Freedom for Youth Ministries

What Freedom for Youth Ministries does

Freedom for Youth Ministries (FFYM) is a Des Moines, Iowa-based nonprofit Christian ministry founded in 2003 that delivers faith-based after-school, summer, and employment-training programs to Iowa youth and young adults. Its core product portfolio is organized by age cohort: Whiz-Kidz (K-5th grade), Discovery (6th-8th grade), Journey (9th-12th grade), and Elevate (ages 16-25). Programs integrate Bible study, tutoring, mentorship, meals, transportation, and college/career preparation. The organization also operates two wholly-owned social enterprises — Freedom Blend Coffee (founded 2011) and Freedom Construction Services (founded 2015) — that provide paid hands-on employment training in hospitality and skilled trades respectively, while generating earned revenue. FFYM operates from a 6-acre, 9-building home campus in inner-city Des Moines, with satellite centers in Knoxville and Carlisle, and mobile summer outreach (Freedom Quest) reaching 40+ Iowa communities across 21 counties.

FFYM's business model is a hybrid nonprofit/earned-revenue structure. Approximately 70-85% of operating support is sourced from tax-deductible donations (individuals, churches, and organizations via a DonorView portal), material donations, and major-donor capital campaigns (most recently the Children's Center Phase 1, fully funded March 2024). Earned revenue is generated by Freedom Blend Coffee's retail operations (Monday-Saturday, 7am-2pm at 2329 Hickman Road) and Freedom Construction Services' shed/dog-house contracting. No fees are charged to youth program participants. The organization operates debt-free and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Brittany Heard, with Emmanuel Caraballo as Executive Director. Distribution is multi-channel: physical campus programs, satellite centers, mobile outreach, ICYN partner churches (12+ across Iowa), and referral/word-of-mouth networks. FFYM has no technology products, AI/ML capabilities, or API infrastructure — it is a service-and-community-based organization with web presence on Squarespace and basic donor CRM.

Name

Freedom for Youth Ministries

Legal name

Freedom for Youth Ministries

Website

https://freedomforyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom for Youth Ministries is a Des Moines-based nonprofit that delivers faith-based after-school, summer, and employment-training programs to Iowa youth (K-12) and young adults (18-25) through campus programs, satellite centers, two social enterprises, and a statewide church partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Ministry Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG)

Keywords

• Youth ministry programs
• After-school programs
• Employment training services
• Social enterprise training
• Faith-based youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Freedom for Youth Ministries relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, churches, and organizations to fund programs. One-time and recurring donations are accepted through their DonorView portal.
2. Social Enterprise Revenue: Freedom Blend Coffee and Freedom Construction Services are social enterprises that provide employment training while generating revenue through coffee sales and construction services.
3. Material Donations: The organization accepts donations of materials, supplies, and Amazon Wish List items to support programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Freedom for Youth Ministries delivers free after-school and summer faith-based youth development programs for K-12 students (Whiz-Kidz, Discovery, Journey) and young adults (Elevate), plus paid hands-on employment training through two operating social enterprises—Freedom Blend Coffee (hospitality) and Freedom Construction Services (skilled trades including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, flooring, and HVAC). Programs are delivered at the Des Moines home campus, Knoxville and Carlisle Freedom Centers, and through traveling Freedom Quest summer outreach, supplemented by the Iowa Christian Youth Network (ICYN) church-partnership network.

Product overview

Freedom for Youth Ministries offers a portfolio of youth development programs and social enterprises across Iowa. The core youth programs include Whiz-Kidz (K-5th grade), Discovery (6th-8th grade), and Journey (9th-12th grade) after-school and summer programs. For young adults, Elevate provides personal and professional development while the Employment Training program offers paid work experience through two social enterprises: Freedom Blend Coffee (hospitality training) and Freedom Construction Services (skilled trades training). The organization also operates Freedom Quest, a traveling summer outreach, and founded the Iowa Christian Youth Network (ICYN) to connect churches across the state. Additional offerings include internship programs, volunteer opportunities, and the Community Sports Movement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freedom Blend Coffee: A full-service coffee business and social enterprise of Freedom for Youth Ministries that empowers young adults through Christ-centered employment training. Founded in 2011, it teaches job skills and provides work experience.
• Freedom Construction Services
• Freedom Quest
• Iowa Christian Youth Network (ICYN)

Products and services

• Whiz-Kidz After-school and summer program for children from kindergarten through 5th grade that combines Bible time, small groups, tutoring, and structured activities to build academic confidence, leadership skills, and faith formation.
• Discovery After-school and summer program for students in 6th through 8th grade offering Bible lessons, worship, skills classes, and small-group discussions focused on academic success, future-employment preparation, and servant leadership.
• Journey After-school and summer program for students in 9th through 12th grade that builds academic success, professional job skills, and servant leadership, including Future U classes preparing students for employment and financial stability.
• Elevate

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate with plans for college, trade schools, or careers in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, and ministry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa Christian Youth Network (ICYN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICYN was founded by Freedom for Youth Ministries to connect Christ-centered churches and ministries who desire to reach students with the Gospel across Iowa. Network members have free access to communal resources including curricula, policies, volunteer training, and organizational materials. Current members include churches in Burlington, Carlisle, Colfax, Davenport, Fairfield, Knoxville, Melbourne, Montezuma, Norwalk, Panora, and others.
• City Hope Foundation (Burlington, Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Hope Foundation promotes flourishing of individuals, families, and communities in Southeast Iowa through relationships, youth development, work/life skills development, and neighborhood development.
• Christian Life Church (Des Moines)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated on the south side of Des Moines, Christian Life Church is a diverse family of believers committed to demonstrating Christ's love through comprehensive midweek ministries and targeted local outreaches.
• Estes ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor for the Children's Center project at Hickman Road campus. Announced as enthusiastically leading the way on the project from day one.
• Minute Ministries/Treehouse (Fairfield, Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinute Ministries' mission is to equip and empower people through scripture, bringing hope and encouragement to teens in the Fairfield area.
• First Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Montezuma, Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to knowing Jesus and making Jesus known, offering weekly after-school program for K-5th graders.
• Cafe ImportsminorOthersCoffee sourcing partner for Freedom Blend Coffee, providing beans to create light, medium, dark roasts plus decaf and espresso.
• Honduran Coffee AllianceminorOthersCoffee sourcing partner for Freedom Blend Coffee.
• Monte Morris Basketball CampminorOthersTwo-day camp in Ames that provided generous gift enabling 15 Freedom students to attend and meet NBA player Monte Morris.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Boys Town: Faith-rooted nonprofit serving at-risk and homeless youth with care, education, and life-skills programs, comparable to FFYM's at-risk and formerly residential youth focus.
• Year Up: Nonprofit providing workforce training and paid work experience to young adults 18-24, directly comparable to FFYM's employment training and Elevate programs.
• Cafe Momentum: Restaurant-based social enterprise offering paid internships and life-skills training to justice-involved and at-risk youth, comparable to FFYM's coffee-shop training enterprise.

Direct peers

• Homeboy Industries: Operates social enterprises (cafe, bakery, services) that provide employment training to at-risk youth and young adults, paralleling Freedom Blend Coffee and Freedom Construction Services.
• Young Life: Christian outreach ministry to middle, high school, and college youth through clubs, camps, and mentorship, closely comparable to FFYM's faith-based programs and summer outreach.
• Youth for Christ: National faith-based youth ministry running community and school-based programs to reach adolescents with the Gospel, directly mirroring FFYM's Christ-centered youth development model.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk children and teens, overlapping FFYM's mentorship and youth development mission on a much larger, secular scale.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national network of after-school and youth development centers serving at-risk K-12 youth, overlapping FFYM's after-school/summer programming though secular and far larger.
• YMCA: Community-based, originally faith-rooted nonprofit offering youth after-school, sports, and development programs, overlapping FFYM's community youth services across many locations.

Others

• Goodwill Industries: Operates retail social enterprises funding workforce training and job placement, sharing FFYM's earned-revenue-plus-training model though for adults broadly rather than youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freedomforyouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/FreedomforYouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/freedomforyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Freedom for Youth Ministries