The DAD Initiative
The DAD Initiative is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based non-profit founded in 2013 that delivers youth enrichment, mentorship, and workforce development programs—primarily serving Black K-12 students, families, and community members through annual events, a 13-week construction training program, and career exploration partnerships with regional employers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The DAD Initiative does
The DAD Initiative (D.A.D. = Directing Adolescent Development) is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Tyran Stallings and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a service area concentrated in the broader Cincinnati region. It was established to address the underrepresentation of Black men in education—cited as approximately 2% of teachers nationally—by delivering youth enrichment, mentorship, and workforce development programming to K-12 students, families, and Black community members. Core programs are organized under three pillars: enrichment (STEAM-focused year-round activities during school, after-school, and summer), youth and community programs (the Black Futures career exploration event, Black Futures Brunch, and the re-imagined Black Man Think Tank), and workforce development (a 13-week Construction Training Program with RWB Construction and the Black Futures Career Camp). The organization also operates a youth-led podcast series covering mental health, peer relationships, bullying, substance abuse, and community safety.
The DAD Initiative does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure consists of a Wix-hosted website (built by QuietNoise Media, 2018) used for program promotion and Google Forms–based event registration. Program delivery is fully in-person and human-mediated, relying on a network of partner employers (Tri Health, Children's Hospital, Metro, RWB Construction), schools (Princeton High School), and co-sponsors (HBCU Connect) to provide career exposure, mentorship, and curriculum content. Identifiable outcomes include 300+ students served annually through Black Futures, 80+ Black professionals participating as mentors per event, and a recurring 13-week curriculum in the construction trades.
The revenue model is donation-based: the organization solicits contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations via a PayPal link on its Services page, and all programs are delivered at no cost to participants. Pricing is therefore not applicable in the commercial sense. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, with reach concentrated through social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), email newsletter, school partnerships, and word-of-mouth. With only 5 employees and no disclosed funding rounds, grants, or budget figures, scale is constrained by volunteer-driven delivery and partnership-dependent execution.
The DAD Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The DAD Initiative
- Legal name
- The DAD Initiative
- Website
- https://dadinitiative.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The DAD Initiative is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based non-profit founded in 2013 that delivers youth enrichment, mentorship, and workforce development programs—primarily serving Black K-12 students, families, and community members through annual events, a 13-week construction training program, and career exploration partnerships with regional employers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The DAD Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Co-Parenting, Father Engagement & Caregiver Inclusion Programs (EDACALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Parent Support Groups & Peer Networks (EDACALAG)
Keywords
Where The DAD Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The DAD Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropic Support: The organization relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Services page features a PayPal donation link and emphasizes that 'investing in The DAD Initiative means investing in the future success of both youth and communities.'
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The DAD Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The DAD Initiative is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Tyran Stallings in Cincinnati, Ohio. It provides youth empowerment, enrichment, mentorship, and workforce development programs aimed at supporting young people and families in the community.
Product overview
The DAD Initiative is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of youth empowerment and community development programs. The core offerings span three main pillars: Enrichment Programs (STEAM-focused activities), Youth & Community Programs (including the Black Futures brand, Black Futures Brunch, and Black Man Think Tank), and Workforce Development (Construction Training Program and Black Futures Career Camp). The initiative also provides supplementary services including mentorship, education workshops, 21st century skills development, summer enrichment programs, community health events, and a youth-led podcast series. Programs are offered year-round across school, after-school, and summer schedules, serving students, families, and the broader community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Futures: A program offering an exceptional platform where young people connect with accomplished professionals, gaining invaluable insights into various career paths and life experiences. Also includes the Black Futures Brunch for social and emotional well-being.
- Black Man Think Tank
Products and services
- Youth Empowerment Program Program designed to empower young people in the Cincinnati community through personal development, confidence-building, and life skills training.
- Youth Enrichment Program Enrichment programming offering structured activities and learning opportunities for youth served by the organization.
- Mentorship Program Mentorship service pairing community mentors with youth participants to provide guidance, support, and positive role modeling.
- Workforce Development Program Workforce readiness training that equips youth with employability skills, career exposure, and pathways to economic opportunity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 300 students served annually through Black Futures events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The DAD Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The DAD Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The DAD Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- HBCU ConnectflagshipCo-sponsor of the 2nd Annual HBCU College & Career Fair. Partnership focuses on helping high school students and their families explore educational and career paths through workshops, networking, and resources. Registration hosted through The DAD Initiative and HBCU Connect platforms.
- Tri HealthcoreHealthcare employer participating in Black Futures career exploration event, providing students exposure to healthcare career paths and professional mentorship from Tri Health employees.
- Children's HospitalcoreHealthcare employer participating in Black Futures career exploration event, offering students insights into healthcare careers and connections with hospital professionals.
- MetrocoreRegional transportation provider participating in Black Futures career exploration event, exposing students to career opportunities in public transportation and municipal services.
- QuietNoise MediaminorWebsite development partner credited for The DAD Initiative website (©2018 by QuietNoise Media). Provided digital platform services for the organization's online presence.
- RWB ConstructioncoreBlack-owned construction company in Cincinnati, OH that collaborates with The DAD Initiative on the Construction Training Program. This 13-week course teaches construction safety, power tool usage, lift operation, and basic carpentry skills. Provides hands-on industry experience and pathways to employment in the construction trades.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The DAD Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development organization offering after-school enrichment, workforce readiness, and mentorship across hundreds of clubs. Operates at much larger scale and broader demographic scope, but overlaps significantly in career exploration, soft-skills training, and STEAM enrichment offerings.
- National Urban League: Historic civil-rights and economic-empowerment organization running youth-programming, workforce, and education initiatives for African American communities. Mission-aligned around educational equity and Black youth advancement, though operating as a much larger federated national entity.
Direct peers
- KIPP Foundation: National non-profit network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving educationally underserved communities. Mission-aligned around educational equity, though KIPP delivers via schools rather than community-based enrichment and workforce programs.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Largest youth-mentorship non-profit in the U.S., pairing adult volunteers with young people for one-on-one mentoring. Highly comparable in delivering structured mentorship and career-exposure programming to youth, though not specifically focused on the Black male demographic.
- Year Up: Workforce-development non-profit providing young adults from underserved communities with skills training, mentorship, and corporate internships. Comparable in employer-partnered career-pathway delivery, though Year Up targets older young adults transitioning into professional careers.
- 100 Black Men of America: National non-profit focused on mentoring, education, and economic empowerment of Black youth and families, with an explicit emphasis on Black male mentorship and role models — directly aligned with The DAD Initiative's mission of growing Black male participation in education.
- Boys Hope Girls Hope: Non-profit providing academic support, mentoring, and career exposure to youth from underserved communities. Comparable in delivering wraparound youth-development services with volunteer-professional mentorship at a smaller organizational scale.
Regional players
- YMCA of Greater Cincinnati: Regional YMCA operating youth development, after-school enrichment, and workforce-readiness programs throughout the Cincinnati metro. Comparable community-venue programming model targeting similar youth and family demographics in the same geographic market.
- Cincinnati Youth Collaborative: Cincinnati-based non-profit providing college and career readiness, mentoring, and workforce programs for local youth. Operates in the same metro footprint with overlapping school-based and career-exposure programming, making it a direct regional peer for participants and funders.
- Urban League of Greater Cincinnati: Local Cincinnati affiliate of the National Urban League serving the same metropolitan market with workforce, education, and youth programs. A direct regional competitor for Cincinnati-area corporate, foundation, and donor dollars supporting Black youth workforce and education programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The DAD Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceThe DAD Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The DAD Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The DAD Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The DAD Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The DAD Initiative
What does The DAD Initiative do?
The DAD Initiative is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Tyran Stallings in Cincinnati, Ohio. It provides youth empowerment, enrichment, mentorship, and workforce development programs aimed at supporting young people and families in the community.
Is The DAD Initiative a public or private company?
The DAD Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The DAD Initiative founded?
The DAD Initiative was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The DAD Initiative based?
The DAD Initiative is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does The DAD Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Philanthropic Support.
Who are The DAD Initiative's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and National Urban League. Direct peers are KIPP Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Year Up, 100 Black Men of America and Boys Hope Girls Hope. Regional players are YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.
Does The DAD Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for The DAD Initiative.
What industry is The DAD Initiative in?
The DAD Initiative's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACALAI, Co-Parenting, Father Engagement & Caregiver Inclusion Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.