About JA

Changing the Lives of Young People

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. The inspiration piece comes from community volunteers who not only deliver our lessons, but share their experience. In the process, these volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young people’s perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. Preparation involves our proven lessons that promote financial capability, work and career readiness, and business ownership. See how JA impacted the life of Jakayla by watching the video.

Empowering the Next Generation

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.

Research shows that JA Alumni are more likely to have a college degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started a business as an adult.

Learn more about Ipsos/JA Alumni Report

Junior Achievement Facts

What is Junior Achievement?

Junior Achievement has 104 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—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

Purpose

Junior Achievement's purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

Leadership

Siddhartha Vivek is the President & CEO of Junior Achievement of San Diego County. Debra Swartz, CEO of Mission Federal Credit Union, is the Chair and Javed Bhaghani is the Vice-Chair of the Junior Achievement of San Diego County Board of Directors. In total, 40 Board Members represent a wide range of businesses and academic institutions throughout San Diego County. We invite you to view our JA Board of Directors.

Proven Success

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. We invite you to read the Programs Evaluation Results.

Program Reach

In the 2020-2021 school year, Junior Achievement of San Diego County reached more than 11,500 students in 250 schools and after-school programs. Over 250 volunteers delivered experiential JA programs to students in 36 of the 41 school districts throughout the county.

A Brief History

For more than 100 years nationwide, Junior Achievement has focused on serving K-12 students through hands-on experiences that demonstrate financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship. Through these pillars, we have served more than 1 million students in San Diego to date, and at least half of those students represent underserved communities where these lessons can be transformative.

Organizational Overview

Since 1950, Junior Achievement of San Diego County has provided life-changing programs to more than 1 million young people—in the classroom and after school—to foster an understanding of how the “real world” works. To ensure young people are prepared for their future, JA teaches them how to get a job, start a business and how to manage money. JA programs reach every ethnic and economic demographic. For many students, the JA experience is a major highlight of their academic year. More than 5,000 volunteers annually, including 42 board members and a staff of 21 help to impact over 35,000 students each year and empower them to become "real world ready."

Volunteers

We rely on over 5,000 volunteers each year to deliver JA's experiential programs across San Diego County. By being a JA volunteer and sharing your personal and professional experiences and skills with students from your community, you help them make the connection between what they are learning in school and what they will need to be "real world ready." We invite you to view current volunteer opportunities here.

Junior Achievement of San Diego County Team

Staff

Our staff is committed to making your experience working with us absolutely the best!

JA Staff

Board

Our Board Members includes the finest business and individual leaders in our community.

JA Board

More about Junior Achievement

Financial and Annual Reports

We've consistently received high grades for accountability and transparency.

JA Financials

Careers

Join us on our mission to empower youth and create robust communities.

JA Careers

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We at Junior Achievement are dedicated to providing a positive, enriching learning experience free of bias that promotes greater economic opportunity and equity. Junior Achievement welcomes K-12 students, volunteers, educators, staff, and other partners and stakeholders, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other legally protected characteristic.