Black Youth Leadership Project

What Black Youth Leadership Project does

Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, civic education, and prevention services to Black youth and their families. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in the Sacramento / Elk Grove area, the organization operates with 1–10 employees and delivers all services free of charge. Its core offering is Student & Family Advocacy, which supports families navigating school discipline matters, IEP/504 processes, and policy enforcement challenges; the organization reports a 90% resolution rate across 433 supported advocacy cases.

BYLP's product portfolio spans four integrated service lines: Student & Family Advocacy (core service), Student Support Networks (peer-based mentoring and wellness circles), the Legislative Open House flagship civic engagement program hosted at the California State Capitol, and a Prevention & Crisis Navigation vertical that includes the Choose You campaign (funded by the California DHCS State Opioid Response Grant), MBSAT mindfulness-based substance use prevention education, and Mental Health & Wellness workshops. The organization explicitly does not operate as a technology company and has no proprietary software, app, AI, or API surface; program delivery is conducted in person and through community-based referral pathways.

The business model is nonprofit grant- and donation-funded. Revenue streams include government grants (principally the California DHCS SOR grant), individual and corporate donations, and program sponsorships supporting flagship initiatives. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on advocacy request intake forms and referral pathways from schools, churches, community-based organizations, and government partners. Distribution is regional, restricted to California, with all services provided at no cost to qualifying students and families.

Name

Black Youth Leadership Project

Legal name

Black Youth Leadership Project

Website

https://bylp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Black Youth Leadership Project is a Sacramento, California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free advocacy, civic education, and substance use prevention services to Black youth and families navigating school systems and community challenges across California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Advocacy and Community Support Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Youth advocacy services
• Student family advocacy
• Civic education programs
• Substance abuse prevention
• Nonprofit community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Elk Grove

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. Grant Funding: Primary revenue from government grants including California DHCS State Opioid Response (SOR) Grant for prevention services. BYLP operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Financial contributions from individuals, businesses, and organizations supporting advocacy services, youth programming, and community education efforts.
3. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Program sponsorships from organizations investing in youth civic engagement, including support for Legislative Open House, L.E.A.D. Summit, and SPARK programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BYLP is a nonprofit advocacy and support organization that delivers direct student and family advocacy for navigating school-based challenges (IEP/504 processes, discipline, policy enforcement), peer-based student support networks, the flagship Legislative Open House civic engagement program at the California State Capitol, and grant-funded prevention and crisis navigation resources including the Choose You awareness campaign and MBSAT mindfulness-based substance abuse prevention education. All services are provided free of charge to qualifying students and families in California.

Product overview

BYLP offers a unified suite of advocacy and support services for students and families in California. The core offerings include Student & Family Advocacy for navigating school systems, Student Support Networks providing peer-based development circles, and the flagship Legislative Open House civic engagement program. Prevention services encompass the Choose You awareness campaign, MBSAT mindfulness-based education, and Mental Health & Wellness workshops. These services work together to protect students, support families, and build pathways to civic engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legislative Open House (LOH): BYLP's flagship civic engagement experience designed to help students understand how public decisions are made and how policies impact their communities. Students engage in hands-on learning inside the California State Capitol.
• Choose You
• MBSAT

Products and services

• Student & Family Advocacy Direct support for students and families navigating school-based challenges including discipline practices, IEP/504 processes, and policy enforcement. Services are provided free of charge to qualifying families in California, subject to organizational capacity.
• Student Support Networks Peer-based developmental supports including Confidence & Communication Circles and Social & Emotional Wellness Circles for students referred through advocacy services or partner organizations.
• Legislative Open House (LOH) BYLP's flagship civic engagement experience at the California State Capitol helping students understand public decision-making and policy impacts through mock legislative sessions and direct engagement with policymakers and civic leaders.
• Choose You Prevention Campaign Grant-funded prevention and crisis awareness campaign focused on empowering youth and families to prioritize safety, well-being, and informed decision-making, with education, navigation, and connection to trusted resources.
• MBSAT (Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Prevention) Mindfulness-based education program helping youth understand decision-making, substance use risks, and the impact of choices on health and wellbeing.
• Mental Health & Wellness Workshops Workshops, supports, and referral pathways focused on emotional wellness, stress management, and resilience for youth.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% advocacy resolution rate for 433 supported cases
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• California State CapitolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBYLP's flagship Legislative Open House program takes place inside the California State Capitol, providing students direct engagement with policymakers and experiential civic learning.
• California State Legislators and Civic LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicymakers and civic leaders participate directly in BYLP's Legislative Open House program, engaging with students through guided conversations and mock legislative sessions.
• Schools, Churches, and Community-Based OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partners including school counselors, educators, churches, faith-based organizations, and CBOs that refer students to BYLP programs and advocacy services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI Network): Federally funded network of parent training centers that help families navigate special education, IEP/504, and disability rights. Directly comparable to BYLP's IEP/504 advocacy and parent education service lines.
• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: National organization supporting parents of children with disabilities through IEP/504 advocacy and special education navigation. Direct overlap with BYLP's core student and family advocacy service line.
• National Black Child Development Institute: National nonprofit focused on improving the well-being of Black children and families through education, advocacy, and youth development. Most directly comparable to BYLP given the shared Black youth and education advocacy mission.

Regional players

• Disability Rights California: California-based legal advocacy organization for persons with disabilities, with substantial focus on special education and IEP/504 rights. Closely comparable to BYLP's IEP/504 advocacy work and shares its California geography.
• California CASA Association: California statewide network supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster youth in education and child welfare systems. Comparable to BYLP in California-focused youth advocacy and educational navigation.
• Sacramento Children's Home: Sacramento-based nonprofit providing counseling, shelter, and family support services for at-risk youth. Comparable regional peer to BYLP given shared Sacramento geography and youth advocacy/support mission.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization working on education, juvenile justice, and child welfare policy. Comparable to BYLP in mission and advocacy model, though it operates at significantly greater scale and policy breadth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization offering mentoring, education, and prevention programs. Comparable to BYLP in serving youth through integrated support and prevention services, but at significantly greater scale and broader scope.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring organization that pairs youth with adult mentors for educational and personal development. Comparable to BYLP's Student Support Networks and peer-based mentoring model, though at much larger scale.
• NAACP: Largest U.S. civil rights organization addressing systemic inequities, with youth programs including NAACP Youth & College. Comparable to BYLP in advocating for Black youth and families within institutions, though at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bylp
• Facebookfacebook.com/BYLPinSac
• Instagraminstagram.com/bylp
• TikToktiktok.com/@teambylp?lang=en
• Xx.com/BYLPinSac

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Black Youth Leadership Project