Life Skills for Youth

What Life Skills for Youth does

Life Skills for Youth (LSY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Coach Larry Clark Sr. and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The organization provides youth mentorship, academic support, life skills training, and feeding programs to K-12 youth and their families in Central Arkansas, with all programs delivered free of charge to participants. Since inception, LSY reports serving 4,300+ youth, 2,000+ families, and 2,000,000+ healthy meals and snacks, while maintaining a 99.99% high school graduation rate for participating seniors.

The core product portfolio is organized around a STAR group structure (Junior Lucky Stars K-1st, Lucky Stars 2nd-3rd, Platinum Stars 4th-5th, Gold Stars 6th-12th) and includes the flagship ATM (Anger, Time & Money) Management program, Community Feeding Program, Parent Academy, After-School Academy, 10-week Summer Academy, Saturday Academy (with ACT Prep), Out-of-School Time programming, Career Development, Health and Wellness, Cultural Enrichment, and Community Services. Programs are delivered directly at a 14,022 sq ft facility leased inside the Temple Baptist Family Life Center, DHS-approved for 270 youth capacity, with 10 classrooms, a gym, kitchen, and recreational spaces. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is service-based, with licensed instructors certified by the Arkansas Department of Education providing tutoring and life skills facilitation.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model: government grants and contracts (Arkansas Department of Human Services for CACFP/SFSP since 2008, 21st Century Community Learning Centers since 2015, Arkansas Division of Workforce Services), individual and corporate donations (tax-deductible via PayPal or check), corporate sponsorships of individual children at predefined rates ($1,560 Summer Academy, $3,560 After-School Academy, $930 Saturday Academy, $510 Out-of-School Time), and a current capital campaign for a new Literacy and Technology Center. Distribution is direct to families plus school-based referrals through the Little Rock School District partnership (since 2009), with demand managed by enrollment inquiry forms and persistent waitlists. The organization is governed by a board including a Board President (MBA, CISSP, PMP), Board Vice President, and Board CFO, with no parent company, equity sponsor, or external capital structure.

Name

Life Skills for Youth

Legal name

Life Skills for Youth

Website

https://lifeskillsforyouth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Life Skills for Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 in Little Rock, Arkansas that provides K-12 youth mentorship, academic tutoring, life skills training, and feeding programs to families in Central Arkansas at no cost, funded by government grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Mentoring Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Positive Discipline & Behavior Support Programs (EDACALAD), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring programs
• After-school academic support
• Life skills training
• Community feeding programs
• Parent and family education

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Life Skills for Youth receives government funding through partnerships with Arkansas Department of Human Services (CACFP, SFSP food programs since 2008), 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) since 2015, and Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. These partnerships provide operational funding for feeding programs and academic support services.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations. Donations can be made online via PayPal or by check. Sponsors can fund specific children in programs at defined rates ($1,560 for Summer Academy, $3,560 for After-School Academy per child).
3. Capital Campaign - Literacy and Technology Center: LSY is conducting a capital campaign to build a Literacy and Technology Center to serve as the organization's headquarters and expand program reach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Life Skills for Youth delivers free, on-site youth development and mentorship programs for K-12 students in Central Arkansas, including after-school academic support, summer and Saturday academies, life skills training (ATM Management), community feeding, and parent education. Programs are organized into four STAR groups by grade level and delivered directly at the organization's 14,022 sq ft facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Product overview

Life Skills for Youth (LSY) is a non-profit organization offering a suite of youth mentoring and educational programs centered around a STAR group structure. The core program portfolio includes: ATM (Anger, Time & Money) Management (flagship life skills program), Community Feeding Program, Parent Academy, After-School Academy, Summer Academy, Saturday Academy, Out-of-School Time programming, Career Development, Health and Wellness, Cultural Enrichment Activities, and Community Services. Programs are organized into STAR groups: Junior Lucky Stars (K–1st), Lucky Stars (2nd–3rd), Platinum Stars (4th–5th), and Gold Stars (6th–12th). The organization operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with programs complementing each other to address academic, emotional, social, and physical development of youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATM (Anger, Time & Money) Management Flagship life skills program empowering youth with practical skills in anger control, time management, and financial responsibility through group sessions, one-on-one mentoring, speakers, workshops, and guidance from professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders. Available to K-12 youth participants of Life Skills for Youth at no cost.
• Community Feeding Program Food program partnering with the Arkansas Department of Human Services to provide healthy meals and snacks to youth, taught by a certified chef who teaches families how to prepare nutritious meals at home through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Has served over 1,700 families and 3,800 students since 2007.
• Parent Academy Program equipping parents with effective skills and strong values to support their children's growth through group sessions, workshops, and hands-on training with parent specialists. Focuses on self-reflection, goal-setting, patience, preparedness, and creating a structured family plan that fosters a positive home environment.
• After-School Academy After-school program providing a safe, supportive space for K-12 youth to grow academically and personally, offering homework help, one-on-one tutoring, STEM-focused curriculum, and workshops on leadership, life skills, healthy habits, fitness, and ATM Management training. Operates Monday–Friday, 2 PM–7 PM at the LSY facility.
• Summer Academy 10-week summer program blending learning, leadership, and fun with morning math and literacy focus, afternoon STEM, Spanish classes, and field trips. Emphasizes health, wellness, and team-building activities. Meals provided (breakfast, lunch, and snack). Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
• Saturday Academy Extended tutoring program offering math, science, literacy, and Spanish tutoring, help on special projects or homework, ATM program workshops, and ACT Prep classes facilitated by certified staff. Offered on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
• Out-of-School Time Programming for days when youth are out of school (spring break, in-service days, winter break), focusing on healthy lifestyles, career exploration, intentional enrichment, team building, and STEM activities with meals served daily.
• Career Development Program that prepares and improves work-ready students with curriculum including work ethics, work habits, communications, job search, and college planning.
• Health and Wellness Program that sets standards for healthy eating habits and physical fitness activities, featuring visits from medical professionals, participation in sports (soccer, baseball, tennis, walking, basketball), and daily nutritional snacks.
• Cultural Enrichment Activities Program that diversifies youth culturally and enhances social abilities through engagement in arts, theater, and history via dance, musicals, museums, contemporary art expression, historical classics, and poetry.
• Community Services Program engaging youth in community service projects including reading to elderly in nursing homes, cleaning parks, collecting needed items, and helping at school activities to develop civic duty and nationalism.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.99% high school graduation rate for LSY seniors who participate through senior year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015LSY became a partner of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers in 2015, enhancing academic and after-school opportunities through federal funding for out-of-school time programming.
• City of Little RockcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010The City of Little Rock joined as a partner in 2010, helping increase community access to LSY programs and providing civic support for youth development initiatives.
• Little Rock School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Partnership with the Little Rock School District began in 2009, strengthening academic support and school connections. The district provides referrals and connections to students and families who could benefit from LSY programs.
• Arkansas Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008LSY became an official partner with the Arkansas Department of Human Services in 2008, enabling participation in CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) and SFSP (Summer Food Service Program). The partnership provides healthy meals and snacks to youth in the community, with the state providing funding and regulatory oversight.
• Temple Baptist Family Life CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple Baptist Family Life Center provides LSY's primary facility at 10710 Interstate 30 in Little Rock. The 14,022.58 square foot facility includes a gym, game room, youth room, entertainment stage, 3 kitchen/serving areas, 10 classrooms, 2 offices, softball field, and 350-space parking lot.
• Arkansas Out-of-School NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a sponsor on LSY's partnerships page, supporting out-of-school time programming initiatives.
• Henderson United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner providing shared campus space and collaborative community support for LSY programs. Senior Pastor George Whitlock has voiced strong support for the partnership.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National umbrella organization with affiliated clubs offering after-school programming, mentorship, and life skills — overlapping with LSY's core programs but at vastly larger scale and brand recognition.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock: Regional YMCA offering after-school care, summer camps, youth sports, and life skills programming in the same Little Rock market — overlapping with LSY on family-facing programming and competing for the same community partners.
• National 4-H Council: National youth development organization with strong Cooperative Extension footprint in Arkansas — comparable mission (positive youth development, life skills, STEM, career readiness) and comparable reliance on public/private partnership funding.

Direct peers

• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing after-school programs for K-12 youth in underserved communities — directly comparable in target population, programming mix (academic support, enrichment, life skills), and grant-funded operating model.
• Communities In Schools of Arkansas: State affiliate of a national nonprofit placing support staff inside schools to deliver academic support, mentoring, and life skills — overlapping with LSY's school-district partnership approach and grant-funded model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas: Direct local peer operating after-school, summer, and youth development programs in Central Arkansas with comparable facility-based programming, youth cohorts, and government/donor funding mix — competing for the same families and grant dollars as LSY.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas: Direct local peer providing youth mentorship and one-on-one mentoring in Central Arkansas — overlapping with LSY's mentorship model and sharing the same target population and donor pool.

Emerging players

• City Year Little Rock: AmeriCorps-supported program placing near-peer mentors in schools for academic support and attendance/engagement work — comparable mentorship model and target population with overlapping school-district relationships.
• KIPP Arkansas: Arkansas charter school network serving low-income students with extended day programming, college prep focus, and wraparound services — adjacent rather than directly overlapping, but competes for similar families, talent, and funders in Central Arkansas.

Others

• Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance: Statewide coalition addressing food insecurity in Arkansas — comparable to LSY's Community Feeding Program on the nutrition side and potential partner/competitor for related state and federal food-program grants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lifeskillsforyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/life-skills-for-youth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Life Skills for Youth