VOiCEup Berks

What VOiCEup Berks does

VOiCEup Berks is a Reading, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit founded in June 2015 that mobilizes youth (ages 11-18), young adults (18-24), families, and corporate employee groups for service-learning, volunteer projects, and leadership development across Berks County. The organization operates as a fund of the Berks County Community Foundation and has been an official affiliate of the national Youth Volunteer Corps network since September 2016. Its portfolio of branded programs includes YVC of Reading, Summer of Service, Youth Advisory Board (35 students across 15 school districts stewarding a $15,000 Youth in Philanthropy Fund), STAR (Stand Together Against Racism), Canstructure (an annual canned-food structure-building competition), Global Youth Service Day, Big Build environmental construction projects, Project Leadership at Reading High School, Generation Impact for young adults, the Youth Mental Health Ambassador Program, and Corporate Projects for employer engagement.

Name

VOiCEup Berks

Legal name

VOiCEup Berks

Website

https://voiceupberks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VOiCEup Berks is a Reading, PA-based nonprofit that mobilizes youth ages 11-24, families, and corporate partners for service-learning, volunteer projects, and leadership development across Berks County through multiple branded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Volunteer Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Youth volunteer programs
• Service learning
• Community engagement
• Nonprofit volunteer coordination
• Youth leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

North Reading

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters, including monthly giving programs and one-time contributions to support youth volunteer programming
2. Grants: Grant funding from organizations including United Way of Berks County and Berks County Community Foundation to support programming
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners at various levels (Premiere Community Impact Partner $10,000+, Community Impact Partner $7,500, Community Growth Partner $5,000, Community Capacity Builder $2,500, Community Root Builder $1,000)

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VOiCEup Berks operates a web-based volunteer opportunity search and registration platform built on the HandsOn Connect system, through which it coordinates a portfolio of youth service-learning and leadership development programs across Berks County, PA. The organization delivers team-based service projects for youth ages 11-18 through its Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading affiliate, alongside complementary programs such as Generation Impact (young adults 18-24), Youth Advisory Board (high school leadership), STAR (anti-racism), Youth Mental Health Ambassadors, Canstructure, Global Youth Service Day, Big Build, and Project Leadership. Participation in volunteer activities is offered at no cost; the organization is funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

VOiCEup Berks operates a volunteer coordination platform and manages multiple youth service programs. The core offering is a web-based volunteer opportunity search and registration platform built on the HandsOn Connect system. The organization delivers several branded youth service programs including Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading for youth ages 11-18, Summer of Service episodic opportunities, Youth Advisory Board (YAB) for high school leadership, STAR anti-racism initiative, Youth Mental Health Ambassadors program, Canstructure competition, Global Youth Service Day events, Big Build environmental projects, Project Leadership, Generation Impact for young adults 18-24, and Corporate Projects for business partners. These programs collectively mobilize youth and community members for service learning and community improvement across Berks County, PA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Generation Impact: A program engaging young adults aged 18 to 24 in meaningful service learning activities and community development.
• STAR (Stand Together Against Racism)
• Canstructure
• Youth Mental Health Ambassadors
• Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

Products and services

• Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading A team-based service-learning program for youth ages 11-18 that provides meaningful volunteer opportunities, develops job skills, and inspires a lifetime commitment to service. Projects are organized and led by trained Team Leaders.
• Volunteer Opportunity Search Platform A web-based platform for individuals, families, teams, and corporate groups to search and register for volunteer opportunities throughout Berks County. Includes filtering by date, issue area, age requirements, and location.
• Summer of Service Episodic service opportunities hosted during summer months, giving youth ages 11-18 two opportunities per week to show up, help out, and make a real impact in the community.
• Youth Advisory Board (YAB) A dynamic leadership team of approximately 35 high school students representing 15 school districts across Berks County. Members design and lead service projects and steward the Youth in Philanthropy Fund, granting up to $15,000 annually to local nonprofits.
• STAR (Stand Together Against Racism) A youth-led initiative born from community conversations on racial inequality. Includes anti-racism pledges, a youth-created website, and school discussion groups to promote racial equity and inclusivity.
• Youth Mental Health Ambassadors A youth-driven initiative providing mental health education, QPR suicide awareness training, peer-to-peer discussions, and student-led projects to normalize mental health conversations and promote well-being among middle and high school students.
• Canstructure An annual structure-building competition where teams of Berks County youth compete to build creative structures made from canned food, with all food donated to the Helping Harvest Food Bank to fight hunger.
• Global Youth Service Day An annual celebration event held in April engaging 200+ youth in community service activities including painting, planting, and cleaning at City Park in Reading, PA.
• Big Build Week-long collaborative construction projects, such as building boardwalks through wetlands, that provide hands-on environmental education while supporting nonprofit learning centers.
• Project: Leadership A leadership development initiative for students at Reading High School that engages students in service learning, helping them transform their passions into community benefit projects.
• Generation Impact A program for young adults aged 18-24 that fosters community connections through service learning, impactful projects, education, capacity building, self-discovery, and networking.
• Corporate Projects A program that enables corporate partners and their employees to participate in volunteer opportunities. Corporate partners include organizations like AJRC, Berkshire Systems Group, CFG, East Penn Manufacturing, and Performance Toyota.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ youth engaged in service annually through Global Youth Service Day
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2016Official affiliate of national Youth Volunteer Corps network since September 2016. Provides access to YVC brand, service-learning methodology, national programming (Global Youth Service Day, Canstructure), and grant funding for youth development initiatives.
• Berks County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2016Fiscal sponsor and fund holder since March 2016. Hosts Youth Advisory Board collaboration and Youth in Philanthropy Fund. Provides organizational infrastructure and legitimacy for VOiCEup Berks operations.
• Customers BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremiere Community Impact Partner at $10,000+ level. Primary sponsor supporting overall organizational programming and operations.
• Performance ToyotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Growth Partner at $5,000 level and exclusive sponsor of Canstructure competition. Provides funding and support for annual structure-building competition to fight hunger.
• East Penn ManufacturingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Growth Partner at $5,000 level. Corporate sponsor supporting youth volunteer programming.
• CFGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Growth Partner at $5,000 level. Corporate partner with employee volunteer activities including serving lunch at Opportunity House.
• Albright CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Canstructure competition and Global Youth Service Day events.
• Rock Hollow WoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit learning center partner where YVC students built 70-foot boardwalk through wetlands. Collaboration on Big Build 2020 wetland learning station project.
• Reading Beautification Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for City Park cleanup and beautification projects during Global Youth Service Day.
• Reading Public Works DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for City Park cleanup projects during Global Youth Service Day.
• Penske LogisticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Capacity Builder sponsor at $2,500 level. Corporate sponsor supporting volunteer programming.
• UGI Utilities, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting youth volunteer initiatives. Advisory board member represents community relations.
• 51 Partner Nonprofit OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Berks County nonprofits including American Cancer Society, Berks Nature, Berks Youth Chorus, Baseballtown Charities, and others that host youth volunteers and benefit from service projects.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Youth mentoring organization pairing young people with adult mentors for positive youth development. Overlaps with VOiCEup Berks's youth development mission and STAR/YMH Ambassadors programs, though BBBS focuses on 1:1 mentoring rather than team-based service.

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: Global volunteer service organization that operates the HandsOn Connect platform VOiCEup Berks uses. Points of Light runs similar volunteer mobilization programs including generationOn youth service and corporate volunteer engagement, and represents a larger, broader incumbent in the same space.
• Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC National): National parent network that VOiCEup Berks is an official affiliate of. Operates the same team-based service learning model across multiple affiliates nationally, providing the methodology, branding, and national programming (Global Youth Service Day, Canstructure) that VOiCEup Berks delivers at the local level.

Direct peers

• DoSomething.org: Digital-first nonprofit mobilizing young people (primarily ages 13-25) for social change through volunteer campaigns and civic action. Directly comparable youth volunteer engagement model, with comparable focus on issues like mental health, racial equity, and hunger relief.
• City Year: National service organization engaging young people (ages 17-24) in full-time community service while developing leadership skills. Comparable to Generation Impact and VOiCEup Berks's youth service-learning model, though City Year operates at much larger scale with AmeriCorps funding.
• KABOOM!: National nonprofit focused on ending playspace inequity through community-built playgrounds. Comparable youth-led community build model to VOiCEup Berks's Big Build program (which built a 70-foot boardwalk through wetlands), with similar corporate sponsor engagement and volunteer mobilization.
• Generation On (now part of Points of Light): Youth service initiative that mobilized young people for community action through family volunteering and service learning projects. Highly comparable to VOiCEup Berks's Family volunteer segments and YVC programming; now integrated into Points of Light.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Major youth development nonprofit offering structured after-school programming, leadership development, and community service opportunities for youth ages 6-18. VOiCEup Berks's Olivet Boys & Girls Clubs partnership and youth service model are highly comparable, with Berks County affiliates (Olivet) directly referenced as a partner.

Others

• United Way Worldwide: Global network of local United Ways that fund community programs including youth volunteer initiatives. United Way of Berks County is both a major VOiCEup Berks funder (Venture Grant 2016) and an adjacent community-impact organization with overlapping mission around youth services and volunteer mobilization.
• VolunteerHub: Volunteer management software platform serving nonprofits and corporate volunteer programs. Directly comparable technology layer to the HandsOn Connect platform VOiCEup Berks uses for volunteer opportunity matching and registration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/voiceupberks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu7G8I6fEFFNM9FMvfnmsaQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/voiceupberks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/voiceup-berks
• Instagraminstagram.com/voiceupberks

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 VOiCEup Berks