What Impact and Outcomes Does Hopeworks Report?

Hopeworks reports four headline outcomes on its site: $1.88M in wages and stipends paid to young adults in the last 12 months, a 94.12% 12-month job retention rate, an average wage at exit of $46,023, and the fact that over 99% of young adults entering the program were unemployed. These figures describe the nonprofit's own reported results, so they are best read as Hopeworks' account of its impact rather than an independent evaluation. They are most useful if you are deciding whether to refer a young adult, donate, volunteer, or hire the organization's business services.

The Reported Numbers at a Glance

The site also states that, on average, young adults entering Hopeworks are unemployed and making less than $400 annually, and that program completers earn on average over $43,000 annually with an almost 90% 12-month retention rate. The two retention figures (94.12% and "almost 90%") and the two wage figures ($46,023 and "over $43,000") appear in different places on the page, so treat them as related but not identical measures.

How Hopeworks Explains the Results

Hopeworks describes itself as a social enterprise that combines technical training, healing, and entrepreneurship. Its stated model is a progression:

• Training in web development, geographic information systems (GIS), and revenue cycle management, alongside professional skills.
• Internship experience on real client work.
• Permanent placement into employment.

The organization attributes its outcomes to this combination of skill development, real-world job experience, and trauma-informed care. In its own framing, that approach "propels young adults into long-term living wage careers that put them on the path for healing and financial stability." The retention rate is the piece that speaks to durability: it measures whether participants stay employed, not just whether they get hired.

What the Numbers Do and Don't Tell You

They do show:

• A large gap between entry earnings (under $400 annually for most entrants) and exit earnings (about $46,000 average).
• That the organization tracks retention at 12 months, which is a more meaningful signal than a placement count alone.
• That stipends and wages are part of the model, so participants are paid during training and internship work rather than only after placement.

They don't show:

• How outcomes compare with a similar group that did not go through Hopeworks.
• How many people start versus finish the program, or how wages are calculated (for example, whether all exits or only placed participants are included).
• Any independent verification of the figures.

If you need those details before making a decision, ask Hopeworks directly or review its published financials, which the site links to in its About section.

Where the Program Operates

Hopeworks lists operations in Camden, NJ, Newark, NJ, and Philadelphia, PA, plus online programs described as "around the world." Location matters for referral: in-person training and local employer partnerships are concentrated in those regions, while online options may serve people elsewhere.

Using This Information to Decide

• Referring a young adult (17–26): the entry profile (over 99% unemployed, minimal income) suggests the program is designed for people starting from close to zero. The paid training and internship structure is the practical detail to confirm for your situation.
• Hiring or buying services: Hopeworks sells technology work through its GIS, web, and revenue cycle management departments. The retention and wage figures are relevant context on the talent pipeline behind that work.
• Donating or volunteering: the $1.88M in wages and stipends is the clearest indicator of how funds translate into participant income. The site also describes volunteering as a way to meet young adults and help reduce program costs.

For current program details, eligibility, and locations, use the Train With Us and Get Started sections of hopeworks.org, or schedule a tour through the site.