Youth Development Resource Center - Detroit

What Youth Development Resource Center - Detroit does

Youth Development Resource Center (YDRC) is a Detroit-based nonprofit intermediary founded in 2013 that operates as a convener, capacity builder, data steward, and policy champion for the youth development ecosystem in Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan. The organization supports a network of 222 youth-serving nonprofit organizations across 16 Michigan counties, providing them with professional development, coaching, continuous quality improvement (CQI) support, and convening opportunities. Its core programs include the Equity Accelerator for Youth Development (EAYD), a ten-month BIPOC leadership experience; Acting with Data (AWD), a signature CQI learning community; Training and Technical Assistance workshops; periodic Convenings such as the Spring Summit and Fall Kick Off; and Discover Your Spark, a parent-facing program finder operating across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

YDRC's proprietary tooling centers on the Holistic Student Assessment (HSA), a student survey that measures youth outcomes across developmental domains including critical thinking, action orientation, learning interest, trust, school bonding, and emotional regulation; the LEARN Coaching Model, a five-step framework used by Improvement Coaches; and the Quality Practices Guidebook, which codifies program-level standards and practices. These are delivered through external quality assessments, coaching engagements, and improvement plans rather than through a software product, with YDRC reporting 44 assessments, 51 coaching hours, and 16 improvement plans delivered through AWD. The underlying technology is best characterized as a CQI methodology and content IP rather than a platform.

The revenue model is predominantly grant-funded by major Detroit-area foundations — The Skillman Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Ballmer Group, McGregor Fund, Jacob Family Foundation, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan — supplemented by individual donations, nominal workshop fees (e.g., $30 for the Youth Development Communications Lab), regranting arrangements, and a fiscal sponsorship relationship with Allied Media Projects, Inc. established in 2023. Operations are run by a five-person core team (Executive Director, Deputy Director, Senior Manager, Manager, and Program Associates) supplemented by external consultants, assessors, coaches, trainers, and a Steering Committee.

Name

Youth Development Resource Center - Detroit

Legal name

Youth Development Resource Center

Website

https://detroitydrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Detroit-based nonprofit intermediary founded in 2013 that convenes, trains, and supports 222 youth-serving organizations across 16 Michigan counties through programs such as Acting with Data and the Equity Accelerator for Youth Development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Professional development training
• Quality improvement programs
• Community convenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding and Grants: Primary revenue from foundations and funders including The Skillman Foundation, Ralph C Wilson Jr Foundation, Jacob Family Foundation, McGregor Fund, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and Ballmer Group
2. Donations: Financial donations from individuals to support programs, training, and resources for youth-serving organizations
3. Workshop Fees: Some workshops such as the Youth Development Communications Lab charge a $30 registration fee, though many offerings are free or low-cost
4. Fiscal Sponsorship: In 2023, YDRC began a fiscal sponsorship relationship with Allied Media Projects, Inc.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youth Development Resource Center (YDRC) is a Detroit-based nonprofit intermediary that builds the capacity of youth-serving organizations through professional development workshops, learning communities, coaching, data and quality improvement tools (including the Holistic Student Assessment), equity-focused leadership programs, and ecosystem convenings. It also runs the Discover Your Spark program finder that connects parents and caregivers to local afterschool and summer programs across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

Product overview

Youth Development Resource Center (YDRC) operates as a nonprofit intermediary organization that powers the ecosystem supporting young people across Metro Detroit. Rather than a single product, YDRC offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: the Equity Accelerator for Youth Development (EAYD) provides BIPOC leadership development; Acting with Data (AWD) delivers continuous quality improvement through assessments and coaching; Training and Technical Assistance offers professional development workshops; Convenings facilitate network collaboration; and Discover Your Spark helps families find local programs. These offerings are supported by resources including the Quality Practices Guidebook and a Network Directory of partner organizations. The Holistic Student Assessment tool measures youth outcomes across participating programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equity Accelerator for Youth Development (EAYD): A multi-month leadership experience for BIPOC professionals in youth-serving nonprofits, offering learning labs, mentorship, and capstone projects.
• Acting with Data (AWD)
• Discover Your Spark

Products and services

• Equity Accelerator for Youth Development (EAYD) A ten-month leadership experience designed for BIPOC professionals in youth-serving nonprofits, featuring interactive learning labs, mentorship, and a cohort-driven capstone project to build community and strengthen leadership identity.
• Acting with Data (AWD) YDRC's signature learning community designed to help youth development teams reach the highest level of quality and impact through continuous quality improvement, assessments, and coaching using the LEARN Coaching Model and Holistic Student Assessment.
• Training and Technical Assistance Professional development workshops and training programs that build staff capacity for youth development organizations, covering topics including safe and inclusive environments, social and emotional learning, and youth engagement strategies.
• Convenings Gatherings that bring together youth development leaders across Metro Detroit to connect, learn, and align around shared goals, including Spring Summit, Fall Kick Off, and Winter Celebrations.
• Discover Your Spark A program finder initiative launched by YDRC to help parents and caregivers connect to local afterschool and summer programs across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties through DiscoverYourSpark.org.
• Holistic Student Assessment (HSA) A student survey that drives quality improvement by measuring youth outcomes across developmental skills including critical thinking, action orientation, learning interest, trust, school bonding, and emotional regulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% positive change in Critical Thinking, 82% in Action Orientation, 81% in Learning Interest among participating youth
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Youth-serving organizations in Southeast MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 222 organizations participating in YDRC offerings, learning communities, and quality improvement programs across 16 Michigan counties

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• buildOn Detroit: Detroit-based youth development organization featured in YDRC's resource library, operating youth programs in the same Metro Detroit ecosystem. Comparable as a network partner and downstream recipient of YDRC's convening and capacity-building services.
• Michigan After-School Partnership: State-level intermediary advancing afterschool and OST programs across Michigan. Comparable to YDRC's state-wide geographic reach and convening role across 16 Michigan counties, with overlapping training and policy mandates.
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: Regional funder and convener in the same Southeast Michigan footprint as YDRC, with overlapping focus on youth, equity, and nonprofit capacity building. Comparable as a regional ecosystem player and potential coordination partner.

Direct peers

• Youth Development Institute (formerly known in NYC): Regional intermediary that supports youth development organizations through training, technical assistance, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to YDRC's mission and portfolio of services, though operating in a different metro.
• Forum for Youth Investment (Thrive Philanthropy): National intermediary that builds readiness and quality in youth development ecosystems through shared measures, coaching, and policy advocacy. Closely comparable to YDRC's convening and capacity-building model, and notably the YDRC Executive Director previously worked at its Weikart Center.
• David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality: Develops evidence-based quality assessment and improvement tools (e.g., Youth Program Quality Assessment) for out-of-school time programs. Directly comparable to YDRC's Holistic Student Assessment and LEARN Coaching frameworks.
• National Summer Learning Association (NSLA): National nonprofit focused exclusively on summer learning and out-of-school time program quality. Comparable to YDRC's Discover Your Spark program and quality-improvement approach for OST providers.

Others

• Allied Media Projects: Detroit-based fiscal sponsor that has housed YDRC since 2023. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure partner, sharing the same ecosystem and supporting BIPOC-led initiatives rather than directly competing.

Broad incumbents

• Afterschool Alliance: National policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring access to quality afterschool programs. Comparable to YDRC's policy champion role and ecosystem-convener function, particularly the advocacy work coordinated by YDRC's network engagement program associate.
• National AfterSchool Association (NAA): National membership organization providing professional development, standards, and advocacy for the afterschool field. Comparable to YDRC's training, convening, and policy advocacy functions but at a broader national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Development Resource Center - Detroit