Mission
To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. It's not an easy task. But it's the kind of challenge that JA takes on with creative energy, fervor, and decisive action. 

Values
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 

• Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning

Approach
Our approach is simple yet highly effective.  JA uses hands-on experiences to help students understand the “economics of life.”  JA volunteers bring the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential.  JA facilitates a powerful partnership between business and education.  JA develops the innovative K-12 programs; schools provide the access; the business community provides the volunteers and financial support to deliver the hands-on curriculum to students.  Our key stakeholders include:

• Teachers, who open their doors to this unique learning dimension.

• Volunteers, who are the heart of JA’s learn-by-doing approach; and

• Investors, whose generous support turns classrooms into incubators for our future workers, leaders and entrepreneurs.

Reach
Using our unique approach, JA is on track to touch the lives of more than 15,500 young people in the greater Lincoln area in 69 public and parochial elementary, middle and high schools.  To accomplish this, we will mobilize over 600 dedicated, well-trained volunteers, ranging from CEO’s to college students to young professionals to retirees.  These volunteers serve as invaluable role models by helping students understand the important role that education plays in their future success.

Proven Success
JA is one of a few global nonprofits to use independent, third-party evaluators to gauge the impact of its programs. Since 1993, independent evaluators have conducted studies on JA’s effectiveness. Findings prove that JA has a positive impact in a number of critical areas. These results are available free upon request. Summaries of the findings also are published in the JA Programs section at www.ja.org. 

A Brief History
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 30 years, JA has expanded its activities and broadened its scope to include in-school and after-school students.