Youth & Opportunity United

What Youth & Opportunity United does

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization founded in 1971 and headquartered at a 12,000-square-foot Youth Center at 1911 Church Street in Evanston, Illinois. The organization delivers out-of-school time programming, summer learning, clinical counseling, street outreach, and family engagement services to approximately 1,400 youth in grades 3-12, reaching over 4,000 family members annually across Evanston and Skokie. Y.O.U. partners operationally with four local school districts (Evanston/Skokie District 65, District 68, District 69, and Evanston Township High School District 202) to deliver programming at 10+ school sites, supplemented by credentialed clinicians and an AmeriCorps service-member pipeline.

Y.O.U.'s business model is a multi-channel nonprofit funding stack, with revenue drawn from individual donations (including legacy instruments such as wills, donor-advised funds, and stock transfers), foundation grants (e.g., New York Life Foundation, Evanston Community Foundation), government grants (notably a $635,000 Illinois State Board of Education Community Partnership Grant and a 3-year $450,000 federal Street Outreach grant), corporate sponsorships, and signature event fundraising (Annual Benefit, golf outings, trivia nights, the Diverse Communities United MLK Day celebration). Programs are provided free of charge to participants. Operationally, the organization leverages off-the-shelf nonprofit infrastructure (NeonCRM for donor/event forms, Braintree for payment processing) and does not operate proprietary technology platforms.

The organization has experienced meaningful leadership turnover over the past decade, with Craig Lynch installed as its fourth CEO in July 2020 following the 2017 departure of Seth Green and 2018-2019 tenure of Maggie Blinn DiNovi. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors of approximately 22-24 community members across functional committees, supplemented by an Associate Board and the 40 FOR 40 young professional philanthropy society. Recognitions include Charity Navigator and GuideStar Platinum Seals of Transparency, the United Way partner agency designation, and a 2017 Design Evanston Excellence in Design award for the headquarters facility.

Name

Youth & Opportunity United

Legal name

Youth & Opportunity United, Inc.

Website

https://youthopportunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Youth & Opportunity United is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing out-of-school time programs, clinical counseling, street outreach, and family engagement to approximately 1,400 youth in grades 3-12 across Evanston and Skokie, Illinois.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Afterschool programs
• Summer learning programs
• Clinical counseling youth
• Family engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online portals, with legacy giving options including wills, donor advised funds (DAF), and stock transfers
2. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations such as New York Life Foundation ($100,000 grant), Evanston Community Foundation, and others for specific programming
3. Government Grants: Federal and state grants including $635,000 from Illinois State Board of Education, $450,000 federal Youth Services Street Outreach Program grant
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support annual events and programs at various sponsorship levels
5. Special Events: Annual Benefit events, golf outings, trivia nights, and online auctions generate fundraising revenue

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development agency delivering free out-of-school time programs (afterschool and summer learning), clinical counseling and street outreach services, and family engagement programming to youth in grades 3-12 across Evanston and Skokie, Illinois. The organization operates at more than 10 school sites and a dedicated Youth Center, serving over 1,400 youth and 4,000 family members annually. Programs are funded through donations, foundation grants, government grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth development organization providing a comprehensive suite of programs and services for youth in grades 3-12 in Evanston and Skokie, Illinois. The organization operates a multi-pronged approach centered on Out-of-School Time Programs (afterschool and summer learning), Community-Based Services (clinical counseling and street outreach), and Family Engagement. Core offerings include the Out-of-School Time Program, Summer Program, Clinical Counseling and Outreach, Street Outreach, and Family Engagement programming. Y.O.U. also organizes signature events including the annual Diverse Communities United (DCU) celebration and Annual Benefit. The organization partners with local school districts (District 65, District 68, District 69, District 202) to operate programs at school sites across the community. Additional offerings include an alumni association, the 40 FOR 40 young professional society, AmeriCorps partnership, and enrichment programs such as Food, Farming, Future (F3).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Out-of-School Time Program Afterschool program providing academic support, social-emotional learning, and enrichment activities for youth in grades 3-12, including homework help, tutoring, literacy support, and structured learning opportunities, delivered free of charge at school sites.
• Summer Program Eight-week summer learning program running June through July, providing continued academic support, enrichment activities, field trips, and an annual Summer Showcase event for youth in Evanston and Skokie.
• Community-Based Services Mental health and community support services including clinical counseling, street outreach, and crisis intervention, providing a 24-hour housing crisis intervention hotline for youth and families.
• Family Engagement Programming that catalyzes parent networks and engages families in their children's learning and development through parent education and family-centered activities.
• School Site Programs Programs operated at 10+ local elementary, middle, and high schools across Evanston and Skokie school districts, in partnership with Districts 65, 68, 69, and 202.
• Diverse Communities United (DCU) Annual youth-led celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, featuring performances, artwork, and community gathering; Y.O.U.'s biggest annual event.
• Food, Farming, Future (F3) Urban gardening and culinary arts enrichment program where youth plant, grow, and sell vegetables while learning about nutrition and food systems.
• Y.O.U. Alumnae Association Alumni network for former Y.O.U. participants providing continued connection and engagement with the organization.
• 40 FOR 40 Young professional society for individuals ages 40 and under who wish to support Y.O.U. through engagement and philanthropy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of Y.O.U. youth report greater confidence after participating in programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partnership hosting AmeriCorps Y.O.U.th Serve members who provide service to youth programs. DCU is celebrated as AmeriCorps Day of Service in honor of Dr. King's legacy of service.
• Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty and students engage with Y.O.U. through mentorship, service learning, and career exploration programs. Northwestern President Morty Schapiro has participated in Y.O.U. events.
• Evanston/Skokie School District 65coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner for out-of-school time programming at multiple elementary and middle schools. Received $635,000 Community Partnership Grant from Illinois State Board of Education in partnership.
• Evanston Township High School District 202coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school district partner providing programmatic partnership and use of ETHS facilities for youth programs and DCU event.
• McGaw YMCAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for events including Girls Take Over STEM programming and shared youth enrichment initiatives.
• The Talking FarmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban agriculture partnership that welcomed families to Y.O.U.'s Youth Center for community day enrichment activities at the urban garden space.
• Evanston Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Special Project Grant Program funding for DCU event in partnership with the City of Evanston.
• Dance Is My Everything (D.I.M.E.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance programming partner providing instruction to youth at Oakton Elementary and Old Orchard Junior High sites for DCU performances.
• SOUL CreationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican drum and circle ensemble partnership collaborating with Walker, Dawes, and Washington Elementary sites for DCU performances.
• Evan Scholars (Evanston Scholars)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand and develop post-secondary support for college-bound and college-enrolled youth through collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Girls Inc. National youth development organization delivering afterschool, mentoring, and college/career readiness programming for girls. Comparable in mission (identity-affirming relationships, expanded learning) and grant-funded nonprofit model, though it operates at much larger national scale.
• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development organization delivering out-of-school programming, STEM, civic engagement, and mentoring via cooperative extension networks. Comparable in age range, youth-development outcomes framing, and school/community-based delivery.

Direct peers

• After School Matters: Chicago-based nonprofit providing out-of-school-time programming, apprenticeships, and enrichment for teens. Operates a similar school- and community-based delivery model in the same Chicago metro, with comparable funding mix of city, state, and foundation dollars.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit offering afterschool, mentoring, and enrichment programs for school-age youth. Directly comparable to Y.O.U.'s Out-of-School Time model and identity-affirming relationship approach, with a similar mix of school-site and club-facility delivery.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside K-12 schools to integrate community resources for at-risk students. Closely comparable to Y.O.U.'s school-site delivery model and wraparound student-support approach.
• YWCA Evanston/North Shore: Regional YWCA serving Evanston and the North Shore with youth programming, advocacy, and family services. Directly comparable nonprofit target population and geography, and listed among Y.O.U.'s community partners.
• McGaw YMCA: Evanston-based YMCA delivering youth development, aquatics, and enrichment. Already named as a Y.O.U. partner, it competes for overlapping youth and family programming in the same Evanston/Skokie footprint.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago: Youth mentoring nonprofit serving the Chicago metro with one-to-one mentoring and school-based programs. Closely comparable in identity-affirming relationship model, school-district partnerships, and youth-development outcomes focus.

Regional players

• Chicago Youth Centers: Regional nonprofit operating youth centers across Chicago delivering academic support, STEM, and social-emotional programming. Comparable afterschool and summer-learning model, though serving a different geography than Y.O.U.'s North Shore focus.
• Evanston Scholars: Evanston-based nonprofit providing post-secondary access and college persistence support for first-generation and low-income students. Already a Y.O.U. partner; comparable in target population and is the natural peer for Y.O.U.'s emerging post-secondary expansion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/youevanston
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthopportunityunited
• Xx.com/youevanston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-organizations-umbrella-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Youth & Opportunity United