Youth Over Guns
Youth Over Guns is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that prevents gun violence through survivor-led organizing, policy advocacy, and place-based programs for Black and Brown youth across California, New York, and Georgia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Francisco Bay Area, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Youth Over Guns does
Youth Over Guns Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York, focused on youth-led gun violence prevention. The organization mobilizes young people through grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, storytelling, and healing-centered programming, prioritizing Black and Brown communities most affected by gun violence and explicitly centering Black transgender women within its advocacy. Its core products are the Anger to Advocacy (ATA) Activist Incubator, a stipended six-month fellowship for survivors ages 14 to 26; B.U.I.L.D. F.R.E.E., a place-based initiative operating across three anchor regions (San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Atlanta Metro); and a catalog of free research reports and organizing playbooks such as The Badge Doesn't Change the Bullet and the De-Policing Gun Violence Prevention Policy Playbook.
The organization is not a technology company and has no proprietary technology stack; its primary assets are community relationships, policy access, fellowship alumni, and field-tested content. Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible charitable contributions, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships, with KidsRights Foundation and Levi Strauss & Co. identified as early major investors in June 2020. Distribution is primarily direct: place-based program delivery in three regions, grassroots digital organizing, and direct engagement with federal, state, and local policymakers — including White House events in 2021 and 2024, state capitol Youth Advocacy Days, and contributions to 20+ state laws and the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
The organization was founded by Luis Jonathan Hernández, who leads as Founder & President, and operates with 7 disclosed employees. After operating under a fiscal sponsor from November 2018, Youth Over Guns separated in October 2022, re-incorporated as an independent legal entity in January 2024, established a Board of Directors in February 2024, and rebranded and relaunched in April 2024.
Youth Over Guns firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Over Guns
- Legal name
- Youth Over Guns Inc.
- Website
- https://youthoverguns.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Youth Over Guns is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that prevents gun violence through survivor-led organizing, policy advocacy, and place-based programs for Black and Brown youth across California, New York, and Georgia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Over Guns industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
Keywords
Where Youth Over Guns is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco Bay Area
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Youth Over Guns business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Tax-Deductible Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Youth Over Guns operates primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. Their fundraising is centered on empowering youth-led advocacy.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: The organization has received major investments from foundations including KidsRights Foundation and corporate partners including Levi Strauss & Co. These early investments supported the launch of the Anger to Advocacy Activist Incubator in 2020.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Tax-deductible charitable donations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Youth Over Guns product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Youth Over Guns is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs three core offerings: the Anger to Advocacy (ATA) Activist Incubator (a stipended six-month fellowship for young gun violence survivors ages 14–26), the B.U.I.L.D. F.R.E.E. place-based initiative (concentrated programming for opportunity youth in California, New York, and Georgia), and a publications library of free research reports and organizing tools. The organization also engages in policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels, including with the Biden-Harris White House and on Capitol Hill.
Product overview
Youth Over Guns is a youth-led nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of programs and resources for gun violence prevention. The core offerings include the Anger to Advocacy (ATA) Activist Incubator—a six-month fellowship for young survivors of gun violence—paired with the B.U.I.L.D. F.R.E.E. place-based initiative spanning California, New York, and Georgia. Additionally, the organization produces free publications including research reports, messaging playbooks, and policy documents such as The Badge Doesn't Change the Bullet and the De-Policing Gun Violence Prevention Policy Playbook. These products collectively form a public health framework driven by survivor leadership, policy advocacy, and community organizing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Anger to Advocacy Activist Incubator: A fellowship program for young survivors of gun violence ages 14 to 26, designed to channel anger into advocacy and leadership.
- BUILD FREE
Quantifiable outcome
- 22,000 youth shot every year; gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in America
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Youth Over Guns
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Youth Over Guns technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Youth Over Guns partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Sean Monterrosa ProjectcoreCo-authored and published 'The Badge Doesn't Change the Bullet' - a messaging and digital organizing playbook for treating police and other state-sanctioned shootings as gun violence. Co-authored by Luis Jonathan Hernández and Michelle Monterrosa.
- Not My GenerationcoreCo-authored the 'De-Policing Gun Violence Prevention Policy Playbook' with Youth Over Guns, March For Our Lives California, and Center on Halsted. Built through cross-organizational collaboration, comprehensive literature review, and virtual community roundtables.
- March For Our Lives CaliforniacoreCo-authored the 'De-Policing Gun Violence Prevention Policy Playbook' addressing the movement's past role in expanding the police state and offering a de-policed policy platform.
- Center on HalstedcoreCo-authored the 'De-Policing Gun Violence Prevention Policy Playbook' contributing expertise on LGBTQ+ community perspectives and Chicago context.
- March for Our LivesflagshipJoined the Road to Change national tour across 24 states and 80+ communities in 2018. Partnered again in 2022 for the March Against Gun Violence across Brooklyn Bridge with over 100,000 in attendance.
- Us4Us Bay AreacorePartnered with Youth Over Guns to launch the 'Daring Discussions' series creating space for honest community-centered conversations about gun violence and its root causes.
- Voto LatinominorPartnered with Voto Latino and Hispanic Federation on #StandWithUvalde following the devastating massacre in Uvalde, Texas, centering the Latino community in the national response.
- Hispanic FederationminorPartnered with Voto Latino and Youth Over Guns on #StandWithUvalde following the Uvalde massacre, centering the Latino community in the national response.
- Seventeen MagazineminorCollaborated with Seventeen Magazine on Gun Violence Awareness Day in June 2022. Social media takeover reached over 500,000 teens with resources on gun violence prevention.
- CivXPminorCo-hosted 'From Campus to Community,' a national Gen Z town hall connecting young people across the country in conversation about civic engagement and gun violence prevention.
- Cities UnitedminorPartnered with Cities United, A New Deal for Youth, and National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy to host National Youth Violence Prevention Week conversation: 'No Role Models? Be One.'
- A New Deal for YouthminorPartnered for National Youth Violence Prevention Week conversation 'No Role Models? Be One' alongside Cities United and National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy.
- National Collaborative for Transformative Youth PolicyminorPartnered for National Youth Violence Prevention Week conversation 'No Role Models? Be One' alongside Cities United and A New Deal for Youth.
- Community Justice Action FundcoreYouth Over Guns joined the inaugural Community Justice Action Fund Summit and Lobby Day in Washington D.C., presenting on how to move gun violence prevention policy while centering Black and Brown youth voices.
- Hope and Heal FundcoreYouth Over Guns joined the first ever national convening on gun violence presented by Hope and Heal Fund, hosted at The California Endowment Headquarters in Los Angeles.
- GiffordsflagshipFounder Luis Jonathan Hernández joined Giffords' Latino Advisory Council as a representative of Youth Over Guns, ensuring Latinx survivor stories continue to shape national solutions. Spoke at Giffords' Celebration of Courage reception in NYC alongside litigation directors, pediatric trauma surgeons, and gun owners for safety.
- Rocket FoundationminorFounder Luis Jonathan Hernández joined the Rocket Foundation Summit main stage alongside then AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith, Vice President Kamala Harris, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Greg Jackson, and Rocket Foundation founder Quavo.
- Everytown for Gun SafetyminorFounder Luis Jonathan Hernández was spotlighted by Everytown for Gun Safety during Latinx Heritage Month in September 2024.
- Ben & Jerry'sminorJoined March for Our Lives and Ben & Jerry's alongside offices of Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Chris Murphy for a briefing on Capitol Hill in support of the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act.
- Biden-Harris White HouseflagshipYouth Over Guns advised the Biden-Harris White House transition team on critical gun violence prevention policies. Invited to join President Biden at the White House for executive actions announcement. Participated in first ever White House Roundtable on addressing gun violence in Latino communities.
- National Action NetworkflagshipYouth Over Guns March formally announced to press at the National Action Network's House of Justice with NAN's support and partnership. Presented at National Action Network's National Convention.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Over Guns competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Community Justice Action Fund: A gun violence prevention advocacy organization focused on community-led and Black/Brown-led safety strategies, with which Youth Over Guns has presented at its inaugural Summit and Lobby Day in Washington D.C. Operates in adjacent youth-led, non-carceral advocacy space.
- Cities United: A national movement supporting Black men and boys and reducing urban gun violence through city-level policy and practice, with which Youth Over Guns has partnered on National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Operates in adjacent Black/Brown youth violence prevention space.
- March For Our Lives: A youth-led gun violence prevention movement founded after the Parkland shooting, with whom Youth Over Guns has partnered closely since 2018 on the Road to Change tour and March Against Gun Violence. Operates as a direct peer in youth-driven gun violence advocacy and coalition mobilization.
- Hope and Heal Fund: A gun violence prevention grantmaking and convening organization that hosted the first-ever national gun violence convening that Youth Over Guns attended. Directly comparable in operating model and movement leadership positioning.
- The Gathering for Justice: A youth-led social justice organization focused on ending child incarceration and the adult criminalization of youth, with whom Youth Over Guns' founder previously worked as Manager. Overlaps on juvenile justice reform and youth-led advocacy.
Emerging players
- Reform Alliance: A criminal justice reform organization focused on probation and parole, where Youth Over Guns' founder has served in advisory roles. Operates in adjacent advocacy space on criminalization and reentry rather than gun violence directly.
Others
- National Action Network (NAN): A major civil rights organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, where Youth Over Guns formally announced its 2018 march and has presented at National Conventions. Comparable as a Black-led movement organization with policy advocacy focus.
Broad incumbents
- Everytown for Gun Safety: The largest U.S. gun violence prevention organization, with state and federal policy advocacy and a focus on Moms Demand Action. Youth Over Guns' founder was spotlighted by Everytown during Latinx Heritage Month 2024, indicating peer-level movement alignment.
- Brady Campaign / Brady Center: A long-established national gun violence prevention organization focused on policy, litigation, and education. Overlaps with Youth Over Guns on federal advocacy, particularly around the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and gun violence prevention policy debates.
- Giffords: A leading gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, with a broader portfolio covering federal and state policy, litigation, and Latino outreach. Founder Luis Jonathan Hernández serves on Giffords' Latino Advisory Council.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Youth Over Guns social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Over Guns financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Over Guns leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Youth Over Guns funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Youth Over Guns M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Over Guns
What does Youth Over Guns do?
Youth Over Guns is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs three core offerings: the Anger to Advocacy (ATA) Activist Incubator (a stipended six-month fellowship for young gun violence survivors ages 14–26), the B.U.I.L.D. F.R.E.E. place-based initiative (concentrated programming for opportunity youth in California, New York, and Georgia), and a publications library of free research reports and organizing tools. The organization also engages in policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels, including with the Biden-Harris White House and on Capitol Hill.
Is Youth Over Guns a public or private company?
Youth Over Guns is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Youth Over Guns founded?
Youth Over Guns was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Youth Over Guns based?
Youth Over Guns is headquartered in San Francisco Bay Area, United States, in the North America region.
How does Youth Over Guns make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tax-Deductible Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants.
Who are Youth Over Guns's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Community Justice Action Fund, Cities United, March For Our Lives, Hope and Heal Fund and The Gathering for Justice. Reform Alliance is listed as an emerging player. National Action Network (NAN) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady Campaign / Brady Center and Giffords.
Does Youth Over Guns have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Over Guns.
What industry is Youth Over Guns in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAM, Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.