The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

What The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) does

The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) is a nonprofit initiative launched in 2018, hosted at the Aspen Institute's Forum for Community Solutions and managed in partnership with Global Development Incubator (GDI). GOYN serves "Opportunity Youth"—defined as young people aged 15-35 who are out of school, unemployed, or working in informal, often precarious jobs—a population estimated at 600 million globally. The organization operates through a community-led model, establishing Local GOYN Collaboratives in each of 20 communities across 10 countries (India, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Haiti, and Morocco) that bring together young people alongside government, business, and civil society leaders to co-design pathways to dignified employment and entrepreneurship.

Name

The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

Legal name

Global Opportunity Youth Network

Website

https://goyn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) is a nonprofit initiative hosted at the Aspen Institute that connects young people aged 15-35 who are out of school or unemployed to economic opportunities through 20 community-led collaboratives across 10 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Economic Mobility and Workforce Development

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote/Hybrid Work Readiness & Digital Collaboration (EDAAAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Feedback, Discussion Forums & Social Learning Communities (EDAFAGAH), Skills, Competency & Capability Management (Skills Frameworks, Badging within LMS) (EDAFAAAE)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Economic mobility programs
• Cross-sector collaboration
• Community-based initiatives
• Nonprofit network coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: GOYN is funded through philanthropic grants and donations from corporate foundations (Prudential Financial, Accenture, Fondation Botnar), private foundations (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Vitol Foundation, Pilot House Philanthropy), with over $40 million mobilized globally and locally to date. The organization is hosted at the Aspen Institute and managed in partnership with Global Development Incubator (GDI).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GOYN operates a global network of place-based Collaboratives that bring together local public, private, and civil society partners with Opportunity Youth (ages 15-35) to co-design pathways to dignified employment and entrepreneurship. The network delivers cross-sector programs, capacity building, micro-grants, learning resources, and convenings across 20 communities in 10 countries.

Product overview

The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) is a network-based initiative rather than a traditional software product. Its core offering consists of a portfolio of interconnected programs and resources designed to connect Opportunity Youth (ages 15-35) to economic opportunities. The central platform is the Learning Lab, which curates research, tools, and learning resources. Supporting programs include the Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) for micro-grants to youth-led projects, the Equity Leadership Program (ELP) for youth capacity building, and the Authentic Youth Partnership (AYP) Framework—a methodology for youth-centered systems change. GOYN also operates Youth Hubs (phygital spaces) in rural communities and publishes learning briefs and reports including the GOYN Learning Report and Youth Financial Inclusion Report. The network organizes annual Global Convenings and maintains a Global Data Dashboard for impact tracking. These components work together as an integrated ecosystem supporting youth economic mobility through training, advocacy, funding, and community organizing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Learning Lab Curated digital hub aggregating research, case studies, learning reports, thought leadership, methodologies, and practical tools accessible to GOYN partners across the global network.
• Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) Micro-grant program launched in 2021 that supports youth-created, youth-led projects grounded in design thinking, equity analysis, and community asset mapping to address local barriers to employment, equity, and environmental sustainability.
• Equity Leadership Program (ELP) Capacity-building pathway launched in 2023 that equips Youth Advisory Group (YAG) members with skills, confidence, and frameworks to engage peers, adult allies, and systems actors to advance equity-centered and youth-led change within communities.
• Youth Hubs Phygital (digitally-enabled physical spaces) centers established in rural communities where Opportunity Youth access job placement, skilling, financial resources, entrepreneurship support, government services, and mentorship.
• AYP Ambassadors Program Network of dynamic Opportunity Youth leaders from GOYN communities who serve as co-creators, connectors, and catalysts across the network, amplifying youth voice and co-leading community initiatives.
• Global Convenings Annual global convenings bringing together GOYN partners, youth leaders, funders, and global allies for immersive, community-rooted experiences focused on advancing economic opportunity for young people.
• Global Data Dashboard Centralized data platform enabling network and local partners to use technology and data for decision-making, collaboration, and impact measurement across all communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000,000+ Opportunity Youth Connected to economic mobility journey
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Aspen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOYN is hosted at the Aspen Institute's Forum for Community Solutions. The Aspen Institute provides institutional hosting, brand credibility, and connection to the broader Aspen network and priorities including Rising Generations. Jamie McAuliffe serves as Founding Director at the Aspen Institute.
• Global Development Incubator (GDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOYN is managed in partnership with Global Development Incubator (GDI), which provides operational management, program implementation support, and regional leadership. GDI has offices in the US, Africa (Nairobi, Rwanda), and Latin America (Brazil, Colombia). Alice Gugelev serves as Managing Director of GDI and CEO of GDI Africa.
• AccenturekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccenture is a global partner providing expertise, particularly in areas like employer engagement strategy (e.g., GOYN São Paulo), digital platforms, and capacity building. Worked closely with GOYN São Paulo to map the youth employment ecosystem and conduct research.
• Transform Rural India Foundation (TRI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTRI is the Anchor Partner leading GOYN in Ramgarh (Jharkhand) and Barwani (Madhya Pradesh), India. TRI established phygital Youth Hubs to support GOYN implementation, working in close partnership with local government stakeholders. Together, the two districts represent over 550,000 Opportunity Youth.
• Swahilipot Hub FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwahilipot Hub Foundation is the Anchor Partner leading GOYN Mombasa since 2019. The organization is a leading local non-profit focused on youth empowerment, creative arts, and heritage. GOYN estimates 373,000 Mombasa youth are not in education, employment, or training.
• United Way BrazilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnited Way Brazil is the Anchor Partner for GOYN São Paulo since 2020. There are an estimated 765,000 Opportunity Youth in São Paulo. GOYN São Paulo operates under the local brand 'Juventudes Potentes' since January 2023.
• Lighthouse Communities FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLighthouse Communities Foundation is the Anchor Partner for GOYN Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, India. Hosted the 5th Annual GOYN Global Convening in November 2024 in Pune.
• Head Held High FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHead Held High Foundation is the Anchor Partner for GOYN Raichur, India. Atiya Yasmeen serves as Vice President of the Youth Advisory Group and Engagement Officer at this organization.
• Great Places to Work InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOYN São Paulo developed an 'Opportunity Youth-friendly' classification in partnership with the Great Places to Work Institute, with nearly 100 companies applying. This generates data on employer engagement strategies to facilitate OY success in the workplace.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRS partnered with GDI and GOYN to develop the FinYouth report on financing solutions for youth employment and entrepreneurship, providing a comprehensive review of financing mechanisms.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Education For Employment (EFE): EFE is a global nonprofit that prepares youth in the Middle East and North Africa for employment and entrepreneurship. Jamie McAuliffe, GOYN's Founding Director, was previously President & CEO of EFE, making it a closely comparable organization in mission and operating model.
• YouthBuild International: YouthBuild International is a directly comparable nonprofit focused on youth leadership, workforce development, and education for Opportunity Youth globally. Tim Cross, GOYN Senior Advisor, was its Founding President—indicating direct organizational overlap in mission and methodology.
• Generation (by McKinsey): Generation is a global nonprofit that trains and places young people into jobs, operating across multiple countries with employer-led curricula. It is directly comparable to GOYN in focusing on youth-to-employment pathways for underserved populations.
• Restless Development: Restless Development is a global nonprofit focused on youth-led development and youth economic empowerment across Africa and Asia. It is comparable to GOYN in placing young people as co-leaders of systems change in underserved communities.
• International Youth Foundation (IYF): IYF is a global nonprofit working to prepare young people for productive lives through workforce development and economic opportunity programs. GOYN's Laura Rosen previously led corporate and foundation partnerships at IYF, signaling overlapping funder networks and program design approaches.
• Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT): DOT is a youth-led nonprofit that equips young people with digital and employability skills in emerging economies. It overlaps with GOYN in targeting Opportunity Youth in developing economies with technology-enabled pathways to livelihoods.

Regional players

• Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator: Harambee is a South African nonprofit tackling youth unemployment through demand-led matching, training, and employer partnerships. It is highly comparable to GOYN in operating model (cross-sector, place-based youth employment) though primarily focused on South Africa.
• Pratham USA: Pratham is one of India's largest NGOs focused on education and youth employability, working across rural and urban India. It is comparable to GOYN in addressing Opportunity Youth pathways in India, where GOYN operates 7 of its 20 communities.

Broad incumbents

• TechnoServe: TechnoServe is a global nonprofit that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. It overlaps with GOYN in supporting entrepreneurship and economic mobility in low-income communities across developing economies.

Others

• Aspen Forum for Community Solutions: The Aspen Forum for Community Solutions is GOYN's institutional host and parent entity within the Aspen Institute. It is included as an enabling/parent institution given its direct governance relationship to GOYN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCg0FZyiogUjYhKqgHvlXfjg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globaloynetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/globaloynetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)