The F.A.S.T. Foundation

What The F.A.S.T. Foundation does

The F.A.S.T. Foundation (Families Achieving Success Together) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization providing education, personal development, public safety, and family support services to underserved communities in the city. Its service portfolio spans five core lines: Truancy & Family Advocates (navigating families through school, child welfare, and court systems), College Admissions & Career Development (NACAC member providing financial aid guidance and college visits to first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students), Cognitive Behavioral Learning Programs (Within My Reach, On My Shoulders, Walking The Line), Trauma-Informed Financial Counseling (1:1 sliding-scale sessions in partnership with Women's Way Gender Wealth Institute), and Public Safety / Community Violence Intervention (a three-pillar Prevention, Intervention, Transformation model using credible messengers). Ancillary offerings include the FRESH Initiative community engagement program, the Anthony Meekins Scholarship Fund, and branded merchandise (FAST Varsity Jacket at $350). Target beneficiaries include at-risk families, returning citizens on probation, first-generation college-bound students, women ages 18-65 navigating poverty or justice involvement, and families navigating truancy or dependency cases.

The organization was originally established in the mid-1970s as 'Brothers United Together' by descendants of matriarch Evelyn Wallington and was restructured into its current nonprofit form in September 2016 under Jamil Wallington to support Anthony Meekins' college education. It is led by Jaime Meekins (Community Violence Intervention Leader, CVILA graduate, appointee to Philadelphia's Special Committee on Gun Violence and Citizen Police Oversight Commission) and Tracey Wallington (Accredited Financial Counselor and Certified Trauma-Competent Professional), with a board spanning healthcare, public safety, education, social services, and labor. The organization has 1-10 employees and operates from a single office at 1700 Market St., Suite 1005, Philadelphia.

The business model is donation-dependent with limited diversified revenue. Primary funding comes from individual, corporate, and foundation donations supplemented by sliding-scale financial counseling fees (free for households near 100% of Federal Poverty Level, scaling to $100/session at 400% FPL) and one-time merchandise sales. The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: free 30-minute consultations, street outreach, fireside chats, the annual Race Against Gun Violence, and an organic social presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X. Distribution relies on a referral ecosystem of strategic partners including Women's Way Gender Wealth Institute, NACAC, Common Black College Application, Common App, and Career One Stop. There is no proprietary technology, no disclosed institutional grants, and no published financials.

Name

The F.A.S.T. Foundation

Legal name

The F.A.S.T. Foundation

Website

https://www.fast-foundation.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The F.A.S.T. Foundation is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing education, trauma-informed financial counseling, family advocacy, and community violence intervention services to underserved communities, funded primarily through donations and supplemented by sliding-scale fees and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community violence intervention
• Financial counseling services
• College admissions support
• Adult literacy programs
• Trauma-informed services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its programs and services for underserved communities in Philadelphia.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise such as the FAST Varsity Jacket at $350 to generate revenue and promote brand awareness.
3. Financial Counseling Services: Sliding-scale fee-based financial counseling sessions ranging from free to $100 per session based on Federal Poverty Level, offered in partnership with Women's Way Gender Wealth Institute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The F.A.S.T. Foundation delivers community-based social services to underserved populations in Philadelphia, including trauma-informed financial counseling, college admissions and career development support, truancy and family advocacy, cognitive behavioral learning programs, community violence intervention, and a scholarship fund. Programs are funded by donations and supplemented by sliding-scale fees for financial counseling and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The F.A.S.T. Foundation (Families Achieving Success Together) is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs. The core offerings include Truancy & Family Advocates (navigating families through school, court, and welfare systems), College Admissions & Career Development (NACAC member providing access to financial aid and college visits), Cognitive Behavioral Learning Programs (Within My Reach, On My Shoulders, Walking The Line), Trauma-Informed Financial Counseling (1:1 sessions with sliding scale fees), and Public Safety/Community Violence Intervention (three-pillar approach: Prevention, Intervention, Transformation). Additional programs include the FRESH Initiative for community engagement and the Anthony Meekins Scholarship Fund. Merchandise includes branded varsity jackets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Truancy & Family Advocates Assistance with truancy referrals, IEPs, and 504 plans, serving as navigators between family, school, child welfare, and court systems using an interdisciplinary approach for families.
• College Admissions & Career Development Member of the National Academy of College Admission Counselors connecting first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students to higher education through financial aid assistance, in-person and virtual college tours, and career development.
• Cognitive Behavioral Learning Programs Cognitive behavioral programs including 'Within My Reach,' 'On My Shoulders,' and 'Walking The Line,' designed to strengthen relationships linked to better job performance, immune function, family relationships, and reduced mental health and substance abuse issues.
• Trauma-Informed Financial Counseling Trauma-informed 1:1 financial counseling for women and families moving from survival mode to stability, covering money management, debt management, budgeting, credit repair, savings building, and risk management on a sliding-scale fee from free up to $100 per session.
• Public Safety / Community Violence Intervention Community-led strategies to reduce violence and support healing through a three-pillar approach (Prevention, Intervention, Transformation) using Community Violence Intervention (CVI) professionals and credible messengers in Philadelphia.
• FRESH Initiative Community engagement initiative including participation in Philadelphia's Race Against Gun Violence and Fireside Chat & Chew forums, building better futures through fresh initiatives and community events.
• FAST Varsity Jacket Branded merchandise item sold through the FAST Foundation online shop, priced at $350.00 per jacket, used to generate revenue and promote brand awareness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2/3 of students who cannot read by 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• Women's Way Gender Wealth InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAST partners with Women's Way Gender Wealth Institute to provide accessible financial counseling on a sliding scale to help close the gender wealth gap for low-wealth women and girls in Philadelphia. FAST participates in Women's Way Financial Coaching Cohort.
• National Academy of College Admission CounselorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAST, Inc. is a member of the National Academy of College Admission Counselors, working with all college admission leaders nationally to connect first-generation, low-income, underrepresented, and underserved students with higher education opportunities.
• Common Black College ApplicationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFAST refers students to the Common Black College Application which has helped over 350,000 students apply to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with approximately 97% accepted to at least one member institution.
• Common AppsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFAST refers students to Common App, a non-profit membership organization representing over 1,100 diverse institutions of higher education across all 50 U.S. states and 18 countries.
• Career One StopsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFAST provides students access to Career One Stop resources including over 9,500 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities.
• NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counselors)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFAST participates in NACAC's National College Fairs, connecting students with admission representatives from colleges across the country.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities: National reentry employment nonprofit providing transitional jobs and coaching to people returning from incarceration — directly comparable to FAST's recidivism prevention and reintegration support for returning citizens.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing college access and success coaching specifically to first-generation and low-income students — directly comparable to FAST's College Admissions & Career Development program and Anthony Meekins Scholarship Fund.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities with training, mentorship, and career placement — comparable to FAST's career development and financial stability programs targeting similar populations.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside schools to deliver integrated wraparound support to at-risk students — closely comparable to FAST's Truancy & Family Advocates program that navigates families across school, court, and welfare systems.
• Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing violence intervention, victim services, and prevention programming — closely comparable to FAST's Public Safety / Community Violence Intervention three-pillar model in the same geographic market.
• Urban Strategies Inc: Community development nonprofit providing family support, housing stabilization, and case management in high-poverty neighborhoods — directly comparable to FAST's integrated family advocacy and resource hub model serving underserved communities.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: National nonprofit operating local affiliates (including YWCA Philadelphia) delivering financial empowerment, racial justice, and women's empowerment programs — comparable to FAST's Women and Caregivers segment focus and trauma-informed financial counseling via the Women's Way partnership.
• Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit operating workforce development, financial education, and community programs through local affiliates — broadly comparable to FAST's career development and financial literacy mission, though at vastly greater scale.

Regional players

• Bread for the City: Washington DC-based nonprofit providing integrated food, medical, dental, and social services to low-income residents — closely comparable to FAST's integrated wraparound model, though operating in a different city.
• Philadelphia Works: Philadelphia's designated workforce development board funding job training and career services for residents — comparable to FAST's career development and financial stability programs within the same local workforce ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/_FastFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFastFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefastfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/families-achieving-success-together-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The F.A.S.T. Foundation