Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (FAST) is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2021 that promotes careers in the physical security industry through jobseeker resources, college outreach, employer engagement, and donation-funded workforce development programs, supported by industry-leading corporate donors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) does
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (FAST) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation founded in 2021 and based in Dallas, Texas (mailing address only; appears to operate virtually). The organization is powered by the security industry's top associations and operates a hybrid program model comprising four interconnected service areas: (1) jobseeker career resources providing information on roles, salaries, and pathways in access control, leadership, safety systems, cybersecurity, and project management; (2) a college outreach program reaching students to promote physical security careers; (3) employer engagement services connecting trained talent with security industry hiring needs; and (4) a donation program that funds the foundation's workforce development initiatives.
FAST's business model is donation-based, with revenue derived entirely from individual and corporate philanthropy. The foundation has cultivated a broad donor base of approximately 20+ named corporate partners spanning tiers from $0-$499 up to $5000+, with HID Global (and parent ASSA ABLOY Group) and Kastle Systems as flagship-tier contributors. Additional notable donors include AMAG Technology, PSA Security Network, ZKTeco USA, Securitas Electronic Security, Salto, Magos America, Digital Monitoring Products, SAGE Integration, and others. Distribution occurs through the advancingsecurity.org website, the jobseekers portal, and recurring industry event presence (notably the FAST Networking Breakfast at ISC West, co-hosted with Wesco and SwiftConnect).
The organization operates with a small team of 1-10 employees, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no traditional technology platform. FAST's strategic positioning is as a centralized, association-backed talent development initiative for the physical security industry, addressing what the organization describes as a significant workforce gap through workforce development, career pathway creation, and industry recognition programs. Impact metrics are tracked (students reached through college outreach, certification applications, employers engaged), though specific figures are not disclosed in the source material.
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)
- Legal name
- Foundation for Advancing Security Talent
- Website
- https://advancingsecurity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (FAST) is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2021 that promotes careers in the physical security industry through jobseeker resources, college outreach, employer engagement, and donation-funded workforce development programs, supported by industry-leading corporate donors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL)
Keywords
Where Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute at various giving levels ($0-$499, $500-$999, $1000-$1499, $1500-$1999, $2000-$2499, $2500-$2999, $3000-$3499, $3500-$3999, $4000-$4499, $4500-$4999, $5000+) to support the mission of training new security professionals and connecting them to careers.
- Corporate Donations: Companies in the security industry make corporate donations at various tiers. Notable donors include HID Global, Kastle Systems, AMAG Technology, PSA Security Network, ZKTeco USA LLC, Securitas Electronic Security, and others. Some donations are made in honor or memory of individuals.
- Event-Based Contributions: Special fundraising events such as the FAST Networking Breakfast at ISC West generate contributions, with co-hosting by Wesco and SwiftConnect.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FAST is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that promotes careers in the physical security industry by providing job seekers with career exploration resources, salary information, and role pathways; running college outreach programs to recruit new entrants; and connecting employers with trained talent. The foundation funds its workforce development mission through individual and corporate donations, including event-based fundraising.
Product overview
FAST is a non-profit foundation powered by the security industry's top associations to help talent thrive in the physical security industry. The organization operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected services: job seeker career resources that explore roles, salaries, and pathways; college outreach programs to reach students; employer engagement to connect talent with opportunities; and a donation program that funds workforce development initiatives. Rather than a traditional product portfolio, FAST's 'offerings' are its career development programs and outreach services that collectively work toward building a stronger, more diverse workforce for the physical security industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Job Seeker Career Resources Provides career exploration resources for individuals interested in the physical security industry, including information about roles, salaries, and pathways in access control, leadership, safety systems, cybersecurity, and project management. Targeted at ambitious, forward-thinking young professionals and career changers.
- College Outreach Program Direct engagement with colleges and educational institutions to reach students, promote careers in the physical security industry, and train new professionals for the workforce. Targeted at college students and educational institutions.
- Employer Engagement Services Connects security industry employers with job seekers and supports certification applications to help build a stronger, more diverse workforce. Targeted at companies in the physical security industry seeking to fill workforce gaps and connect with trained talent.
- Donation Program Facilitates individual and corporate donations to support the foundation's mission of training new security professionals and connecting them to meaningful careers in access control. Includes tiered giving levels and event-based fundraising such as the FAST Networking Breakfast at ISC West.
Companies that use Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- WescocoreWesco co-hosted the FAST Networking Breakfast at ISC West, demonstrating a marketing and event partnership to raise awareness and funds for the organization.
- SwiftConnectcoreSwiftConnect co-hosted the FAST Networking Breakfast at ISC West, partnering with FAST for industry event presence and fundraising.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Year Up United: Large nonprofit providing workforce training, mentorship, and employer placement for young adults seeking careers in technology and professional sectors. A scaled peer in donor-supported talent development connecting underrepresented populations to industry employers.
- SkillsUSA: Nonprofit workforce development organization serving middle-school, high-school, and college students pursuing careers in trades, technology, and industry. Operates a comparable model of donor-supported career pathway programming for industrial and technical occupations.
- Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit that provides employment readiness training and direct job placement support for veterans and military spouses. A peer in donor-funded talent intermediation that connects a defined candidate pool with industry employers.
- CompTIA Creating IT Futures Foundation: Nonprofit arm of CompTIA that runs donor-funded IT workforce development and certification pathways for underserved populations. Closely mirrors FAST's model of using industry association backing to expand the technical workforce pipeline.
- (ISC)² Center for Cyber Safety and Education: Nonprofit foundation associated with the (ISC)² cybersecurity certification body that drives workforce development, scholarships, and diversity initiatives for the cybersecurity profession. Directly mirrors FAST's mission of building a talent pipeline for a security specialty through philanthropic funding.
Broad incumbents
- Electronic Security Association (ESA): National trade association for the electronic security and life-safety industry, providing training, certification, and workforce development programs. Like FAST, ESA invests in industry workforce pipelines and represents an adjacent incumbent in physical security talent.
- Junior Achievement USA: National youth workforce readiness nonprofit delivering career exploration, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship programs funded by corporate donors. Operates a much larger but structurally similar model of donor-funded career pathways for young professionals.
- Security Industry Association (SIA): The primary trade association for the physical security industry, with which FAST is closely aligned; SIA runs education, training, and government relations programs that overlap with FAST's workforce agenda, serving as both an ecosystem partner and a broader incumbent in industry talent-building.
Emerging players
- National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA): Nonprofit driving cybersecurity awareness, education, and workforce pipelines, with active programs to grow and diversify the cyber talent pool. Comparable in mission structure to FAST but focused on the cybersecurity segment of the broader security industry.
- ISACA Foundation: Philanthropic arm of ISACA that funds scholarships, workforce research, and credential-access programs for the information security and governance profession. Operates alongside a trade association in a manner analogous to FAST's relationship with security industry associations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) social profiles
Digital presenceFoundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)
What does Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) do?
FAST is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that promotes careers in the physical security industry by providing job seekers with career exploration resources, salary information, and role pathways; running college outreach programs to recruit new entrants; and connecting employers with trained talent. The foundation funds its workforce development mission through individual and corporate donations, including event-based fundraising.
Is Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) a public or private company?
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) founded?
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) based?
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Donations and event-Based Contributions.
Who are Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Year Up United, SkillsUSA, Hire Heroes USA, CompTIA Creating IT Futures Foundation and (ISC)² Center for Cyber Safety and Education. Broad incumbents are Electronic Security Association (ESA), Junior Achievement USA and Security Industry Association (SIA). Emerging players are National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) and ISACA Foundation.
Does Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast).
What industry is Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast) in?
Foundation For Advancing Security Talent (fast)'s product category is Nonprofit Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAF, Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAO, Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders. Its NAICS code is 813211.