Heart of Oregon Corps

What Heart of Oregon Corps does

Heart of Oregon Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 93-1303879) founded in 2000 and headquartered in Bend, Oregon, that operates a portfolio of seven distinct programs serving Opportunity Youth ages 16-24 across Central Oregon (Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and northern Klamath counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs). Approximately 30 staff deliver services spanning youth workforce development, conservation service, construction trades training, food security work, and inclusive programming for youth with disabilities. The programs follow a WORK, EARN, LEARN model: YouthBuild (ages 16-24, GED/diploma/college credits plus affordable housing construction); High Desert Conservation Corps (AmeriCorps, ages 17-24, 9-47 week terms); Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (8-week summer, ages 16-18, with U.S. Forest Service); Camp LEAD and Go! LEAD (ages 16-22 with diverse abilities); Food Heroes (AmeriCorps, ages 17-24, Jefferson County food security); and Stewardship (conservation crew, currently paused). The organization engages 225 youth annually and has built 50+ affordable houses in Central Oregon since YouthBuild's 2009 launch in partnership with the Sisters School District.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding architecture with no participant fees. Revenue sources include: (1) a $1.5M U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild Grant Initiative award covering approximately 60% of YouthBuild costs; (2) AmeriCorps federal funding for HDCC and Food Heroes that supports living allowances and education awards; (3) foundation grants including nearly $750,000 from Murdock Trust and $100,000 from Tykeson Family Foundation; (4) individual and corporate donations via DonorPerfect; and (5) a $2.5M Centralized Campus Campaign for a new Redmond youth workforce development campus, with $1.67M remaining to raise as of October 2025 and campus opening targeted for Fall 2026. Programs pay participants stipends ($500 biweekly for YouthBuild), hourly wages ($16/hr for Camp LEAD/Go! LEAD), or AmeriCorps living allowances ($1,030 biweekly for HDCC standard terms) — programs are free for eligible youth.

The organization operates a multi-channel go-to-market: school district referrals (formal referral process for YouthBuild ages 16-19), workforce development boards, alumni network referrals, Employer Advisory Council connections, and in-person information sessions across 7 communities. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven rather than sales-led in the conventional sense. A 20+ member Employer Advisory Council (Hayden Homes, R&H Construction, Apollo Mechanical Contractors, Sunriver Resort, Mt. Bachelor, Mid Oregon Credit Union, Rosendin Electric, OSU Cascades, BasX Solutions, among others) participates in mock interviews, job shadows, and direct hiring. Technology infrastructure is standard nonprofit SaaS: Social Solutions Portal (Apricot) for applications, DonorPerfect for fundraising, Paylocity for payroll, Constant Contact for email, Eventbrite for events, Firespring for the web platform. No public API, mobile app, or proprietary technology platform exists.

Name

Heart of Oregon Corps

Legal name

Heart of Oregon Corps

Website

https://heartoforegon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heart of Oregon Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that runs seven workforce development, conservation, and education programs for Opportunity Youth ages 16-24 across Central Oregon counties, funded by federal grants, foundation gifts, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development and Conservation Corps Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAF

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAAAOAD

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYEDAKANAF

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Transition Services (Post-Secondary, Employment & Independent Living)

SECONDARYEDAAAEAK

Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Conservation corps programs
• Affordable housing construction
• AmeriCorps service programs
• Job training education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals and corporations. Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 93-1303879). Accepts donations via check, donor advised funds, wills/trusts, and stock gifts.
2. Federal YouthBuild Grant: YouthBuild is partially funded (60%) by a $1.5M grant awarded under the Youthbuild Grant Initiative, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment & Training Administration.
3. AmeriCorps Funding: High Desert Conservation Corps and Food Heroes are supported by AmeriCorps funding, providing living allowances and education awards to participants.
4. Campus Campaign Fundraising: Capital campaign for building Central Oregon's first youth workforce development campus in Redmond. $2.5 million campaign with remaining $1.67M to raise before campus opens Fall 2026.
5. Foundation Grants: Foundation support including Murdock Trust ($750,000+), Tykeson Family Foundation ($100,000), and other foundation gifts for programs and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Heart of Oregon Corps delivers paid youth workforce development programs combining employment, education, and community service for Opportunity Youth ages 16-24 in Central Oregon. Core offerings include construction training and affordable housing building (YouthBuild), natural resource and fire fuels reduction projects (High Desert Conservation Corps and COYCC), food security and horticulture work (Food Heroes), and disability-inclusive leadership training (Camp LEAD, Go! LEAD). Participants earn wages or stipends, industry certifications, and may earn GEDs, high school diplomas, college credits, or AmeriCorps education awards.

Product overview

Heart of Oregon Corps is a nonprofit youth workforce development organization offering a portfolio of seven distinct programs following its WORK, EARN, LEARN model. The programs include High Desert Conservation Corps (conservation service), YouthBuild (construction and education), Stewardship (conservation crew - currently paused), Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (summer conservation), Camp LEAD (disability-focused outdoor camp), Go! LEAD (winter program for Camp LEAD alumni), and Food Heroes (food security and horticulture). Programs serve youth ages 16-24 in Central Oregon and provide employment, job training, education, and community service opportunities across conservation, construction, childcare, waste management, and food handling career pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• High Desert Conservation Corps (HDCC): AmeriCorps conservation program offering young adults ages 17-24 opportunities to serve outdoors on natural resource projects around Central Oregon, including fire fuel reduction, invasive species removal, and trail work.
• YouthBuild
• Stewardship
• Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC)
• Camp LEAD
• Go! LEAD
• Food Heroes

Products and services

• High Desert Conservation Corps (HDCC) AmeriCorps conservation program for young adults ages 17-24 serving outdoors on natural resource projects in Central Oregon, including fire fuels reduction, invasive species removal, trail work, and habitat restoration. 9- to 47-week terms with biweekly living allowance and education awards upon completion.
• YouthBuild Workforce development program for ages 16-24 where members earn GED, high school diploma, or college credits while learning construction job skills and building affordable housing in Central Oregon. 12-month program with $500 biweekly stipend. 50+ affordable houses built since inception.
• Stewardship Conservation crew program for youth engaging in conservation and environmental stewardship projects across Central Oregon (currently on temporary pause).
• Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC) Eight-week summer program for youth ages 16-18 working with the U.S. Forest Service on outdoor conservation projects in 7 Central Oregon communities, forming up to 14 crews of approximately 70 teens per summer. Participants earn wages, 0.5-1 high school credit, and gain exposure to conservation careers.
• Camp LEAD Week-long overnight camp for young people ages 16-22 experiencing disabilities, combining outdoor job exploration, summer camp activities, and LEAD curriculum on Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development. All equipment, food, PPE, and supplies provided; participants paid $16/hr.
• Go! LEAD Winter program for alumni of Camp LEAD (ages 16-22 with diverse abilities), held 1-2 Saturdays per month for 4 months, focused on job training and environmental education through maintaining public recreation areas. Participants compensated at $16/hr on project days.
• Food Heroes AmeriCorps program in Madras, Oregon (Jefferson County) for youth ages 17-24 fighting local food insecurity by growing and distributing fresh produce, supporting food pantries, and delivering Meals on Wheels. 3- to 5-month terms with $817-$850 biweekly living allowance and education awards upon completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ affordable houses built for Central Oregon communities
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aperion Management GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: HOA Management. Location(s): Bend. Participates in mock interviews, job shadows, career fairs, and hires program graduates.
• Apollo Mechanical ContractorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Construction. Participates in mock interviews, job shadows, career fairs, and hires program graduates.
• Aspen LandscapingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Landscaping. Participates in workforce development activities and hires program graduates.
• Bend LandscapeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Location(s): Bend and throughout Central OR. Participates in workforce development activities.
• BG4minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Lighting. Location(s): Terrebonne. Participates in workforce development activities.
• BasX SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Manufacturing. Location(s): Redmond. Participates in workforce development activities.
• Central Oregon Tree ExpertsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Full-service tree care. Participates in workforce development and hiring.
• CR ContractingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Construction industry partner for workforce development.
• CS ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Construction industry partner for workforce development.
• East Cascades WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Career Development/Workforce Support. Key workforce development partner in Central Oregon.
• Hayden HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Residential Building Construction. YouthBuild builds affordable housing in partnership with Hayden Homes.
• Mid Oregon Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Banking. Location(s): Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters. Financial services partnership.
• Mike's Fence CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Fencing industry partner for workforce development.
• Mt. BachelorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Outdoor Recreation. Location: Central Oregon. Participates in workforce development.
• OSU Cascades UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: College. Post-secondary education pathway partner.
• R&H ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Construction industry partner for workforce development.
• Rosendin ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Electric Contractors. Location(s): Bend, Redmond, Prineville. Apprenticeship pathway partner.
• Sunriver ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer Advisory Council member. Industry: Hospitality & Entertainment. Location(s): Sunriver. Hospitality career pathway partner.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with conservation corps programs. COYCC works with USFS on outdoor conservation projects. Crews complete projects on federal public lands. Provides project sites and supervision for training.
• Bureau of Land ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation corps partner for natural resource projects. HDCC crews partner with BLM on fire fuel reduction, invasive species removal, trail work, and habitat restoration.
• Bend Park & Recreation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation program partner. HDCC crews complete trail maintenance and habitat restoration projects for the district.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency that funds and supports conservation corps and service programs. HDCC and Food Heroes are AmeriCorps programs. Provides living allowances and education awards to members.
• YouthBuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization with 260 programs in 44 states. Heart of Oregon YouthBuild began in 2009. Affiliation provides curriculum, training, and alumni network support.
• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association representing 130+ conservation and service corps. Provides advocacy, training, and recognition opportunities for member corps.
• Deschutes Children's FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to reduce fire risk at East Bend Campus through defensible space work.
• Oregon Department of ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHDCC crews receive Fire School Course Certification through ODF. Partnership for wildfire fuels reduction training and certification.
• Sisters School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouthBuild began in 2009 in partnership with Sisters School District. Located at 68797 George Cyrus Road, Sisters, OR 97759.
• Thistle & nestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to celebrate affordable housing milestone in Prineville. Joint project on housing development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving Opportunity Youth ages 18-24 with training, stipends, and employer placements. Comparable target population and earn-while-you-learn model, though focused on tech/corporate pathways rather than trades.
• Mt. Adams Institute: Pacific Northwest AmeriCorps program operating service and conservation corps for young adults on public lands. Shares the conservation+workforce development hybrid model of Heart of Oregon Corps.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technical skills training to adults from underserved communities. Comparable in delivering no-cost workforce training to opportunity youth and connecting graduates to employer partners.
• Conservation Legacy: Operates multiple AmeriCorps conservation corps programs across the Western U.S. providing youth workforce development through natural resource projects — directly comparable to Heart of Oregon's High Desert Conservation Corps model.
• American Conservation Experience: National nonprofit operating AmeriCorps conservation corps programs for young adults on public lands projects. Highly comparable to HDCC and COYCC in service model, pay structure, and target demographic.
• Northwest Youth Corps: Oregon-based AmeriCorps conservation corps serving youth and young adults on public lands projects. Operates a near-identical model to HDCC and COYCC, serving the same Pacific Northwest opportunity youth population.

Broad incumbents

• Job Corps: Federal residential workforce development program for low-income youth ages 16-24. Operates at much larger scale with similar trades training, education, and career pathway mission.
• The Corps Network: National association of 130+ service and conservation corps. Heart of Oregon Corps is a member; the network provides advocacy, training, and convening services for member corps.
• YouthBuild USA: National umbrella for 260 YouthBuild programs in 44 states. Heart of Oregon Corps is a local affiliate; YouthBuild USA provides curriculum, advocacy, and federal funding access that the local program depends on.

Regional players

• Oregon Youth Conservation Corps: State-administered Oregon youth conservation corps program serving the same Pacific Northwest youth labor pool with similar conservation work crews. Shares federal/state funding categories and employer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/heartoforegoncorps
• Facebookfacebook.com/HeartOfOregonCorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heart-of-oregon-corps
• Instagraminstagram.com/heartoforegoncorps
• Xx.com/HeartofOregonCo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Heart of Oregon Corps