NPI Evaluation of First Place for Youth

NONPROFIT INVESTOR
I N D E P E N D E N T R E S E A R C H F O R P H I L A N T H R O P Y

First Place for Youth SUMMARY
First Place for Youth is an Oakland, California based nonprofit
Nonprofit Investor Rating: founded with the goal of minimizing poverty and homelessness
among the youth who “age out” of the foster care system. First
BUY Place for Youth provides services to youth ages 16‐24 years old who
are preparing to age out of foster care or who have recently aged out.
Mission Statement They work to ensure that these youth have the opportunity to
The mission of First Place for Youth is to help experience a safe and supported transition out of foster care through
foster youth build the skills they need to make a housing program, intensive employment services, an academic
a successful transition to self‐sufficiency and enrichment program and several other programs.
responsible adulthood.
STRENGTHS
▲ Well‐defined mission has been thoughtfully crafted into an
Financial Overview effective and precisely executed program model.
$ in MM, Fiscal Year Ended June 30 ▲ First Place for Youth has helped 92% of participants exit the My
2010 2011 2012 First Place program in stable housing (compared to 40% of exiting
Revenue and Support $8.0 $10.8 $11.7 foster care participants) and 55% exit employed (compared to 29%
Operating Expenses $7.7 $10.3 $12.0 of former foster youths).

▲ The executive leadership team does an excellent job of hiring
% of Total:
quality employees, instilling in them a “youth first” mindset and
   Program Expenses 85.2% 84.6%
self‐policing which ensures youth are receiving the most effective
   G&A 8.8% 9.3%
support.
   Fundraising 6.0% 6.1%

▲ Commitment to data tracking ensures that First Place for Youth
is providing effective care to youth and generating positive
Year Founded: 1998
outcomes for program participants

Contact Details CAUTIONS
First Place For Youth ● Heavy reliance on government funding can cause working capital
426 17th Street issues between July and November as the government fiscal year
Oakland, CA 94612 comes to a close and subsequently reopens.  Although cash can be
(510) 272 0979   tight during these months, the risks are mitigated by an
experienced management team, private funding and access to a
www.firstplacefund.org $1MM credit line.
EIN: 94‐3341034
● High turnover rates amongst case managers (Youth Advocates
Analyst: Rich Scudellari and Education and Employment Specialists) negatively impact the
relationships built by program participants within the organization.
Peer Review: Jonathan Tran, Kent Chao
RECOMMENDATION: BUY
Publication Date Through a staunch commitment to hiring quality employees and
January 30, 2013 consistently tracking relevant data, First Place for Youth has built a

high quality program, which continues to generate positive results

for participants and has become a model program for supporting

youth transitioning out of foster care.

Nonprofit Investor Research | nonprofitinvestor.org

OVERVIEW OF FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES
First Place for Youth (FPFY) is an Oakland, California based nonprofit founded with the goal of minimizing poverty and
homelessness among the youth who “age out” of the foster care system.  First Place for Youth provides services to youth
ages 16‐24 years old who are preparing to age out of foster care or who have recently aged out.  They work to ensure
that these youth have the opportunity to experience a safe and supported transition through a housing program,
intensive employment services, an academic enrichment program and several other programs. With the aid of these
programs and a “housing first” mentality, First Place for Youth aims to give youth the stability and skills necessary to live
independently and succeed on their own.

First Place for Youth was founded in 1998 in the Bay Area and continues to be headquartered in Oakland. Since its
founding, FPFY has expanded into four counties in the Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and Solano) as
well a recent expansion into Los Angeles County. In 2012, FPFY was able to support 2,000 youth between its four
programs in these five counties.

Program overview

My First Place (65% of total Program Expenses)
My First Place is a 24 month supported housing program which provides stability for current and former foster youth
through safe, permanent, affordable housing, intensive case management and advocacy, and support services.  Youth
receive support with move‐in costs, rent, food, self‐reliance planning, life skills training, health and mental advocacy,
transportation assistance and employment and education services. My First Place also offers the PATH (Permanent
Avenues Toward Home) program, an innovative housing model that builds upon positive, permanent relationships
already existing in the lives of former foster youth. PATH pairs youth with a permanent, caring adult of their choosing
who provides the youth with housing.

My First Place is the foundation upon which First Place for Youth is built and consequently the program which receives
the most time, money and attention.  First Place for Youth was formed around the idea that a successful exit from foster
care begins with a stable and permanent place to live. A permanent home provides former foster youth with the
stability to think beyond their basic needs and to consider their education, careers and futures.  My First Place extends
this stability beyond simply a place to live, also supporting basic necessities such as food, health, transportation and
education services.  It gives youth the peace of mind that at the end of every day they will have a home and warm meal
to which they can return.  Without the constant fear of where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep at
night, program participants can push their limits and truly prosper, creating a virtuous cycle which makes them self‐
sufficient and high successful members of their communities.

Entering My First Place begins with pre‐housing services to prepare participants for independent living and slates them
into housing.  Program Specialists assess potential participants’ eligibility and lead a three week economic literacy class
that focuses on budgeting, independent living, and goal setting. Once participants graduate from the class, they are
placed on a waiting list until an appropriate housing slot opens. Youth spend an average of three months on the waiting
list and receive support during this period.  During this time, youth connect with Program Specialists once a week and
receive referrals to housing, health, and other services as needed.  Oftentimes, participants on the waiting list are still in
foster care placement.

My First Place starts the day youth move into housing.  Single youth share a two‐bedroom apartment with another
My First Place participant while parenting youth live in a one bedroom apartment with their child.  Program participants
receive a furniture and appliance stipend to outfit their apartments on move‐in day. While First Place for Youth is the
master lessor on the apartment, youth sign a rental agreement with First Place for Youth and pay a share of market rate
First Place for Youth | Nonprofit Investor Research 2

rent on a graduated schedule. A program participant’s contribution to the monthly rent payment increases steadily
throughout their time in program until they are paying the full amount in their last month in housing.  After they leave
the program, participants have the option of taking over their lease when they exit.

A team of highly trained staff collaborates to support My First Place participants throughout their time in program.  The
Youth Advocate and Employment and Education Specialist comprise the core of that team.  Ideally, youth will have the
same Youth Advocate and Employment and Education Specialist throughout their entire stay in the program in order to
maximize relationship development.

Youth Advocates are the primary case managers for the program participants.  They help the youth set and meet their
program goals as well as provide personal and emotional guidance. Youth are required to meet with their Youth
Advocates every week.  Meetings usually occur in the youths’ apartments or in the community in which they live.  This
creates a personal, private space for youth to discuss their challenges and allows Youth Advocates to see program
participants in their element.  Youth Advocates carry a maximum caseload of 15 participants and spend an average of
1.1 hours per week in direct contact with each youth in addition to the time working on behalf of each young participant.

Employment and Education Specialists help the youth develop the skills and resources needed to achieve goals in
employment and education. This help goes beyond help with resumes, interviews, and applications and includes
discussions around careers the youth hope to pursue, outlining step‐by‐step how they can achieve their goals, and
helping them complete the necessary steps.  Program participants are required to meet with Employment and Education
Specialists once every two weeks, though meetings often occur more frequently. Meetings generally occur at the First
Place for Youth offices, but they also spend time in the community developing relationships with prospective employers
and regularly go to job interviews with youth.  Employment and Education Specialists carry a maximum caseload of 30
participants and spend an average of 35 minutes per week working with each youth.

In addition to the support of the Youth Advocates and Employment and Education Specialists, Program Specialists
maintain relationships with the youth after they move into housing through a variety of skill development workshops.
Furthermore, My First Place’s housing staff manages relationships with landlords for each youth and designs
individualized rent payment plans that align with the youths’ needs.

Youth can take over their lease and stay in their apartment after completing the My First Place program. While
unplanned exits sometimes occur, My First Place tries not to remove participants from program on first instances of
noncompliance.  This enables the youth to learn and grow from their mistakes without losing critical resources that can
help them do so.  Coupling My First Place’s housing stability with employment, education, healthy living, and personal
support creates a comprehensive foundation for independent living.  This foundation then becomes a springboard for
the youth to achieve their goals and transition into successful adults.

Steps to Success (11% of total Program Expenses)
Steps to Success, First Place's education and employment program, meets the unique needs of all youth who are
focused on advancing their careers.  The goal of the program is to dually support a youth's educational and employment
pursuits, two critical components of increasing earning potential, building confidence, and taking positive strides in
becoming self‐sufficient. The vast majority of youth are not career‐focused at ages 18 and 19, so this program helps
them become focused through engagement, soft skills development and job development.


Through the program, youth receive the resources and support necessary to obtain their high school diploma, GED or
access post‐secondary education.  Staff members provide academic counseling, assistance in applying for financial aid
and scholarships, individual and group tutoring, strong connections to campus‐based resources, and aid for purchasing
school supplies and course materials. Participants also have access to resources to advance their employment goals.
Workforce readiness services include personalized service plans, intensive employment counseling, job development,
comprehensive retention services, and an innovative approach that couples educational pursuits with invaluable
workplace experience.

First Steps (4% of total Program Expenses)
First Steps is a transitional support center, in downtown Oakland provides educational and employment support,
housing referrals and community resources for current and former foster care youth in a social setting designed to
empower them in making the transition to independent living.  First Steps has a drop‐in training center, providing youth
with access to workshops that address health, relationships, communication, budgeting and finances, and one‐on‐one
counseling and advocacy services for a successful transition into independence.

Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) and First Foundation (5% of total Program Expenses)
ILSP is offered to youth in Alameda and Solano counties. Through ILSP, the First Place for Youth provides a full range of
services to eligible and current foster youth ages 16 to 21 to assist and support them in their transition to independent
living. Services include education and employment assistance, career development, family finding and permanency
services, life skills workshops and community events.

First Foundation is an educational support program that begins with high school sophomores who are willing to commit
to the program through high school graduation. Throughout high school, the First Place for Youth staff members provide
one‐on‐one support designed to help increase on‐time high school graduation rates along with workshops on
educational and social skills development.

PROGRAM RESULTS AND EFFECTIVENESS
Due to the nature of the programs and the amount of time and consideration allocated to each, the most robust data
and analytics available are for the My First Place Program.  In an issue brief released earlier this year by First Place for
Youth, the organization highlighted some very stellar statistics from a study conducted the previous year.  In the study,
First Place for Youth reviewed their internal data on the 171 youth who exited the My First Place program between July
1, 2010 and December 31, 2011.  The results were as follows:
‐ 92% of participants exited the program into stable housing vs. the 40% of foster youth who have experienced
homelessness or have had to couch surf since leaving care (as found by a three‐state Midwest study).
‐ 54% of eligible participants were enrolled in a post‐secondary school at program exit vs. the estimated 10% of foster
youth who enroll in college (determined by a Casey Family Programs Study).
‐ 55% of participants were employed at program exit vs. 29% of former foster youth who report having obtained
part‐time or full‐time employment (as determined by a California study).
‐ 82% of female participants did not have a new pregnancy during their time in the program vs. the estimated 67% of
female former foster youth who have at least one child within five years of exiting care (as estimated by a California
study).
‐ The study also found that the longer a participant stayed in the program, the more likely the participant was to
become a “high achiever,” as defined by First Place for Youth.
These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of the program and the positive impact that First Place for Youth is able to
have on a group of youth going through a very difficult transition.

In addition to the brief released earlier this year, First Place for Youth also enlisted the services of Public/Private
Ventures to conduct an evaluation of the My First Place Program from June 2010 to February 2012.  In their review of
the program, PPV went a layer deeper than the outcomes mentioned above in an attempt to understand the reasons
why the program is successful and if it will be able to continue to produce consistent outcomes as it continues to
expand.  The year and a half review culminated in a detailed 150 page report.

In the written report, PPV stated that it found the My First Place program to have been expertly designed and
continually refined over years of operation.   The strength of the organization begins at the top with the management
team.  First Place for Youth, guided by the Board of Directors, has put into place a very solid leadership team with well‐
defined operational roles.  Due to the intensive nature of the program, First Place for Youth has needed to expand the
leadership team in order to more effectively support its program participants, recently adding a director of talent (who
is responsible for filling positions as they become available) and a director of programs (who is in charge of monitoring
the programs offered by First Place for Youth).  The distinct separation of labor has allowed the various management
team members to focus on carrying out their specific roles more effectively.  It has also freed up some bandwidth for
some of the leadership team and enabled them to attack other tasks, such as expanding the organization’s footprint.
Under the guidance of this team, First Place for Youth was able to expand from 195 slots in 2010 to 246 slots in 2012,
while reducing the cost of the program on a per slot basis.

First Place for Youth has also developed a database in which they record and track a variety of metrics, not only for
those who participate in their program, but for anyone who applies.  Staff members are consistently logging data which
is reviewed regularly to ensure that the staff is reaching its threshold for interactions with its program participants.  The
data is used to monitor the week‐to‐week interactions with the program participants and to evaluate the program
outcomes, in order to ensure that First Place for Youth is effectively carrying out its mission.  A staunch commitment to
data analysis has allowed First Place for Youth to continually refine its model and has led to the organization becoming a
leader in supporting the transition for youth from foster care to independence.

The management team has created an organization that is very much mission‐driven and whose mission permeates
every single staff member.  The management team continues to place a strong emphasis on hiring employees who are
well equipped, both intellectually and culturally, to effectively support program participants. They instill in each
member of the team a “youth first” mentality that is clearly evident in the operation of the organization on every level.

One concern that was raised by the PPV study, however, is the turnover in staff, particularly at key points of contact for
the program participants.  The study showed that more three quarters of program participants experienced a change in
their Youth Advocate, Employment and Education specialist or both during their time in the program. The Youth
Advocates and Employment and Education specialists are the key relationship and trust links between First Place for
Youth and the program participant.  Outcomes generated by the program are heavily reliant on the positive impact that
these individuals have on the participant.  A youth experiencing turnover in these positions may be more inclined to see
these positions as a variation of social worker, potentially hindering the impact if the program.

First Place for Youth has recognized this issue and has taken steps to minimize its impact.  Being a very introspective
organization, First Place for Youth realized a few years ago that this turnover issue could become a problem if it was not
adequately addressed.  In past years the organization was very good at hiring for skill, but not good at hiring for culture
(or fit).  This resulted in a high turnover rate amongst the staff.  A few years ago they hired Aron Sumii as the Director of

Talent to address this turnover issue.  Since Aron came on, First Place for Youth has done a better job of hiring to fit the
organization’s culture.  Though this has reduced turnover in recent years, the management team has realized that this
only addresses part of the problem. Given the strong track record of the organization, their ability to hire skilled
employees and provide them with good training and experience, First Place for Youth will not be able to keep their hires
for very long before they get promoted (Sam Cobbs estimates that they generally do not last in their positions for longer
than three years).  Some leave the organization for promotions outside and others are promoted internally, but either
way the program participant‐facing employees will always be turning over. Given that turnover is inevitable in this
business, the management team has built in layers of relationships between the participant and the organization.
When a participant joins, they have a Program Specialist, Youth Advocate, Employment and Education Specialist and a
Property Manager, thus four layers of relationships.  If one of the employees leaves during a participants stay, there are
others who can effectively maintain the continuity of the relationship between the participant and First Place for Youth.
The team believes that the efficacy of this is evident in the outcomes they are able to generate for their program
participants even despite this turnover.

Over the last three years the overall turnover rates have been 18%, 16% and 27% or FY10, FY11 and FY12 respectively.
In FY12 the company had an anomaly where 4 of the people who left were relocating geographically because their
spouse or significant other’s job required it.  None of the four were terminated, nor did they want to leave First Place for
Youth. Removing these four as one‐offs, the turnover rate is reduced to 18% (in‐line with the previous two years).
Looking at case managers specifically, 5 left in FY12 yielding a turnover rate of 19% at this position.  One of the five left
the area and the other four received promotions outside of work.  As a group they had an average of 22 months with
First Place for Youth and given that each participant in the My First Place program the stays an average 20 months this is
a relatively positive statistic for case managers.

Overall, given the situation and the inevitable turnover that will continue to occur, First Place for Youth has done a very
solid job of fortifying their organization’s ability to withstand it.  This was all made possible by the reflective nature of
the organization and its commitment to continued improvement.

TRANSPARENCY
First Place for Youth makes a substantial effort to be transparent with the general public and are exceptionally
accommodating when information is requested directly.  They have historically published a yearly report, available on
their website, with some highlights from the year, basic financial information and a list of key donors. Though they
failed to publish one in 2011, First Place for Youth had been consistent in prior years and is on track to produce a report
for 2012 (which they have shared with NPI). The blip in 2011 occurred because the two people in the development
department who help produce the annual report were out on maternity at the same time.  Even despite being short‐
handed, the organization did pull together an annual report.  They did not, however, think it was up to standard, so they
shelved it for a year. They also generally produce a short, bi‐annual newsletter, but did not in FY2011 (for the
aforementioned reasons).  In addition, they produced a strategic 5 year plan in 2009 and an issue brief in 2012 which
published the results of a study done testing the importance of the length of stay for program participants.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
One aspect that is a bit unique about First Place for Youth is that receives the majority of its funding from government
contracts.  In the last three years the organization has received ~62% of its funding from government contracts and CEO
Sam Dobbs has said he would like to increase this to 75% in the next few years.  The majority of First Place for Youth
government funding is coming from the California THP‐Plus program, which is a collaboration between the John Burton


Foundation, the California Department of Social Services and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.  The program is
administered by the California Department of Social Services, which distributes THP‐Plus funds to counties.  The county
department of social services subsequently provides services directly or contracts for services with nonprofit THP‐Plus
providers.

The government contracts are generally awarded through a competitive RFP process and result in multi‐year contracts
guaranteeing re‐imbursement up to a certain dollar amount.  The focus on government funding by First Place for Youth
is a positive as government funding, particularly for a nonprofit of this nature, is much more consistent and renewable
than short‐term or smaller foundation grants.  Though the bidding process for these multi‐year contracts is competitive,
First Place for Youth’s ability to produce differentiated outcomes, commitment to data tracking and ability to accurately
estimate the cost per youth has allowed them to increase government funding significantly over the last three years.

Two potential causes for concern due to government funding are the reimbursable (or “spend first”) nature of the
contracts and the seasonality of the fund flows.  In order to receive the funding promised in contracts, First Place for
Youth must first spend the money and then submit for reimbursement. This could potentially cause working capital
issues if the organization does not have the cash on hand to bridge the time between expenditure and reimbursement
(which is generally 45‐60 days from invoice to payment).  Another potential cause for concern is the seasonality of the
fund flows due to the government fiscal year, which closes on September 30.  As a result of closing the books, budget
targets and the subsequent reopening of the books, funds from the government are tight from July to November and
days receivable increase significantly.  This can significantly handicap an organization if they cannot find the money to
fund their programs during these dry periods. Both of these risks, however, are mitigated by First Place for Youth’s
experienced management team, access to a $1MM credit line from Presidio Bank and a strong cash position.

In terms of cost efficiency and effectiveness, First Place for Youth spends ~85% of every dollar it receives on program
expenses and only ~15% on administrative and marketing costs. This is an excellent ratio and showcases the rabid
commitment First Place for Youth places on generating differentiated outcomes for their program participants.  We have
also found the salaries of the executive leadership team to be in line with market, especially when considering the
excellent results that First Place for Youth has generated.

In their main program, My First Place, First Place for Youth spent an average of $31,695 per participant slot in 2012,
down $1,420 per slot in 2011.  This is a significant achievement in its own right, but even more substantial when you
consider what else occurred in 2012.  My First Place had 351 different participants in 2012 who, at one point or another
occupied one of the 246 available slots.  This means that 105 participants exited the program in 2012, compared to just
86 in 2011.  Thus, not only did First Place for Youth expand their maximum number of participant slots by 25 (from 221
to 246), but they also faced more turnover costs associated with re‐filling slots (move‐in costs etc). Despite these
headwinds, First Place for Youth still managed to reduce their cost per slot by almost $1,500. In addition, when
considering the bulk of the expenses associated with the program are variable costs (rent, salaries of Youth Advocates,
Employment & Education Specialists and Program Specialists) the improvement is even more impressive.

The company is currently doing an in‐depth review of their cost structure and a detailed cost per participant analysis,
which will be shared with NPI upon its completion in late February and included in an updated report thereafter.


Revenue Mix Over Time 2012 Revenue Mix
$ in MM

Expense Breakout Over Time
$ in MM


Detailed Financial Statements (GAAP Basis)
Fiscal Year Ended June 30 2010 2011 2012
Revenue and Expenses (GAAP Accounting Basis)
Operating Revenue:
Government Contracts 5,004,162 6,739,489 7,480,050
Foundation, Corporate, Fund and Individual Contributions 2,706,871 3,915,872 3,784,536
Rental Income 163,396 141,501 104,149
Donated Materials, Services and Other 103,957 49,242 308,308
Total Support and Revenues $7,978,386 $10,846,104 $11,677,043
% Growth 17.5% 35.9% 7.7%

Expenses:
Program Services:
Program Expenses $6,428,435 $8,792,237 $10,121,352
Supporting Services:
General and Administration 649,855 912,322 1,118,384
Fundraising 622,582 618,392 729,753
Total Expenses: $7,700,872 $10,322,951 $11,969,489
% of Revenue 96.5% 95.2% 102.5%

Increase in Net Assets from Operations $277,514 $523,153 ($292,446)

KEY BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Cash and Cash Equivalents $1,340,345 $1,633,436 $1,014,672
Receivables: Government Grants $1,163,797 $802,983 $1,326,886
Receivables: Promises to Give $485,472 $1,076,349 $1,551,529
Total Assets $4,221,746 $4,969,038 $5,778,754
Line of Credit Outstanding $0 $0 $300,000

Net Assets
Unrestricted $2,523,187 $2,197,828 $1,376,905
Temporarily Restricted $1,121,178 $1,969,790 $2,498,267
Total Net Assets $3,644,365 $4,167,618 $3,875,172

Expenses by Function (GAAP Accounting Basis)
My First Place $7,318,405 $7,796,889
First Steps $471,375 $432,590
First Foundation and ILSP $108,145 $592,793
Steps to Success 894,312 1,299,080
Management, G&A 912,322 1,118,384
Fundraising 618,392 729,753
Total Expenses $10,322,951 $11,969,489

Program Costs as a % of Total Expenses 85.2% 84.6%
G&A as a % of Total Expenses 8.8% 9.3%
Fundraising as a % of Total Expenses 6.0% 6.1%
Source: Audited Financials (GAAP Basis)

KEY PERSONNEL BIOS
Sam Cobbs (CEO) – Sam is a national expert and policy advisor on foster youth and at‐risk youth, specifically the issues
they face as they transition into adulthood. In his 16 years of work in the nonprofit field, he has created and
implemented programs that successfully reduce poverty and homelessness among vulnerable youth and has been one
of the leading voices in advocating for better access to housing, education, employment and health programs that
improve their lives.

Since taking the helm at First Place in 2005, Cobbs has navigated the organization through a swift and strategic
expansion from a local Oakland‐based program to a statewide institution that serves over 1,500 youth throughout
California every year. First Place for Youth is now considered a nation model for providing a permanent housing
solution for at‐ risk youth. Cobbs has been recognized for his leadership by national organizations and has been awarded
the Anne E. Casey Foundation Children and Family Fellowship, the 2010 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, and
the Red Cross Community Hero Award. Additionally, he has been recognized by Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman
Barbara Lee, Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, Assembly Member Jim Beall, Assembly Member Leland Yee and San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for his tireless commitment to youth.

Previously, Cobbs served as the Branch Manager for the Boys & Girls Club of Oakland and the Associate Director of Juma
Ventures, a successful youth development program that uses social enterprises as a vehicle to employ youth in their first
jobs. He also worked for eight years at Larkin Street Youth Services where, as the Director of Programs Services, he
opened San Francisco’s first emergency shelter for young adults ages 18‐24 and assisted in the design and
implementation of two of the nation’s most innovative housing programs for youth: Ellis Street Apartments, San
Francisco’s first permanent supportive housing program for youth, and Larkin’s Street Extended Aftercare for Supportive
Emancipation program (LEASE).

Cobbs is a leading public policy advisor and steward who have testified before the United States Congress and the
California State Legislature on legislation aimed at transforming the lives of underserved youth in California and across
the nation.

Cobbs is a graduate of the California State University, East Bay, with a BS in Psychology and a MS in Counseling.

Deanne Pearn (Co‐Founder and Chief Policy Officer of First Place for Youth) ‐ In her 14 years with First Place, Ms. Pearn
has been instrumental in helping grow the organization from a two‐person start‐up with a budget of $80,000 to an
organization with 60 staff and a budget of $7.9 million. Before starting First Place in 1998, Ms. Pearn worked as a Policy
Analyst for the Alameda County Department of Social Services, where she focused on employment programs for welfare
recipients. Prior to completing her Master’s in Public Policy at UC Berkeley, Ms. Pearn provided case‐management to
homeless families as the Special Projects Coordinator for the Volunteer Legal Services Program in San Francisco and
spent two years in Washington, DC as a health care consultant working to improve state and local maternal and child
health systems. Ms. Pearn received her Master’s in Public Policy from the Goldman School and a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Human Biology from Stanford University.


Denise Wells, CPA, MBA (CFO) – Denise has been a Chief Financial Officer and/or Chief Operating Officer since 1992.
Prior to that time, she worked with nonprofits exclusively, except for the five years in which she worked for CPA firms.
Denise has been a nonprofit consultant for the past five years – as an Interim Executive Director, Interim Director of
Finance and Project Manager for multiple nonprofit construction projects. Denise brings a wealth of nonprofit expertise
to her position as Chief Financial Officer.

Aron Sumii (Director of Talent) – Aron has over 10 years of experience working with foster youth and former foster
youth as a manager and senior manager in social services settings. As Director of Talent at First Place for Youth, Aron
focuses on recruitment, retention, and leadership development as the source for supporting the organization’s goals
and strategic plan. Prior to working at First Place, Aron was the Director of Homeless Youth Services for Contra Costa
County and Director of Underage Services at Larkin Street Youth Services. Aron holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology
and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Keith Shulz (Board of Directors) ‐ Keith has spent his career focused on organizational change, strategic planning, large
systems implementation, service quality improvement, and solving large organizational problems. Currently, Keith is a
Partner with RedFish Consulting. In that role, he bring his corporate experience to bear, helping companies excel in the
areas of organizational change, leadership development, implementing new operating structures and processes,
merger/acquisition integration, and back‐office operations.

Prior to joining RedFish, Keith served for five years as the Chief Operating Officer for Human Resources for Kaiser
Permanente, one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems. In that role, Keith had direct responsibility for most HR
functions for the company. Before working for Kaiser Permanente, Keith spent 20 years with Bank of America. He began
as a Human Resources practitioner and moved into progressively larger roles, spending his final ten years in various
executive positions. In the final year of his tenure at Bank of America, Keith served as Executive Vice President of e‐
Commerce.

Steven LaFrance, MPH (Board of Directors) – Steven is the President and CEO of LFA Group, a consulting firm dedicated
to helping social profit organizations achieve their greatest possible impact. Over the course of 15 years, Steven has
provided evaluation, research, and technical assistance services to hundreds of nonprofit organizations, foundations,
and public agencies.

Steven is a nationally recognized leader in the field of organizational effectiveness, with a focus on strategy development
and the use of information to maximize social impact. Steven’s content expertise covers diverse issue areas including
community health services, homelessness, early childhood care and education, youth development, juvenile justice,
education, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, senior services, community economic development, and organizational
development and effectiveness.

Before consulting, Steven was a case manager for homeless youth, gaining a firsthand understanding of the challenging
realities community‐based organizations face. Steven received graduate training in Public Health from the University of
California at Berkeley and in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles.


OTHER THIRD PARTY RATINGS
First Place for Youth is covered by Great Nonprofits and 11 people have reviewed it.  The average rating was just over
four stars (out of five).  The reviews were very positive overall, with 9 reviews (mainly from former participants) being
four or five stars.  The other two were one star and two stars.  The negative reviews were from a former employee and a
former participant.  The reviews, however, are outdated, with the last one being complete in August of 2010.

GET INVOLVED

Make Donations Become A Volunteer
Workplace Giving For a list of volunteer opportunities, please contact
http://www.firstplacefund.org/page.aspx?pid=337   Andy Miller at (510) 272‐0979x301 or
Donate Now amiller@firstplaceforyouth.org
https://www.firstplacefund.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298
Other Ways to Give
http://www.firstplacefund.org/page.aspx?pid=338

DISCLOSURES
Rich Scudellari certifies that he does not have any affiliation with First Place for Youth and has never made a donation to the
organization. Additionally, Rich Scudellari has not supported directly competing organizations in a greater capacity than a nominal
donation. NPI analysts and NPI as an organization do not receive any form of compensation from reviewed charities.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for donations. While the reliability of information
contained in this report has been assessed by NPI, NPI makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness, except with
respect to the Disclosure Section of the report. Any opinions expressed herein reflect our judgment as of the date of the materials
and are subject to change without notice. NPI has no obligation to update, modify or amend any report or to otherwise notify a
reader thereof in the event that any matter stated herein, or any opinion, projection, forecast or estimate set forth herein, changes
or subsequently becomes inaccurate, or if research on the subject organization is withdrawn.
Opinions and recommendations in our reports do not take into account specific reader circumstances, objectives, or needs. The
recipients of our reports must make their own independent decisions regarding any organization mentioned by NPI.


NPI Evaluation of First Place for Youth

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