Covenant Youth of Alaska

What Covenant Youth of Alaska does

Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization founded in 1992 as a ministry of the Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. It serves Alaska's youth and young adults — primarily Alaska Natives in remote bush villages and road-system communities — through youth group programming, regional retreats, summer Bible camp, affordable discipleship housing, and crisis response. CYAK's core programs include the 40+ year-old Covenant Bible Camp in Unalakleet (serving nearly 300 youth and 125 volunteers annually), the Aarigaa Discipleship Houses in Anchorage and Soldotna (affordable intentional Christian community housing for young adults transitioning from rural villages to urban centers and post-secondary education), and the Chickaloon Retreat Center (75 miles north of Anchorage) for churches, ministries, and volunteer retreats.

CYAK operates with a small paid staff of approximately 20 supported by a statewide volunteer network, with a nine-member Board of Directors providing governance. It is funded almost entirely through individual donations, staff-support fundraising, designated giving, and legacy/planned gifts processed via GiveCloud and DonorPerfect. Pricing is mission-oriented: $500/month or $1,800/semester for Aarigaa House residency (~$1,500 below university dorm rates), $250 registration plus ~$400 travel per camper for Bible Camp, and a suggested $30/month recurring donor baseline.

Technology is limited to third-party SaaS: GiveCloud for donations, DonorPerfect for donor management, CampWise for event registration, Cloudbeds for retreat reservations, Zoom for team calls, and content platforms like YouVersion, Lectio 365, and Spotify for spiritual formation. There is no proprietary technology platform. CYAK's offices and ministry sites span Eagle River (HQ), Anchorage, Soldotna, Chickaloon, Nome, Scammon Bay, and Unalakleet, with the new Eagle River headquarters opened in 2024-2025 alongside the Chickaloon infrastructure buildout with denominational and educational partners.

Name

Covenant Youth of Alaska

Legal name

Covenant Youth of Alaska

Website

https://cyak.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry of the Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, serving Alaska Native and rural youth and young adults through youth groups, retreats, summer Bible camp in Unalakleet, and affordable discipleship housing near UAA and in Soldotna.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Youth Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Youth ministry programs
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Young adult discipleship
• Christian retreat services
• Bible camp programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eagle River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations - Mission Fund: Tax-deductible gifts to the general operating fund supporting behind-the-scenes costs and CYAK's capacity to serve more people effectively.
2. Staff Support Donations: Donors can partner with individual CYAK staff members through monthly or one-time contributions that support staff living expenses and ministry costs.
3. Designated Fund Donations: Gifts directed to specific funds including Covenant Bible Camp, Alaska Leadership Fund (Indigenous/Alaskan leaders), Internship Program, Chris Lockwood Memorial Scholarship, Village Outreach Ministry, Aarigaa House Anchorage, and Chickaloon Retreat Center.
4. Legacy/Planned Giving: Bequests, life insurance beneficiaries, retirement fund designations, charitable gift annuities, retained life estates, and charitable remainder trusts for long-term financial sustainability.
5. Qualified Charitable Distributions (IRA): For donors aged 70½ or older, up to $108,000/year can be distributed directly from an IRA to CYAK, counting toward required minimum distributions and avoiding ordinary income tax.
6. Stock/Securities Gifts: Donors can transfer publicly traded shares or mutual funds directly to CYAK's Fidelity account for immediate liquidation and tax receipt.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) is a 501(c)(3) ministry that provides Christ-centered youth and young adult ministry across Alaska, including local youth groups at Covenant churches, regional and statewide retreats, the multi-week Covenant Bible Camp near Unalakleet, the Aarigaa House intentional Christian community housing in Anchorage and Soldotna, the Chickaloon Retreat Center, an internship program for ministry discernment, and a statewide volunteer youth mentor network.

Product overview

Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) is a ministry organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on youth and young adult ministry across Alaska. The core offerings include Youth Ministry Programs (local church youth groups, regional retreats, and volunteer support) and Young Adult Ministry (including the Aarigaa House discipleship housing communities in Anchorage and Soldotna). Supporting programs include the Chickaloon Retreat Center (nature retreat facility), Covenant Bible Camp (rural Bible camp in Unalakleet), and Internship Program for developing future Alaska church leaders. Additional offerings include Youth Mentor Volunteer Program, Mentoring Initiatives (wood shops and bike shops), Youth Ministry Training, Spiritual Direction, and various Donation/Fundraising Programs. CYAK also collaborates with Alaska Christian College and Amundsen Educational Center to provide educational pathways for young adults. The organization operates a NextGen Retreat, Winter Young Adult Retreat, and participates in the UNITE Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aarigaa House: Discipleship house for young adults providing housing, community, and mentoring in Anchorage, Alaska
• Chickaloon Retreat Center
• Covenant Bible Camp

Products and services

• Youth Ministry Programs Relational outreach, discipleship, and leadership development programs for Alaska's youth, including local youth ministry at Covenant churches, regional youth retreats, and volunteer youth worker support across the state.
• Young Adult Ministry Fellowship and discipleship programs for young adults transitioning from high school, including the Aarigaa House communities in Anchorage and Soldotna, young adult retreats, and weekly gatherings for Bible study and fellowship.
• Aarigaa House Christian community housing for Alaskan students and young adults in Anchorage (near UAA campus) and Soldotna (at Amundsen Educational Center), offering furnished rooms, kitchen, laundry, internet, and utilities at reduced rates compared to dorms. Includes intentional community living, spiritual growth support, and mentoring at $500/month or $1,800/semester.
• Chickaloon Retreat Center Retreat facility located 75 miles north of Anchorage near Chickaloon, featuring two dry cabins, three sleeping yurts, activity yurt, tenting site, bathhouse, and pavilion with shared kitchen. Available for reservations by churches, ministries, and groups seeking spiritual retreat and connection with God in nature.
• Covenant Bible Camp Rural Bible camp located near Unalakleet in Western Alaska, serving indigenous communities with week-long summer programs for youth and young adults. Over 40 years of history, hosting nearly 300 youth and 125 volunteers annually. Registration $250/camper plus ~$400/camper travel.
• Internship Program Ministry internship program for young adults from Alaska interested in church ministry, featuring 40 hours per week of service, weekly mentoring sessions, conference call participation, and goal-setting for developing Native young adults into future Alaska church leaders.
• NextGen Retreat Annual youth retreat held May 4-8 offering registration for $100 with $25 deposit, featuring games, fellowship, and gospel message opportunities for Alaska youth.
• Winter Young Adult Retreat Annual winter retreat for young adults held at Camp Maranatha at Big Lake, offering fellowship, discipleship, and community building.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 youth and 125 volunteers served annually at Covenant Bible Camp
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

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

• Hillcrest Covenant ChurchsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024One of the key partner organizations that helped lay the foundation for Chickaloon Retreat Center in 2024/2025, contributing to the construction of foundations, platforms, and yurts.
• Moose Lake Covenant ChurchsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner organization that helped lay the foundation for Chickaloon Retreat Center in 2024/2025, contributing to the construction of foundations, platforms, and yurts.
• Liberty UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner organization that helped lay the foundation for Chickaloon Retreat Center in 2024/2025, contributing to the construction of foundations, platforms, and yurts.
• Palmer Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner organization that helped lay the foundation for Chickaloon Retreat Center in 2024/2025, contributing to the construction of foundations, platforms, and yurts.
• Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYAK is a ministry of the Alaska Conference of the ECC. The Conference provides institutional oversight, alignment, and support. CYAK works in close partnership with local Covenant churches across the state, many located in small rural villages.
• Alaska Christian College (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Christ-centered vocational school in Soldotna whose mission is to offer biblically grounded and culturally relevant education. CYAK connects young adults with ACC and its students participate in CYAK young adult ministry.
• Amundsen Educational Center (AEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Christian vocational training school in Soldotna focused on construction. CYAK's Aarigaa House South is located on the AEC campus, and CYAK staff member J.D. Tuell serves young adults studying at AEC and in the surrounding Soldotna area.
• Covenant Bible Camp (Unalakleet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCYAK's flagship rural summer camp ministry just outside Unalakleet, operating for over 40 years and serving nearly 300 youth and 125 volunteers each June. Operates as a separate entity (covenantbiblecamp.org) with CYAK staff serving in leadership roles.
• Intermountain MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompiled a list of resources for churches interested in learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how churches can help hurting children and families. CYAK links to these ACE resources on its website.
• Evangelical Covenant Church - AVA InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ECC's Advocacy for Victims of Abuse (AVA) initiative addresses sexual assault and domestic violence through education and awareness in congregations and communities. CYAK links to AVA resources.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Young Life: A national faith-based youth ministry organization with a similar model of relational outreach, summer camps, and volunteer-driven programming serving adolescents; comparable in mission and program architecture to CYAK's youth ministry and Covenant Bible Camp.
• Youth for Christ USA: Faith-based youth organization running campus clubs, camps, and discipleship programs; directly comparable to CYAK in targeting adolescents with Christ-centered community, mentoring, and retreat experiences.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA: Campus-focused Christian ministry serving college students and young adults with discipleship and Bible study; mirrors CYAK's Aarigaa House model of housing and intentional community near UAA for transitioning rural young adults.
• Amundsen Educational Center: Christian vocational training school in Soldotna where CYAK houses young adults at Aarigaa House South; highly comparable in mission, target demographic, and geographic footprint in Alaska.
• Alaska Christian College: Christ-centered vocational college in Soldotna that already partners with CYAK on Aarigaa House South; comparable in serving the same rural-to-urban young adult population with biblically grounded education and formation.
• Covenant Bible Camp: CYAK's flagship rural camp program operating as a closely affiliated entity near Unalakleet; directly comparable as a residential summer camp serving the same Alaska Native youth audience with a multi-decade operating history.

Others

• Intermountain: Faith-based child and family services organization (formerly associated with the Evangelical Covenant Church) that CYAK already partners with on ACEs/trauma resources; a thematically adjacent enabling organization in the same ministry ecosystem.

Regional players

• Cook Inlet Tribal Council: Alaska Native nonprofit serving Alaska Native and American Indian people in the Anchorage area with education, workforce, and youth programs; comparable in mission focus on Alaska Native youth well-being but operates as a tribal nonprofit rather than faith-based.

Emerging players

• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): Faith-based organization ministering to adolescents and young adults through athletics; overlaps with CYAK's youth mentoring and rural outreach but with a sports-led delivery model rather than camp/housing.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): Global interdenominational missionary training and discipleship movement; relevant peer for CYAK's internship program and intentional discipleship houses that develop young leaders into ministry callings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/covenantyouthofalaska
• Instagraminstagram.com/covenantyouthofalaska
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/covenant-youth-of-alaska

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Covenant Youth of Alaska