What TRUE NORTH Youth Program does

True North Youth Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Telluride, Colorado, that provides free year-round youth development, academic support, college readiness, and enrichment programs to teens living in San Miguel and West Montrose Counties. Its core programming includes in-school and afterschool drop-in spaces (Base Camp at the TMHS library, The Shed in Telluride, the Norwood High School Teen Space, and Friday Hang at the West End Economic Development Center basement in Naturita), outdoor adventure trips (regional backcountry expeditions, weekend trips, and annual partner excursions), creative and civic engagement programs (Art Workshops with AhHaa School for the Arts, the San Miguel Current student magazine with Just For Kids Foundation, and the Youth Climate Council with EcoAction Partners), and resource services including the Future Center/College Corner, named in-house scholarships, mental health resource listings, and a regional jobs board. The organization is staffed by 1-10 employees and supported by a volunteer base, with no proprietary technology platform — operations run on a Squarespace website, digital activities calendar, online waivers, and a student portal.

The business model is donation-driven: True North is a registered 501(c)(3) (EIN 46-4789197) accepting one-time, recurring monthly, quarterly, and annual contributions from individuals, foundations (notably Just For Kids Foundation), community organizations, and event-based fundraising (e.g., Planet Bluegrass tips jar). All programs are provided free of charge to teen participants with no pricing tiers or fees. Distribution is community-led, relying on direct partnerships with Telluride Mountain High School, Norwood High School, Nucla schools, and roughly fifteen regional partner organizations for program delivery, student referrals, and volunteer placements. The participant base is teens in middle and high school, with secondary beneficiaries being parents and partner schools; corporate counterparts are absent as there is no enterprise sales motion.

Since inception the organization has accumulated over 4,000 hours of teen community service and administers scholarships across multiple high schools in the region. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors; a Board President transition was completed at the July 22, 2026 quarterly meeting, with Sarah Lavender Smith succeeding Rose Gutfeld. The organization's service area is intentionally narrow — two rural Colorado counties — which both defines its impact and limits its scalability beyond the existing footprint.

Name

TRUE NORTH Youth Program

Legal name

True North Youth Program

Website

https://truenorthyouthprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

True North Youth Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that delivers free year-round youth development, college readiness, and enrichment programs to teens in San Miguel and West Montrose Counties, Colorado, funded entirely through donations and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• College readiness services
• Afterschool programming
• Nonprofit community services
• Teen mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Telluride

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, True North Youth Program operates primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and community supporters. The organization accepts one-time, monthly, quarterly, and annual donations, with options to cover transaction fees. EIN: 46-4789197.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

True North Youth Program provides free year-round youth development programs for teens in San Miguel and West Montrose Counties, Colorado. Core offerings include afterschool drop-in spaces (Base Camp, The Shed, Norwood High School Teen Space, Friday Hang at WEEDC), outdoor expeditions (Regional Trips, Weekend Trips, Annual Trips), creative and enrichment programs (Art Workshops, San Miguel Current Magazine, Youth Climate Council), community service opportunities, and resource services (Future Center/College Corner, scholarships, mental health resources, jobs listings). All programs are provided at no cost to participating teens.

Product overview

True North Youth Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of free youth development programs and resources for teens in San Miguel and West Montrose Counties, Colorado. The core offerings include in-school and after-school programs (Base Camp, The Shed, Norwood Teen Space, Friday Hang at the WEEDC), outdoor adventure excursions (Regional Trips, Weekend Trips, Annual Trips), creative and enrichment programs (Art Workshops with AhHaa, San Miguel Current Magazine, Youth Climate Council with EcoAction Partners), and community service opportunities. Supporting resources include the Future Center/College Corner for college access, in-house Scholarships (Skyler Kelly Memorial, John Mansfield Memorial, Food Service, and eponymous True North Scholarship), Mental Health Resources compilation, and Jobs Listings for teens. Programs are year-round and free of charge for teen residents and students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Shed: Teen hangout space in Telluride open after school and on weekends
• Base Camp
• San Miguel Current Magazine
• Future Center

Products and services

• Base Camp Afterschool drop-in program in the TMHS library (Telluride) where students can get homework help, resume and job/college application assistance, and grab a snack. Runs Wednesdays 3:20-5:00pm. Free for teens in San Miguel and West Montrose Counties.
• The Shed Teen hangout space in Telluride where students can visit after school and on weekends throughout the year to hang out, play games, chat with friends, or grab a snack. Open Tuesdays 12:00pm-5:00pm with staff presence, available any day of the week.
• Norwood High School Teen Space Teen space at Norwood High School kept open throughout the week during and after school for students to stop by, hang out, work on assignments, or have a snack. Also includes a True North Teen Space in the Tech Building. Open Wednesday and Thursday 11:00am-1:00pm.
• Friday Hang at the WEEDC Drop-in program hosted in the West End Economic Development Center (WEEDC) basement in Naturita for Norwood and Nucla teens to spend time with friends, play Rock Band, and do arts and crafts. Runs Fridays 10:00am-3:00pm when Nucla school is not in session.
• Regional Trips Overnight, backcountry expeditions designed to help students connect more deeply with the region, challenge themselves, and build outdoor leadership skills. Activities include backpacking, river rafting, rock climbing, watching films, and cultural exchanges.
• Weekend Trips Single day and single overnight activities throughout the year including outings to the Ouray Ice Festival, Valentine Farm in Norwood, Nordic Ski days in Telluride, and more. All weekend trips are open enrollment.
• Additional Annual Trips Special trips offered in partnership with other organizations or schools, including class trips, visits to the AhHaa School for the Arts, and college visits with the Telluride AVID program. Not always open enrollment.
• Art Workshops for Teens Hands-on creative workshops through a partnership with AhHaa School for the Arts, exploring natural materials and artistic techniques including eco-printing with leaves and flowers on silk and sculpting with felt or clay. Half of sessions take place in the West End and half in Telluride.
• The San Miguel Current Magazine Annual student magazine published in partnership with the Just For Kids Foundation showcasing the creativity of youth across the San Miguel River watershed. Features writing, poetry, music, photography, visual art, and more. Open to students of all ages.
• Youth Climate Council Partnership with EcoAction Partners offering students an opportunity to elevate their voices around environmental topics including resource management, land preservation/conservation, governance, green business, and climate issues. Funded by the Just For Kids Foundation.
• Regional Volunteering Community service opportunities in partnership with local organizations where teens can earn volunteer hours. Includes Open Space and Trail Cleanup, Fresh Food Hub, True North Teen Spaces, and Hoof + Paw Animal Rescue.
• Future Center / College Corner College access resources including college checklists for each grade level, college match worksheets, college 101 and financial aid presentations, FAFSA/CASFA information, and links to regional and national scholarship databases.
• Scholarships In-house scholarships for eligible students across San Miguel and West Montrose counties including the Skyler Kelly Memorial Scholarship, John Mansfield Memorial Scholarship, Food Service Scholarship, and True North Scholarship.
• Mental Health Resources Compiled community mental health resource list including school counselors, AXIS Health Systems, Uncompahgre Medical Center Behavioral Health, Telluride Medical Center, Tri-County Health Network, and Colorado Children's Hospital youth mental health toolkit.
• Jobs Listings Classifieds listings for teens including regional job postings from employers like Town of Mountain Village, Telluride Ski and Golf Resort, Pinhead Institute, Fresh Foundation, and others, along with resume guidance and interview resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ hours of community service contributed by teens since 2014
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Juvenile DiversionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026True North and Juvenile Diversion partnered to offer students guided tours of four regional colleges including Pueblo Community College SouthWest, Fort Lewis College, Adams State University, and Western Colorado University.
• Just For Kids FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue North partners with Just For Kids Foundation to publish The San Miguel Current, an annual student magazine showcasing youth creativity including writing, poetry, music, photography, and visual art from students across the San Miguel River watershed.
• AhHaa School for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer hands-on creative workshops for teens exploring natural materials and artistic techniques including eco-printing with leaves and flowers on silk, sculpting with felt or clay. Programs take place in both West End and Telluride locations.
• EcoAction PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue North and EcoAction Partners, with funding from Just For Kids Foundation, partner to offer the Youth Climate Council where students can elevate their voices around environmental topics including resource management, land preservation, governance, green business, and climate issues.
• Telluride Mountain ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity trail work days and volunteer opportunities. True North teens participate in Open Space and Trail Cleanup events. True North helps promote Telluride Mountain Club events and assists with transportation needs.
• Fresh Food HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh Food Hub (dba Fresh Food Hub) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the local food system. They host food distribution every Sunday at Norwood High School Tech Building and provide volunteer opportunities for teens to earn community service hours.
• Hoof + Paw Animal Rescue and Thrift StoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoof + Paw in Naturita provides volunteer opportunities for teens at their thrift store and animal rescue. True North helps connect teens to these opportunities and promotes the organization.
• Telluride Ski and Golf ResortminorOthersRegional employer offering teen summer employment opportunities including Nursery Attendant positions during summer season.
• Town of Mountain VillageminorOthersRegional employer offering teen employment opportunities including Gondola & Transit Operator positions (summer, May-October).
• Telluride ScienceminorOthersScience-focused organization offering paid intern positions for science-inclined college and high school students at $20/hour for up to 20 hours/week.
• Telluride AVID ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for college visits where True North collaborates with Telluride AVID program for special trips and college exploration activities.
• Planet BluegrassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlanet Bluegrass selected True North as one of the nonprofit recipients for the tips jar at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Older high school students can volunteer at the festival.
• West End Economic Development Center (WEEDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWEEDC provides space for True North's Friday Hang program in their basement. Hosts teen programming every Friday for Norwood and Nucla teens.
• Pinhead InstituteminorOthersSTEM summer camp in Telluride offering counselor positions for high school graduates or college students who love working with kids.
• San Miguel Basin Extension (4-H)minorOthers4-H Cloverbud Camp Counselor internship opportunity for high school students at Norwood Fairgrounds, offering community service hours.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): 4-H is a youth development organization offering hands-on programming in outdoor leadership, civic engagement, and career skills — directly parallel to True North's outdoor adventures, Youth Climate Council, and service-hour programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the largest U.S. youth development nonprofit, providing free or low-cost afterschool programming, college/career readiness, and teen-focused activities. It is the most direct functional comparable to True North's Base Camp, The Shed, and Teen Space model.
• College Track: College Track is a nonprofit focused on college access, persistence, and graduation for first-generation and underserved students. Highly comparable to True North's Future Center/College Corner, FAFSA support, scholarship offerings, and college tours.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Big Brothers Big Sisters operates youth mentoring and development programs targeting underserved adolescents, with a similar nonprofit, community-partner-driven delivery model. Comparability centers on youth outcomes, college/career navigation, and donor-funded service delivery.
• Communities In Schools: Communities In Schools embeds coordinators inside K-12 schools to connect students with academic support, college access, and community resources. Highly comparable to True North's school-based delivery through TMHS, Norwood, and Nucla partnerships.
• Junior Achievement USA: Junior Achievement delivers workforce readiness, financial literacy, and career exploration programming to K-12 students — directly comparable to True North's resume help, job listings, and career exploration offerings.

Emerging players

• Year Up: Year Up provides workforce training and corporate internships for young adults from underserved backgrounds. Comparable in mission (career pipeline for underserved youth) but serves an older demographic and urban markets.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): NOLS provides outdoor leadership education through backcountry expeditions. Directly comparable to True North's Regional Trips and backcountry expeditions designed to build outdoor leadership skills in teens.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: KIPP is a large charter school network with extensive college counseling and character education programs. Comparable in serving underserved youth through college-prep, but at much larger scale and as a school operator rather than a community-based nonprofit.

Regional players

• Pinhead Institute: Pinhead Institute is a Telluride-based STEM education nonprofit offering summer camps and paid counselor positions. Operates in the same geography with a comparable youth enrichment mission and is also listed as a True North employer partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/true-north-youth-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 TRUE NORTH Youth Program