Bolder Options
Bolder Options is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that provides free, wellness-based one-to-one mentoring for middle school youth (ages 10-14) across two Minnesota locations (Minneapolis and Rochester), pairing them with volunteer mentors for year-long relationships funded by donations, grants, and event sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bolder Options does
Bolder Options is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that delivers wellness-based, one-to-one mentoring for middle school youth aged 10-14 across two Minnesota locations (Minneapolis as headquarters and Rochester as a regional office). The organization matches referred youth with adult volunteer mentors who commit to weekly meetings of 2-4 hours for one year, emphasizing holistic personal development through structured activities, physical wellness, and goal-setting. Participants are referred by schools, community organizations, and families, while mentors are recruited through community outreach, employer partnerships, and events; the program is free to both mentors and mentees, with costs covered by individual donations, Booster Club monthly giving, corporate event sponsorships, matching gifts, planned giving, and government grants.
The organization's core product surface consists of the One-to-One Mentoring program, an Alumni Program with career and college readiness cohorts (I Believe and I Achieve), an Adventure Learning Program offering wilderness excursions (Boundary Waters, Montana), and the Bentdahl Scholarship Fund for post-secondary education. These are delivered through a small professional staff and supported by a 16-member volunteer board; featured partnerships include YMCA (free gym memberships in Twin Cities), Rochester Athletic Club (free gym memberships in Rochester), MENTOR Minnesota (Expert Partner status), YIPA, the Quetico Foundation US (alumni wilderness programming), and Tickets for Kids (event access). The organization has earned credentialing including a 4-star Charity Navigator rating, full compliance with all 25 Charities Review Council Accountability Standards, and a 2006 national recognition as one of the best charities in the nation.
The business model is donation- and grant-based rather than revenue-generating; founding history (1993 community needs assessment) and a 30+ year operating track record anchor the brand. Technology infrastructure is minimal: a Wix-hosted website, standard social media channels, and no proprietary technology stack. The organization reports no publicly disclosed financials and indicates no M&A history, parent company, or institutional investments.
Bolder Options firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bolder Options
- Legal name
- Bolder Options
- Website
- https://bolderoptions.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bolder Options is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that provides free, wellness-based one-to-one mentoring for middle school youth (ages 10-14) across two Minnesota locations (Minneapolis and Rochester), pairing them with volunteer mentors for year-long relationships funded by donations, grants, and event sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bolder Options industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mentoring Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAK)
Keywords
Where Bolder Options is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bolder Options business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization raises funds from individual donors through one-time and recurring donations. Monthly giving program called Booster Club provides sustainable funding. Donors can give via check, credit card, stock transfers, cryptocurrency, and workplace giving programs.
- Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund events like Bolder Bash, Tailgate, and other community fundraising events. Sponsors receive visibility and recognition in exchange for financial support.
- Government Grants: Bolder Options receives state funding from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Youth Intervention Programs (YIP) grant for SFY2026 and SFY2027.
- Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers offer matching gift programs that double or triple employee contributions to Bolder Options.
- Planned Giving / Legacy Society: Bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, IRA charitable rollovers, and other planned giving vehicles allow donors to make transformational gifts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | One-to-One Mentoring Program - Free |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bolder Options product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bolder Options provides free, wellness-based one-to-one mentoring for middle school youth (ages 10-14), pairing them with screened volunteer adult mentors who meet weekly for a year of structured activities focused on holistic personal development. Upon completion, participants transition into the Alumni Program, which extends career exploration, college readiness, job-skills training, outdoor adventure, and scholarship support. All programs and activities, including partner-provided gym memberships and event tickets, are offered at no cost to youth, families, or volunteer mentors.
Product overview
Bolder Options is a nonprofit organization offering a unified wellness-based mentoring program for middle school youth (ages 10-14). The core offering consists of the One-to-One Mentoring program, which pairs youth with volunteer mentors for year-long relationships with weekly meetings and structured activities. Upon graduation, participants can continue through the Alumni Program, which provides extended support including the I Believe and I Achieve career readiness cohorts, the Adventure Learning Program with outdoor adventures like Boundary Waters trips, and the Bentdahl Scholarship Fund for post-secondary education. The organization also operates the Bold Challenge fundraising initiative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- One-to-One Mentoring Wellness-based mentoring program pairing middle school youth (ages 10-14) with screened volunteer adult mentors who meet weekly for one year, focusing on holistic personal development through structured weekly activities. Program is free for youth, families, and volunteer mentors.
- Alumni Program Extended programming for program graduates providing career and college exploration, leadership development, internships, scholarship programs, and ongoing mentorship opportunities. Over 95% of first-year graduates opt into this program.
- I Believe Program Career and college readiness cohort program running November to April, providing workshops on financial literacy, career possibilities, and steps toward future goals for Alumni Program participants.
- I Achieve Program Paid training initiative in partnership with career coaches that helps youth learn and practice job skills, including job shadowing opportunities, for Alumni Program participants.
- Adventure Learning Program Outdoor adventure programming featuring activities such as hiking, camping, and annual Boundary Waters Canoe Area trips, offered within the Alumni Program.
- Bentdahl Scholarship Fund Scholarship program available to Alumni Program participants to support post-secondary education, covering tuition, books, and academic fees.
- Bold Challenge Fundraising campaign initiative that invites supporters to create personal challenges and raise funds for youth mentoring programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 95% of youth complete the program and opt into the Alumni Program
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Bolder Options
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bolder Options technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bolder Options partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Quetico Foundation UScorePartnership with alumni mentor-run Quetico Foundation US began in 2018, enabling Bolder Options to expand its alumni program with wilderness adventures including trips to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Montana. This partnership provides unique outdoor programming for alumni youth.
- YMCAcoreYMCA provides free gym memberships to all mentor-mentee pairs in the Twin Cities to promote physical activity and wellness. The partnership enables participants to stay active together at no cost.
- Rochester Athletic ClubcoreRochester Athletic Club provides free gym memberships to mentor-mentee pairs in the Rochester location to support physical wellness activities.
- Tickets for KidsminorTickets for Kids provides tickets to sporting and arts events, allowing mentors and mentees to attend various community events and activities together at no cost.
- MENTOR MinnesotacoreBolder Options is an Expert Partner with MENTOR Minnesota, demonstrating 100% compliance with mentoring best practices. This affiliation provides access to resources, training, and national mentoring partnership recognition.
- Youth Intervention Program Association (YIPA)minorLongtime member of YIPA, supporting youth intervention programs and connecting with other youth-serving organizations in Minnesota.
- Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)coreReceives state funding through the Youth Intervention Programs (YIP) grant for SFY2026 and SFY2027. April Riordan serves as Grant Manager for this funding.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bolder Options competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National umbrella organization that sets mentoring best-practice standards and convenes local mentoring affiliates. Bolder Options is an Expert Partner affiliate; MENTOR is a peer in mission and a broader incumbent in the mentoring infrastructure space.
- 4-H (National 4-H Council): Youth development organization providing mentoring, leadership, and outdoor programming. Comparable to Bolder Options on the activity-based, positive youth development framework and use of mentors and experiential learning.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit offering structured programs including mentoring, education, and physical wellness. Overlaps with Bolder Options on youth development mission but serves a much broader age range and program portfolio.
- Girls Inc. National youth development nonprofit providing mentoring, education, and life-skills programs for girls and young women. Similar long-term outcomes focus and structured program model to Bolder Options' alumni programming.
Others
- National Mentoring Resource Center: Resource and training network for youth mentoring programs. Comparable as a peer ecosystem participant that supports the infrastructure in which Bolder Options operates.
Emerging players
- Junior Achievement: Youth-focused nonprofit delivering career readiness, financial literacy, and mentorship programs. Comparable to Bolder Options' I Believe and I Achieve alumni sub-programs targeting career and college readiness.
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: Youth-focused nonprofit that recruits and trains mentors for youth in foster care. Partial overlap with Bolder Options in mentor-based youth development and community-based intervention model.
Direct peers
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The largest youth mentoring nonprofit in the U.S., pairing adults with young people for one-to-one mentoring relationships. Direct peer to Bolder Options in mission, model, and outcome measurement framework; differs in national scale and brand reach.
- Friends of the Children: Professional (paid) mentoring organization serving youth from kindergarten through high school graduation. Most directly comparable to Bolder Options on long-term, intensive mentoring commitment, and multi-year program structure.
- YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities: Regional youth-serving organization that provides free YMCA memberships to Bolder Options mentor-mentee pairs. Comparable in youth wellness and community programming focus, and operates in the same Twin Cities geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bolder Options social profiles
Digital presenceBolder Options financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bolder Options leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Bolder Options funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bolder Options M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bolder Options
What does Bolder Options do?
Bolder Options provides free, wellness-based one-to-one mentoring for middle school youth (ages 10-14), pairing them with screened volunteer adult mentors who meet weekly for a year of structured activities focused on holistic personal development. Upon completion, participants transition into the Alumni Program, which extends career exploration, college readiness, job-skills training, outdoor adventure, and scholarship support. All programs and activities, including partner-provided gym memberships and event tickets, are offered at no cost to youth, families, or volunteer mentors.
Is Bolder Options a public or private company?
Bolder Options is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bolder Options founded?
Bolder Options was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bolder Options based?
Bolder Options is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bolder Options make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships, government Grants, corporate Matching Gifts and planned Giving / Legacy Society.
Who are Bolder Options's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership), 4-H (National 4-H Council), Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc.. National Mentoring Resource Center is listed as an others. Emerging players are Junior Achievement and Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Direct peers are Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Friends of the Children and YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities.
Does Bolder Options have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bolder Options.
What industry is Bolder Options in?
Bolder Options's product category is Youth Mentoring Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAJALAL, Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.