Friends for Youth (FFY)

What Friends for Youth (FFY) does

Friends for Youth (FFY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered at 3460 W. Bayshore Rd., Suite 203, Palo Alto, California. It delivers youth mentoring services to underserved children and adolescents ages 8–17 across San Mateo County and Northern Santa Clara Counties in the Bay Area. Its core programs include a community-based 1-to-1 Mentoring Program, the school-based group mentoring program Connect™ (launched 2016), the Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative (founded 2018, with FFY as backbone agency coordinating mental health services alongside Siena Youth Center, Redwood City PAL, and One Life Counseling Center), and the Mentoring Institute (founded 1998 with Packard Foundation funding, which trains external youth-serving organizations on FFY's model). Since inception, FFY has facilitated more than 4,500 mentorship matches and reports a 95% program-completion rate versus a 33–37% national average.

The organization does not rely on proprietary technology; service delivery is built on human mentorship relationships supported by staff-led matching and coordination among mentors, mentees, families, and schools. Supporting tooling consists of standard nonprofit management software, Zoom for virtual info sessions, and a Squarespace-hosted website with online referral and donation forms. FFY's revenue model is entirely donation-based, comprising four streams: individual donations (including targeted campaigns such as the 47th anniversary $47 initiative), corporate sponsorships and annual partnership packages, the annual Spring Gala fundraiser (the organization's largest single revenue event), and foundation grants. Programs are provided free of charge to youth participants; there are no fees for mentees or mentors. The go-to-market motion is community-led, with youth referred by school counselors, mental health specialists, and community agencies, and mentors recruited via the website, biweekly Zoom info sessions, social media, and corporate partnerships.

FFY is led by Karen Wilmer (CEO Emeritus), with Monica Mejia as Director of Operations and Ryan Campagna as Director of Programs. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors that includes representation from Google, Altamont Capital Partners, and PwC. There is no parent company, no venture capital or private equity ownership, and no acquisition, merger, or restructuring activity in the disclosed data. FFY's IP position consists of brand assets (the FFY name and logo, refreshed in a 2025 rebrand) and program trademarks such as Connect™ and the FFY Bestie Club recurring donor program.

Name

Friends for Youth (FFY)

Legal name

Friends for Youth

Website

https://friendsforyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends for Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that provides 1-to-1 and group youth mentoring, a mental health collaborative, and mentor-training services to underserved youth ages 8–17 across San Mateo and Northern Santa Clara Counties in the Bay Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentoring Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• School-based mentoring programs
• Community youth development
• Nonprofit mentorship training
• Mental health collaborative

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website donation portal. The organization promotes annual campaigns and specific giving initiatives like the 47th anniversary $47 donation campaign.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor programs and events, with annual partnership packages available that include volunteer opportunities, Spring Gala tickets, and supporter recognition.
3. Annual Gala Fundraiser: The annual Spring Gala is the organization's biggest fundraiser, featuring live jazz, auctions, raffles, and dining. The 2026 Gala 'Midnight in the French Quarter' is scheduled for May 30 at Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae.
4. Foundation Grants: The organization has received grants from foundations including the Packard Foundation, which helped fund the Mentoring Institute established in 1998.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends for Youth provides free, community-based 1-to-1 mentoring and school-based group mentoring (Connect™) for underserved youth ages 8-17 in San Mateo and Northern Santa Clara Counties, supported by the Mentoring Institute (training for other youth-serving agencies) and the Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative, a coordinated mental health and wellness network serving Redwood City and North Fair Oaks.

Product overview

Friends for Youth operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization offering youth mentoring services rather than a traditional software product. The organization provides four interconnected programs: the 1-to-1 Mentoring Program for individual youth mentorship, the Group Mentoring Program (Connect™) for school-based group sessions, the Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative for mental health and wellness coordination, and the Mentoring Institute for training other organizations. These programs work together to serve underserved youth across San Mateo and Northern Santa Clara Counties in the Bay Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Connect™: School-based group mentoring program supporting students during their critical transition to high school, launched in 2016 and expanded to 23 schools.
• Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative
• FFY Bestie Club

Products and services

• 1-to-1 Mentoring Program Individual mentoring program connecting underserved youth ages 8-17 with caring adult mentors who provide stable, supportive, and consistent guidance through weekly in-person or virtual meetings focused on fun, interest-based activities, skill development, and supportive relationships. Mentors commit to 6 months or 1 year, must be at least 20 years old, and have regular access to a car.
• Group Mentoring Program (Connect™) School-based group mentoring program matching small groups of 5th-12th grade students with volunteer co-mentors for weekly one-hour interactive sessions during the school day, focusing on identity, self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. Primarily serves students in Redwood City schools navigating the transition from middle school to high school.
• Whole Health for Youth (WHY) Collaborative Network of local organizations providing coordinated mental health and wellness services for youth and families, with Friends for Youth serving as the backbone agency making warm handoffs and co-locating services in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks. Partners include Siena Youth Center, Redwood City PAL, and One Life Counseling Center.
• Mentoring Institute Training and education division that trains and educates other mentoring and youth-serving organizations nationwide on FFY's successful program model, including organizational techniques, staff training, and educational products. Mentoring programs throughout the country have requested technical assistance from FFY.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of matches complete the one-year program (vs. 33-37% national average)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Siena Youth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Based in North Fair Oaks, Siena Youth Center offers programs supporting education, art, advocacy, health and wellness including after school programs (grades 3-8), North Fair Oaks Youth Initiative (grades 9-12), Summer Camp, young adult basketball league 'Poderismo', and community activities.
• Redwood City PAL (Police Activities League)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Located in the Friendly Acres Neighborhood, PAL provides families with enrichment and wellness activities including after school programs (grades K-8), parent health and wellness workshops, community meetings, and Police Cadet Program.
• One Life Counseling CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Offers bilingual therapy, school-based counseling, and community events including individual and group therapy, parent support groups, mental health community workshops, newcomer immigrant youth counseling, and food and diaper giveaways.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• iCouldBe: Online mentoring platform pairing at-risk high school students with college-aged mentors. Comparable to FFY on the youth mentoring mission but differentiated by a tech-enabled, virtual-first delivery model that contrasts with FFY's human-coordinated local model.

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The largest youth mentoring nonprofit in the United States, providing 1-to-1 community-based mentoring for at-risk youth. Directly comparable to FFY's 1-to-1 Mentoring Program in mission, volunteer mentor model, and youth outcomes focus.
• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): The national umbrella and advocacy body for youth mentoring in the US, working to expand quality mentoring through research, advocacy, and resource development. FFY is recognized by MENTOR's ecosystem as a gold-standard practitioner operating in the same mentoring field.
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): National nonprofit recruiting and training volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Comparable to FFY as a volunteer-driven youth services nonprofit that matches caring adults with vulnerable youth, though focused on the foster/court system.

Broad incumbents

• 4-H: National youth development organization offering mentoring, leadership, and STEM programs across rural and urban communities. Comparable to FFY on positive youth development outcomes, but operates at much broader scale and with a wider programmatic portfolio.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from low-income communities through mentoring, training, and corporate placement. Comparable to FFY on youth empowerment and corporate partnership fundraising, but focused on older youth transitioning to careers.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization serving millions of young people through after-school programming, mentoring, and life skills. Comparable to FFY as a broader youth development provider that includes mentoring within a wider portfolio of services.

Regional players

• United Way Bay Area: Regional nonprofit hub operating in the same Bay Area geography as FFY, funding and convening youth and family services. Comparable as a regional social services funder/convener that overlaps with FFY's service area and beneficiary populations.

Others

• Charity Navigator: Independent nonprofit evaluator that rates charities on financial health, accountability, and transparency. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler — FFY's 100% Charity Navigator rating is a major trust signal that connects it to this ratings infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/friendsforyouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/friendsforyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-for-youth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Friends for Youth (FFY)