IYG

What IYG does

IYG (Indiana Youth Group, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that delivers free programs and advocacy services to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 12–24 across the state of Indiana. The organization operates five drop-in centers — in Indianapolis, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Evansville, and Northwest Indiana (Crown Point) — providing direct services that include individual and group mental health counseling (in person and via telehealth), case management and support advocacy, basic-needs provision (laundry, showers, food pantry, hygiene, clothing, transportation), rapid rehousing assistance, sexual health education and STI/HIV testing, workforce development, educational support, and peer support and discussion groups. Adjacent programs include the Indiana GSA Network, which supports Gender and Sexualities Alliance clubs in middle and high schools statewide, and LGBTQ+ competency training delivered to corporations, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations.

Underlying service infrastructure is described as standard nonprofit technology — case management systems, telehealth platforms for counseling, and donor management through Network for Good — with no proprietary AI/ML components disclosed. Service delivery is free to beneficiaries; revenue is generated entirely from charitable giving streams including individual donations, annual fundraising events (the 26th Annual IYG Auction, Golf Outing, and others), corporate sponsorships, payroll giving with employer matching, planned giving (bequests, annuities, retirement plans), and Facebook crowdfunding.

Under CEO Chris Paulsen (they/she), who led the organization from 2017 through an announced retirement effective December 31, 2026, IYG expanded from a single Indianapolis center to five statewide and scaled its budget from under $1M to more than $5M. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors currently running a national CEO search with Taylor Advising, and remains operationally active across all five centers with no parent company or institutional ownership stake.

Name

IYG

Legal name

Indiana Youth Group, Inc.

Website

https://www.iyg.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

IYG (Indiana Youth Group) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that provides free LGBTQ+ youth services including mental health counseling, drop-in centers, basic-needs support, GSA Network support, and advocacy across five Indiana locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ youth services
• Youth mental health counseling
• Community drop-in centers
• GSA network support
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting LGBTQ+ youth services. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the IYG Auction and Golf Outing that engage the community and generate support.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship opportunities throughout the year provide financial support in exchange for public recognition and association with IYG's mission.
4. Payroll Giving: Employee payroll deduction program with potential employer matching for ongoing donor support.
5. Planned Giving: Charitable bequests, retirement plans, life insurance, and charitable gift annuities as long-term planned giving options.
6. Facebook Crowdfunding: Social media fundraising campaigns through Facebook's nonprofit fundraising tools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IYG operates five drop-in centers across Indiana (Indianapolis, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Evansville, Northwest Indiana) providing free mental health counseling, basic needs assistance (food, clothing, hygiene, showers, laundry, transportation), support advocacy and case management, sexual health education and STI/HIV testing, workforce development, educational support, and peer support groups to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 12–24. It also administers the Indiana GSA Network supporting school-based GSA clubs and delivers LGBTQ+ competency training to corporations, nonprofits, and community organizations. All programs are offered free of charge to youth, funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, special events, payroll giving, planned giving, and online crowdfunding.

Product overview

IYG operates as a single unified service organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of drop-in centers across five Indiana locations (Indianapolis, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Evansville, Northwest Indiana) providing a comprehensive suite of services for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-24. Key services include Mental Health Services (free counseling and support groups), Support Advocacy (case management), Basic Needs Program (food, clothing, hygiene, shelter assistance), Sexual Health Education and STI/HIV Testing, Educational Support, Workforce Development, and Support and Discussion Groups. The Indiana GSA Network provides statewide support to school-based GSA clubs. LGBTQ+ Competency Training is offered to external organizations. The organization also maintains a Resources page connecting youth to external legal, healthcare, safety, and community services. All services are provided free of charge to youth, funded through donations and grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indiana GSA Network: Statewide administrator of Indiana Genders and Sexualities Alliance (formerly Gay-Straight Alliance), providing support to GSA clubs in middle and high schools across Indiana through information, community, skill-building resources, regional and statewide events, and annual site visits.

Products and services

• Mental Health Services Free short-term and long-term individual counseling and clinician-led support groups for LGBTQ+ youth, young adults, and allies, provided in-person at all five centers statewide and via telehealth.
• Support Advocacy Case management and support services including intake assessments, risk evaluation, and connections to mental health counseling, housing, and legal assistance for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
• Basic Needs Program Provides essential resources including laundry facilities, showers, food pantry, rehousing assistance, housewares, hygiene products, clothing, and transportation assistance for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
• Sexual Health Education Sexual health education programs and STI/HIV testing services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
• Support and Discussion Groups Peer support groups, affinity groups, and special interest groups for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults to build community and connection.
• Workforce Development Programs helping LGBTQ+ youth and young adults develop job skills, find employment, and build career pathways.
• Indiana GSA Network Statewide administration of the Indiana Genders and Sexualities Alliance (INGSA), providing support, information, community, skill-building resources, regional and statewide events, and annual site visits to GSA clubs in middle and high schools across Indiana.
• LGBTQ+ Competency Training Cultural competency and professional development training for corporations, businesses, nonprofits, religious organizations, and community groups seeking to create more inclusive spaces, including customized workshops, conferences, and consultation services.
• Drop-In Centers Physical drop-in centers across Indiana in Indianapolis, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Evansville, and Northwest Indiana, providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 12–24) with scheduled programming and activities.
• Resources and Referrals Curated listing of external community resources including legal, healthcare, safety, transgender-specific, and homelessness support resources for LGBTQ+ young people and supportive adults, including a Post-Election Safety Guide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,300 young people received mental health services in 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taylor AdvisingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndianapolis-based consulting firm hired by IYG's Board of Directors to lead the executive transition and national CEO search process following Chris Paulsen's retirement announcement.
• GEKCOminorOthersGender Expansive Kids and Company - local partner organization supporting gender-diverse youth and families.
• PFLAG Fishers ChapterminorOthersLocal chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) providing peer support and education.
• Queering IndyminorOthersLocal Indianapolis LGBTQ+ community organization partner.
• Smoke-Free IndyminorOthersLocal health initiative partner focused on smoke-free environments.
• Adult and ChildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare resource partner providing services regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, or sexual orientation. Serves Marion, Johnson, Bartholomew, Morgan, and surrounding counties.
• Damien CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana's oldest and largest AIDS service organization, founded in 1987, serving more than 4,000 individuals affected and infected by HIV/AIDS through comprehensive care and prevention programs.
• Eskenazi Transgender Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEskenazi Gender Health Program - the first of its kind in Indiana providing primary care for older adolescent and adult transgender patients of all gender identities.
• GenderNexusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization empowering gender-diverse folks and their loved ones with services, support, resources, and community provided free of charge.
• Riley Gender Health ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive gender health program at Riley Children's Hospital offering support to children, teens, and young adults.
• Stopover, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness resource partner focused on providing safe environment for youth and families to work through reconciliation and reunification processes.
• YouthLinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess line for individuals 18-24 experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity to enroll in housing priority placement list.
• Julian CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana's largest organization supporting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other life crises, touching lives of over 6,000 Hoosier survivors each year.
• Indiana Legal Services - LGBT Law ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal resource partner providing assistance with LGBT-related legal matters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and mental health services specifically for LGBTQ+ young people via phone, text, and chat. It is the most directly comparable organization to IYG on the mental health/suicide prevention axis, operating nationally with a free, youth-focused service model.
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation provides scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development to LGBTQ+ students, overlapping with IYG's workforce development, educational support, and young adult (18-24) programming.
• PFLAG: PFLAG is a peer support and education organization for parents, families, and allies of LGBTQ+ people. IYG explicitly lists family/parent support as a secondary service line and partners with the local PFLAG Fishers Chapter, indicating mission and constituent overlap.
• Hetrick-Martin Institute: Hetrick-Martin Institute serves LGBTQ+ youth and young adults (ages 13-24) with comprehensive free services including counseling, education, and basic needs support in New York City. It mirrors IYG's wraparound drop-in center model for the same age cohort and population.
• Kaleidoscope Youth Center: Kaleidoscope Youth Center in Columbus, Ohio operates a drop-in and case management model for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-24, very close to IYG's structure across its five Indiana centers. It is a relevant Midwest regional peer.
• GLSEN: GLSEN (formerly Gay-Straight Alliance Network) supports GSA clubs in K-12 schools nationwide. IYG runs the Indiana equivalent (Indiana GSA Network), making GLSEN the closest national counterpart in mission, structure, and target audience.

Emerging players

• Family Acceptance Project: The Family Acceptance Project at SF State develops research-based family intervention and education resources for LGBTQ+ youth. It overlaps with IYG's parent/family support segment and competency training offerings.
• GenderNexus: GenderNexus is an Indiana-based organization serving gender-diverse individuals and their families with free services, support, and resources. It is a listed IYG partner and serves a substantially overlapping gender-diverse youth population in the same state.

Broad incumbents

• Outright International: Outright International works globally on LGBTQ+ human rights, including youth programming and advocacy. While internationally focused, its mission overlap with IYG's advocacy function (e.g., BMV gender marker ban response) makes it a comparator at the advocacy/policy layer.
• CenterLink / Center on Halsted: CenterLink is the national network of LGBTQ+ community centers; Center on Halsted is its largest Chicago-area member. They serve a broader age range and adult population but operate a comparable drop-in/wraparound services model across a similar geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IYGindy
• Instagraminstagram.com/iyg_indy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 IYG