Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Lack Of Financial Literacy Personal finance is not mandatory or even offered in some traditional education systems; therefore, young people need the tools to make sound financial decisions once they enter the workforce. Student Disengagement The dropout crisis in America’s educational system has a devastating impact on the future health of the economy. Nearly every year, only 70 percent of students complete high school on time and earn a diploma. Skills Gap Graduating students are inadequately prepared to participate in a meaningful way to their community’s success because they lack basic skills such as communication, problem-solving and critical thinking.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
JA Elementary School Programs
JA elementary school programs are the foundation of
our K-12 curricula. Programs include six sequential themes, each made up of
five hands-on activities that change students’ lives by helping them understand
business, economics, and the working world. The programs expose youth to a
volunteer role model who brings JA programs to life and shows students what’s
possible if they work hard and dream big. All programs align with Virginia
Standards of Learning.
JA Middle School Programs
JA middle school programs help youth make difficult decisions about how to best prepare for their educational and professional future. The programs supplement standard social studies, English/language arts, and math curricula, and develop financial literacy, 21st century, and entrepreneurial skills that are essential to success in the working world. All programs align with Virginia Standards of Learning.
JA High School Programs
As high school students begin to position themselves for their future, there are many unanswered questions about what lies ahead. Junior Achievement® high school programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and foster 21st century skills that will be highly useful as they enter the working world. Volunteer role models show what’s possible if they work hard and dream big, empowering them to unleash their boundless potential. All programs align with Virginia Standards of Learning.
JA Finance Park™
JA Finance Park helps high school students build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit.The JA Finance Park program is composed of 13 required teacher-taught, in-class lessons. It culminates in a hands-on budgeting simulation that is implemented at JA Finance Park located in Libbie Mill Library. Additional extension activities are available for each lesson topic. Both provide educators a method of delivery that will best meet the needs of their students. The JA Career Center is an extension of the JA Finance Park program and will be used in a middle school program beginning in the 2018-19 school year.
Where we work
Accreditations
Better Business Bureau of Central VA - Accredited Charity 2017
Charity Navigator 2017
Affiliations & memberships
ConnectRichmond 2009
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce 2009
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of students who benefit from Junior Achievement of Central Virginia programs.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Junior Achievement has over 100 local JA Areas across the nation, and together we are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA's programs ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
Junior Achievement’s proven lessons in financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship are shown to positively impact the lives of young people. These lessons align with national and state educational standards and are delivered to millions of students across the country with the help of our education partners and volunteers from the local community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Junior Achievement is known for its lasting impact. That’s because all of our elementary, middle, and high school programs are designed to bring learning to life, reinforce new concepts with hands-on experiences and support the development of core competencies needed for an ever-changing economy. Our programs bridge learning to real-world complexities by driving student engagement and fostering self-motivation.
We present broad career exposure, enabling students to more confidently manage their career aspirations and personal financial futures through practice with specific job functions, career planning and wealth-building.
The value of Junior Achievement’s programs is heightened because volunteers teach them. Volunteers help bring JA lessons to life and strengthen students’ knowledge and skills.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Junior Achievement has over 100 local JA Areas across the nation, and together we are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices.
Junior Achievement is one of a few nonprofits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on Junior Achievement's effectiveness. Findings prove that Junior Achievement has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. We invite you to read the Programs Evaluation Results.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Junior Achievement of Central Virginia
Board of directorsas of 02/17/2023
Mr. Valerie Heinz
CarMax
Term: 2021 - 2023
Amy Miller
VACO Richmond, LLC
Chris Crowe
Performance Food Group
Angela Roisten
Virginia Credit Union
Annie Cai Larson
Dominion Energy
Angela Roisten
Virginia Credit Union
Kathleen Houghtaling
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Joanna Bergerson
Karen Kinslow
Dominion Energy
Larry Brown
Community Volunteer
Ron Carey
Tilt Creative + Production
Anitra Cassas
Brian Combs
PNC Bank - Corporate Banking
Amanda Kish
PwC
Danielle Fitz-Hugh
Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce
Kay Gotshall
Keiter
Lee Hannah
Cigna Healthcare - Virginia
Kyle Harkrader
EY
Michael Mueller
Williams Mullen
Quincy Gregory
Truist
Kristin Henshaw
Mercer
Will Hershey
Davenport & Company, LLC
Stephanie Karfias
Mission Lane
Ashley Mann
Haleon
Debbie Lennick
Creative
Andrew Miller
Workshop Digital
Benjamin Ross
South State Bank
John Sliman
Deloitte & Touche LLP
D. Keith Sloane
USAA Life Insurance Company
Kim Trentham
Altria, retired
Paul Ward
Bank of America
Theresa Wills
Capital One
Sherri Wyatt
Virginia529 I Ablenow
Jamie Billingsly
BHE GT&S
Katie Laine
Wells Fargo
Liz Davis
Luck Companies
Andy Hicks
KPMG
Drew McNulty
M&T Bank
Allen Bowman
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Alicia Diehl
Allianz
Kassi O'Brien
Scott Insurance
Sally Tate
Hourigan Construction
Julie Conner
Accenture
Lara Nichols
Markel
Mack Frost
Federal Highway Administration
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/04/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.