What Lost-n-Found Youth does

Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 2585 Chantilly Dr NE, Atlanta, Georgia, founded in November 2011 by local activists who were turned away attempting to place queer youth into existing shelters. The organization provides emergency housing, transitional housing, a daytime youth drop-in center, volunteer-driven street outreach, and a 24/7 youth support hotline to LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 experiencing homelessness in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Service delivery is staffed by an 11–50 person team led by Executive Director Melanea Alvarez and Program Director Neena Beausoleil (MSW), with structured volunteer orientations, weekly training cadence, and program managers overseeing street outreach and drop-in operations.

The organization's core offerings are non-technological human services rather than software products. There is no proprietary technology platform; the website (lnfy.org) is a Squarespace-built marketing and donation portal, and no app, API, or SDK is described. The integrated service stack includes the Youth Drop-In Center (meals, showers, laundry, hygiene supplies, clothing), emergency and transitional housing, volunteer street outreach with a stated goal of connecting newly homeless youth to services within 48 hours, a thrift store revenue-generating program at the same Chantilly Drive address, and round-the-clock phone/text/email crisis response with referral pathways to mental health counseling, HIV/STD testing, GED training, and resume assistance. A partnership with MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) provides transportation assistance for youth accessing services.

The business model is a donation- and grant-funded nonprofit model with no pricing to end clients (services are free of charge). Funding derives from individual donations (approximately 60% of required LGBTQ+ Youth Program funds), thrift store sales, corporate sponsorships (ADP, Bank of America, Kroger, Target, Delta Dental, State Farm, United Way, and others), legacy/planned gifts via FreeWill, and platform-based giving through PayPal Giving Fund, Facebook Fundraisers, and Kroger Community Rewards. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Brand equity has been built through national press coverage (GLAAD, Architectural Digest, CBS News Atlanta, Fox 5) and recognition as a Grand Marshal at Atlanta Pride 2024. The organization is a beneficiary of the annual AIDS Walk Atlanta Music Festival & 5K Run.

Name

Lost-n-Found Youth

Legal name

Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc.

Website

https://lnfy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lost-n-Found Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Atlanta that provides emergency housing, transitional housing, a drop-in center, street outreach, and 24/7 crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 experiencing homelessness.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individual donors. 60% of funds required to support LGBTQ+ Youth Programs come from generous donors. Donors can give via the website, PayPal, or by mailing a check.
2. Thrift Store Sales: The Lost-n-Found Thrift Store sells gently used clothing, furniture, toys, art, collectibles, fitness equipment, small kitchen appliances, and household goods. Proceeds from sales directly fund street outreach, the youth center, and transitional housing programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including ADP, Aaron's, Bank of America, Delta Dental, Kroger, Target, and others provide financial and in-kind support.
4. Legacy/Planned Gifts: Bequests, life insurance beneficiary designations, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and other estate planning vehicles generate long-term charitable support.
5. Third-Party Giving Programs: Facebook Fundraisers, PayPal Giving Fund, Kroger Community Rewards, and employee matching gift programs allow donors to give through workplace and platform-based giving mechanisms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lost-n-Found Youth is an Atlanta-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing a continuum of free services to LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 experiencing homelessness, including a drop-in center with meals, showers, laundry, and hygiene supplies; emergency and transitional housing; volunteer-led street outreach; and 24/7 crisis support with mental health and social service referrals. A thrift store retail operation funds these programs through sales of donated clothing, furniture, and household goods.

Product overview

Lost-n-Found Youth operates as a single integrated nonprofit service organization offering multiple interconnected programs to end homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 in Atlanta. The core offerings include a Youth Drop-In Center providing immediate safety and necessities (clothing, meals, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry), Transitional Housing for longer-term shelter, and Street Outreach for reaching homeless youth on the streets. The Lost-n-Found Youth Thrift Store serves as a revenue-generating program that funds all other services, while 24/7 Support Services provide continuous crisis response, mental health support, and referrals to external services. These programs work together as a comprehensive continuum of care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lost-n-Found Youth Thrift Store: A thrift store operated by Lost-n-Found Youth to generate proceeds supporting street outreach, youth center, and transitional housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Products and services

• Youth Drop-In Center

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, demonstrating the scale of the population served.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MARTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) is listed as a Transportation Assistance Program Partner, helping provide transportation access for youth traveling to and from Lost-n-Found Youth's services.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards allows Kroger card holders to designate Lost-n-Found Youth as their charity of choice, with Kroger donating a percentage of qualifying purchases back to the organization.
• ADPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerADP is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth, providing financial support.
• Aaron'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAaron's is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth, providing financial support.
• Bank of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth, providing financial support.
• Delta DentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta Dental is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• TargetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTarget is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• PayPal Giving FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayPal Giving Fund allows donors to direct a percentage of transactions to Lost-n-Found Youth through the PayPal platform.
• Inspire BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInspire Brands is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• Facebook FundraiserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook Fundraiser enables donors to set up birthday fundraisers and other campaigns benefiting Lost-n-Found Youth on the Facebook platform.
• FreeWillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFreeWill is a free estate planning tool recommended by Lost-n-Found Youth to help supporters include the organization in their wills or estate plans.
• State FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState Farm is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• Georgia CrownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeorgia Crown is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.
• HiscoxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHiscox is listed as a corporate sponsor of Lost-n-Found Youth.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lostnfoundyouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/LostNFoundYouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lost-n-found-youth-atlanta

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Lost-n-Found Youth