Youth Job Center

What Youth Job Center does

Youth Job Center (YJC) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered at 1114 Church Street, Evanston, Illinois, serving young people ages 14-25 across the Chicago metropolitan area, including South Side and West Side Chicago neighborhoods. The organization delivers a wraparound set of services centered on workforce readiness training, one-on-one career coaching, career pathway planning, paid work experiences, and financial coaching, with a stated mission of equipping youth with a plan, a path, and a placement toward economic independence. YJC does not operate proprietary technology; it uses standard website and case management systems to deliver services and manage client relationships, with the public-facing site built on Squarespace.

The organization runs a portfolio of programs, including the This Way ONWard paid work experience partnership with Old Navy, structured training pathways through partner training providers (Chicago Community Learning Center for CNA, Phlebotomy Technician, PCT, and EKG Technician courses; Tukiendorf Training Institute for Patient Care Technician certification), and placement relationships with employers such as University of Chicago Medicine and senior living facilities. Core products and services are listed as Workforce Readiness Training, the Career Pathways Program, Financial Coaching, One-on-One Career Coaching, Paid Work Experiences, and the This Way ONWard program.

YJC's business model is nonprofit and donation-funded. Services are provided free of charge to eligible youth. Revenue is generated through a mix of individual donations (collected via the website and recurring events including the 2026 Gala and 2026 Golf Outing), government and foundation grants (with FY26 reporting referencing adaptation to a shifted federal funding environment), and corporate partnerships that may include in-kind or financial support for paid work experiences. The go-to-market motion is community-led: outreach to high schools, direct website enrollment, peer and alumni referrals, and a dedicated employer portal for corporate partners. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 range, and the organization maintains a board-governed structure typical of community-based youth workforce nonprofits.

Name

Youth Job Center

Legal name

Youth Job Center, Inc.

Website

https://youthjobcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Youth Job Center is a nonprofit workforce development agency in Evanston, Illinois, serving Chicago-area youth ages 14-25 with free career coaching, job readiness training, paid work experiences, and financial education, funded by donations, grants, and corporate partnerships such as the Old Navy This Way ONWard program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Job placement services
• Career coaching programs
• Paid work experience
• Youth employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through its website and hosts fundraising events including an annual gala and golf outing. Donors can contribute financially to support youth workforce development programs.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: As a workforce development nonprofit, YJC likely receives government funding and foundation grants to support program operations. The FY26 mid-year report references serving more young people even as federal funding shifted, indicating reliance on grant funding.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with employers like Old Navy for the This Way ONWard program may include funding or in-kind support for paid work experiences and training programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Job Center is a nonprofit workforce development and job placement agency that prepares young people ages 14-25 for success in the workplace. It connects youth with jobs, professional training, one-on-one career coaching, financial education, paid work experiences, and supportive resources such as transportation assistance and laptop provision to help them overcome barriers to employment. The organization also partners with employers and training providers to create direct pathways from readiness training into sustained employment.

Product overview

Youth Job Center operates as a unified workforce development service rather than a modular product platform. The organization provides an integrated suite of employment and career development services centered around Workforce Readiness Training, the Career Pathways Program, Financial Coaching, and one-on-one Career Coaching. These core services are complemented by Paid Work Experiences and specialized programs like the This Way ONWard partnership with Old Navy. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive pathway from initial job readiness through employment placement and ongoing career support for youth ages 14-25.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workforce Readiness Training

Quantifiable outcome

• YJC helped Ifunanya achieve employment as a nurse practitioner at $37.50/hour at a senior living facility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Old NavycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the This Way ONWard program providing paid work experiences for young people at Old Navy retail locations. The program includes training, placement, and ongoing mentorship support with 'Big Sib' mentors at partner stores.
• Chicago Community Learning CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider partnership offering healthcare certification programs including CNA, Phlebotomy Technician, PCT, and EKG Technician courses. YJC clients complete these programs as part of their career pathway development.
• Tukiendorf Training InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining provider partnership offering Patient Care Technician certification programs. YJC refers clients to complete healthcare training at this institution.
• University of Chicago MedicinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor healthcare employer that hires YJC clients who complete healthcare certifications. Serves as an employment destination for graduates of YJC-supported training programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Regional workforce development organization serving the same Chicago metro geography as YJC, funded by WIOA and city/county sources. Represents the most direct local competitor for employer relationships and federal workforce dollars.

Direct peers

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training, professional skills development, and job placement for young adults ages 18-24 from low-income communities. Closest national-scale analog to YJC's model of combining training, coaching, and employer partnerships.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit offering free technology training and career support, with strong employer-partnership placement pipelines. Comparable to YJC in its wraparound model and focus on creating pathways from training to sustained employment for underserved populations.
• YouthBuild: National nonprofit offering young adults pathways to education, job training, and leadership — often in construction and healthcare sectors. Comparable to YJC in serving opportunity youth with paid training experiences and credential attainment.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing employment services for people returning from incarceration. Comparable to YJC in working with populations facing significant barriers to employment and partnering with employers for direct placement.
• The Door: New York City-based youth services organization providing education, career development, and supportive services for young people ages 12-21. Comparable integrated model combining workforce preparation with wraparound social supports.
• Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG): State-based nonprofit delivering career readiness, mentoring, and job placement services for at-risk youth, including a strong high-school-to-career pipeline. Highly comparable to YJC's high-school partnership-driven recruitment and career-coaching model.

Emerging players

• i.c.stars: Chicago-based nonprofit technology training and workforce development program for opportunity youth and adults. Directly comparable to YJC in both geography and target demographic, with overlapping IT-career outcomes (e.g., Kendall's IT path mirrors i.c.stars' technology focus).

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large established nonprofit operating workforce development, job training, and placement programs nationally across many sectors. Comparable at the workforce-development mission level but operates as a much broader portfolio rather than YJC's youth-focused niche.

Others

• National Youth Employment Coalition: National membership and advocacy organization advancing youth employment policy and practice. Comparable to YJC as an ecosystem participant, providing funding, research, and convening support that influence the youth-workforce development field YJC operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youthjobcenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youth Job Center