The Gem Project, Inc.
The Gem Project is a Newark-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs service-based fellowships, training, and civic engagement programs for high school and college students ages 16-24, grounded in a social-justice service-learning framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Gem Project, Inc. does
The Gem Project, Inc. is a Newark, New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 26-1310697) founded in 2006 by Amanda A. Ebokosia and incorporated on October 1, 2007. The organization delivers service-based fellowships, training, and civic engagement programming for high school and college students ages 16-24, primarily in Newark with stated nationwide reach through asynchronous online components. Its core offering is the Fellowship program, which combines peer-based mentoring, youth organizing, paid employment, and service-learning under a social justice framework organized around four pillars: education, criminal justice, health justice, and democracy. Each fellowship cycle involves 350-584 service hours per fellow and 40+ hours of professional development including 1:1 coaching, mock interviews, and digital portfolio development.
The Gem Project's programmatic portfolio includes the Fellowship (core), the Training Institute for organizing and professional development, The Lab as an experimental space, and Youth Power Action, a coalition platform convening partners such as Vote16 New Jersey, the NJ Institute for Social Justice, and the Newark City Council. The organization does not charge participants; instead, it operates as a donation- and grant-funded entity, with documented support from the Victoria Foundation, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Prudential, the M&T Weiner Foundation, and Impact100 Essex, among others. It has no software platform, mobile app, or AI-driven product; its "technology" is a social-justice-oriented service-learning methodology differentiated by its critical examination of identity, race, privilege, and power structures.
The organization's go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven, relying on earned media (Forbes, Junior Scholastic, NJ Spotlight News, 2012 White House recognition), school and municipal partnerships in Newark, and organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) plus an email newsletter ("Gem Notes"). The Gem Project does not disclose revenue or funding totals, employs 1-10 staff, and has reported reaching over 3,500 Newark-area youth since 2006, with 100% of senior high school Fellows securing admission to accredited colleges in 2024.
The Gem Project, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Gem Project, Inc.
- Legal name
- The Gem Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://thegemproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Gem Project is a Newark-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs service-based fellowships, training, and civic engagement programs for high school and college students ages 16-24, grounded in a social-justice service-learning framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Gem Project, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)
Keywords
Where The Gem Project, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Gem Project, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (EIN: 26-1310697), The Gem Project operates primarily through charitable donations, foundation grants, and government support. The organization accepts tax-deductible contributions to fund fellowships, training, and youth programming.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Gem Project, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Gem Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers service-based fellowships connecting high school and college students (ages 16-24) to peer-based mentoring, youth organizing, paid employment, and service-learning initiatives grounded in a social justice framework. Its program portfolio includes the Fellowships program, the Training Institute for professional development, The Lab for experimental youth-driven initiatives, and the Youth Power Action coalition platform for civic engagement and voter mobilization.
Product overview
The Gem Project is a nonprofit youth development organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offering is its service-based Fellowship program for high school and college students (ages 16-24), which provides peer-based mentoring, youth organizing, employment, and service-learning. This is complemented by the Training Institute for professional development, The Lab for experimental initiatives, and Youth Power Action as a coalition platform for youth mobilization and advocacy. All programs are grounded in a social justice framework addressing four pillars: education, criminal justice, health justice, and democracy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Youth Power Action: A dynamic platform and emerging coalition where youth and young adults across the country can self-organize, mobilize, and drive change on the issues that matter most to them. Championed by several partners and convened by the Gem Project.
Products and services
- Fellowships Service-based fellowships connecting high school and college students (ages 16-24) to peer-based mentoring, youth organizing, paid employment, and service-learning initiatives grounded in a social justice framework; delivered in 36-week school-year and 6-8-week summer formats in Newark, with asynchronous online reach nationwide.
- Training Institute Provides training and professional development opportunities for youth participants, including organizing training sessions and specialized workshops that build civic, leadership, and workforce skills.
- The Lab An experimental space within The Gem Project ecosystem where Fellows prototype innovative, youth-driven initiatives aligned with the organization's four justice pillars (Education, Health Justice, Criminal Justice, Democracy).
- Youth Power Action A coalition platform convened by The Gem Project where youth and young adults self-organize and mobilize on issues affecting them, providing organizing training, voter pledge initiatives, and festival events in partnership with Vote16 New Jersey, the NJ Institute for Social Justice, and Newark City Council.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college acceptance rate for senior high school Fellows in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Gem Project, Inc.
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Gem Project, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The Gem Project, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Vote16 New JerseycoreCoalition partner in youth voting rights advocacy, working with The Gem Project Fellows to lower the voting age in Newark school board elections
- NJ Institute for Social JusticecoreStrategic partner in youth civic engagement and democracy initiatives, collaborating on voting rights campaigns
- Newark City CouncilcoreGovernment partner supporting youth voting initiatives and civic engagement programs in Newark
- City of NewarkcoreMunicipal partner and supporter of The Gem Project's youth development and civic engagement programming
- US White HouseflagshipRecognized The Gem Project on the official White House website for youth advocacy and civic engagement achievements
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Gem Project, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Year Up: Year Up provides paid fellowships and workforce training for young adults ages 18-24 from underserved communities. Comparable to The Gem Project in its paid-stipend, peer-based fellowship model targeting similar age cohorts with career-readiness outcomes.
- Global Citizen Year: Global Citizen Year runs gap-year fellowship programs for high school graduates focused on social impact and leadership. Comparable to The Gem Project Fellowship's age range, leadership-development framing, and social-justice orientation.
- Bottom Line: Bottom Line provides one-on-one college access and persistence advising for low-income and first-generation students. Comparable to The Gem Project's college-acceptance focus and youth-development cohort model.
- YouthBuild USA: YouthBuild provides education, workforce training, and civic engagement for opportunity youth ages 16-24. Comparable age range, paid-stipend model, and social-justice mission to The Gem Project's Fellowship program.
- Summer Search: Summer Search supports low-income high school and college-age youth through mentoring, college access, and experiential programs. Comparable to The Gem Project's focus on ages 16-24, college readiness, and mentorship-driven youth development.
- iMentor: iMentor pairs college students with high school students for mentoring focused on college persistence and success. Comparable to The Gem Project in its peer-mentoring model and college-readiness outcomes for underserved youth.
- College Track: College Track is a college-access nonprofit supporting students from high school through college graduation, with a focus on underserved communities. Comparable cohort (high school to college) and outcomes framework to The Gem Project's Fellowship.
- OneGoal: OneGoal supports low-income high school students through college persistence programming. Comparable to The Gem Project in serving high school students with college-readiness interventions and postsecondary outcomes.
- City Year: City Year runs a service-year AmeriCorps fellowship for young adults (ages 17-24) focused on education and community impact. Overlaps with The Gem Project in service-learning framing, paid stipends, and youth-led civic engagement in urban communities.
Broad incumbents
- KIPP Foundation: KIPP is a large charter school network serving K-12 students with a college-readiness mission. Overlaps with The Gem Project in college-readiness outcomes and equity focus, though KIPP operates schools rather than fellowships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Gem Project, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceThe Gem Project, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Gem Project, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Gem Project, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Gem Project, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Gem Project, Inc.
What does The Gem Project, Inc. do?
The Gem Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers service-based fellowships connecting high school and college students (ages 16-24) to peer-based mentoring, youth organizing, paid employment, and service-learning initiatives grounded in a social justice framework. Its program portfolio includes the Fellowships program, the Training Institute for professional development, The Lab for experimental youth-driven initiatives, and the Youth Power Action coalition platform for civic engagement and voter mobilization.
Is The Gem Project, Inc. a public or private company?
The Gem Project, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Gem Project, Inc. founded?
The Gem Project, Inc. was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Gem Project, Inc. based?
The Gem Project, Inc. is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Gem Project, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are The Gem Project, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Year Up, Global Citizen Year, Bottom Line, YouthBuild USA, Summer Search, iMentor, College Track, OneGoal and City Year. KIPP Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does The Gem Project, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Gem Project, Inc..
What industry is The Gem Project, Inc. in?
The Gem Project, Inc.'s product category is Youth Development Services (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDALAHAG, Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.