Operation: Achieve Independence

Name

Operation: Achieve Independence

Legal name

Operation: Achieve Independence, Inc.

Website

https://oaicares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Foster Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Living Skills Training (ADLs/IADLs) (EDAKANAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Foster youth services
• Transitional living support
• Youth mentorship programs
• Life skills training
• Education career preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Spring

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. Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, annual gifts, and monthly recurring donations through the Champions for Independence program.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable contributions.
3. Gifts of Stock: Donors can contribute appreciated securities or stock to the organization.
4. Gifts in Honor or Memory: Donations made to honor or memorialize individuals.
5. Real Estate Gifts: Donors can contribute real estate property to the organization.
6. Kroger Community Rewards: Grocery loyalty program where shoppers can designate OAI as their charity of choice and the organization receives a percentage of qualifying purchases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Operation: Achieve Independence provides free mentorship, education and career preparation, life skills training, transitional living support (housing assistance, groceries, necessities), and transportation assistance to youth ages 14 and older who are currently in foster care or who have aged out of care. Services are delivered through volunteer mentors, career prep advisors, and partnerships with local high schools and colleges in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area, with no age limit on resources for aged-out youth.

Product overview

Operation: Achieve Independence (OAI) is a nonprofit social services organization offering a unified program focused on education and career preparation for foster youth. The core program consists of five interconnected services: Mentorship, Education and Career Preparation, Transitional Living Support, Life Skills Training, and Transportation Assistance. These programs work together to help individuals with a foster care history move from survival to thriving, with services available to youth ages 14+ in the foster care system and those who have already aged out.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentorship Program Volunteer mentors serve as trusted guides and friends to young adults ages 14 and older in foster care or who have aged out, helping them learn essential life skills, make informed decisions, complete paperwork, and meet deadlines. OAI coaches its mentors on trauma triggers and best conversation topics tailored to each youth.
• Education and Career Preparation Program helping youth in foster care ages 14 and older plan for the future including college attendance and career pursuits, delivered in partnership with local high schools and colleges to bring advisors directly to students.
• Transitional Living Support Services provided to youth transitioning out of foster care who may need assistance with rent, groceries, and other necessities to achieve successful independence.
• Life Skills Training Classes and training to equip foster youth with essential life skills needed for independent living, including time management and personal responsibility.
• Transportation Assistance Assistance with transportation to help foster youth access education, career preparation, and other essential services.
• Career Prep Advisors Volunteer advisors help young adults make informed decisions about education or career preparation, including assistance with FAFSA forms, textbooks, negotiating past amounts due, and determining strengths and course enrollment.

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Local High Schools and CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAI partners with local high schools and colleges to bring the Education and Career Prep program directly to students in foster care. Career Prep Advisors meet with youth at school locations to help with college decisions, FAFSA forms, course selection, and career preparation. This partnership enables OAI to reach youth where they already are and provide on-site support.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOAI participates in the Kroger Community Rewards program, allowing Kroger shoppers to designate OAI as their charity of choice. A percentage of qualifying purchases is donated to OAI, providing a passive fundraising stream through grocery shopping.
• DonorboxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonorbox provides the online donation platform for OAI's Champions for Independence monthly giving program and event fundraising, enabling recurring and one-time donations through a streamlined digital experience.
• DonateStockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonateStock provides the platform for OAI's gifts of stock program, allowing donors to contribute appreciated securities to the organization.
• Microsoft (Office Forms)coreTechnology or IntegrationOAI uses Microsoft Office Forms for its Volunteer Interest Form, enabling online volunteer recruitment and data collection for mentorship, career prep, digital communications, and event committee opportunities.

Scale indicators1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Year Up is a large-scale workforce development program providing training and career placement for opportunity youth; while broader than OAI and not foster-care-specific, it is comparable around the education-to-career pipeline for vulnerable youth populations.

Direct peers

• Treehouse: Treehouse is a nonprofit focused on educational equity for foster youth in Washington state, providing graduation support, tutoring, and basic needs. Comparable target population and education-and-career-prep emphasis.
• Boys Hope Girls Hope: Boys Hope Girls Hope supports youth in need (including those impacted by foster care) with residential programs, mentoring, and educational support through high school and college - directly comparable to OAI's mentoring-plus-education wraparound model.
• iFoster: iFoster is a national nonprofit providing technology, resources, and direct support to current and former foster youth, including housing, education, and material assistance - a close functional analogue to OAI's wraparound model.
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative: Part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this initiative focuses specifically on transition-age foster youth (ages 14-25) with supports for housing, education, employment, and well-being - directly comparable to OAI's age range and service mix.
• Covenant House: Covenant House provides housing and wraparound services (education, job training, life skills) for youth experiencing homelessness and aging out of foster care. Comparable service model including transitional living support and life-skills training.

Emerging players

• FosterClub: FosterClub is a national network led by foster youth alumni providing peer support, leadership training, and resources for transition-age youth. Comparable target population, with an emphasis on self-advocacy that overlaps OAI's life-skills mentoring.
• National Foster Youth Institute: NFYI is a national nonprofit led by foster youth alumni focused on advocacy, leadership development, and life-skills support for current and former foster youth. Comparable mission around transition-age youth empowerment.

Regional players

• DePelchin Children's Center: DePelchin is a major Houston-area child welfare and family services nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and post-18 transition services; operates in the same Houston geography as OAI with overlapping beneficiary populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oaicares
• Instagraminstagram.com/oai_cares/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oaicares

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Operation: Achieve Independence