Ending the cycle of poverty through technology careers.
Hope Training Academy is the workforce-training program of Video Game Palooza Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 46-4169197) on a mission to relieve poverty, advance education, and improve social welfare in our community. Hope Training Academy is a registered “doing business as” (d/b/a) name of Video Game Palooza Inc.; the two names refer to the same single tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
We help underserved and underemployed adults break the cycle of poverty and financial insecurity by giving them the training, credentials, and support to launch careers in high-demand technology fields.
Our relationship with Video Game Palooza
- Legal entity: Video Game Palooza Inc. (d/b/a Hope Training Academy)
- EIN: 46-4169197
- Status: IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, tax-exempt since November 22, 2013
- Domains: hopetrainingacademy.org and videogamepalooza.org are both operated by this single nonprofit. Matching mission statement: videogamepalooza.org/our-mission.
Who we serve
Disadvantaged, underrepresented, and underemployed adults across Indianapolis and the surrounding region — in partnership with the Indianapolis Urban League, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Goodwill Industries (SCSEP), EmployIndy, and others.
What we do
Free and low-cost certification programs in Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and IT Desktop Support; U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships; digital-literacy and digital-entrepreneurship training; and job-search assistance and placement.
Our impact
More than 2,000 people trained since 2018, moving into careers and the economic mobility they build for themselves.
How our mission serves a charitable purpose
- Relief of poverty — free and low-cost training that leads to income and career attainment for people facing financial insecurity.
- Advancement of education — accessible STEM, IT, cybersecurity, and AI education and credentials.
- Improving social welfare — economic mobility and workforce pathways for underserved adults and youth.
Our nonprofit status
Legal entity: Video Game Palooza Inc. (d/b/a Hope Training Academy). EIN 46-4169197. IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, tax-exempt since November 22, 2013. Classification 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) — a publicly-supported charity. Form 990 filed FY2015–FY2023. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
