Jobs for Ohio's Graduates

What Jobs for Ohio's Graduates does

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates (JOG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Operating as an affiliate of the national Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) network, JOG delivers the evidence-based JAG curriculum and a holistic service continuum — education support, leadership development, social services, and employment connections — to youth ages 14-24 with multiple barriers to success. Its core products include In-School Programs embedded in high school schedules, Out-of-School Programs for disconnected youth pursuing GED or diploma completion, the GO (Growth Opportunities) Program for justice-involved youth in Akron, Career Pathways planning, and a Summer Work Program. Annual events such as the Career Development Conference & Career Expo and Leadership Development Conference serve as employer-engagement and skill-competition platforms.

JOG generates revenue through a mix of government grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and employer partnership contributions, with services provided free of charge to participants. A material share of recent funding comes from a $4 million U.S. Department of Labor Growth Opportunities Intermediary grant (August 2024) shared with Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Center of Workforce Innovations. The organization serves participants across five Northeast Ohio counties (Summit, Stark, Medina, Ashland, and Trumbull) with offices in each, reaching 3,500+ youth annually and 30,000+ youth cumulatively since founding. Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on referrals from schools, county Job and Family Services, juvenile courts, and a network of 80+ employer partners across manufacturing, healthcare, retail, skilled trades, hospitality, and government sectors.

The organization's competitive position rests on the JAG-affiliated brand and curriculum, deep institutional relationships with Northeast Ohio public agencies, and co-location inside county service facilities. Recent strategic activity has emphasized geographic expansion (Ashland County in 2023, a new Medina County office in November 2025), product specialization through the GO Program for justice-involved youth, and scaling employer participation at annual events. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the organization operates without disclosed AI/ML capabilities; its technology surface is centered on the JAG curriculum and a content-driven website rather than proprietary software.

Name

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates

Legal name

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates

Website

https://jogworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1987 in Akron, Ohio, that delivers JAG-affiliated workforce development programming — education support, career readiness, and employer connections — to youth ages 14-24 with barriers to success across five Northeast Ohio counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Career readiness training
• Education support services
• GED preparation programs
• Job placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: JOG receives federal funding through Department of Labor grants, including a $4 million DOL Growth Opportunities Intermediary grant to serve youth in Akron, Cleveland, and Gary. The organization is also partnered with local government workforce agencies.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: JOG raises funds through direct donations, annual golf outings, quarter auctions, and corporate sponsorships. The organization raised over $10,000 at its first golf outing.
3. Employer Partnership Contributions: Employer partners provide subsidized employment opportunities and work experience placements for participants, contributing to program costs through the subsidized work experience programming.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates (JOG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth workforce development and education support services to young people ages 14-24 with multiple barriers to success across five Northeast Ohio counties. The organization provides in-school and out-of-school programming, GED preparation, career pathways planning, work-based learning, the Growth Opportunities (GO) Program for at-risk and justice-involved youth, and annual career and leadership conferences — all built on the evidence-based Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Model and competency-based curriculum. Services are delivered free of charge to participants by Career Specialists embedded in schools, community offices, and employer partner sites.

Product overview

Jobs for Ohio's Graduates (JOG) is a workforce development nonprofit organization offering a multi-program platform focused on helping youth ages 14-24 with barriers to success complete their education and transition to employment. The core offering consists of In-School Programs operating in high schools across Ohio, Out-of-School Programs for disconnected youth pursuing GED/high school completion, and the GO (Growth Opportunities) Program for at-risk youth in Akron. Related programs include Career Pathways planning, the Summer Work Program providing hands-on workforce experience, and annual events including the Career Development Conference & Career Expo and Leadership Development Conference. The JAG Model (Jobs for America's Graduates) provides the competency-based curriculum framework underpinning all services. JOG serves participants across Summit, Stark, Medina, Ashland, and Trumbull counties in Northeast Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-School Programs JOG programs embedded in high schools across Ohio that bridge the gap for 14-24-year-olds completing their education and entering their desired career field. Delivered as a class as part of student's schedule, after-school program, or during school day.
• Out-of-School Programs Program for young people disconnected from the traditional education system looking to complete their high school education through classes, individual tutoring, and GED preparation.
• GO Program (Growth Opportunities) Helps youth ages 15-18 in Akron, Ohio who face specific obstacles to success gain meaningful experience focusing on education and accelerating their career. Includes mentorship, conflict resolution, life skills, professional certifications, and work experience.
• Career Pathways Works with participants to establish career paths, then Career Specialists lay out necessary steps including apprenticeships, work experience, or further education to achieve career goals.
• Summer Work Program Hands-on workforce experience program covering 5 counties that offers students work opportunities with JOG employer partners during summer months. Students receive career guidance through hands-on training and work experience in their interested career fields.
• Career Development Conference & Career Expo Annual event where JOG participants showcase work readiness skills through competitive events including career preparation, creative decision-making, and employability skills competitions. Includes Career Expo with local employer partners.
• Leadership Development Conference Annual leadership development conference featuring professional development, team dynamics, goal setting and career sessions led by national and local professional leaders.
• Student Advocate Program Program designed to deepen participant engagement through community discussion sessions, peer support, and representing JOG as model participants.
• Organizational Strengths in Differences - DEI Conference Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conference featuring keynote speakers and breakout sessions focused on DEI in the workplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% Graduation Rate: All students who complete the JOG program successfully finish their high school education through diploma or GED.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024JOG partnered with YOU and Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) as one of three organizations nationwide awarded $4 million in DOL Growth Opportunities Intermediary grants to help prepare young people for the workplace in Akron, Cleveland, and Gary.
• Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024JOG partnered with YOU and CWI as one of three organizations nationwide awarded $4 million in DOL Growth Opportunities Intermediary grants targeting youth affected by violence and poverty.
• Summit County Juvenile CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing DOL-funded programming for justice-involved youth aged 15-18 in Akron, providing pathways to employment and career success.
• Red Oak Behavioral HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesignated violence prevention partner providing participants in the DOL program with critical mentoring and conflict resolution services through its iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program. Research shows mentoring reduces recidivism rates for justice-involved youth by over 20%.
• Akron Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in implementing DOL-funded programming for Akron's most historically underserved youth through the Growth Opportunities Intermediary grants.
• Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in workforce development initiatives serving youth across the Summit and Medina County region.
• City of AkroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in implementing programming for the community's most historically underserved youth through the DOL Growth Opportunities program.
• Summit County Department of Job and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner providing support services and referrals for youth participating in JOG programming, including the DOL-funded Growth Opportunities program.
• Ashland County Job and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner in launching JOG programming in Ashland County. JOG office is located inside their facility at 15 W 4th St., Ashland, OH 44805.
• United Way of Summit and Medina CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner providing pre-conference presentations on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion topics for JOG's OSiD conference series. Sponsors programs and events for youth workforce development.
• Ashland Catholic CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing supportive services to JOG participants in Ashland County, including connection with out-of-school program participants.
• Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization providing the evidence-based JAG curriculum and JAG Model of service delivery. JOG is one of more than 40 affiliates nationwide with access to the JAG National Recognition and Competitive Events Program.
• Employer Partners (80+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 80 employers participate in annual Career Expo and provide work experience opportunities, summer employment, subsidized positions, and mentorship to JOG participants. Includes manufacturing, healthcare, retail, skilled trades, hospitality, and government organizations.
• AUIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of JOG's Leadership Development Conference and Quarter Auction events. CEO Chrissy Myers serves as keynote speaker and is a community leader supporting JOG initiatives.
• Citrin CoopermanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of JOG's Annual Golf Outing, supporting fundraising efforts for youth workforce programming.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce development for young adults ages 18-24 from low-income communities, combining technical and professional skills training with corporate internships. Operates at much larger scale than JOG but serves overlapping target population with similar education-to-employment pathway approach.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth including those affected by poverty, violence, and justice involvement. Comparable to JOG in target demographic (14-24 youth facing barriers) and use of mentoring as a core intervention, with research showing similar recidivism-reduction outcomes to JOG's GO Program partner Red Oak Behavioral Health.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Northeast Ohio affiliates): National youth development organization with local clubs throughout Northeast Ohio serving similar at-risk youth populations. While broader in scope than JOG, BGCA clubs compete for the same corporate sponsorships, donor dollars, and youth referral pipelines in overlapping Northeast Ohio geographies.

Emerging players

• National Skills Coalition: National policy and advocacy organization focused on skills training and workforce development for under-represented workers. While not a direct service provider like JOG, NSC shapes federal WIOA and DOL funding priorities that directly impact JOG's grant pipeline and program design.

Regional players

• Urban League of Greater Cleveland: Northeast Ohio affiliate of the National Urban League providing workforce development, education, and economic empowerment services to African American and underserved youth and adults. Directly comparable in regional geography, target demographic, and federal grant funding sources to JOG.
• Cincinnati Works: Cincinnati-based nonprofit providing workforce development and career coaching for low-income adults, including young adults facing barriers to employment. Comparable to JOG in Ohio geography, target population (low-income/barriered workers), and use of coaching plus employer partnership model.

Direct peers

• Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI): Indiana-based workforce intermediary focused on youth and community workforce development, particularly for opportunity youth. Co-recipient with JOG of the August 2024 DOL grant, comparable in serving under-resourced youth with career pathway programming.
• Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG): National parent organization that provides the evidence-based JAG Model curriculum and licensing framework used by JOG. JOG is one of 40+ JAG affiliates operating the same competency-based youth workforce development model across the U.S.
• Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU): Cleveland-based youth workforce development nonprofit serving ages 14-24 with similar education-to-employment programming. Co-recipient with JOG of the August 2024 $4M DOL Growth Opportunities Intermediary grant, directly comparable in mission, target population, and funding sources.
• JAG Indiana (Jobs for America's Graduates-Indiana): Statewide JAG affiliate operating in Indiana, another DOL Growth Opportunities grant geography (Gary). Operates the same JAG curriculum and competency-based model as JOG with directly comparable in-school, out-of-school, and dropout recovery programs for opportunity youth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JOGWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jobs-for-ohios-graduates
• Xx.com/jogworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jobs for Ohio's Graduates