YOACAP

What YOACAP does

YOACAP (Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that delivers community-based youth development programming to Philadelphia residents ages 13-24. Its service portfolio spans six core programs — Summer Youth Employment (140 high school students annually), Out-of-School Time (115 students), Pre-Apprenticeship (50-60 Opportunity Youth), Schools-to-Work (4 high schools), Skill Building (25 students), and Network Partnerships — plus newer offerings including the Violence Intervention Program, Career Connected Learning (C2L-PHL), Civic Engagement, and a High School Construction Program. The organization operates on a grant-and-donation revenue model, with no fees charged to youth participants; primary funding comes from Philadelphia Works, the City of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the CDC, and foundations including William Penn and Knight Foundation, supplemented by individual and corporate donations.

The organization operates as a program partner of the Urban Affairs Coalition and delivers services through a distribution model that includes direct in-school programming (at Mastery Charter Schools campuses and Parkway West High School), community center sites, and a distinctive network of over 100 local barbershops used for youth engagement and outreach. Its state-approved pre-apprenticeship program provides direct union pathways into building trades careers (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, glaziers, drywall finishers) via partnerships with the Carpenters Union, Finishing Trades Institute, and Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center. There is no proprietary technology platform; program registration is handled through Microsoft Forms and outreach is conducted through social media (YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).

YOACAP is led by Executive Director Duerward Beale (since 2014, with the organization since 1993) and a team of approximately 10-15 staff including site directors at each school location, unit leaders, case managers, and activities leaders, several of whom are former participants or have lived experience relevant to the population served. Founder Linda Burnette continues as President/CEO. The organization has received national recognition including the 1999 Daily Points of Light Award and maintains research partnerships including with the University of Pennsylvania.

Name

YOACAP

Legal name

Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program

Website

https://yoacap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YOACAP is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, founded in 1989, that delivers community-based workforce development, violence prevention, and after-school programming to youth ages 13-24 through school partnerships, community centers, and a 100+ barbershop engagement network, funded primarily by government grants and foundation support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Workforce Training Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth workforce development
• After-school programs
• Pre-apprenticeship training
• Violence intervention services
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Primary funding from government grants (Philadelphia Works, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, CDC) and foundation funding (William Penn Foundation, Knight Foundation)
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Accepts monetary donations via PayPal and in-kind donations to support youth programs
3. Program Fees and Partnerships: Collaboration with partner organizations like JEVS, PHMC, and Urban Affairs Coalition to deliver workforce development programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YOACAP (Youth Outreach Adolescent Community Awareness Program) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that delivers community-based youth development programs for youth and young adults ages 13-24. Core offerings include summer youth employment, after-school enrichment, state-approved building trades pre-apprenticeship training with direct pathways to union apprenticeships, trauma-informed violence intervention for justice-impacted young men, civic engagement, and career-connected learning. Programs are operated free of charge directly within schools, community centers, and through a network of over 100 local barbershops serving as community engagement touchpoints.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Youth Employment A summer employment program engaging 140 high-school students in job-readiness and career-awareness activities, connecting young people with local businesses for work experience.
• Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs Afterschool programs serving 115 middle school and high school students with mentorship, academic support, financial literacy, professional development, life skills, and college/career readiness. Includes site-specific offerings at Parkway West High School, Wagner Middle School, Pickett Middle School, and Center City.
• Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Ages 18-24) A state-approved pre-apprenticeship program preparing 50-60 Opportunity Youth per year for entry into union apprenticeships through technical training, soft skills development, hands-on work experience, and union pathways.
• Schools-to-Work Program Provides building trades pre-apprenticeship training to students at 4 local Philadelphia high schools, including the High School Construction Program for grades 11-12 with hands-on training, certifications, and real-world exposure.
• Skill Building Program Assists 25 students per year who completed high school but require additional experience and skill building prior to enrolling in an apprenticeship program.
• C2L-PHL: Career-Connected Learning A year-round, paid career-connected learning program for ages 14-24 combining real-world work experience, mentorship, and life-skills training to prepare youth for lasting success.
• Violence Intervention Program (VIP) A trauma-informed program supporting justice-impacted young men ages 14-24 through mentorship, life skills, and workforce readiness, with violence reduction focus.
• Civic Engagement Program A long-standing civic engagement initiative empowering youth and communities through voter education, organizing, and participation in democracy, leveraging YOACAP's barbershop network.
• Network Partnerships YOACAP's partnership network engages local businesses, schools, recreation centers, faith-based organizations, foundations, and over 100 local barbershops as community engagement touchpoints for youth and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140 high school students engaged in summer employment annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYOACAP is a program partner of the Urban Affairs Coalition. UAC provides administrative support, funding assistance, and collaborative opportunities across the Philadelphia nonprofit ecosystem.
• Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide summer jobs for youth ages 14-24, connecting young people with local businesses for work experience.
• JEVS Human ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2024 to provide summer and year-round training and internship opportunities for Philadelphia youth.
• Finishing Trades Institute (FTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion partnership for building trades pre-apprenticeship program, providing pathways to apprenticeship completion.
• Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion partner for pre-apprenticeship training and apprenticeship completion programs.
• Carpenters UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for building trades pre-apprenticeship program targeting young men and women interested in carpentry careers.
• Pickett Mastery Charter High SchoolmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst school partnership in 2019 to implement building trades program for students.
• Simon Gratz, Hardy Williams, and Shoemaker Mastery SchoolsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchools-to-Work Grants expanded building trades pre-apprenticeship training to four local high schools.
• Parkway West High SchoolmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for afterschool enrichment program started in 2023 with PHMC funding.
• Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Career Exposure Summer Camp and ongoing afterschool programming funding.
• University of Pennsylvania (Dr. Metzger)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnerships using RARE methodology for violence reduction and HIV prevention initiatives.
• GBCA (General Building Contractors Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner for building trades pre-apprenticeship program.
• Tague LumberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner supporting building trades training program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region: Philadelphia-area youth mentoring nonprofit providing one-to-one mentoring to youth facing adversity. Direct peer to YOACAP's youth mentoring and positive youth development approach, sharing the same target age range and city footprint.
• Hopeworks 'N Camden: Youth workforce development nonprofit in Camden, NJ serving opportunity youth through tech training, paid work experiences, and career pathways. Direct peer to YOACAP's pre-apprenticeship and C2L programs in mission, target population, and economic mobility focus.
• Philadelphia Youth Network: Philadelphia-based intermediary that connects youth ages 14-24 to workforce and summer employment opportunities. Direct peer to YOACAP's Summer Youth Employment and workforce programs, serving the same target population in the same geography.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia: Major Philadelphia youth development nonprofit providing afterschool, workforce readiness, and mentorship to youth ages 6-18. Direct peer to YOACAP's Out-of-School Time programs and competes for the same school partnerships and city funding.

Others

• Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC): Philadelphia nonprofit consortium acting as YOACAP's fiscal/operational parent. Not a program peer but an ecosystem-level enabler providing shared back-office, cross-referrals, and joint fundraising across more than 30 partner programs.
• Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center: Regional union training center partnering with YOACAP on pre-apprenticeship. Not a peer in the youth services category but a core delivery partner whose curriculum standards determine YOACAP's program quality and apprenticeship placement outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Works: Philadelphia's local workforce development board and primary funder of YOACAP's building trades pre-apprenticeship. Functions as both funder and system convener, making it a peer in the broader workforce ecosystem rather than a direct program competitor.
• JEVS Human Services: Larger Philadelphia-based social services nonprofit offering workforce development, education, and disability services. Strategic partner of YOACAP since 2024 and direct competitor for the same city and foundation funding dollars across overlapping youth services.
• Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC): Pennsylvania-based public health institute and nonprofit operator running workforce, afterschool, and health programs. Funded Parkway West partnership with YOACAP and competes for the same Philadelphia philanthropic and government contracts.

Regional players

• Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PAAN): Philadelphia-based violence prevention and intervention nonprofit for youth and families. Functionally adjacent to YOACAP's Violence Intervention Program (VIP) — same city, overlapping mission, similar funder ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yoacaptv1405
• Facebookfacebook.com/YOACAP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youth-outreach-adolescent-community-awareness-program-yoacap-
• Instagraminstagram.com/yoacapphilly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 YOACAP