Cincinnati Youth Collaborative

What Cincinnati Youth Collaborative does

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) is a 501(c)(3)-style nonprofit organization headquartered at 301 Oak Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in the late 1980s to address barriers faced by at-risk youth in Greater Cincinnati. The organization operates a portfolio of youth development programs delivered primarily through partnerships with four school districts: Cincinnati Public Schools, Mt. Healthy City Schools, North College Hill City Schools, and Winton Woods City Schools. Its core programmatic pillars are Mentoring (including Saturday Hoops, UC Med Mentors, Girls Club), College and Career Success (GEAR UP, Next Level Pathways), and Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (a credit-bearing high school elective built on the Jobs for America's Graduates curriculum with 37 character competencies and 12 months of post-graduation follow-up). The organization also runs a CYC Alumni reciprocity program and an annual portfolio of fundraising and community events (Dream Makers Celebration, Golf Outing, Career Development Conference).

The technology footprint is essentially non-existent from a product standpoint: there is no proprietary platform, app, or API; service delivery is conducted by human staff and volunteers embedded in school sites and at community-based mentoring locations. The "platform" is instead a human coordination system spanning 100+ partner organizations, 1,200+ active volunteers in the most recent reported academic year, and 20,000+ volunteers cumulatively over 35+ years, with documented outcomes of 5,000+ students served annually, a 93% graduation rate, and 95% next-grade promotion in the 2022–23 academic year.

CYC's economic model is contribution-based rather than fee-based. Services are free to students; revenue is assembled from individual donations (including a monthly giving program via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, stock donations through Fidelity, and Donor Advised Funds), corporate sponsorships (event underwriting, Kroger Community Rewards yielding up to $50,000 per quarter), foundation grants (Dater, Duke Energy, Woodward Trust, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, P&G Fund, Andrew Jergens, Schroth, Josephine Shell Russell, etc.), government grants (notably an Ohio Department of Education Community Connectors grant of $85,000 and a City of Cincinnati Human Services Fund grant of $290,000+ in 2025 for youth gun-violence reduction), and United Way campaign allocations. The go-to-market model is community-led distribution through school district MOUs and partner referrals rather than direct sales. There is no public ticker, no parent company, and no M&A activity. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative

Legal name

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative

Website

https://cycyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that empowers at-risk youth through mentoring, college and career readiness, and work readiness programs, serving over 5,000 students annually across four school districts through a network of 100+ partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• College access programs
• Work readiness training
• Workforce development programs
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CYC accepts donations from individuals via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, and Donor Advised Fund. Stock donations are also accepted through Fidelity.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support CYC through event sponsorships (Dream Makers, Golf Outing, Career Development Conference) and programmatic support.
3. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including Ohio Department of Education Community Connectors grants ($85,000) and City of Cincinnati youth violence reduction initiatives ($290,000+).
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Charles H. Dater Foundation ($10,000), Duke Energy Foundation ($5,000), Woodward Trust ($15,000), Greater Cincinnati Foundation ($80,000), and others.
5. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donation program for ongoing supporter engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative provides free youth development services to at-risk students in Greater Cincinnati, including one-to-one and group mentoring, college and career advising through partner schools, and the Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG) high school elective covering 37 core character competencies with 12-month post-graduation follow-up. Services are delivered by career specialists, college advisors, and volunteers embedded in four partner school districts and through community-based mentoring sites, and are funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and government and foundation grants.

Product overview

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC) offers a multi-service nonprofit platform focused on empowering youth for education, career, and life success. The organization operates across several interconnected programs: Mentoring services (including Saturday Hoops, UC Med Mentors, and Girls Club) providing one-to-one and group mentorship; College and Career Success programs (GEAR UP and Next Level Pathways) offering advising and college preparation; and Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates, a credit-bearing high school elective for career readiness. CYC also manages alumni engagement, volunteer coordination, and fundraising events including Dream Makers Celebration, Career Development Conference, and an annual Golf Outing. The programs work together through school district partnerships, volunteer networks, and business community collaboration to serve over 5,000 students annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG): A credited in-school elective program equipping students with core character competencies that prepare them for post-secondary pursuits including enrollment, employment, or enlistment. Local affiliate of Jobs for Ohio Graduates and Jobs for America's Graduates.
• GEAR UP
• Saturday Hoops
• UC Med Mentors
• Next Level Pathways
• CYC Girls Club
• AmeriCorps Ohio College Guide
• Young Professionals (YP) Board

Products and services

• College and Career Success Prepares students to graduate high school and succeed in college, beginning in junior high and continuing through college with advisors guiding students to plan and prepare for post-secondary opportunities. College Advisors work on-site in partner schools. Encompasses the GEAR UP federal college access program and Next Level Pathways advising.
• Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates (JCG) A one-credit high school elective program that keeps at-risk students, including foster care youth, in school and on the path to employment, college enrollment, or military enlistment. Equips students with 37 core character competencies and provides 12 months of post-graduation follow-up services. Achieved 99% graduation rate and JAG 6 of 6 award in 2022-23.
• Mentoring One-to-one and group mentoring programs providing at-risk youth with positive adult advocates who offer encouragement and guidance for overcoming obstacles and achieving academic and life success. Includes Saturday Hoops, UC Med Mentors, and Girls Club as distinct program tracks.
• Saturday Hoops A Saturday morning group mentoring program held at multiple sites around Cincinnati, providing mentorship and basketball activities for youth.
• UC Med Mentors A mentoring partnership between CYC, University of Cincinnati Medical students, and nearby schools that provides mentorship opportunities for students interested in medical careers, including internships hosted at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
• CYC Girls Club An after-school program serving at-risk girls in Cincinnati Public Schools at six elementary schools, providing mentorship and personal development activities.
• CYC Alumni A program connecting former CYC students who have become community and business leaders, civic servants, and mentors, creating a reciprocity loop for former participants to give back to current students.
• Volunteer Opportunities Programs allowing community members to serve as mentors, career guides, Lunch and Learn speakers, job shadows, college financial aid guides, and competition judges supporting CYC's student services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% graduation rate achieved in 2022-23 academic year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Level Up CincinnatimoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2023Partnership to enhance mentorship program for first-generation college students through training and support.
• Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023Collaboration on Good Jobs Challenge workforce development program targeting 70+ high school seniors for advanced manufacturing careers.
• Cincinnati WorksmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023Partnership in workforce development providing job readiness curriculum and one-on-one coaching for program participants.
• Mt. Healthy City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school district receiving GEAR UP college access program with over 1,500 one-on-one advising sessions to students and families.
• North College Hill School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school district receiving GEAR UP college access program and mentoring services.
• Cincinnati Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner school district receiving Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates, mentoring programs, and career development services.
• Winton Woods High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school receiving college and career success programming.
• Jobs for America's GraduatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing proven curriculum, program standards, and recognition for Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates program.
• GEAR UPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal college access program providing advisors and resources for students in Mt. Healthy and North College Hill districts.
• University of CincinnatimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for UC Med Mentors program connecting medical students with mentees, and broader college access initiatives.
• United Way of Greater CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency partner receiving ongoing campaign support. United Way's Bold Goals in education align with CYC's mission.
• LuxotticamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time corporate partner supporting mentoring programs, recognized by National Corporate Mentoring Challenge as Most Robust Engagement.
• City Gospel MissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in College and Career Mentoring expansion through Community Connectors grant initiative.
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater CincinnatimoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Fidelity mentoring program connecting employees with students through the Boys and Girls Club.
• KrogermoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Rewards program allowing shoppers to support CYC while shopping. Organizations can earn up to $50,000 quarterly through the program.
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Med Mentors internships and laptop donations to mentees.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Cincinnati: Broad incumbent umbrella nonprofit and CYC's primary agency partner. Operates as both a funder and convener for youth-serving nonprofits in the region, with overlapping board members and shared 'Bold Goals' in education.
• 4-H Youth Development Program: National incumbent youth development organization with strong presence in Ohio through Ohio State University Extension. Operates after-school, mentoring, and career exploration programs that compete with CYC's programs for school district partnerships and student time.

Direct peers

• Cincinnati Works: Direct peer and existing CYC partner focused on workforce development and economic self-sufficiency for low-income individuals. Both organizations provide job readiness curriculum, one-on-one coaching, and career placement services in the Cincinnati market.
• Girl Scouts of Western Ohio: Direct peer providing youth development programming including leadership, life skills, and career exploration to girls across the same Ohio geography. Both organizations serve at-risk youth in school settings and compete for foundation grants.
• City Gospel Mission: Direct peer and existing CYC partner delivering youth mentoring and workforce development services to at-risk populations in Cincinnati. The organizations co-deliver programming through the Community Connectors grant initiative, operating similar case management and career readiness models.
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati: Direct peer operating youth development programming for at-risk youth in the Greater Cincinnati market. Both organizations compete for the same donor dollars, corporate volunteer engagement, and school district partnerships in the same geographic territory.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati: Direct peer focused on one-to-one youth mentoring in the same Cincinnati market. Both organizations recruit adult volunteers to mentor at-risk youth, compete for United Way and corporate funding, and operate similar match-based mentoring models.
• Junior Achievement of OKI Partners: Direct peer delivering K-12 career readiness, financial literacy, and work readiness programming to students in the same Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana region. Both organizations target at-risk youth with workforce preparation and partner with school districts.

Others

• Jobs for America's Graduates: National umbrella organization and CYC's JCG program affiliate. While not a direct competitor, JAG provides curriculum, standards, and recognition frameworks to CYC, and is comparable in mission as a youth dropout prevention and workforce readiness provider.

Emerging players

• Level Up Cincinnati: Emerging peer and existing CYC partner specializing in mentorship for first-generation college students. While smaller and more narrowly focused, both organizations compete for the same mentee pool and similar programmatic funding in Cincinnati.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cycyouth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=cincinnati+youth+collaborative
• Facebookfacebook.com/cycyouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/cycyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cincinnati Youth Collaborative