a chance in life
A Chance In Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1945 that delivers education, nutrition, healthcare, and leadership development programs to at-risk youth across 14 countries through 39 local partner organizations, plus a direct-service US community center, The Village, on Staten Island.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What a chance in life does
A Chance In Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Monsignor John Patrick Carroll-Abbing in Civitavecchia, Italy, originally as Boys' Towns of Italy, Inc. The organization delivers education, nutrition, healthcare, and leadership development programs to at-risk children and youth through a Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework integrated with the founder's original Self-Government model. It operates a hybrid delivery model: a grant-based international partner network of 39 local organizations across 14 countries (US, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, Italy, Palestine), plus a direct-service US flagship, The Village, opened in 2022 on Staten Island's North Shore. The Village runs the Youth Leadership Workshop, Village Success Academy, English For Life ESL program, ArtPreneur Institute, Village Free Market food pantry, and Access Support Network.
Revenue is generated entirely from fundraising rather than product sales, with six identified streams: individual donations (including Sustainer's Circle monthly giving and Catalysts of Change tiers from $1,000 to $50,000), corporate sponsorships (Fiserv, MainlineRPT, Caritas Pro Vitae Gradu Charitable Trust), annual galas (81st Annual NY Gala in October 2026 raised over $682,000 in 2025; San Francisco Gala raised over $410,000 in 2026), institutional grants (Victoria's Secret Foundation, Con Edison $15M community program, NYC FIFA World Cup Community Fund), planned giving, and stock donations. The organization is led by President and CEO Gabriele Delmonaco (since February 2015), with a Board of Directors chaired by Robert Iommazzo. Total beneficiaries reached: over 100,000 youth since 1945, with 8,844 direct beneficiaries served in 2025. The organization holds Charity Navigator 4-star rating, Platinum GuideStar/Candid transparency seal, and UN ECOSOC consultative status.
a chance in life firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- a chance in life
- Legal name
- A Chance In Life
- Website
- https://achanceinlife.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- A Chance In Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1945 that delivers education, nutrition, healthcare, and leadership development programs to at-risk youth across 14 countries through 39 local partner organizations, plus a direct-service US community center, The Village, on Staten Island.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
a chance in life industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
Keywords
Where a chance in life is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
a chance in life business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individual donors through online platforms, checks, and recurring monthly/quarterly gifts via the Sustainer's Circle program.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations providing programmatic grants, in-kind support, general operating support, and event sponsorships. Current sponsors include Fiserv, MainlineRPT, Caritas Pro Vitae Gradu Charitable Trust, and others.
- Annual Gala Events: Major fundraising events including the annual New York Gala (81st annual in 2026) and San Francisco Ball, raising significant funds through ticket sales, table purchases, and donations. 2025 NY Gala raised over $682,000.
- Institutional Grants: Grants from foundations and organizations such as the Victoria's Secret & Co. Foundation ($10,000 for Youth Leadership Workshop), Con Edison ($15 million grant program), and NYC FIFA World Cup Community Fund.
- Planned Giving: Legacy giving options including IRA designations, donor-advised funds, and bequests through wills.
- Stock Donations: Acceptance of appreciated stock donations which provide tax advantages by avoiding capital gains taxes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Young Ambassador Board - Tier 1 |
| Subscription | Annual | Young Ambassador Board - Tier 2 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sustainer's Circle |
| Subscription | Annual | Catalysts of Change - Builders of Competence |
| Subscription | Annual | Catalysts of Change - Amplifiers of Confidence |
| Subscription | Annual | Catalysts of Change - Cultivators of Connection |
| Subscription | Annual | Catalysts of Change - Motivators of Character |
| Subscription | Annual | Catalysts of Change - Architects of Compassion |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Ambassadors Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
a chance in life product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Chance In Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, leadership development, nutrition, healthcare, and community support services to at-risk children and youth globally. Its core direct-service offering is The Village, a drop-in youth center on Staten Island's North Shore, complemented by international programs delivered through grants to 39 partner organizations across 14 countries. All services are organized around the proprietary Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework integrated with the original Self-Government model.
Product overview
A Chance In Life is a nonprofit organization (not a technology company) that operates a unified portfolio of youth development programs. The core offering is Positive Youth Development (PYD), an approach that empowers children and young people through five core principles: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring/Compassion. The organization's primary US-based program is The Village in Staten Island, which serves as a hub for youth empowerment, community support, and collaborative work. Key programs include the Youth Leadership Workshop, Village Success Academy (workforce development), English For Life (ESL), The ArtPreneur Institute (creative entrepreneurship), The Village Free Market (food security), Access Support Network, Voices For Youth Development forums, and the Wings to Neverland podcast. The organization also partners with local organizations in 14 countries worldwide to support at-risk children and youth through education, nutrition, healthcare, and leadership training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Village: A Chance In Life's first US-based drop-in youth center in Staten Island, NYC, offering youth development programs, community resources, and Positive Youth Development forums.
Products and services
- The Village
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 youth impacted since 1945; 8,844 direct beneficiaries in 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use a chance in life
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
a chance in life technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
a chance in life partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Equity for ChildrencoreJoint production of 'In First Person' documentary series foregrounding dignity, resilience, and aspirations of immigrant families in New York City. Partnership combines research and policy lens with direct community service experience.
- CSI/CUNY (College of Staten Island)minorCollaboration for English For Life ESL program - seasonal 10-week course offered three times weekly for immigrant youth and adults at The Village.
- NYC Service / Youth Action 50 (YA50)minorCitywide initiative empowering young people to identify challenges and develop solutions through service, leadership, and civic action. A Chance In Life participated through Homebound Pantry Delivery initiative.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
a chance in life competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults aged 18-24 from low-income backgrounds. Comparable to A Chance In Life's Village Success Academy (ages 16-24) in workforce-readiness focus.
- Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing college access and career advising to first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Overlaps with A Chance In Life's college/career-readiness youth programming.
Broad incumbents
- Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization focused on policies affecting at-risk children and youth. Comparable in advocacy and direct-service blend supporting marginalized youth.
- Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella for Catholic social service agencies providing youth, family, and community programs. Comparable faith-based origin and broad at-risk-youth service delivery.
Direct peers
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National federation providing youth development programming for at-risk youth across 4,000+ club locations. Most directly comparable as a multi-site, donor-funded nonprofit serving marginalized youth with education and leadership programs.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Mentoring-focused nonprofit pairing at-risk youth with adult mentors, with a national affiliate network. Highly comparable to A Chance In Life's PYD framework and positive youth development orientation.
- Covenant House: Faith-based nonprofit serving youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking across 33 cities in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Directly comparable in mission, faith-based origin, and multi-country at-risk youth services.
- Harlem Children's Zone: NYC-based nonprofit operating a comprehensive pipeline of education, social services, and youth development programs in a defined high-poverty geography — closely mirrors A Chance In Life's The Village model on Staten Island.
- Children's Aid Society: NYC-based nonprofit providing integrated services including youth development, education, and family support across multiple sites. Comparable in operating model and target geography.
- International Youth Foundation: Global nonprofit working in 100+ countries to improve education and workforce pathways for young people. Highly comparable international youth development peer with similar multi-country partner model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
a chance in life social profiles
Digital presencea chance in life financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
a chance in life leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
a chance in life funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
a chance in life 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 a chance in life
What does a chance in life do?
A Chance In Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers education, leadership development, nutrition, healthcare, and community support services to at-risk children and youth globally. Its core direct-service offering is The Village, a drop-in youth center on Staten Island's North Shore, complemented by international programs delivered through grants to 39 partner organizations across 14 countries. All services are organized around the proprietary Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework integrated with the original Self-Government model.
Is a chance in life a public or private company?
a chance in life is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was a chance in life founded?
a chance in life was founded in 1945.
Where is a chance in life based?
a chance in life is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does a chance in life make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, annual Gala Events, institutional Grants, planned Giving and stock Donations.
Who are a chance in life's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Year Up and Bottom Line. Broad incumbents are Children's Defense Fund and Catholic Charities USA. Direct peers are Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Covenant House, Harlem Children's Zone, Children's Aid Society and International Youth Foundation.
Does a chance in life have an API?
No public API is recorded for a chance in life.
What industry is a chance in life in?
a chance in life's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAD, Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.