ST. MARK YOUTH ENRICHMENT

What ST. MARK YOUTH ENRICHMENT does

St. Mark Youth Enrichment is an Iowa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988-1989 (originally as St. Mark Community Center) that delivers out-of-school-time programming for children and families across the Dubuque, East Dubuque, and Western Dubuque tri-state area. Its service portfolio spans four pillars: before- and after-school programming operated inside Title 1 partner elementary schools (Audubon, Lincoln, Marshall, Irving, Peosta, Dyersville, Seton Catholic); a five-week summer camp called St. Mark Heroes Camp with themed tracks including Project STEAM, Nature Navigators, and Foodology; the Apples for Students school-supply initiative that filled more than 3,600 bags in 2024 across 30 schools; and an Early Childhood Center in development that is scheduled to open September 1, 2025, serving children from birth to age four with a nature-based curriculum.

The organization's underlying technology stack is modest and operationally focused rather than product-oriented, relying on commodity tools such as Google Classrooms, Zoom, and Remind for the COVID-era Interactive Virtual Model and ongoing parent communications. Programmatic differentiation is content-driven — CASEL-aligned social-emotional learning, the Growing Up Wild early-childhood curriculum, and a NASA Mission to Mars STEM partnership that won the 2020 Iowa Afterschool Alliance STEM Achievement Award. The organization does not develop proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or APIs.

St. Mark's revenue model is characteristic of a community-anchored nonprofit: a mix of individual and corporate donations (Hartig Drug, Theisen's, John Deere, Dupaco, City of Dubuque), federal and state grants (21st Century Community Learning Centers via the Iowa Department of Education; Iowa Women's Foundation Core Grant; United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States), modest family-paid program fees ($375-$500 for a five-week summer session, with scholarships available), and event-based fundraising anchored by the annual Ice Golf Classic. Program delivery is on-site at partner schools, with a hybrid virtual option retained post-pandemic. Day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director Dawn Cogan, supported by functional directors for Programs, Donor Relations, Early Childhood, and Western Dubuque.

Name

ST. MARK YOUTH ENRICHMENT

Legal name

St. Mark Youth Enrichment

Website

https://stmarkyouthenrichment.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Mark Youth Enrichment is an Iowa-based nonprofit that provides before/after-school, summer camp, school-supply, and early-childhood programs for children and working families across 30 schools in the Dubuque tri-state region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Enrichment & Out-of-School-Time Programs

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACAHAD

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Before & After School Care (Early Years)

SECONDARYEDACAGAK

Infant & Toddler Developmental Enrichment (Sensory, Motor, Language)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Infant & Toddler Care Programs

SECONDARYEDAMALAB

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Youth enrichment programs
• After school care
• Summer camp programs
• Early childhood education
• School supply assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

East Dubuque

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors, corporate sponsors, and community supporters provide charitable contributions to fund programs and school supply initiatives.
2. Program Fees: Families pay tuition for summer programs ($375-$500 for 5 weeks) with limited scholarships available for families in need. Some programs (e.g., Title 1 schools, 21st CCLC grant-funded sites) offered at no cost to families.
3. Grant Funding: 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant from U.S. Department of Education/Iowa Department of Education; Iowa Women's Foundation grants; United Way funding; and other institutional grants.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual Ice Golf Classic fundraising event generates revenue through team registrations, sponsorships, 50/50 raffles, and silent auctions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St. Mark Youth Enrichment delivers before/after school enrichment programs, summer Heroes Camp (5-week themed classes including STEAM, Nature Navigators, and Foodology), and early childhood education for children K-5th grade across Title 1 partner elementary schools in Dubuque, East Dubuque, and Western Dubuque. It also runs the Apples for Students: Fill the Bag campaign, providing fully stocked backpacks to students in need for $59 per student, and is opening a new Early Childhood Center for children birth to age four in September 2025.

Product overview

ST. MARK YOUTH ENRICHMENT is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth enrichment programs centered on four core pillars: After School, Summer (Heroes Camp), Early Childhood, and Apples for Students. The organization operates primarily as a service provider rather than a technology product company. Core programs include before/after school programming in partnership with Title 1 elementary schools, summer camp with themed tracks (Project STEAM, Nature Navigators, Foodology), and early childhood education through the upcoming Early Childhood Center. A major community initiative is the Apples for Students school supply program. The organization also maintains a virtual programming model for continuity of services. Programs emphasize literacy, social-emotional learning, physical literacy, and enrichment activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apples for Students: School supply initiative that provides fully stocked backpacks to students in need
• St. Mark Heroes Camp
• Early Childhood Center

Products and services

• After School Programs Before/after school programming for K-5th grade students delivered on-site at Title 1 partner elementary schools; emphasizes academic growth (literacy, STEM), social-emotional learning, and safe environments for children of working families.
• St. Mark Heroes Camp (Summer Program) 5-week themed summer program for students entering K-5th grade, with STEAM curriculum, physical literacy, enrichment activities, field trips, and guest speakers; students receive weekly books and t-shirts.
• Early Childhood Programs (St. Mark Early Childhood Center) Nature-based early childhood education programs for children from birth to age four, integrating the Growing Up Wild curriculum and social-emotional health focus; new Early Childhood Center opening September 2025 as part of Dubuque's Nature Everywhere Community designation.
• Apples for Students: Fill the Bag Annual community initiative providing fully stocked backpacks of school supplies to students in need; donors sponsor a bag for $59 per student, supplied through partnerships with Hartig Drug Stores and Theisen's.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of students improved or maintained literacy skills over summer; 85% demonstrated high levels of social-emotional skills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater DubuquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanding longstanding collaboration in 2023-24 school year. Jointly recognized as Iowa Afterschool Alliance 2023 Community Partner of the Year. Partnership provides full-day options in Dubuque through Boys & Girls Club for before/after school care.
• Hartig Drug StorescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool supply partner providing supplies at best rates for Apples for Students initiative. Longstanding partnership enabling St. Mark to fill complete backpacks with school supplies for $40-$59 per student.
• Theisen's Home-Farm-AutocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchool supply partner for Apples for Students initiative, providing supplies at best rates to support area students.
• John Deere Dubuque WorkssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Apples for Students initiative and St. Mark programs.
• Dupaco Community Credit UnionsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Ice Golf Classic event and Apples for Students initiative.
• Nature Everywhere CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative to increase equitable access to nature for children. St. Mark is a key partner in Dubuque's selection as a Nature Everywhere Community, collaborating with local leaders and organizations.
• NASAsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM partnership through 21st CCLC program. Students at Peosta Elementary worked with NASA on Mission to Mars project including real-life STEM Design Challenges and video calls with NASA staff.
• Mid-Town MarinasecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts the annual Ice Golf Classic event at frozen Mid-Town Marina in East Dubuque, Illinois.
• ISU Extension and OutreachsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides STEM activities and literacy enrichment for summer programs. Sent Leah to conduct Liquid Layers science experiment and provides ongoing curriculum support.
• Four MoundssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing field trip experiences including ropes course for summer camp participants.
• Convivium Urban FarmsteadsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner that shared kid-friendly recipes and hosted cooking activities with St. Mark kids, including homemade tortilla chips and pico de gallo.
• National Summer Learning AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Mark joined organizations nationwide celebrating National Summer Learning Week (July 10-14, 2023), recognizing the importance of summer learning for youth development.
• Iowa Afterschool AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization honoring outstanding afterschool programs and students. Presented Community Partner of the Year and STEM Achievement awards to St. Mark.
• City of DubuquesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial supporter and sponsor of St. Mark programs and Apples for Students initiative.
• Lincoln Savings BanksecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted area unveiling event for Iowa Women's Foundation's Ovation publication recognizing Beth McGorry's contributions.
• Partner Schools (Audubon, Lincoln, Marshall, Irving, Peosta, Dyersville, Seton Catholic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle 1 elementary schools where St. Mark operates before/after school programs. Strong collaborative relationships with school districts in Dubuque, East Dubuque, and Western Dubuque.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Iowa Reading Corps: Iowa statewide literacy-tutoring program focused on K-3 reading outcomes — directly comparable to St. Mark's literacy outcomes (97% improvement) — though primarily tutoring-driven rather than full afterschool programming.

Regional players

• Junior Achievement of the Heartland: Regional youth education nonprofit active in eastern Iowa/Dubuque delivering K-12 enrichment (with a finance/STEM emphasis comparable to St. Mark's Project STEAM). Similar nonprofit school-partnership delivery model, but broader geographic coverage.
• Hawthorne Services (Dubuque-area human services nonprofit network): Dubuque-area human services nonprofit network serving children and families facing economic hardship — the same population targeted by St. Mark's Title 1 focus and Apples for Students initiative.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): National network of youth enrichment nonprofits delivering afterschool and summer programming to at-risk K-12 youth in underserved communities; similar program pillars (STEM, SEL, athletics) and grant-dependent funding model.

Broad incumbents

• National Summer Learning Association: National nonprofit whose mission — preventing summer learning loss for underserved youth — closely mirrors the Heroes Camp summer program; serves as a network partner with which St. Mark has co-marketed National Summer Learning Week.
• Iowa 4-H (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach): State-level youth development program with strong presence in Dubuque and Western Dubuque counties; comparable mission around youth enrichment, STEM, and life skills, but operating at a larger county/statewide scale and as part of a land-grant university extension system.
• United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States: Major regional funder and convening nonprofit also delivering direct youth/family programs in the same Dubuque geography; a current St. Mark partner (provided COVID-19 response support), so comparable community-embedded operating model and donor base.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Dubuque: Direct partner and counterpart in Dubuque delivering before/after school and summer programming for K-12 youth; jointly recognized with St. Mark as Iowa Afterschool Alliance 2023 Community Partner of the Year, indicating parallel mission, funding base, and operating model.
• Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA: Regional Y serves Dubuque with youth development, afterschool care, and summer camp programming to similar K-5 demographics; comparable nonprofit delivery model, grant-dependent funding mix, and community-embedded operating approach.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa: Northeast Iowa nonprofit serving at-risk youth in the same Dubuque region with mentoring and enrichment programming; comparable donor and grant-dependent model, similar target populations (low-income, Title 1 families), and similar afterschool/out-of-school focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stmarkyouthenrichment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-mark-youth-enrichment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 ST. MARK YOUTH ENRICHMENT