What Elevate Youth does

Elevate Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Alec Griswold, headquartered in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. The organization provides free outdoor mentorship and recreation programs to underserved youth aged 9-14 in the Boston and Cambridge area. Core programming includes recurring outdoor trips covering hiking, skiing, kayaking, sailing, and climbing; the E.A.T. Initiative, which extends the program into nutrition and food access; the annual Elevate Games fundraiser; and the Outdoor Ambassador peer-to-peer fundraising cohort. Since founding, the organization reports serving more than 858 youth across more than 535 trips.

The operating model is structured to eliminate participation barriers: programs, transportation, gear, and meals are provided at no cost to participants. A 12-person staff supports operations alongside the Outdoor Ambassador peer-to-peer fundraising network. Revenue is assembled from multiple channels, including foundation grants (a $100,000 Cummings Foundation grant awarded in May 2021 over four years and a $15,000 Patagonia Cambridge grant in 2020), tiered corporate sponsorships at $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000 levels, individual donations, and peer-to-peer fundraising through the Outdoor Ambassador program. The organization partners with six or more youth-serving organizations and schools to source participants and coordinate programming.

In November 2023, Elevate Youth became the first carbon-neutral nonprofit in Massachusetts, formalizing a climate-positioning stance. In May 2024, Chaya Harris was appointed Executive Director, marking a transition from founder-led operational leadership.

Name

Elevate Youth

Legal name

Elevate Youth

Website

https://elevateyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elevate Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that provides free outdoor mentorship and recreation—including hiking, skiing, kayaking, sailing, and nutrition support—to underserved youth aged 9-14 in Boston and Cambridge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Outdoor Mentorship Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Instructor-Led Skills Academies (Climbing, Paddling, Mountaineering Schools) (THAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Outdoor youth programs
• Mentorship services
• Nonprofit education
• Youth development
• Community adventure programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including $100,000 from Cummings Foundation over 4 years and $15,000 from Patagonia Cambridge grant. Competitive grant funding is the primary revenue source.
2. Individual Donations: Direct financial contributions from individuals to support transportation, meals, equipment, and outdoor experiences at no cost to youth or families. Donation button prominently featured on website.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorship through corporate partners with tiered levels ($15,000 Presenting, $10,000 Gold, $5,000 Silver) providing programming for specific numbers of youth. Annual Elevate Games event is a key sponsorship vehicle.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Outdoor Ambassador program where supporters create personal fundraising pages and complete challenges (thru-hikes, expeditions) to raise funds for youth programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Elevate Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free outdoor mentorship programs to underserved youth, primarily ages 9-14, in Boston. Its core offerings include the E.A.T. (Education Adventure Trips) Initiative, the Elevate Games competition series, and the Outdoor Ambassador Program, all delivered through hands-on adventure-based learning with volunteer instructors.

Product overview

Elevate Youth operates as a nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected youth outdoor programs centered around outdoor mentorship. The core offering is recurring outdoor mentorship programs that provide youth with regular access to nature alongside positive adult mentors. This is supported by the E.A.T. Initiative which integrates health and wellness through nutrition education and food access. The Elevate Games serves as an annual fundraising event, while the Outdoor Ambassador program enables peer-to-peer fundraising through personal outdoor challenges. Activities span hiking, fishing, kayaking, sailing, skiing, climbing, and camping, all provided free of charge to underserved youth in the Boston area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• E.A.T. Initiative (Education Adventure Trips) Adventure-based educational trips that combine outdoor experiences with structured learning, designed for underserved Boston youth ages 9-14. The program pairs youth with volunteer instructors for multi-day outdoor adventures that build confidence, leadership, and connection to the natural environment.
• Elevate Games Recurring outdoor games and competitions for participating youth, fostering teamwork, friendly rivalry, and physical activity in an outdoor setting. Designed for underserved Boston youth engaged with the organization's broader programming.
• Outdoor Ambassador Program A leadership development pathway for youth who have progressed through Elevate Youth's programs, allowing them to serve as outdoor ambassadors and peer mentors for newer participants. Designed to extend engagement beyond initial program participation and build long-term leadership skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 858 youth empowered outdoors since 2018
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OnePercent for the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit member committing to environmental giving. Logo displayed on website as member organization.
• CommonWealth KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Development Director Melissa Castro serves on E.A.T. Committee. Provided meal boxes with baked goods, pies, prepared sides, and spices for Thanksgiving food drive. Food security organization collaboration for E.A.T. Initiative.
• Stop & ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated gift cards to highest need families as part of E.A.T. Initiative. Digital Marketing Manager Dulce Delpina serves on E.A.T. Committee.
• Boys & Girls Club of DorchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner organization providing youth for regular outdoor programming, weekend trips, and summer camp. EY staff lead activities at BGCD locations and transport youth to outdoor destinations.
• West End House Boys and Girls ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly after-school enrichment programs conducted twice per week outside their building. Summer camp partnerships with Adventure Camp programming.
• City of Cambridge / Mayor Siddiqui's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded Local Parks Program partnership including Mayor Siddiqui's Office, Cambridge Housing Authority's Work Force Youth Program, and MIT Office of Government and Community Relations. Free outdoor program for 4th and 5th graders.
• MIT Office of Government and Community RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Local Parks Program providing outdoor programming for Cambridge Public School 4th and 5th graders through Work Force Youth Program.
• Harlem LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development organization providing students for skiing, climbing, and outdoor adventure programs. Strong ongoing partnership with weekend programming.
• Rock Spot Climbing GymcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for indoor climbing trips. Provided routes and belaying for multiple groups with repeat programming throughout fall season.
• Brooklyn Bouldering Somerville (BKB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional climbing partner gym for indoor climbing programming.
• Thompson Island Outward Bound Educational CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Harbor island partner for experiential learning through nature. Hosted multiple youth groups for tidepool exploration, hiking, and history education.
• Camp WingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner200-acre camp in Duxbury, MA hosted Outdoor Survival Games including fishing, shelter building, fire building, and scavenger hunts.
• Sibling ConnectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoster care service reconnecting separated siblings. Partnership for outdoor trips helping siblings build connections through nature experiences.
• Thomas J. Kenny SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Public School partner with weekly programming for 5th and 6th graders including skiing trips to Wachusett Mountain.
• James W. Hennigan SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamaica Plain school partner for regular after-school outdoor enrichment programs.
• Codman Community FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln, MA farm co-hosted supporter dinner celebrating friends, giving, and seasonal treats.
• TreePlenishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school student organization planting trees to offset school energy usage. Partnership for Earth Month tree planting initiatives.
• Jack Murphy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched in memory of Jack Murphy to support youth outdoor access.
• Atomic Coffee Roasters (Peabody)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonating $2 from each sale of 'Loud Pow' blend to support youth outdoor programs. Product partnership for cause marketing.
• Boston Honey CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal honey supplier for E.A.T. Initiative cooking classes.
• Fly Fishing Climate Alliance / Emerger StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Rick Crawford of Emerger Strategies. Alliance helping organizations achieve carbon neutrality. EY joined forces and became first MA nonprofit to go carbon neutral.
• Family DinnerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood partner providing frozen chickens and fresh organic produce (squash, onions, carrots, potatoes) for Thanksgiving food drive.
• Johnny's Luncheonette (Newton, MA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided cold storage for frozen and refrigerated food during Thanksgiving food drive coordination.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: National outdoor experiential education nonprofit serving youth through adventure-based learning. Directly comparable to Elevate Youth's outdoor mentorship programming, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple regions and offers fee-based programs alongside scholarships.
• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit serving New England. Comparable geographic footprint (White Mountains, Greater Boston) and audience overlap, but operates trails, lodges, and fee-based programming rather than free youth mentorship.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Premier outdoor skills education institution whose curriculum and instructor credentials (referenced in EY leadership backgrounds) anchor the field. While primarily fee-based and serving older students, NOLS defines the outdoor instruction category in which Elevate Youth operates.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Primary partner organization for Elevate Youth's Boston programming and a direct peer in serving underserved Boston youth through enrichment programs. Operates the Dorchester and West End House clubs that host EY activities.
• Outdoor Afro: National nonprofit connecting Black Americans and other underrepresented communities to outdoor experiences. Shares Elevate Youth's core thesis of diversifying the outdoors through access and mentorship, making it the closest mission-aligned peer nationally.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts: Regional youth mentoring nonprofit whose Big Brother program directly inspired Elevate Youth's founder Alec Griswold. Shares the consistent-mentorship model targeting underserved youth, but delivers mentoring across general activities rather than specifically outdoors.
• Thompson Island Outward Bound Educational Center: Boston Harbor-based outdoor education partner of Elevate Youth that delivers experiential learning programs to Boston-area youth. Operates in the same metro and shares the same target demographic (underserved urban youth), making it the most direct regional peer.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit engaging youth in conservation service and outdoor stewardship. Shares the next-generation-stewards framing and outdoor-based youth development model, though operates through paid service programs rather than free mentorship.
• Harlem Lacrosse: Youth development nonprofit partner of Elevate Youth serving underserved students through sport-based programming. Both organizations target urban youth of color through consistent adult mentorship; Harlem Lacrosse uses lacrosse while EY uses outdoor adventure as the engagement vehicle.

Regional players

• City Year Boston: Boston-based youth services nonprofit providing near-peer mentorship in schools. Comparable in geographic focus, target demographic (underserved Boston youth), and outcome-tracking approach, though focused on academic rather than outdoor outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/elevateyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elevateyouthoutdoors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Elevate Youth