Forge Foundation

What Forge Foundation does

Forge Foundation is a Switzerland-headquartered nonprofit organization founded in 2005 that designs and delivers youth employment and education programs for people aged 17-24 living in vulnerable conditions across Latin America. Its core offerings include the free online 'Your Future' job-search course, the 'Monsters' interactive self-assessment quiz, structured Learning & Innovation Lab experiences, and a teacher-training program that has equipped 7,388 educators with the Forge methodology. These programs are delivered through the Campus Forge online portal and an Alumni Network, alongside digital content channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn) and a Youth Observatory that publishes research on youth, education, and employment in the region.

The underlying technology stack is a lightweight online learning platform with digital engagement tools (quiz, login portal, alumni site) rather than a proprietary software product. Forge reports cumulative impact of 1.2 million young people across 8 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay), with 70% program retention, 64% job placement, and 57% female participation.

Forge's business model is donation-funded: individual donations, corporate donations, and foundation grants. Programs are provided free of charge to youth participants. The most material disclosed funding relationship is a five-year commitment (beginning 2019) with Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich, and Zurich Santander Insurance America. The organization operates with 101-250 employees out of Lugano, Switzerland, and distributes programs through direct online enrollment, public education system partnerships, and corporate collaborations.

Name

Forge Foundation

Legal name

Forge Foundation

Website

https://fondationforge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Forge Foundation is a Switzerland-based nonprofit that delivers free youth employment and education programs to people aged 17-24 in vulnerable conditions across eight Latin American countries, combining online courses, teacher training, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development and Nonprofit Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• Youth employment programs
• Career readiness training
• Nonprofit education services
• Digital learning platforms
• Latin America workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Private individuals donate to support Forge Foundation's youth programs and operational costs
2. Corporate Donations: Companies and organizations provide financial support through strategic partnerships and corporate giving programs, focusing on youth, work, and education initiatives
3. Foundation Grants: Foundation partners such as Z Zurich Foundation provide funding for social equity programs in Latin America

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forge Foundation delivers free youth development programs and digital learning tools for young people aged 17-24 in vulnerable conditions across Latin America. Core offerings include the 'Your Future' online job-search course, the Monsters interactive self-assessment quiz, the Learning & Innovation Lab experiential program, and an Educational Systems initiative that trains public-school teachers in the Forge methodology.

Product overview

Forge Foundation operates as an educational non-profit organization offering a portfolio of youth development programs and digital platforms. The core offerings include 'Your Future Course' (free online job search training for ages 17–24), the 'Monsters Interactive Quiz' (career self-assessment tool), Learning & Innovation Lab programs, and an Educational Systems support initiative for teachers. These programs are delivered through digital platforms including Campus Forge (login portal) and an Alumni Network, collectively serving young people across 8 Latin American countries. The organization has impacted 1.2 million young people over two decades, with measurable outcomes including 64% job placement rate and 70% program retention.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Your Future Course Free online job-search course for young people aged 17-24 who are beginning their career journey, part of the 'Your First Job, Closer Than Ever' initiative.
• Monsters Interactive Quiz Interactive digital quiz that helps youth aged 17-24 discover hidden roadblocks preventing their progress; accessible on demand online.
• Learning & Innovation Lab Experiential learning program engaging young people in hands-on learning experiences to build skills for economic independence; 5,950 young people engaged.
• Educational Systems Program Support program for public education administrators and teachers that delivers Forge methodology training; 7,388 teachers trained, impacting 305,182 young people in their schools.
• On-Demand Digital Resources Digital experiences and resources for youth engagement, including the Monsters quiz; 114,395 youth engaged.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% job placement rate among program participants
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Friends of ForgeminorOthersNetwork of individual supporters and donors who contribute to Forge Foundation's mission. Referenced at friendsofforge.org.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement Americas: Largest youth-focused education nonprofit operating across the Americas, delivering workforce-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial-literacy programs in schools — directly comparable to Forge's teacher-training and youth-employment model across Latin America.
• Year Up: Workforce-development nonprofit serving young adults (typically 18-24) from low-income communities with job-readiness training and corporate placement — same target demographic and outcome metric (job placement) as Forge, despite being U.S.-based.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free technology and job-readiness training to young adults from low-income backgrounds, with strong employer-partnership placement outcomes — directly comparable in mission (youth → quality jobs) and channel structure (free programs + employer partnerships).
• International Youth Foundation: Global nonprofit focused on youth workforce development and education across multiple regions including Latin America — comparable in operating model (multi-country youth programs, corporate/foundation funding, employer engagement).

Broad incumbents

• TechnoServe: Large international nonprofit working on economic development and youth employment in Latin America and other emerging markets — broader scope than Forge but overlapping mission around employability and income generation for vulnerable populations.
• Plan International: Major international NGO operating extensive youth education and employability programs across Latin America, with comparable donor base (corporates, foundations, individuals) — broader portfolio but directly overlapping on youth-transition outcomes.
• Ashoka: Global network supporting social entrepreneurs and youth changemakers, with strong Latin American presence and education/employment programs — comparable ecosystem model and youth-development focus.

Regional players

• Fondo de las Américas: Latin American foundation focused on youth economic opportunities and social inclusion through grants and partnerships — overlapping mission and geography with Forge, though operating more as a funder/intermediary.
• Cimientos: Argentina-based nonprofit supporting low-income youth through scholarships, mentoring, and job-readiness programs — highly comparable in geography (Argentina core market for Forge) and youth-transition mission.

Others

• Education Development Center: International nonprofit focused on education, workforce development, and youth programs in developing countries — adjacent ecosystem participant with overlapping employer and education-system engagement channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ForgeFondation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForgeFundacion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-forge
• Instagraminstagram.com/forgefoundationorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Forge Foundation