors and human trafficking youth survivors but operating as an umbrella network rather than direct service provider.

Direct peers

• Casa Youth Shelter: Casa Youth Shelter is a Los Angeles County nonprofit providing emergency shelter and counseling for at-risk youth ages 12-17. Directly comparable to Waymakers' Huntington Beach and Tustin Youth Shelter operations in an adjacent Southern California county.
• Laura's House: Laura's House is an Orange County nonprofit providing emergency shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Overlaps directly with Waymakers' victim assistance, SAVS, and Human Trafficking Task Force work in the same county.
• Human Options: Human Options is an Orange County-based nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking through emergency shelter, crisis intervention, and prevention education. Directly comparable to Waymakers' victim services programs and DV Response Team within the same service region.
• Olive Crest: Olive Crest is a Southern California-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth and families through residential treatment, foster care, and prevention services. Comparable to Waymakers' youth shelter, counseling, and family support programs across overlapping regional markets.
• Interval House: Interval House is an Orange County nonprofit operating the county's first and largest emergency shelter for domestic violence victims. Closely mirrors Waymakers' victim services, SAVS, and DV Response Team operations within the same service area.

Regional players

• Children's Home Society of California: Children's Home Society of California is a statewide nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and child welfare services. Comparable to Waymakers' youth and family services mission across California, with overlapping scope in child welfare and at-risk youth support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waymakersoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaymakersOC
• Instagraminstagram.com/WaymakersOC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Waymakers