Cornerstone Craftsman

What Cornerstone Craftsman does

Cornerstone Craftsman is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that operates a free year-round pre-apprenticeship program for disenfranchised youth aged 12-17 in Alexandria City. Founded by Executive Director Roberto Gomez in 2021 as an informal, self-funded weekend and summer program serving five youth, it was formally incorporated in October 2023 and received tax-exempt status in October 2024. The curriculum consists of 17 hands-on modules covering OSHA safety, drywall, painting, plaster, carpentry, welding, plumbing, electrical theory, blueprint reading, and project cost estimation, delivered in 4-6 hour weekly sessions during the school year with higher frequency in summer at its 2111 Eisenhower Avenue Learning Center (opened February 2025). Complementary services include mentorship grounded in the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development, court advocacy with Alexandria City Probation and the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, family engagement, transportation, and meals — all provided at no cost to participants.

The organization's business model is donation-funded across five streams: individual donations (including monthly sustainers at $10/month), foundation grants (e.g., $15K–$30K from Community Foundation for Northern Virginia in 2025), corporate donations (including a recent $10,000 cash + 100-laptop gift), in-kind contributions (workshop space, materials, meals, discounts), and government grants. To date it has served 44 youth with 28 active pre-apprentices, a 95% retention rate, and a 26-youth waitlist, against a stated multi-year $600,000 funding goal to expand capacity. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on referrals from ACPS, the court/probation system, social services, union partners (IBEW Local 26, Pipe Fitters, Carpenters), and word-of-mouth from families, supplemented by a website, organic social (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), a Mailchimp newsletter, and earned media in regional outlets.

The organization's strategic differentiation rests on a tightly integrated stakeholder ecosystem: Alexandria Police Department, ACPS, Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, three skilled trades unions, and a 12-member board. MOUs with the unions are in development to create direct apprenticeship pathways (with IBEW electrical apprenticeships alone offering paths to six-figure earnings). The organization has been recognized with the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 2025 Rising Star Best in Business Award, positioning it for further institutional fundraising as it professionalizes its development function and pursues its capacity-expansion goal.

Name

Cornerstone Craftsman

Legal name

Cornerstone Craftsman

Website

https://cornerstonecraftsman.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development / Vocational Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• Skilled trades training
• Pre-apprenticeship program
• Juvenile justice services
• Nonprofit education

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly sustainer donors and one-time donations from individuals. Even $10/month provides pre-apprentices with essential construction materials for a training day. Donations are tax-deductible as Cornerstone Craftsman is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Foundation Grants: Grants from organizations like the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia ($110,000 distributed to five Alexandria organizations in 2025, with Cornerstone receiving a portion in the $15,000-$30,000 range).
3. Corporate Donations: Business donations and sponsorships. Received $10,000 donation plus 100 laptops for apprentices from a corporate benefactor.
4. In-Kind Contributions: Restaurant discounts, water dispensers, gas cards, construction and workshop materials, and facility space donations (e.g., Alexandria Police Department donated workshop space at 669 John Carlyle Street).
5. Government Grants: Funding from government entities and organizations. Cornerstone is in conversations with various government bodies and received grants through programs like AEDP.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cornerstone Craftsman provides a free, year-round pre-apprenticeship program for youth ages 12-17 in Alexandria, Virginia, delivering hands-on training in skilled trades (painting, drywall, plaster, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding, demolition) combined with mentorship, life-skills education, court advocacy, family engagement, transportation, meals, and ongoing support to help at-risk youth build viable career paths and break the cycle of generational poverty.

Product overview

Cornerstone Craftsman is a nonprofit social services organization that operates a single, unified pre-apprenticeship training program for disenfranchised youth ages 12-17. The core program provides hands-on training in skilled trades (painting, drywall, plaster, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding, demolition) combined with mentorship, life-skills education, court advocacy, family engagement, and transportation support. There are no technology products, modules, or SaaS offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program A year-round pre-apprenticeship program serving youth ages 12-17 that provides hands-on training in skilled trades including safety, painting, drywall installation and finishing, plaster application, carpentry, plumbing, electrical theory, welding, and demolition. Classes meet weekly during the school year and more frequently during summer at the Cornerstone Craftsman Learning Center.
• Mentorship and Life-Skills Program Provides mentorship and education in conflict resolution, critical thinking, self-awareness, and accountability. The program emphasizes the 5Cs of Positive Youth Development (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring) to help youth build viable career paths.
• Court Advocacy Services Works closely with court services and families to assist youth toward a successful transition from juvenile detention and probation. Provides advocacy within the court system to help youth avoid incarceration.
• Family Engagement Services Ongoing family engagement through coordinators who work with participants' families to support youth development and program success.
• Transportation and Benevolent Assistance Provides transportation and meals for participants while in the pre-apprentice program, along with other benevolent support services to remove barriers to participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% program retention rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Roberto Gomez was invited to speak at AEDP annual impact meeting as an example of successful small business development. AEDP celebrates Cornerstone's work in workforce development.
• IBEW Local 26coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Career fair partnership where IBEW Local 26 representative visited Cornerstone headquarters to share career information with youth, focusing on electrical union apprenticeship opportunities with potential to earn over $100K annually.
• Moms Demand ActionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partnership for gun violence prevention. Cornerstone took pre-apprentices to Richmond, VA to raise awareness about gun violence with lawmakers. Youth shared experiences and perspectives, earning recognition from Virginia Senate and House with standing ovation.
• Pipe Fitters UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone is working on an MOU with the Pipe Fitters Union where young people who complete the program can be referred for employment. This partnership provides a clear career pathway for program graduates into union apprenticeship.
• Electrical Union (IBEW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU in development with Electrical Union. IBEW Local 26 has conducted career fairs at Cornerstone's headquarters, sharing apprenticeship opportunities that can lead to earning over $100K annually. Youth hear firsthand from current employees about lucrative career paths.
• Carpenters UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone is working on an MOU with the Carpenters Union for employment referrals. Carpenters Union has hosted field trips for Cornerstone youth, providing real-world exposure to the trades.
• Alexandria Police DepartmentcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAPD donated workshop space at 669 John Carlyle Street for about a year, enabling Cornerstone to establish its initial training facilities. Police department continues community engagement through joint events like APD community cookouts.
• Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone is an ACPS Partner providing paths for city youth. Partnership includes CTE Advisory Committee participation. Cornerstone tracks improvement in truancy, GPA, family relationships, and mental health in conjunction with ACPS. Board member Gabriel Elias is an International Academy teacher who refers students.
• Social ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCornerstone works closely with social services in assisting youth toward successful transition from juvenile detention and probation. Tracking improvements in truancy, GPA, family relationships, and mental health in conjunction with Social Services.
• Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center (NVJDC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRoberto Gomez, as Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force member, is implementing a groundbreaking workforce development and monitoring program at NVJDC, bringing skilled trades training to detained youth.
• Harbor FreightminorOthersRoberto Gomez participates in Harbor Freight Leadership Lab, indicating a potential partnership for tools or leadership development resources.
• Georgetown UniversityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGraduate student Wendi Mueller from Georgetown University's Public Relations and Corporate Communications program partnered with Cornerstone for a capstone project to develop strategic communications plan, increase awareness, and advance mission.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BUILD: National nonprofit providing entrepreneurship and college/career readiness programming to high school students from under-resourced communities. Comparable in serving at-risk secondary-school-age youth with mentorship-driven career pathway programming.
• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing wraparound services and workforce training (including skilled trades and construction) to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated individuals. Highly comparable to Cornerstone in serving marginalized populations with holistic, trades-focused reentry programming.
• Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG): National dropout-prevention and career-readiness organization serving at-risk youth in high schools. Comparable to Cornerstone in serving at-risk secondary-school-age youth with structured pathways to graduation and employment, though Cornerstone adds a trades-specific curriculum.
• Year Up: National workforce development program for low-income young adults (18-24) that combines skills training, corporate internships, and wraparound support. Comparable in mission and wraparound-service model, though focused on tech/corporate pathways rather than skilled trades.
• The Doe Fund: New York-based nonprofit providing workforce development, transitional housing, and wraparound supportive services to formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals. Closely comparable to Cornerstone's model of combining vocational training with comprehensive social and family support.
• Helmets to Hardhats: National nonprofit connecting military veterans to registered apprenticeships in the skilled trades and construction industry. Comparable as a structured pipeline into union trades apprenticeships, though the target population (veterans vs. at-risk youth) differs.
• Urban Alliance: National nonprofit providing paid internships, mentoring, and workforce development to high school students from under-resourced communities. Comparable to Cornerstone in serving high-school-age youth from underserved backgrounds with structured career exposure and adult mentorship.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: National civil-rights and community development organization with significant workforce development, education, and economic empowerment programming for underserved communities. Comparable mission around at-risk youth and workforce development at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development organization serving at-risk youth with broad programming. Comparable target population and youth-development mission, though Cornerstone specializes narrowly in skilled trades pre-apprenticeship rather than offering a broad programming portfolio.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring organization pairing at-risk youth with adult mentors. Comparable in mission around at-risk youth and the centrality of mentoring, but lacks Cornerstone's skilled-trades vocational curriculum and court-advocacy component.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/941080848025368
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cornerstone-craftsman/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/cornerstonecraftsman

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Cornerstone Craftsman