National Catholic Youth Conference

What National Catholic Youth Conference does

The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a biennial live-event program organized and operated by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), a non-profit headquartered at 415 Michigan Ave NE #40, Washington, DC. NFCYM was founded in 1983, with NCYC consolidated into a single national conference in 1991. NCYC delivers a three-day experience of prayer, worship, catechesis, sacramental ministry, service, and community for U.S. Catholic high school students (ages 14-18) and their adult chaperones, rotating between Indianapolis, IN (Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium) and Long Beach, CA (Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center).

The core product is the in-person conference, supported by ancillary offerings including a Digital Experience livestream (broadcast via EWTN as the exclusive multi-cast provider), a Youth Ambassador servant-leadership program in partnership with Marian University, a Media Credential program, and mobile apps on iOS and Android. Registration is conducted through NFCYM Connect, an online platform where adults aged 21 and older purchase passes on behalf of youth participants. NCYC does not develop proprietary technology; its technical footprint is limited to standard event-management and broadcast tooling.

Revenue is generated from three streams: one-time conference pass purchases (with NFCYM-member and non-member pricing tiers), multi-tier corporate and organizational sponsorships (Sower, Maker, Framer, Builder), and recurring donations supporting the NFCYM Scholarship Fund. A hotel room block ($234-$269 per room per night, three-night minimum for 2026) and Youth Ambassador team fees ($50 per team) layer on additional revenue. The customer base consists of Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools, and youth ministry groups across the United States; the 2025 cycle drew 15,796 attendees, the strongest post-COVID result and included a historic Digital Encounter with Pope Leo XIV.

Name

National Catholic Youth Conference

Legal name

National Catholic Youth Conference

Website

https://ncyc.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Short description

NCYC is a biennial U.S. Catholic youth conference organized by the non-profit NFCYM, delivering three-day in-person and digital faith-formation experiences to Catholic high school students and adult chaperones across rotating Indianapolis and Long Beach venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Conference Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Youth ministry conferences
• Catholic youth events
• Faith formation programs
• Religious youth gatherings
• Catholic conference services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Conference Passes: Revenue generated from selling conference passes to participants. Passes are purchased by group leaders (adults 21+) on behalf of youth participants. Member and non-member pricing tiers exist.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors at various tiers (Sower, Maker, Framer, Builder) support the event financially and receive brand visibility.
3. Donations and Scholarships: Donations support the NFCYM Scholarship Fund which helps provide financial aid for youth to attend NCYC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Catholic Youth Conference is a biennial three-day live event for Catholic high school students and their adult chaperones featuring prayer, sacraments, catechesis, worship, breakout sessions, and community building. The conference rotates between convention-center venues in Indianapolis, IN and Long Beach, CA, and offers a Digital Experience / Livestream option for remote participants. Passes are sold through NFCYM Connect to adult group leaders who bring youth groups from parishes, schools, and dioceses.

Product overview

National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is a biennial conference event rather than a software product. It offers in-person and digital conference experiences for Catholic high school students and adult chaperones, featuring speakers, breakout sessions, worship, and service opportunities. The organization provides supporting programs including a Youth Ambassador servant-leadership program, media credential access, and virtual livestream options. NCYC 2026 is scheduled for Long Beach, CA (November 20-21) and NCYC 2027 for Indianapolis, IN (November 18-20).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NCYC Conference Experience Biennial three-day live event of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service, and empowerment for Catholic high school students and adult chaperones, featuring national speakers, breakout sessions, liturgy, and worship at convention-center venues.
• NCYC Digital Experience / Livestream Virtual participation option featuring livestream of general sessions, the Digital Encounter with Pope Leo XIV, and post-event resources for participants who cannot attend in person.
• Youth Ambassador Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of youth participants reported they encountered Christ at 2024 NCYC
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• EWTNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025EWTN is the exclusive multi-cast provider for the NCYC Digital Experience, including the historic Digital Encounter with Pope Leo XIV. Broadcasts the event globally, reaching audiences worldwide via livestream.
• Marian UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarian University supports the NCYC Youth Ambassador program, providing sponsorship for the program that allows young people to take servant-leader roles at NCYC. The program involves teams of four young people and an adult liaison assisting with breakout sessions.
• Sower-Level Sponsors (Catholic Scouting, EQ Saints, Tiny Saints, The Wonder Project)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors at the Sower tier provide financial and promotional support for NCYC, receiving brand visibility at the event.
• Maker-Level Sponsors (Tenx10)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerTenx10 provides sponsorship support for NCYC.
• Framer-Level Sponsors (Benedictine College, Salesian Family, University of Mary)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution sponsors at the Framer tier supporting NCYC.
• Builder-Level Sponsors (Marathon Youth Ministry, Divine Word Vocations, Carmelites)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMinistry and vocation sponsors at the Builder tier supporting NCYC.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• NET Ministries: Catholic organization that runs discipleship-based youth retreats and parish mission programs for Catholic teens, directly comparable as a Catholic youth formation provider serving similar parishes and school networks as NCYC.
• Catholic Leadership Institute: Provides leadership formation and ministry training for Catholic dioceses, parishes, and youth ministers; adjacent as an ecosystem enabler that supports the same youth ministry network that feeds NCYC participation.
• National Youth Workers Convention (Youth Specialties): Long-running ecumenical youth ministry training conference serving adult youth workers, pastors, and volunteers. Comparable as a faith-based youth ministry gathering, but oriented toward equipping adult leaders rather than the teens themselves.
• Ave Maria University Youth Conferences: Catholic university that hosts youth-focused conferences and events for high schoolers and young adults, comparable as a faith-based youth formation gathering with speakers and worship.

Others

• Dynamic Catholic: Catholic nonprofit focused on re-energizing Catholic parishes through programs and events addressing declining participation; adjacent peer addressing the same generational engagement challenge NCYC confronts in the US Catholic youth market.
• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): Global Catholic broadcaster and NCYC's exclusive digital multi-cast partner; comparable as a Catholic media ecosystem player that amplifies faith-formation content to overlapping audiences.

Direct peers

• Life Teen (Steubenville Conferences): Life Teen runs the Steubenville Conferences, the most directly comparable Catholic youth conference network in the US, hosting summer and weekend retreats with similar faith-formation programming, speakers, and Mass-centered experience for Catholic teens.
• World Youth Day: The Vatican's flagship Catholic youth gathering, held internationally every few years and attracting hundreds of thousands of Catholic young adults. Directly comparable as a marquee faith-formation event with papal involvement, but at much larger global scale.
• LCMS National Youth Gathering: The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's triennial National Youth Gathering draws roughly 30,000 Lutheran high schoolers for worship, speakers, and service — the most direct Protestant parallel to NCYC in scale, cadence, and audience.
• SEEK Conference (FOCUS): FOCUS's biennial SEEK Conference is a large-scale Catholic gathering targeting college-aged young adults with keynote speakers, worship, and fellowship. Direct peer as a Catholic conference for young people organized by a faith-based nonprofit, differing primarily by age segment (college vs. high school).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ncycofficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NCYCofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCYCofficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncycofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@ncycofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 National Catholic Youth Conference