Juma Ventures

Juma Ventures helps to break the cycle of poverty by paving the way to work, education, and financial capability for youth across America.

Juma Ventures (Juma) operates an award-winning youth development program with the mission of breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring that young people complete a four-year college education.

Founded in 1993, this San Francisco-based nonprofit empowers low-income youth to make successful transitions to independence in adulthood through an innovative program that integrates employment in social enterprises, college preparation, career services and financial education. For the fourth year in a row, over 90% of Juma's seniors graduated from high school; and 87% of those transitioned to college (compared to the prevailing rate for low-income high school graduates of 52%).

In each community, Juma owns and operates small businesses that provide meaningful employment and development opportunities to low-income youth. The job experience youth receive is complemented by programs focused on college completion (including academic-based after school programming and college preparation); opportunities for leadership development; and financial literacy education, including access to matched savings accounts that multiply and leverage personal savings from job earnings.