Second Chance Program

What Second Chance Program does

Second Chance Program is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded approximately in 1993–1994 (Tax ID #33-0539640) that delivers reentry and workforce-readiness services to justice-involved adults and at-risk youth. Its core offerings include Job Readiness Training (with a documented 90%+ full-time employment placement rate within 30 days of program completion), five sober living homes providing residential wraparound services for individuals in recovery, a Youth Garden early-intervention program, and court-supervised Reentry Court programs through Central Drug Court and South Bay Drug Court. The organization also historically operated a Professional Clothing Closet (currently paused), with referrals redirected to Sharia's Closet.

Business model is donation-and-grant-funded rather than fee-based: services are provided free of charge to participants, and revenue (not publicly disclosed) flows from individual and corporate donations via a DonorPerfect portal and AmazonSmile, small institutional grants (e.g., six CECO grants totaling $14,706 over ten years), and in-kind corporate contributions. The go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven: participants enter through San Diego County courts, probation, and drug court pipelines, with secondary outreach through the organization's website, monthly email newsletter, social media, and bell-ringing ceremonies that publicly celebrate milestones. Operations are concentrated at 6145 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92114, with a staff of 11–50 led by a team that includes lived-experience alumni such as Director of Operations and Housing Alex Macias. The organization does not operate outside San Diego and has no disclosed technology products, AI/ML capabilities, mobile apps, or APIs; its infrastructure is standard nonprofit SaaS (Squarespace, Constant Contact, DonorPerfect).

Name

Second Chance Program

Legal name

Second Chance

Website

https://secondchanceprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Second Chance Program is a San Diego 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides job readiness training, sober living housing, and youth programs to justice-involved adults and at-risk youth, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reentry and Social Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Reentry services
• Job readiness training
• Sober living housing
• Youth intervention
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations through their donor portal and AmazonSmile program. Tax-deductible contributions supporting all programs and operations.
2. Grants: Grant funding from organizations like San Diego County Employees' Charitable Organization (CECO) totaling $14,706 over ten years for program support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Second Chance Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides job readiness training with employment placement (achieving 90%+ full-time placement within 30 days), five sober living homes offering wraparound residential support for justice-involved individuals in recovery, youth garden programs for at-risk youth, and court-supervised reentry programs including Central and South Bay Drug Courts. All services are offered free or at low cost to justice-involved adults and youth in the San Diego community.

Product overview

Second Chance is a non-profit reentry services organization offering a coordinated suite of programs for justice-involved individuals. The core offerings include Job Readiness Training (which provides employment preparation, job placement assistance, and lifelong access to services for adults and youth), five Sober Living Housing facilities providing safe residential environments with wrap-around services, and the Youth Garden Program delivering early intervention through health education and job skills training. Additional programs include Reentry Court and Drug Court programs, and a Professional Clothing Closet (currently paused). The organization operates from San Diego, California as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit with 30 years of operational history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Readiness Training Intensive job readiness and employment placement program for adults and youth with criminal records, teaching professional skills, resume writing, interview techniques, and computer literacy. Graduates achieve over 90% full-time employment placement within 30 days, with lifelong access to alumni employment services.
• Sober Living Housing Safe, stable residential housing across five sober living homes providing wraparound services for justice-involved individuals in recovery, supporting sobriety and self-sufficiency.
• Youth Garden Program Early intervention program for at-risk youth providing health and nutrition education, food-systems learning, job skills (customer service and leadership), and a safe space for personal development.
• Reentry Court Programs Court-supervised reentry and drug court programs (Central Drug Court and South Bay Drug Court) providing structured pathways to recovery and reintegration with Second Chance support services.
• Professional Clothing Closet Provides donated professional clothing to participants to help them dress for success at job interviews. Currently paused for processing.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 90% of job readiness training graduates secure full-time employment within 30 days of completing the program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Diego County Employees' Charitable Organization (CECO)coreOthers · 1 April 2024Awarded $998 grant to fund purchase of a new washer for Alumni transitional sober-living house. Total of six CECO grants totaling $14,706 over ten years supporting Second Chance's programs helping people coming out of incarceration rebuild their lives.
• EnlyteminorOthersEnlyte provided stockings, wreaths, and gift cards to Second Chance's five sober living homes during the holiday season, supporting residents in their recovery journey.
• San Diego Food AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with San Diego Food Alliance where Second Chance Youth Garden alumni and current cohort members explored food systems together and shared their stories.
• One World RunningminorOthersColorado-based organization that distributes running shoes to individuals worldwide. Owen's initiative 'Save Your Soles' collected over 1,000 pairs of shoes benefiting One World Running and local organizations like Second Chance.
• Sharia's ClosetminorOthersReferral partner for clothing donations. When Second Chance paused professional clothing acceptance, they directed donors to Sharia's Closet at 6244 El Cajon Blvd #5, San Diego, CA 92115 (Wednesdays 12pm-4pm).
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazonSmile charitable program where Amazon donates a portion of eligible purchases to Second Chance when customers select them at smile.amazon.com/ch/33-0539640.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Dave's Killer Bread Foundation: Foundation focused on expanding employment opportunities for people with criminal backgrounds through Second Chance Hiring initiatives. Comparable mission of fair-chance employment, with a private-sector employer-led model.

Direct peers

• The Doe Fund: New York City-based nonprofit providing paid transitional work programs, housing, and reentry services for formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals. Comparable workforce-development-plus-housing model for reentry populations.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate employment services to people coming home from prison, with a strong focus on job placement outcomes. Directly comparable employment-first reentry model with measurable placement metrics.
• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing reentry services including job training, tattoo removal, mental health, and supportive housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. Highly comparable holistic reentry model, with a longer operating history and larger scale.
• A New Way of Life: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing housing, reentry support, and advocacy for women coming home from prison. Comparable California reentry housing and wraparound services model.
• The Fortune Society: New York City-based nonprofit offering comprehensive reentry services including employment programs, housing, substance abuse treatment, and alternatives-to-incarceration programs. Closely comparable integrated service model serving justice-involved populations.
• Rubicon Programs: Bay Area-based nonprofit providing reentry, workforce development, and supportive housing services to formerly incarcerated individuals and other vulnerable populations. Comparable California footprint and integrated employment-housing model.
• Operation New Hope: Jacksonville, Florida-based nonprofit providing workforce development, life skills training, and supportive services for people with criminal records. Comparable employment-focused reentry services with documented placement outcomes.

Regional players

• San Diego Workforce Partnership: San Diego-based workforce development organization serving justice-involved and other vulnerable populations with job training and placement services. Same geography and adjacent workforce reentry mission.
• Anti-Recidivism Coalition: Los Angeles-based nonprofit advocating for and supporting formerly incarcerated individuals through mentoring, reentry housing, and policy work. Comparable California-based reentry advocacy and support services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/secondchanceorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/secondchanceprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-chance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Second Chance Program