YELLS

What YELLS does

YELLS, Inc. (legal name: Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading, and Serving, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 and headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, that delivers place-based youth development programming in the Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks neighborhoods. Its core product suite consists of a Mentoring Program pairing high-school 'Bigs' with elementary 'Littles,' a daily Afterschool Program providing academic enrichment, leadership and character development, and the Community Action Café, a teen program focused on leadership, financial literacy, and career development with social-enterprise elements. Programs are delivered entirely in-person at school sites (Fair Oaks Elementary School, Marietta High School) and community locations, with no proprietary technology platform — service delivery runs on staff and a volunteer base (154 volunteers contributing 6,970 hours in the 2018-2019 school year).

YELLS is funded through a combination of federal grants (GaDOE 21st Century Community Learning Centers, administered with the City of Marietta as fiscal agent), individual donations, corporate sponsorships (notably the Marietta Country Club's ThanksGIVING Classic, which has contributed $150,000 over nine years), and community fundraising events such as the 'Be a Voice for Marietta Youth' campaign, which raised $34,721 from 74 donors in 2019-2020. Reported outcomes include a 91% high school graduation rate, 85% grade-level promotion, and youth-influenced community investments including a $1 million park construction commitment from Arthur Blank. The organization operates at a small scale — 11-50 employees, serving 100+ youth across two neighborhood sites — and is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Laura Keefe.

The business model is nonprofit and free-to-beneficiary: all programs are provided at no cost to youth and families, with revenue sourced from donations, grants, and events. Go-to-market is community-led — word-of-mouth referrals, school partnerships, and earned media (CBS46, Fox5 Atlanta) drive awareness, while strategic alliances with Ser Familia, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and Marietta City Schools anchor distribution. The organization faces a significant funding inflection: approximately $180,000 in federal funding was cut, prompting an active $150,000 fundraising campaign in 2026 alongside stated diversification efforts.

Name

YELLS

Legal name

Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading, and Serving, Inc.

Website

https://yellsinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YELLS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 in Marietta, Georgia, that delivers in-person youth development programs — mentoring, after-school enrichment, and the Community Action Café teen program — to K-5th grade and high school youth in the Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks neighborhoods, funded through federal grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• After-school mentoring
• Community youth services
• Leadership development programs
• Nonprofit youth empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Marietta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: YELLS receives contributions from individual donors through its 'Invest Today. Change Tomorrow.' fundraising campaign and monthly giving programs. Donors contribute money, supplies, or technology to support youth programs.
2. Federal Grants: YELLS receives funding through the GaDOE 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program. The organization has historically received significant federal funding, though has faced cuts of approximately $180,000 from federal funders.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide sponsorship support through events like the Marietta Country Club's ThanksGIVING Classic, which has raised $150,000 for YELLS, and individual corporate sponsors for the 'Be A Voice for Marietta Youth' campaign.
4. Community Events Fundraising: YELLS organizes fundraising events including networking dinners, community celebrations, and campaigns like the 'Be a Voice for Marietta Youth' campaign which raised $34,721 from 74 donors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YELLS operates place-based youth development programs in Marietta, Georgia, providing daily after-school programming, one-on-one mentoring, and teen leadership programming (the Community Action Café) to elementary and high school youth in the Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks communities. Programs combine academic enrichment, character development, financial literacy, career readiness, and service-learning, and are offered free of charge to participating youth and families.

Product overview

YELLS offers a suite of youth empowerment programs focused on mentorship, afterschool enrichment, and community action. The core offerings include the Mentoring Program (matching high-school 'Bigs' with elementary 'Littles'), the Afterschool Program (providing academic enrichment and leadership development), and the Community Action Café (a teen-led community gathering space promoting leadership, financial literacy, and career development). Together, these programs form an integrated approach to developing servant-leaders through learning, leading, and serving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Action Café: A teen program promoting leadership, financial literacy, and career development, serving as both a gathering space and community hub with social enterprise elements.
• YELLS Mentoring Program
• YELLS Afterschool Program

Products and services

• Mentoring Program Matches high-school 'Bigs' with elementary-school 'Littles' to foster an ethos of service and develop students as servant-leaders; offered free of charge to Marietta-area youth and families.
• Afterschool Program Provides daily academic enrichment, leadership and character development, art, recreation, and community service opportunities to elementary-age students; delivered free of charge at school and community sites in Marietta, GA.
• Community Action Café A gathering space for the community and a teen program promoting leadership, financial literacy, and career development, serving high school youth in the Franklin Gateway community of Marietta, GA.
• Volunteer Program Provides structured individual and group volunteer opportunities including homework help, tutoring, mentoring, enrichment clubs, and community event support to sustain YELLS' youth programs.
• Fair Oaks YELLS Youth Program Site-specific adaptation of YELLS' after-school model operating daily inside Fair Oaks Elementary School for K-5th grade youth in the Fair Oaks neighborhood of Marietta, GA, providing academic enrichment, leadership, recreation, and community service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% high school graduation rate among YELLS seniors (2018-2019)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ser FamiliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSer Familia leads a multi-agency initiative to embrace Fair Oaks with deep, wrap-around strategies for long-term, community-driven transformation. YELLS was invited to join this coalition and serves as the lead agency for youth development and education services in partnership with Ser Familia.
• Community Foundation for Greater AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the Fair Oaks initiative with Ser Familia and has invited YELLS to participate, providing funding and strategic support for the collaborative community transformation effort.
• Fair Oaks Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair Oaks Elementary School welcomed YELLS to operate its first daily after-school program within the high-needs school, providing space and collaboration for the Fair Oaks YELLS Youth Program.
• Soccer in the StreetssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner offering Choice Club enrichment opportunities in soccer for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through ongoing programming.
• American Youth Soccer OrganizationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing soccer programming and enrichment activities for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Clubs.
• Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing tennis enrichment opportunities for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Club programming.
• re:imagine/ATLsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing enrichment programming for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through ongoing Choice Club activities.
• Freedom Youth YogasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing yoga enrichment programming for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Clubs.
• The Gift of Music FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing tricultural music programming for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Club enrichment activities.
• Life UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife University students and staff have mobilized to paint spaces, help youth with community gardens, and serve during community days and special projects. The Women's Rugby Team has become an invaluable part of the YELLS community, bringing energy and mentorship.
• Advanced MD (Global Payments)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany organizes days of service and has partnered with YELLS since 2017, bringing volunteers to maintain spaces and spend time with K-5th grade students, writing uplifting notes for each student.
• Marietta City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing support for virtual learning and ensuring students thrive. YELLS works in close partnership with Marietta City Schools to deliver programs.
• Food Security for AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established to bring food resources to Franklin Gateway families, providing bi-weekly fresh groceries to support family stability.
• Cobb CollaborativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing mental health programming and resources at Cause Tables for both Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks YELLS youth.
• Marietta Arts CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing public art enrichment opportunities for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Club programming.
• Paint LovesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing creative expression enrichment activities for Fair Oaks YELLS youth through Choice Club programming.
• Cobb County LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing literacy programming and addressing literacy challenges at Cause Tables for YELLS youth at both Franklin Gateway and Fair Oaks locations.
• Bagel RescuesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing food sustainability education at Cause Tables for Franklin Gateway YELLS youth.
• City of MariettacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Marietta graciously serves as the fiscal agent for the GaDOE 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. Youth have advocated successfully with City Council on community development issues.
• Kennesaw State University Burruss InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for program evaluation, working with YELLS to capture successes and identify areas for growth through summative evaluation of the 21st Century Community Learning Center programs.
• Georgia Tech Wellness Technology Research LabsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted workshops with teens on data interpretation, understanding community feedback, and using information to advocate effectively for neighborhood improvements.
• Simple Needs GeorgiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing hygiene kits for youth-led community events and service projects at Dwell @ 750 Apartments.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metro Atlanta: Broader incumbent offering after-school care, youth development, and family programming across metro Atlanta. Less specialized in place-based youth leadership but highly comparable on after-school service delivery.

Direct peers

• Paint Love: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing creative-expression enrichment to youth in under-resourced communities — a Fair Oaks YELLS Choice Club partner and directly comparable in youth enrichment delivery model.
• Soccer in the Streets: Atlanta nonprofit providing sports-based youth enrichment and programming at community sites — an active Fair Oaks YELLS Choice Club partner with directly comparable youth development methodology.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta: Direct mentoring peer operating in the same metro Atlanta geography, matching older youth/mentors with younger youth for sustained one-on-one relationships — the same core architecture as YELLS's Mentoring Program.
• re:imagine/ATL: Atlanta youth-focused nonprofit providing enrichment programming for YELLS youth through Choice Clubs; operates within the same under-resourced Atlanta neighborhoods and shares the community-empowerment thesis.
• Communities In Schools of Georgia: Direct peer embedding student supports inside K-12 schools to improve attendance, behavior, and graduation outcomes — comparable outcomes focus to YELLS's 91% graduation result, and operates within Marietta-area school partners.
• Ser Familia: Multi-agency lead for the Fair Oaks initiative in which YELLS participates; serves Hispanic families with wrap-around community development services. Operates in the same geography and shares the same place-based transformation thesis.
• Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta: Direct peer providing daily after-school programming, mentorship, and youth development for school-age children in under-resourced Atlanta-area communities — directly comparable to YELLS's afterschool and youth development model.

Regional players

• United Way of Greater Atlanta: Regional funder and intermediary coordinating Cobb County and broader metro Atlanta nonprofit capacity, including hygiene and snack-pack partnerships with YELLS. Comparable as a regional anchor in the same funding ecosystem.
• Cobb Collaborative: Cobb County-based collaborative providing mental health and resource programming to YELLS youth — comparable as a regional community-services intermediary serving the same Cobb County geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_yellsinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/yellsinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/yellsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-empowerment-through-learning-leading-and-serving-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about YELLS