Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Junior Achievement of Central Virginia was launched 53 years ago in answer to the questions raised by the changing world where people moving from farms to cities lacked the vital skills necessary to find their way forward. Today, our young people face similar challenges in an ever-changing and complex 21st century economy in which 72% of Americans say they struggle with money-relates stress, 60% of employers say recent graduates lack basic job skills and 90% of businesses fail. Unfortunately, schools are struggling to provide students with relevant, real-world experiences that equip young people to thrive as they enter adulthood. Junior Achievement is committed to helping young people excel, by providing hands-on, cutting edge educational experiences that enable young people to experience and understand the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
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

Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
Our goal is to give young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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 02/22/2022
Mr. Valerie Heinz
CarMax
Term: 2021 - 2023
Amy Miller
VACO Richmond, LLC
Sarah Martin
Community Volunteer
Chris Crowe
Performance Food Group
Angela Roisten
Virginia Credit Union
Leah Walder
Heritage Printing
Annie Larson
Dominion Energy
Angela Roisten
Virginia Credit Union
Kathleen Houghtaling
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Joanna Bergerson
Volunteer
Karen Kinslow
Dominion Energy
Larry Brown
Community Volunteer
Ron Carey
Tilt Creative + Production
Anitra Cassas
McGuire Woods
Brian Combs
PNC Bank - Corporate Banking
Amanda Kish
PwC
Desmond Carter
Goodwill of Central & Coastal Virginia
Olatokunbo Famakinwa
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital
Danielle Fitz-Hugh
Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce
Kay Gotshall
Keiter
Lee Hannah
Cigna Healthcare - Virginia
Kyle Harkrader
EY
Andrea Harlow
Williams Mullen
Mitchell Hassell
Truist
Kristin Henshaw
Mercer
Will Hershey
Davenport & Company, LLC
Christinia Johnson
CapCenter
Stephanie Karfias
Mission Lane
Todd Koch
GSK Consumer Healthcare
Debbie Lennick
Creative
Toby Leslie
Snagajob
Andrew Miller
Workshop Digital
Theodore Oswald
Volunteer
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 Burnett
Wells Fargo
Liz Davis
Luck Companies
Dwight Driskall
Kings Dominion
Tamica Goode
Budgeting for Financial Freedom
Andy Hicks
KPMG
Drew McNulty
M&T Bank
Carrie Wood
LL Flooring
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
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.