Youth Enhancement Services, Inc.

What Youth Enhancement Services, Inc. does

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc. (YES), operating under the brand YES Georgia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded circa 1989 and headquartered in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. YES delivers alternative education, post-secondary transition support, workforce readiness training, mentorship, and cultural enrichment programs to disconnected and underserved youth ages 16 to 24. The organization reports a cumulative impact of over 5,000 youth served over its 35-year history. Its core programmatic stack includes the Just One Youth (J.O.Y.) Initiative (the premier umbrella program with a structured 12-month mentorship track and multi-source referral funnel), Post-Secondary Options (PSO) (GED-to-college pathway with college tours, financial aid support, and individualized GPS plans), YES Empowerment (character development, life skills, health initiatives, community impact), and Workforce Readiness (apprenticeship and internship facilitation). YES also administers the Lillie Marie Johnson Nursing Scholarship, awarded annually across California, Georgia, and Mississippi.

YES does not generate revenue from program participants; instead, it is funded through charitable donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and in-kind contributions. The organization lists an annual operational and program cost of $10,850 per participant, with line items covering instruction, administration, nutrition, transportation, academic materials, and GED testing. Distribution is direct-service within Metro Atlanta, supplemented by partnerships with Atlanta-area colleges and universities (Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Atlanta Technical College, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Albany Technical College), justice-system partners (Fulton County Juvenile Court, Georgia Public Defender Council), and workforce-development agencies (Fulton County Work Source, Urban League of Greater Atlanta). Corporate sponsors include The Home Depot Foundation, Atlanta Falcons Foundation, Chick-fil-A, LexisNexis, Archer Western Contractors, Harry Norman Realtors, Allied Logistics, and others. The organization maintains a minimal technology footprint — a WordPress website (yesgeorgia.org), Facebook, and LinkedIn — and has no disclosed AI/ML, API, or proprietary software capabilities.

Name

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc.

Legal name

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc.

Website

https://yesgeorgia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc. (YES Georgia) is a 35-year-old Metro Atlanta nonprofit delivering alternative education, GED-to-college pathways, workforce readiness, and mentorship to disconnected youth ages 16-24, funded by donations, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Adult High School Diploma Completion Programs (EDAAABAB), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Workforce development services
• GED preparation support
• Post-secondary education access
• Community mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: YES relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants to fund operations and programs. Donations are tax-deductible. The organization offers multiple giving options including financial contributions, in-kind donations, and space/services donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc. (YES) delivers a suite of free, community-based programs for disconnected and underserved youth ages 16-24 in Metro Atlanta, including the Just One Youth (J.O.Y.) Initiative and its 12-month structured mentorship program, Post-Secondary Options (PSO) for GED and high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education, YES Empowerment for character development and cultural enrichment, and Workforce Readiness for job training and apprenticeships. The organization also administers the Lillie Marie Johnson Nursing Scholarship. All programs are funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants at no cost to participants.

Product overview

Youth Enhancement Services, Inc. (YES) is a non-profit organization offering a unified suite of youth empowerment programs for disconnected and underserved youth ages 16-24 in Metro Atlanta. The core programs include the Just One Youth (J.O.Y.) Initiative as the premier umbrella initiative, the Post-Secondary Options (PSO) program for GED/high school graduates pursuing higher education, YES Empowerment for character development and cultural enrichment, Workforce Readiness for job training and career preparation, and Generation Yes showcasing student successes. The organization also administers the Lillie Marie Johnson Nursing Scholarship and operates a 12-month JOY Mentorship Program. These programs collectively aim to break generational poverty through education, workforce readiness, mentorship, and living-wage career pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Just One Youth (J.O.Y.) Initiative Premier umbrella initiative providing mentorship, resources, and career pathways to disconnected youth ages 16-24 in Metro Atlanta through a 12-month structured mentorship program and strategic community partnerships.
• Post-Secondary Options (PSO) Program supporting GED and high school graduates in enrolling at post-secondary institutions, offering college tours, financial aid applications, registration support, course selections, and individualized GPS plans.
• YES Empowerment Social and cultural enrichment program required for all YES participants, featuring character development, life skills, health initiatives (YES I FEEL SO GOOD!), community impact projects, and cultural enrichment activities.
• Workforce Readiness Program equipping participants with skills and tools necessary to become productive and informed members of the workforce, including apprenticeship and internship placement facilitation.
• Generation Yes Youth-focused track showcasing student success stories and testimonials of GED graduates who have gone on to achieve post-secondary education and career success.
• Lillie Marie Johnson Nursing Scholarship Annual $1,500 nursing scholarship supporting students in California, Georgia, and Mississippi pursuing Licensed Vocational Nursing or Registered Nursing careers, established to honor Lillie Marie Johnson's dedication to healthcare and community service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 young lives positively impacted since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atlanta Area Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Atlanta colleges and universities for Post-Secondary Options (PSO) program, offering college tours, financial aid applications, registration support, course selections, and individualized GPS plans.
• Atlanta Metropolitan State CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for PSO program. Student success story shows Miriam earning A.S. in Social Work from Atlanta Metropolitan State College before completing bachelor's and master's at Georgia State University.
• Georgia State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey PSO partner institution. Student success stories show Victoria, Miriam, and Jamie completing degrees at GSU. Sitara Abdullah-Kirby completed bachelor's and master's degrees at GSU.
• Georgia Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey PSO partner institution. Student success stories show David earning B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. Student Kikachukwu completed biochemistry research project at Georgia Tech.
• Albany Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner for workforce training. Student success story shows Jonathan pursuing culinary arts and horticulture degrees.
• Atlanta Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner for workforce training. Student success story shows Ralph completing Electrical and Construction Maintenance program.
• Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner. Student success story shows Ashley completing Business Management diploma and associate's degree.
• Fulton County Juvenile CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner where former YES participant and current Interim Executive Director Sitara Abdullah-Kirby previously worked professionally, serving justice-impacted youth and families.
• Georgia Public Defender CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner where Sitara Abdullah-Kirby worked professionally with justice-impacted youth and adults. Miriam, a former YES participant, also worked as lead social worker for this organization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban League of Greater Atlanta: An existing YES partner that delivers workforce development and economic opportunity programming for underserved youth and adults in Metro Atlanta — directly comparable mission and overlapping beneficiary base.
• SER-Jobs for Progress: National nonprofit network providing workforce development, adult education, and youth programs for underserved populations — comparable integrated education and workforce readiness mission.
• Year Up United: National nonprofit providing workforce training, post-secondary support, and career pathways for opportunity youth ages 18-24. Closest direct peer to YES in mission, target population, and integrated education-to-employment model.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech workforce training for opportunity youth and adults — directly comparable alternative-education-to-living-wage-career model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta: Major youth development organization operating in the same Metro Atlanta geography, serving similar age cohorts with mentorship, education support, and workforce readiness programming.
• NPower: Nonprofit delivering technology workforce training and career pathways for young adults from underserved communities — closely aligned mission and beneficiary profile.

Others

• Fulton County Workforce Development (WorkSource Fulton): Existing YES government partner delivering WIOA-funded workforce services in Metro Atlanta — comparable constituency and complementary (not competing) public funding channel.

Regional players

• Atlanta Technical College Adult Education: Local technical college providing adult education, GED preparation, and workforce training in Metro Atlanta — an existing YES pathway partner and partially overlapping service provider.
• Goodwill of North Georgia: Atlanta-based Goodwill affiliate offering workforce development, GED preparation, and job placement services to similar populations in the same Metro Atlanta geography.

Broad incumbents

• JFF (Jobs for the Future): Large national nonprofit focused on workforce development, post-secondary pathways, and economic mobility — operates at policy and program level across the same opportunity-youth space YES addresses locally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100069098884411
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-enhancement-services-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Youth Enhancement Services, Inc.