About JA

CHANGING THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE

At Junior Achievement we believe in "possible." Each day, we work to help young people discover what's possible in their lives. We do this by helping them connect what they learn in school with life outside the classroom. We let them know it's possible to invest in their future, to gain a better understanding of how the world works, and to pursue their dreams. We show them that it's possible for tomorrow to be a better day.

Our Values

Belief

In the boundless potential of young people.

Seek Out

Various backgrounds, perspectives, and talents in our staff and volunteers, and boards to reflect the geographies and communities we serve.

Nurture

The power of partnerships and collaboration.

Approach

Our work with passion, honesty, integrity, and excellence.

Teach

Principled market-based economics and entrepreneurship that build a more sustainable world.

Advocate

For relevant hands-on learning.

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 2025 JA Alumni Report

Junior Achievement Facts

What is Junior Achievement?

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 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 really was the only outlet, the only place I could go where I could truly learn about business. Going to Junior Achievement, I learned everything. I learned how to incorporate, I learned all the different roles, sales, cost of goods sold, production, making products, selling, and selling at a profit, all the pieces. We literally ran a business. Just that whole concept of the American Dream I think drives so many kids. Junior Achievement is a good opportunity to understand what it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur in this country.

-Mark Cuban, JA Alumnus, Dallas Mavericks Owner, and Shark Tank Personality

Junior Achievements Purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. The envisioned future what we aspire to become.

Junior Achievement maintains an active vision, front and center, on how we can have a positive impact on the lives of more students guided by our core values: Belief in the boundless potential of young people; Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship; Passion for what we do and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how we do it; Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals; Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration and; Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning.

From our values, we articulate our purpose and vision, comprised of our core ideology.

Empowering young people to their own economic success. Its not an easy task. But its the kind of challenge that JA takes on with creative energy, fervor, and decisive action.

Leadership

Mr. Arnold B. Evans, Co-Head of Emerging Middle Market JPMorgan Chase , is Chairman of the Junior Achievement USA Board of Directors. Jack Harris is the Chief Executive Officer and Tim Greinert is President of Junior Achievement. Junior Achievement USA board members represent a wide range of businesses and academic institutions around the world. In addition, approximately 3,800 board members lead JA Area Offices around the United States. Michelle Jackson is the President and CEO of JA of Southern Nevada. Sandi Milton, SVP/Marketing Communications & Events at Nevada State Bank, is the Chair.

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.

Our Impact in the Community

Today Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada reaches over 20,000 students annually throughout Clark County. Since being founded in 1996, Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada has impacted more than 330,000 students with practical hands-on financial literacy curriculum. These programs have been delivered by more the 285 area businesses and over 6,800 business role models.

How We Got Started

Junior Achievement was founded in 1919 by Theodore Vail, president of American Telephone & Telegraph; Horace Moses, president of Strathmore Paper Co.; and Senator Murray Crane of Massachusetts. Its first program, JA Company Program®, was offered to high school students on an after-school basis. In 1975, the organization entered the classroom with the introduction of Project Business for the middle grades. Over the last 39 years, Junior Achievement has expanded its activities and broadened its scope to include in-school and after-school students.

Organizational Overview

Junior Achievement USA is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and provides strategic direction, leadership, and support to over 100 JA Areas across the nation. Local volunteer boards of directors comprised of business, education, and civic leaders set the policy and direction for each local office. JA of Southern Nevada was founded in 1996.

Volunteers

Junior Achievement's 247,350 classroom volunteers come from all walks of life, including: business people, college students, parents and retirees. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our organization.