The Washington Youth Academy

What The Washington Youth Academy does

The Washington Youth Academy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (EIN 26-2771686) established in May 2008 to provide philanthropic and financial support to the Washington Youth Academy, a state-run residential and post-residential program in Bremerton, Washington for at-risk youth aged 16 to 18 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. The Academy operates as Washington's official site within the federally backed National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, delivering a 5.5-month residential curriculum covering eight core components (academic excellence, responsible citizenship, physical fitness, leadership, job skills, community service, health/hygiene, and life coping skills) followed by a 12-month post-residential mentoring phase, with two 150-cadet classes run annually. The Foundation itself employs no paid staff and is governed entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors; its function is to fund programmatic equipment (3D printers, robotics kits, CERT emergency-response gear, raised-bed gardens), academic enrichment (book club via Kitsap Regional Library Foundation), and graduate financial assistance, including named scholarships exceeding $70,000 cumulatively disbursed (Lowenberg, Leandro Jasso, Parker Lang Memorial).

The Foundation's revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions rather than commercial pricing. Sources include individual donations routed through the Foundation's website, third-party fundraising platforms (Amazon Smile, iGive, Combined Federal Campaign code 97172, Washington State Combined Fund Drive code 1479426), corporate and tribal foundation grants (Puget Sound Energy Foundation, Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust), workplace giving, and event-driven fundraising such as the annual Kitsap Great Give and motorcycle rallies. Beneficiaries receive the program free of charge, with approximately 70% coming from low-income households; outcomes are independently validated by MDRC (29% increase in high school diploma/GED attainment, 86% increase in college attendance, 20% increase in annual earnings) and RAND (166% societal ROI, equivalent to $2.66 per $1 spent).

The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology products. Its technology footprint consists of purchased educational equipment (3D printers, robotics kits) and a Community Emergency Response Team training program that has certified 835 cadets and earned a FEMA honorable mention in 2017 for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness. The Foundation's "platform" is effectively its relationships with the Washington Military Department, National Guard Bureau, tribal nations, regional library and food systems, and a recurring donor base — all of which it leverages to convert small-dollar giving into direct cadet and graduate support.

Name

The Washington Youth Academy

Legal name

Washington Youth Academy Foundation

Website

https://wyafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Washington Youth Academy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds the Washington Youth Academy, a state-run residential program serving at-risk Washington youth aged 16-18 within the federal National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. It raises charitable donations to provide scholarships, equipment, and graduate support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Residential Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Residential youth services
• Scholarship financial assistance
• Emergency preparedness training
• Nonprofit youth foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wausau

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The Foundation raises funds through individual donations, corporate matching programs, and fundraising events. Donors can give through the website, Amazon Smile, iGive, Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #97172), and Washington State Combined Fund Drive (#1479426).
2. Foundation Grants: Receives grants from corporate foundations like Puget Sound Energy Foundation ($7,500 for CERT kits), Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund, and Puyallup Tribe Charity Trust.
3. Scholarship Programs: Awards scholarships to cadet graduates including Leandro Jasso Scholarship for Leaders, Maj Gen Tim and Mary Lowenberg Scholarship ($1,000), and Cadet Parker Lang Memorial Scholarship ($1,000). Has awarded over $70,000 in scholarships and job training support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Washington Youth Academy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and supports the Washington Youth Academy, a state-run residential and post-residential program for at-risk youth aged 16-18 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. The Foundation provides scholarship support for graduates, funds academic and STEM programs (robotics, 3D printing, library/book club), and equips the Academy's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, all at free tuition to qualifying cadets.

Product overview

The Washington Youth Academy Foundation is a non-profit organization (EIN 26-2771686) established in May 2008 to support the Washington Youth Academy. The Academy is a state-run residential and post-residential program for youth aged 16-18 who have dropped out of high school or are at risk. The Foundation provides financial support including scholarships for college, trade school, vocational training, job training, high school credit retrieval, driver's training, and funds academic programs such as robotics, library services, science curriculum (including 3D printing), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, and community garden projects. The Foundation also supports a book club program and provides emergency preparedness equipment to cadets. The organization is not a technology product company—it is a charitable foundation that funds educational programs and provides financial assistance to at-risk youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Washington Youth Academy Residential Program A free, state-run 5.5-month residential program for at-risk youth aged 16-18 in Washington State who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of high school. Two cycles per year accept 150 student cadets each, covering academic excellence, responsible citizenship, physical fitness, leadership/followership, job skills, community service, health and hygiene, and life coping skills. Operated under the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program.
• Post-Residential Mentoring and Follow-Up Phase A 12-month post-residential phase providing mentor matching and continued support to graduates of the Academy to sustain long-term outcomes in employment, education, and service.
• WYA Graduate Financial Support (Scholarship Program) Financial assistance for Academy graduates covering college, trade school, vocational training, apprenticeships, job training, driver's education, and employment-related expenses such as tools and equipment. Includes named scholarships such as the Leandro Jasso Scholarship for Leaders, the Maj Gen Tim and Mary Lowenberg Scholarship ($1,000), and the Cadet Parker Lang Memorial Scholarship ($1,000). Over $70,000 in scholarships and job training support has been awarded.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Program Comprehensive emergency preparedness training for all cadets covering mass casualty drills, first aid, search and rescue skills, fire extinguisher use, and CERT kit distribution. Recognized by FEMA with an honorable mention in the national Individual and Community Preparedness Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29% increase in high school diploma/GED attainment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and major.

• Kitsap Regional Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2017Partnership to support expansion of the Academy Book Club, providing reading opportunities for cadets and supporting literacy development.
• Seeds of GracemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2017Partnership to fund a raised bed garden space with 36 raised beds. Cadets build the beds and plant seeds to start a sustainable organic garden. Twelve beds raise vegetables for local food banks.
• Kitsap Great GivemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual one-day fundraising event providing matching funds (approximately 15% bonus pool) from sponsors. Foundation participates annually in April.
• National Guard Youth ChalleNGe ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Washington Youth Academy is part of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program operated in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, National Guard Bureau, state governments and local sites.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• KIPP Foundation: National charter school network focused on college-prep outcomes for students from underserved communities; addresses an adjacent segment of the at-risk youth pipeline though via K-12 charter schools rather than dropout re-engagement.
• Camelot Education: Alternative education provider focused on dropout recovery and credit retrieval for at-risk youth; offers similar academic recovery and life-skills outcomes but as a private provider to school districts rather than a residential National Guard academy.

Direct peers

• Florida Youth Challenge Academy: State-run National Guard Youth ChalleNGe site in Florida offering the same 5-month residential + 12-month post-residential program for at-risk high school dropouts, with nearly identical outcome metrics and federal validation.
• North Carolina Youth ChalleNGe Academy: Another state ChalleNGe academy in the same National Guard network; serves the same at-risk youth population with a directly comparable residential model, post-residential mentoring, and scholarship support pathway.
• California Cadet Corps / California National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Direct peer operating the California ChalleNGe program under the same National Guard Youth ChalleNGe framework, serving at-risk 16-18 year-olds in a residential/post-residential model with similar curriculum components (academics, citizenship, fitness, life skills).
• Georgia Youth ChalleNGe Program: Georgia's National Guard ChalleNGe site, parallel program serving at-risk 16-18 year-olds with the same residential curriculum and post-residential mentoring structure.
• Texas ChalleNGe Academy: Texas-based sister ChalleNGe academy operating the same National Guard framework for at-risk youth; directly comparable mission, residential structure, and outcome reporting infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Job Corps: Federally funded residential education and job-training program for at-risk youth 16-24; a much larger incumbent operating a similar dropout-prevention + vocational-skills mission at national scale.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving opportunity youth with training and corporate connections; a broader incumbent addressing similar economic-mobility pain points though focused on older youth (18-24) in a non-residential model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development nonprofit with dropout prevention, mentoring, and life-skills programming; comparable target demographic (at-risk youth) but operates as community-based clubs rather than a residential academy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WYAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company-beta/16005701
• Xx.com/WYAFoundation1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Washington Youth Academy