Everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

At Year Up United, we're on a mission to end the Opportunity Divide and ensure that every young adult has the skills, experiences, and support to break through barriers and achieve their full potential in their careers.

Our Vision

We firmly believe in the potential of all young adults. Opportunity should be a given, and yet, too many barriers keep untapped talent sidelined while companies miss out on what's right in front of them. As the demand for talent continues to rise, we are committed to ending the Opportunity Divide that persists in our society, reshaping the world of work so that it works for everyone, not just a select few. Because everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

"Now is the time to work toward a more equal America--to accelerate the change movement that we began nearly 25 years ago to close the divide and ensure equitable access to economic opportunity for all young adults."

Ellen McClain
CEO & President, Year Up United

Our core values guide our work:

Respect and value others

Engage and embrace diversity

Build trust, be honest

Strive to learn

Be accountable

Work hard and have fun

Our United Approach

For nearly 25 years, we've led the charge in the skills-first movement, serving over 45,000 young adults in partnership with more than 250 top employers. Now, as Year Up United, we're delivering comprehensive solutions that empower young people, connect them to real opportunities and build communities committed to transforming business and driving lasting societal change.
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In addition to Career Pathways, our skills-first training program for young adults, Year Up United is reshaping the world of work through our portfolio of solutions.

Grads of Life: Mobilizing the Opportunity Employer Movement

Grads of Life, an initiative born from Year Up United, is leading the charge in engaging the private sector to bridge the Opportunity Divide. By advocating for hiring practices that prioritize diversity and economic equality, Grads of Life empowers employers with the tools and training needed to recruit, retain, and advance Opportunity Talent. Through research, communications, and direct engagement with employers, Grads of Life is reshaping perceptions of talent and fostering inclusive workplaces that drive economic opportunity for all.

YUPRO Placement: Championing Skills-First Hiring Solutions

YUPRO Placement is revolutionizing the hiring landscape with its focus on skills-first placement. Since 2014, YUPRO Placement has been connecting companies with diverse, career-ready talent from a nationwide network of nonprofits and upskilling partners. By prioritizing social impact alongside business success, YUPRO Placement helps employers build inclusive workplaces while creating pathways to upward economic mobility.

Talent Networks: Amplifying our Collective Impact

Through our Talent Networks, we're building and strengthening connections between training providers, community partners, and employers--creating a more inclusive workforce and scaling solutions to our partners' needs. We enable local organizations to provide the support young adults need to thrive in the industries they are passionate about and set them up for the next steps in their career journeys.

Alumni: Showing Change in Action

Our network of 30,000+ alumni around the world continue to prove that what we do at Year Up United works. With access to our alumni resource services, networks, and communications, alumni join a community that works together to show what inclusion, belonging and culture change look like in action and impact the world, one career at a time.

$53K

Average starting annual salary of Year Up United grads

50,000+

Students served to date

80%

Of graduates employed and/or enrolled in postsecondary education within 4 months of program completion

30+

Campuses
across U.S.

90%

Corporate partner satisfaction rate
                            UNTAPPED: Closing America’s Opportunity Gap Now Streaming on Netflix
nyc skyline in distance

This inspiring documentary follows the incredible journeys of six Year Up United graduates as they navigate their paths to success through our job training program. Witness how they break through barriers, seize opportunities, and launch successful careers at top companies who are prioritizing skills-first talent practices, redefining what it means to be a "qualified” job candidate.

Please note, you must be logged into your Netflix account to access UNTAPPED: Closing America's Opportunity Gap via this link, or you can search for “UNTAPPED” on Netflix from any of your devices.

WATCH NOW
RESEARCH & EVALUATION

Year Up United is a proven path for young
adults to successfully launch careers.

We rigorously evaluate our program and measure outcomes to ensure that our program is impactful.
The data are clear: Year Up United works.
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Leadership Ellen McClain CEO & President, Year Up United See all leadership
Awards

Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator has rated Year Up United a four-star charity over 15 times, placing us in the top 1% of tracked organizations.

NonProfitTimes Award

The NonProfit Times rated Year Up United one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For for eight consecutive years.

Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency

Year Up United earned a 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid, the highest level, which demonstrates our commitment to transparency, so our community can support our work with trust and confidence.

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