YourPassion1st

What YourPassion1st does

YourPassion1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Oak Park, Illinois (with primary operations in the Austin community area of Chicago), focused on helping under-resourced young adults ages 14 to 24 overcome adversity and pursue workforce and entrepreneurial careers. The organization delivers its mission through the Young Ambassadors International Program (a 7-month intensive mentorship, mental health, and workforce readiness curriculum capped at 50 participants per cohort across Chicago, Brazil, Africa, and worldwide), the annual Global Workforce Readiness Music Festival (a hybrid event featuring workshops, panels, pitch competitions with $700-$1,500 prizes, and music programming), and supplementary coaching and mentorship services staffed by industry leaders, passionate mentors, and a youth advisory board. Supporting infrastructure includes the Opportunity Connects resource hub spanning twelve industry verticals, a Points Leaderboard gamification feature, two podcasts (Principles of Passion and The Undivided Bridge), and an e-commerce merchandise storefront (Forged By Future Apparel) selling branded apparel and accessories priced from $11 to $77.50.

The organization operates as a community-focused nonprofit with no proprietary technology platform identified; it relies on standard web and digital tools, social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Flowpage), and partner-orchestrated events to deliver programming. Revenue is generated through a combination of donations and charitable contributions, grant funding (IRS Form 990 filings published for 2019-2025), fundraising events (with the 2020 festival alone raising over $10,000 against 25,000+ streams), and merchandise sales. Distribution is both direct (website enrollment, in-person events) and digital (e-commerce, podcast platforms). The organization coordinates a named ecosystem of twelve partners including BUILD, Mi Casa Holiday, Grow Exponential, Advanced Group, Light of Loving Kindness, and Artist Collective to extend its workforce readiness and youth empowerment programming across international markets.

YourPassion1st has reached measurable outcomes in its early years, including mentoring 30 young adults across Chicago, Brazil, and South Africa in the 2021 inaugural cohort, attracting 150+ content contributors from 19+ countries to its 2021 virtual festival, and supporting a 'Forged From Brilliance' Fall Benefit marking five years of operation in November 2024. The organization does not disclose headcount beyond the 22-employee baseline, has no institutional funding rounds, and shows no AI or proprietary technology capability, positioning it as a mission-driven community nonprofit rather than a venture-backable enterprise.

Name

YourPassion1st

Legal name

YourPassion1st Inc.

Website

https://yourpassion1st.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YourPassion1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 that delivers mentorship, mental health support, workforce readiness training, and entrepreneurship coaching to under-resourced young adults ages 14-24 through its Young Ambassadors International Program, annual Global Workforce Readiness Music Festival, podcasts, and a branded merchandise e-commerce shop, supported by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts) (MPACADAF), Incentive Travel Programs & Retreat Events (Offsites) (MPAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Youth mentorship programs
• Workforce readiness services
• Youth development nonprofit
• Community empowerment programs
• Youth entrepreneurship support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, YourPassion1st relies upon public support and donations to fulfill its mission of helping under-resourced young adults overcome adversity.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps), accessories (bags, water bottles, mugs), and household items. Products range from $11 to $77.50.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including the Global Workforce Readiness Music Festival, pitch competitions with prize money ($700-$1500), and community events that generate donations and awareness.
4. Grant Funding: Organization publishes annual reports and IRS Form 990s, indicating access to grant funding and institutional donors. Financials available for 2019-2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YourPassion1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers youth development and workforce readiness programming for under-resourced young adults ages 14-24, including the Young Ambassadors International Program, mentorship and coaching services, festivals, and pitch competitions. The organization also runs the Principles of Passion Podcast and The Undivided Bridge Podcast, and operates an e-commerce shop selling branded apparel and accessories.

Product overview

YourPassion1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth empowerment programs and services. The core offerings include the Young Ambassadors International Program (a mentorship and workforce readiness initiative for young adults ages 14-24), the Festival Series (providing cross-cultural networking and industry exposure), and Mentorship & Coaching Services. The organization also operates content platforms including the Principles of Passion Podcast and The Undivided Bridge Podcast. Supporting infrastructure includes Opportunity Connects (a job and opportunity listing platform), a Resources Hub, and a Points Leaderboard gamification feature. The organization maintains an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, sweatpants) and accessories (bags, hats, water bottles, mugs, phone cases). Annual flagship events include the Global Workforce Readiness Music Festival with pitch competitions. YourPassion1st does not operate as a technology company with APIs or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Ambassadors International Program: An international program for young adults aged 14-24 offering festival appearances, skill-building projects, mental health workshops, 1-on-1 mentorships, and employment opportunities. Limited to 50 participants with locations in Chicago (15), Brazil (10), Africa (10), and Worldwide (15).
• Principles of Passion Podcast
• The Undivided Bridge Podcast
• Forged By Future Apparel

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 young adults mentored in 2021 through 7 months of intensive training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Light of Loving KindnesscoreOthersNonprofit partner featured in trusted partners section, supporting community initiatives and youth empowerment programs.
• Advanced GroupcoreOthersBusiness and workforce development partner supporting young adult employment and training initiatives.
• OneSpansupportingOthersTechnology partner providing solutions supporting organizational operations.
• Wisdom KnotsupportingOthersCommunity organization partner supporting youth programs and initiatives.
• Elevate ServicessupportingOthersService partner supporting organizational programs and operations.
• Artist CollectivecoreOthersCreative arts partner supporting music, entertainment, and visual arts programming for young ambassadors.
• BUILDcoreOthersChicago-based youth development organization focused on entrepreneurship education, partnering on workforce readiness initiatives.
• Grow ExponentialcoreOthersStrategic partner providing personality and behavioral assessment tools for young ambassadors through their 'Working Better Together' program.
• Mi Casa HolidaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual co-host of MCH Virtual Weekend and Global Workforce Readiness Music Festival, with cross-cultural programming spanning 19+ countries.
• Divvy BikessupportingOthersBike sharing partner for community events including bike drives and historical scavenger hunts.
• Project ExplorationsupportingOthersScience and youth development organization partnered for community events including Austoberfest.
• What About Us Charitable EnterprisessupportingOthersCommunity partner for food giveaways and community support initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BUILD: Chicago-based youth development nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship education for under-resourced students; named partner of YourPassion1st, sharing workforce readiness and youth empowerment missions.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): Teaches entrepreneurship to young people from under-resourced communities; directly comparable on the entrepreneurship and workforce readiness pillars of YourPassion1st's curriculum.
• iMentor: Youth mentoring organization pairing students with adult mentors for college and career success; comparable in using 1-on-1 mentorship as the core delivery model for under-resourced youth.
• Genesys Works: Provides career pathways for high school students from under-resourced communities through skills training and corporate internships; overlaps on workforce readiness for youth transitioning to adulthood.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit helping first-generation students from under-resourced communities get into and through college and into careers; closely aligned on the youth-to-adult transition and career access mission.
• Year Up: National workforce readiness nonprofit serving young adults (18-24) from under-resourced communities with mentorship, training, and corporate internships — directly comparable target demographic and program model.
• Global Citizen Year: Runs international gap-year and bridge programs for youth transitioning to adulthood; comparable in combining international immersion with workforce/life-skill development.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: National network of charter schools serving under-resourced students through college-prep education; comparable demographic and mission but executes via schools rather than community programming.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Largest U.S. youth mentoring nonprofit; comparable mission of pairing youth with adult mentors for life outcomes but operates at much greater scale and as a federated national organization.

Regional players

• Chicago CRED: Chicago-focused initiative aiming to reduce gun violence by expanding economic opportunity for young adults; regional peer addressing overlapping under-resourced-youth outcomes in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yourpassion1st
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIROMO6UyI4_VK2-_ReL94A
• Facebookfacebook.com/yourpassion1st
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yourpassion1st
• Instagraminstagram.com/yourpassion1st

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 YourPassion1st