SDSN Youth

What SDSN Youth does

SDSN Youth is the official youth division of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), established in 2015 by Professor Jeffrey Sachs in Paris. Operating as a US-domiciled nonprofit, it serves young people aged 18-35 — including university students, SDG Coordinators, young urban professionals, and youth-led organizations — by delivering structured education, incubation, and convening programs on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio spans eight core programs: the SDG Students Program (university campus hubs and SDG Coordinator roles), Local Pathways Fellowship (10-month urban sustainability fellowship), Youth Solutions Program (16-week incubator plus a pitch competition for the top 50 youth-led solutions launched September 2022), Vatican Youth Symposium (annual global gathering co-hosted with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences), Global Schools Program (K-12 ESD integration), Global Youth Networks (30+ national and regional networks across Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe), Membership Program (free institutional membership for youth-led organizations and universities), and Intergenerational Dialogues.

The underlying technology is a digital platform-based community engagement model: a web property at sdsnyouth.org, virtual events, online learning modules, and regional consultations, with a recorded YouTube archive of convenings. Its most notable technology partnership is with IBM Watson for a COVID-19 information chatbot delivered through SDSN Youth Philippines. The organization runs on a fully distributed, virtual operating model with no physical headquarters.

Its business model is grant- and donation-funded: it offers all participation at no cost to individuals or institutions (a free Freemium institutional membership), and finances operations through philanthropic grants (most recently a strategic partnership with the Ford Foundation announced January 2026), corporate sponsorships, and major individual donors (Dr. Betsee Parker contributed USD $100,000 at VYS17). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is community-led and event-driven, with 30+ Regional/National Youth Networks acting as local acquisition channels and the Vatican Youth Symposium functioning as the flagship global convening event.

Name

SDSN Youth

Legal name

SDSN Youth

Website

https://sdsnyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SDSN Youth is a UN-affiliated nonprofit that empowers young people aged 18-35 across 85+ countries to develop sustainable development solutions through fellowships, campus programs, incubators, and the annual Vatican Youth Symposium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sustainable Development Education

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAD

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAAAOAD

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Sustainable development fellowships
• Community network building
• Global citizenship programs
• Nonprofit youth initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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. Donations and Sponsorships: SDSN Youth relies on donations, sponsorships, and partnerships to fund operations. The organization invites donors and sponsors to invest in youth-focused education and action for sustainable development. Dr. Betsee Parker is noted as a key supporter who contributed USD $100,000 at VYS17.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SDSN Youth is a global nonprofit youth initiative that delivers educational programs, fellowships, events, and incubators focused on empowering young people (18-35) to drive sustainable development aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Its portfolio includes the SDG Students Program (campus-based SDG hubs), Local Pathways Fellowship (urban development), Vatican Youth Symposium (annual global gathering), Youth Solutions Program (incubator), Global Schools Program (K-12), Membership Program (institutional network), Global Youth Networks (regional coordination), and Intergenerational Dialogues.

Product overview

SDSN Youth operates as a portfolio of interconnected youth empowerment programs focused on sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization offers eight core programs: the Local Pathways Fellowship (10-month urban development fellowship), SDG Students Program (university engagement via campus hubs), Vatican Youth Symposium (annual global youth gathering), Youth Solutions Program (startup incubation and pitch competition), Global Schools Program (K-12 curriculum integration), Global Youth Networks (regional network coordination), Membership Program (institutional network), and Intergenerational Dialogues (cross-generational knowledge exchange). A flagship partnership initiative, 'A Youth Vision for the World's Future' with the Ford Foundation, conducts regional youth consultations on key sustainability topics. The programs collectively reach 85+ countries with over 2,100 youth leaders trained and 1,023 solutions ideated.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vatican Youth Symposium (VYS): Annual gathering of young leaders and experts from around the world to discuss and generate solutions for urgent issues of humanity, co-hosted with the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
• SDG Students Program
• Local Pathways Fellowship
• Youth Solutions Program
• Global Schools Program
• A Youth Vision for the World's Future

Products and services

• SDG Students Program A global program engaging university students in the UN 2030 Agenda through campus-based SDG Hubs, leadership roles as SDG Coordinators, and educational resources on sustainable development. Free to join with applications opening annually in May.
• Local Pathways Fellowship A 10-month online fellowship program where participants explore pathways for localizing the SDGs, exchange knowledge and ideas, and engage local stakeholders in dialogue around sustainable urban development solutions. Free to apply with applications opening annually in October.
• Vatican Youth Symposium Annual gathering of young leaders and experts from around the world, organized with the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, to discuss and generate solutions for urgent sustainable development issues. The symposium serves as a global forum for youth in sustainable development and an intergenerational platform.
• Youth Solutions Program Program that highlights the top 50 youth-led sustainable solutions globally, providing innovators with incubator support through the Investment Readiness Program to strengthen founder skillsets and become investment ready. Applications open annually in June.
• Global Schools Program Program that trains advocates to bring sustainable development and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into primary and secondary school curricula through a 6-month volunteer term. Free to join as an advocate.
• Global Youth Networks Global network connecting youth networks across Africa, Americas, Asia & Pacific, and Europe, coordinated by National and Regional Networks to mobilize local youth-led action for sustainable development. Reaches 30+ countries across 21 networks.
• Membership Program Network program enabling youth-led and youth-focused organizations to join, gaining access to research, business development resources, and events that connect them with global experts, business leaders, and peers. Free institutional membership with a 24-month flexible term and monthly application processing.
• SDSN Youth Seed Fund Awards Awards and seed funding program, a joint initiative with NOVA Impact, designed to identify, empower, and recognize outstanding innovation and creativity led by young changemakers advancing the SDGs.
• A Youth Vision for the World's Future Global partnership project with the Ford Foundation that gathers and assesses youth perspectives through regional dialogues on gender equality, climate change, and future of work, publishing recommendations for decision-makers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2102+ youth community leaders educated
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012SDSN Youth is the official youth initiative of UN SDSN, launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012. UN SDSN mobilizes global expertise around the Sustainable Development Goals. SDSN Youth is SDSN's flagship program for young people.
• Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual Vatican Youth Symposium at Casina Pio IV, Vatican City. PAS is the only supranational academy of sciences in the world, founded in 1603.
• Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts Vatican Youth Symposium annually with SDSN Youth. PASS was established in 1994 to promote study and progress in social sciences.
• Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global CitizensstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed the SDG Students Program Certificate with Ban Ki-Moon Centre, SDSN Youth, and SDG Academy to encourage university students worldwide to learn about, engage with, and take action on the SDGs.
• SDG AcademystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in joint development of SDG Students Program Certificate along with Ban Ki-Moon Centre and SDSN Youth.
• SDSN Networks (National/Regional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDSN Youth coordinates with SDSN Networks at national and regional levels to mobilize young leaders worldwide and localize sustainable solutions.
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-mooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched UN SDSN in 2012; Ban Ki-moon's initiative to mobilize global expertise around the SDGs forms the foundation of SDSN Youth's parent organization.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global social-entrepreneurship ecosystem supporting youth-led changemakers through fellowships, networks, and investment readiness. Overlaps with SDSN Youth's Youth Solutions Program and Investment Readiness track for young social entrepreneurs working on SDGs.
• Global Citizen: Youth-oriented advocacy and mobilization platform focused on the SDGs and global development. Comparable to SDSN Youth on SDG-aligned youth mobilization, convening high-profile speakers, and channeling participants into fellowships and advocacy campaigns.
• AIESEC: Global youth-led network operating in 100+ countries with structured fellowship, leadership, and cross-cultural programs. Directly comparable to SDSN Youth as a global, volunteer-driven, multi-program youth development platform with institutional memberships.
• Global Shapers Community: World Economic Forum's youth network of city-based hubs led by young leaders aged 18-28. Comparable to SDSN Youth's SDG Hubs and Global Youth Networks as a credentialed, global, hub-based youth leadership network with a flagship institutional parent.
• TakingITGlobal: Digital-first youth-led global development platform providing networking, programs, and grant opportunities. Comparable to SDSN Youth on technology-enabled community engagement, leadership cohorts, and free-to-join youth programming around sustainability.
• Restless Development: Youth-led international development organization running country networks, fellowships and advocacy programs. Closely parallels SDSN Youth's model of decentralized national networks, paid and volunteer fellowship cohorts, and UN-aligned development focus.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): Global youth education and workforce-readiness nonprofit operating in 100+ countries via school and university programs. Comparable to SDSN Youth's SDG Students Program and Global Schools Program on in-curricular youth workforce and entrepreneurship training at scale.
• UNICEF Generation Unlimited: UN-led global initiative engaging adolescents and youth (12-24) in secondary education, skills training, and engagement programs. Comparable to SDSN Youth on UN-affiliated youth programming targeting SDG outcomes, including employability and skills development.

Broad incumbents

• World YMCA: Global youth development and community-wellbeing network active in 100+ countries with structured membership and youth leadership programs. Comparable to SDSN Youth on global youth membership structure, leadership pipelines, and decentralized country networks, though YMCA's focus is broader than SDGs.

Emerging players

• Youth Climate Labs: Niche global accelerator for youth-led climate ventures. Directly overlaps with the 'investment readiness' and 'top 50 solutions' components of SDSN Youth's Youth Solutions Program and Seed Fund Awards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SDSNYouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/SDSNYouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdsnyouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsnyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SDSN Youth