What Positive Impact International does

Positive Impact International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Grayson, Georgia, that provides emergency youth shelter, Safe Place coordination, and wraparound services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-21 in Gwinnett County and the surrounding north metro Atlanta area. Founded in 2013 by Linda and Tami Wilder, the organization operates as the only licensed Safe Place Emergency Youth Shelter and designated Safe Place Lead Agency for Gwinnett County, coordinating a network of 87+ Safe Place access points including QuikTrip stores, YMCAs, fire stations, libraries, and Gwinnett County Public Schools. Its service continuum spans a 24/7 crisis line, family-style emergency shelter homes staffed by live-in house parents, a Wraparound Care program delivering case management, therapy, life skills training, education support, and workforce development, and a Launch Pad apartment-based transitional housing program for young adults 18-22, with a Tiny Home Village in planning.

The organization's care model is grounded in trauma-informed methodologies, specifically Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), NTDC, and Youth Mental Health First Aid, and is delivered in family-style homes situated in regular neighborhoods rather than institutional group settings. Operationally, Positive Impact International serves roughly 200 youth per year across shelters, Safe Place sites, crisis response, and transitional housing, and accepts referrals from DFCS, HOPE Worldwide, Sugarloaf Urgent Care, and law enforcement partners. The technology footprint is intentionally minimal: no mobile app, no disclosed API, no AI tooling, and no proprietary software platform; outcome measurement is described as data-driven goal tracking on housing stability, education completion, job retention, and savings.

The business model is donations-based and non-commercial. Services are provided free of charge to youth in need, and the organization is funded entirely through individual donations (one-time and monthly), corporate and faith partnerships that sponsor Safe Place Homes or Launch Pad Apartments, in-kind donations of meals and supplies, and volunteer labor. No products or services are sold, there is no disclosed pricing model, and there is no evidence of venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment ownership; governance rests with the co-founders and the organization's board under 501(c)(3) public accountability standards.

Name

Positive Impact International

Legal name

Positive Impact International

Website

https://thepositiveimpact.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Positive Impact International is a Gwinnett County, Georgia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the only licensed Safe Place Emergency Youth Shelter serving north metro Atlanta, delivering 24/7 crisis housing, wraparound case management, and transitional living services to homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-21.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Emergency Shelter Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ)

Keywords

• Youth emergency shelter
• Homeless youth services
• Trauma-informed care
• Transitional housing
• Safe Place coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Suwanee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly financial gifts from individuals to sustain operations, provide meals, therapy, education, and help youth transition into safe housing.
2. Corporate & Faith Partnerships: Sponsorships from churches, businesses, and civic groups through service projects or donation drives. Includes adoption of Safe Place Homes or Launch Pad Apartments covering rent, utilities, or furnishings.
3. In-Kind Donations: Essential items including meals, bedding, toiletries, gift cards, cleaning supplies, art supplies, laptops, journals, and school supplies donated by community members and partners.
4. Volunteer Services: Community volunteers serve meals, host drives, wrap gifts, or teach life skills, providing program support without direct financial contribution.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Positive Impact International operates the only licensed Safe Place Emergency Youth Shelter in Gwinnett County, providing 24/7 emergency intake and safe housing in family-style homes for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-21. The organization delivers wraparound care including trauma-informed therapy, case management, education support (HS/GED, IEP coordination), life skills training, and workforce development. The Launch Pad program provides apartment-based transitional rent assistance and coaching for young adults ages 18-22 transitioning to independent living.

Product overview

Positive Impact International operates a multi-phase service ecosystem for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-21. The core offering consists of Emergency Youth Shelter (Safe Place) providing 24/7 crisis intervention and family-style housing, supplemented by Wraparound Care delivering case management, therapy, and life skills training. The Launch Pad (Phase 2) program offers transitional apartment-based housing for young adults 18-22 with rent assistance and coaching. The organization also coordinates a network of 60+ Safe Place partner sites across Gwinnett County for youth access. A planned Tiny Home Village expansion aims to create additional independent living communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Youth Shelter (Safe Place) 24/7 emergency intake and safe housing in family-style homes for youth ages 12-21, providing meals, clothing, transportation, and safety planning for youth in crisis.
• Wraparound Care Services Comprehensive case management, therapy, life skills training (cooking, hygiene, budgeting, driver's ed), education support (HS/GED, IEP coordination), workforce pathways, and aftercare services for youth in the program.
• Launch Pad Transitional Housing (Phase 2) Apartment-based transitional rent assistance program for young adults ages 18-22 with step-down support, accountability, and coaching to help youth transition to independent living.
• Safe Place Sites Network 60+ partner locations across Gwinnett County (QuikTrip stores, YMCAs, fire stations, libraries, and schools) where youth can access immediate help by going inside and saying 'I need a Safe Place.'

Quantifiable outcome

• ~200 youth served each year across shelters, Safe Place sites, crisis response, and transitional housing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Safe Place (National Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Place is a national youth safety network. Positive Impact International is the Lead Agency for Safe Place in Gwinnett County, operating as the only licensed Emergency Youth Shelter in the county and surrounding north metro area. The partnership provides 24/7 access to safe housing and crisis intervention through the national Safe Place network.
• QuikTripcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerQuikTrip stores serve as Safe Place host locations where youth can go inside and say 'I need a Safe Place' to access immediate help. QuikTrip is highlighted as a key community partner providing safe housing, essential resources, and life-changing opportunities for at-risk youth.
• Gwinnett County Public SchoolscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools serve as Safe Place sites where youth can access services. Gwinnett County Public Schools collaborates with Positive Impact to provide educational support, IEP coordination, and connections to shelter and support services for students in crisis.
• YMCAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYMCA locations serve as Safe Place sites in Gwinnett County where youth can access emergency services. The partnership provides additional wraparound support opportunities and community connections for youth in the program.
• DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFCS is a key community collaborator that connects youth and families to Positive Impact's services. The partnership provides referral pathways for youth in state care or family crisis situations needing emergency shelter and support.
• HOPE WorldwidesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOPE Worldwide is a community partner providing additional support and resources to youth in the Positive Impact programs through collaborative community outreach and service provision.
• Sugarloaf Urgent CaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing urgent care services and health support for youth in the Positive Impact programs, addressing physical health needs as part of the holistic wraparound care approach.
• Local BusinessessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses in Gwinnett County serve as Safe Place host locations and community partners, providing volunteer opportunities, donations, and support for at-risk youth in the community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Covenant House: Covenant House is the largest privately-funded nonprofit in the Americas serving homeless and trafficked youth, providing shelter, wraparound care, and housing programs across multiple U.S. cities. It is the most direct large-scale analog to Positive Impact's emergency shelter and transitional living model, operating in cities where Safe Place and similar shelter networks coexist.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Atlanta chapter): Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides youth development, education support, and crisis intervention programming nationally and locally in metro Atlanta. While not a direct shelter competitor, it represents a major incumbent in the same donor and volunteer ecosystem, offering overlapping youth services like mentoring, life skills, and education support.

Direct peers

• StandUp for Kids: StandUp for Kids is a national nonprofit providing shelter, mentoring, and life skills support for homeless and at-risk youth across multiple U.S. cities. Its volunteer-driven shelter and transition-to-independence model closely mirrors Positive Impact's Emergency Shelter and Launch Pad apartment programs.
• YouthCare: YouthCare in Seattle operates emergency shelter, housing, and education programs for homeless youth ages 12-24, including transitional living and rapid rehousing. Its service population, age range, and program continuum closely track Positive Impact's shelter, wraparound, and Launch Pad offerings.
• Bridge for Youth: Bridge for Youth in Minneapolis provides emergency shelter, counseling, and housing programs for adolescents experiencing homelessness, family conflict, and abuse. Its trauma-informed approach and target demographic of 12-21 mirror Positive Impact's primary beneficiary population.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and a full wraparound service continuum for homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24. Its multi-phase housing model (shelter → transitional → independent living) and target age range directly parallel Positive Impact's service architecture.
• HOPE worldwide: HOPE worldwide is a faith-based international nonprofit delivering community services including youth programs, volunteer mobilization, and family support — directly comparable to Positive Impact's community-led, faith-partnership-driven youth services model. HOPE worldwide is also a current partner of Positive Impact, sharing the faith-based service ethos.

Others

• National Safe Place Network: National Safe Place is the umbrella organization providing the Safe Place designation, training, and infrastructure that Positive Impact operates within. While a partner rather than a competitor, it is the closest comparable entity in terms of youth shelter coordination and is responsible for distributing the designation that anchors Positive Impact's franchise.

Regional players

• Children's Home Society of California (and similar CHS affiliates): Children's Home Society affiliates across the U.S. provide emergency shelter, foster care, and wraparound youth support services. While operating in different geographies, these sister organizations share a comparable youth-services mission, donation-based funding model, and service continuum that includes shelter and transitional housing.
• Mary Hall Youth Development Center: Mary Hall Youth Development Center is a Georgia-based nonprofit providing emergency housing, supportive housing, and programs for at-risk youth and young adults in metro Atlanta. It is the most direct local peer, competing for similar donors, referral pipelines, and youth populations in overlapping metro Atlanta geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/positiveimpact

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 Positive Impact International