Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes

What Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes does

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, Inc. (JAMGL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1955 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a regional affiliate of Junior Achievement USA, operating as the 23rd largest JA chapter among more than 100 nationwide. The organization delivers experiential K-12 educational programs in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to approximately 61,670 students annually across 50 counties in West, Mid, Northern, and Southwest Michigan plus the Upper Peninsula, reaching 400 schools through 1,888 classes supported by 1,251 business volunteers and 33 staff.

Its core product portfolio centers on three flagship simulation-based experiences: JA BizTown (a simulated town where elementary students operate banks, manage businesses, and vote for mayor), JA Finance Park (a capstone personal finance and career exploration program), and the JA Company Program (a 13-week after-school entrepreneurship experience). Supporting programs include JA Career Success, JA Be Entrepreneurial, JA Titan, JA Economics, and a tiered personal finance curriculum (JA Personal Finance 2.0, JA Financial Literacy, JA Economics for Success 2.0). Program delivery is volunteer-led through in-school classroom integration, after-school programming, on-site simulation facilities, and virtual/hybrid channels enabled by the JA Learning Platform (D2L) and Google Sites-hosted resource centers for volunteers and educators. All programs are provided at no cost to schools and students.

The organization's business model is donation-funded rather than fee-based. Revenue is generated through corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (including multi-million-dollar gifts from KPMG Foundation, The Hartford, Accenture, FedEx, EY, The Allstate Foundation, Verizon, DTE, and KPMG), individual philanthropist contributions (DeVos, Huizenga, Hascall, and Tom Fox families, among others), and signature fundraising events such as the JA West Michigan Business Hall of Fame and JA Free Enterprise Golf Invitational. Programs are delivered free to schools, with sustainability resting on a diversified base of regional and national corporate, foundation, and individual supporters. Leadership is provided by President and CEO William Coderre III, Board Chair Jodi Havera (CFO of Landscape Forms), and a volunteer board of regional business, education, and civic leaders.

Name

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes

Legal name

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, Inc.

Website

https://michigangreatlakes.ja.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free K-12 financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs to approximately 61,670 students annually across 50 Michigan counties through volunteer-led classroom instruction and simulation-based facilities, funded by corporate sponsors, foundation grants, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Financial Literacy and Work Readiness Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

College & Career Exploration Camps (Pre-College Samplers, Pathways) (EDAMALAN)

Keywords

• Youth financial literacy
• Work readiness education
• K-12 entrepreneurship programs
• Experiential learning simulations
• Volunteer-led education

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary funding comes from corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and foundation grants that support program delivery to students at no cost to schools.
2. Event Revenue: Fundraising events including JA West Michigan Business Hall of Fame, JA Free Enterprise Golf Invitational, and other community events generate revenue while recognizing community leaders.
3. Fundable Opportunities: Corporate and individual partners can fund specific programs, classrooms, or initiatives through designated giving programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes delivers K-12 educational programs in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, including immersive simulation experiences such as JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, the JA Company Program where teens run real businesses under volunteer mentors, and supporting curriculum like JA Career Success and JA Personal Finance. Programs are delivered at no cost to schools and students through partnerships with school districts, business volunteers, and corporate sponsors across 50 counties in Michigan. The organization also operates the JA Learning Platform (D2L) and Google Sites-based resource centers to support blended and virtual delivery.

Product overview

Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of experiential learning programs in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students. The core programs include JA BizTown (a simulated town for elementary students), JA Finance Park (capstone personal finance and career program for middle/high school), JA Company Program (teen entrepreneurship experience), JA Career Success (work readiness), and JA Personal Finance/Financial Literacy (money management). Programs are delivered through volunteer-led classroom instruction, in-person simulation centers, and a digital learning platform (D2L/JA Learning Platform). Additional offerings include supplementary apps and resources hosted on Google Sites, scholarships, and the JA Associate Leadership Board. The organization serves approximately 60,000 students annually across 50 counties in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, reaching about 400 schools through 1,888 classes with 1,251 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JA Central: Resource center for volunteers and educators providing access to JA program resources, staff education resource center, and user management systems.

Products and services

• JA BizTown A simulated town where students operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor, combining in-class learning with a day-long visit to connect classroom education to real-world economics. Designed for elementary and middle school students.
• JA Finance Park Junior Achievement's capstone program for personal financial planning and career exploration that helps students build a foundation for making intelligent lifelong financial decisions. Designed for middle and high school students.
• JA Company Program A 13-week after-school program where students manage their own quick-start businesses under mentorship of a qualified entrepreneur or business professional volunteer from the community. Designed for high school students.
• JA Career Success Work readiness program that enables high school students to gain skills necessary to secure employment and build a successful long-term career.
• JA Financial Literacy for Michigan Financial literacy curriculum designed to help schools and students meet Michigan's new financial literacy graduation requirement with practical, hands-on financial education.
• JA Be Entrepreneurial High school program that develops a start-up enterprise and business plan while learning how to conduct market research and identify competitive advantages.
• JA Financial Literacy Financial literacy curriculum helping students develop practical knowledge about managing money, budgeting, and financial planning.
• JA Personal Finance 2.0 Personal finance education program focused on practical money management skills for students.
• JA Economics for Success 2.0 Program created in partnership with The Allstate Foundation helping students develop, plan, and set personal financial goals.
• JA Titan Business simulation program focusing on business management and competitive strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows JA Alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Biggby CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, supporting educational programs for students.
• Corewell Health (Spectrum Health)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare system corporate sponsor supporting JA programs in the Michigan Great Lakes region.
• Independent BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution sponsor supporting JA educational programs.
• JacksonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting financial literacy month initiatives and general JA programs.
• Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCredit union sponsor of JA programs; President/CEO Sandy Jelinski inducted into JA West Michigan Business Hall of Fame.
• MeijerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail corporation supporting JA programs as a corporate sponsor.
• Mercantile BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution sponsor supporting JA educational initiatives.
• Northpointe BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional bank sponsor of JA programs in Michigan.
• Plante MoranminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccounting and consulting firm sponsor of JA educational programs.
• SpartanNashminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood distribution company sponsor supporting JA programs.
• United Bank of MichigancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time supporter with bankers serving as classroom volunteers for over 20 years. Employees regularly volunteer with JA programs teaching financial literacy to K-12 students.
• VerizonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor of JA Passport to STEM: A Virtual Experience event. Supports STEM education initiatives for middle school students across Michigan.
• DTEmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeries Presenting Sponsor for JA Passport to STEM event, supporting STEM career awareness for students.
• TCF BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor for JA Passport to STEM virtual event.
• Priority HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor for JA Passport to STEM virtual event.
• Meijer of Northern MichiganminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting Sponsor for JA Passport to STEM virtual event.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting JA Launch Lesson program and research initiatives including teen entrepreneurship and career surveys. EY professionals serve on JA boards and deliver programming.
• The Allstate FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2005 supporting JA Economics for Success program, helping over 1.2 million students with personal finance education.
• Teach For AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership to increase access to JA work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs, with focus on reaching at-risk youth.
• FedExcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term sponsor (10+ years, $10 million+) of JA programs through FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week program supporting small business and entrepreneurship education.
• Independent BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Junior Achievement West Michigan Business Hall of Fame, supporting recognition of business leaders.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement USA: The national parent organization of JAMGL, operating the same K-12 financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs across 100+ local areas. JAMGL is one of its largest area chapters.
• Junior Achievement of Central Texas: A regional JA chapter delivering the same K-12 experiential financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs across Central Texas with similar volunteer and school-district partnership model.
• Junior Achievement of New York: Another large JA area chapter delivering the same K-12 financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs to schools in the New York metro region — directly comparable in mission, programs, and volunteer-led delivery model.
• Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore: Smaller regional JA chapter offering JA programs in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness to K-12 schools in Maryland's Eastern Shore — same JA curriculum set and volunteer-driven delivery.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): A national nonprofit delivering youth entrepreneurship education to high school students from underserved communities — closely comparable mission, target audience (K-12), and experiential learning methodology.
• Junior Achievement of Chicago: A large Midwest JA area chapter offering JA BizTown, JA Finance Park, and JA Company Program to K-12 students in the Chicago region — comparable scope, programs, and donor/volunteer model.

Broad incumbents

• 4-H: The nation's largest youth development organization, delivering experiential learning including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness to K-12 youth — broader in scope but with overlapping subject matter and school/community delivery model.
• DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America): A national student organization preparing high school students for careers in business, finance, and entrepreneurship — overlapping membership and curriculum areas with JA's career success and entrepreneurship programs.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): National career-oriented student organization for middle and high school students focused on business, finance, and leadership — overlapping target audience and subject matter with JA's work readiness programs.

Emerging players

• EverFi: A technology-driven provider of K-12 financial literacy, STEM, and career readiness curricula; competes for the same school district budgets as JA but delivers through digital platforms rather than volunteer-led classroom sessions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/junior-achievement-of-the-michigan-great-lakes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes