The Brotherhood Sister Sol

What The Brotherhood Sister Sol does

The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by Khary Lazarre-White and Jason Warvin that delivers year-round youth development programming to Black and Latinx youth ages 6 to 22 in Harlem. The organization operates from a 22,000-square-foot green-building headquarters opened in June 2022 and serves nearly 600 youth annually through interconnected core programs: the After School Program, Rites of Passage Program (a culturally rooted social-justice curriculum), Summer Leadership Program, College, Career and Wellness Program, plus specialized Environmental, Food, and Organizing initiatives. Reported outcomes over the past eight years include a 98% high-school graduation rate, 94% college enrollment rate, and 91% six-year college graduation rate, with two-thirds of college graduates being first-generation students.

The organization's technical footprint is anchored by the patented Hotbox Composting System, co-developed with BroSis staff, which enables rapid community-scale composting and powers the Environmental Program and the "1,000 Composting Systems in NYC" initiative operating more than 50 community composting sites. The BroSis Training Institute extends the organization's methodology externally — packaging Rites of Passage and social-justice pedagogy for educators and youth workers nationally and internationally — while the International Study Program delivers 4-week Cuba immersions focused on Afro-Cuban history and global social-justice movements. There is no software product, mobile app, or AI/ML system in operation.

BroSis operates as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN 13-3857387) and does not charge participants or families. Revenue is generated through three streams: government grants (U.S. Department of Education, NYC Council), corporate and foundation sponsorships (Turner Construction, Gap Inc., JPMorganChase, Morgan Stanley, NBA Foundation), and individual donations, anchored by the annual Voices Gala at Ziegfeld Ballroom that raised approximately $1.5 million in 2023. Distribution is exclusively direct-service — facility-based at the Harlem headquarters and through partner schools — with no SaaS, licensing, or digital distribution layer.

Name

The Brotherhood Sister Sol

Legal name

The Brotherhood Sister Sol

Website

https://brotherhood-sistersol.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Brotherhood Sister Sol is a Harlem-based nonprofit founded in 1995 that provides year-round educational, leadership, and social-justice programming to Black and Latinx youth ages 6-22 in New York City, funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Afterschool education programs
• College access support
• Community organizing training
• Environmental justice programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Federal and municipal funding from government sources including U.S. Department of Education and NYC Council Empowering Black Communities initiative for afterschool programs, youth development, and environmental initiatives.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual fundraising through corporate sponsors at the Voices Gala and ongoing partnerships with major corporations including Turner Construction, Gap Inc., JPMorganChase, and Morgan Stanley.
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals, philanthropists, and supporters who contribute to support youth programming and organizational operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Brotherhood Sister Sol provides free, year-round youth development and social justice programming for Black and Latinx youth ages 6–22 in Harlem and across New York City, spanning after-school academics, rites-of-passage mentorship, summer leadership, college and career advising, mental health and wellness, arts, environmental education, food access, and youth-led community organizing. Programs are funded through grants, corporate sponsorships, and donations, and are delivered primarily at its Harlem headquarters and at partner community sites.

Product overview

The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis) operates as a single, unified youth development nonprofit rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides holistic programming through interconnected core programs including the After School Program, Rites of Passage Program, Summer Leadership Program, and College/Career/Wellness Program. These are supported by specialized initiatives including the Environmental Program (featuring the proprietary Hotbox Composting System), Food Program, and Organizing campaigns. The BroSis Training Institute extends the organization's methodology to educators and youth workers nationally. An annual Voices Gala serves as the primary fundraising event. All programs operate under a social justice framework serving Black and Latinx youth ages 6-22 in Harlem and across New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Voices Gala: Annual fundraising gala event honoring individuals for contributions to culture and community
• BroSis Training Institute

Products and services

• Rites of Passage Program A signature youth development program that guides youth through critical life transitions using culturally-affirming rituals and mentorship.
• After School Program Year-round afterschool programming providing academic support, arts, tutoring, mentoring, counseling, and recreational activities for youth ages 6-22.
• Summer Leadership Program Intensive summer programming focused on leadership development, community building, and skill-building activities for youth participants.
• College, Career and Wellness Program Comprehensive program supporting youth through college access, career preparation, and mental health/wellness services, including guidance through college admissions processes.
• Environmental Program Environmental education and activism program including the 1,000 Composting Systems in NYC initiative, featuring the patented Hotbox Composting System for community-led urban composting.
• Food Program Food access and education initiative providing meals and culinary education, combating food insecurity within the Harlem community (12,000 meals annually; over 250,000 during COVID-19).
• Organizing Youth-led activism and community organizing program building on BroSis' legacy of social justice work, addressing criminal justice reform, education equity, and environmental justice.
• BroSis Training Institute Professional development hub offering training, coaching, and programmatic resources to educators and youth workers, extending BroSis' impact nationally and internationally.
• International Study Program (Cuba) A 4-week international immersion experience enabling youth to explore Cuban culture, Afro-Cuban history, and international social justice movements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of high school seniors graduate on time
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ImancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Legendary supermodel, author, and philanthropist honored at the 2026 Voices Gala for contributions to culture, creativity, and community. Presented by Zac Posen of Gap Inc. in a custom GapStudio denim gown.
• Derek FordjourcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Activist and acclaimed interdisciplinary artist honored at the 2026 Voices Gala. Longtime supporter who has mentored BroSis youth, supported alumni, and contributed through philanthropy and artistic collaborations.
• Dapper DancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2023Legendary Harlem fashion designer honored at the 18th annual Voices Gala. Partnership with Gap and BroSis resulted in the DAP GAP collaboration celebrated in People Magazine.
• Kevin DurantcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2022Kevin Durant celebrated the ribbon cutting of BroSis' new Harlem headquarters and basketball court, bringing visibility and celebrity support to the organization.
• Carrie Mae WeemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2020BroSis collaborated with acclaimed artist Carrie Mae Weems on public art installations and PSAs to showcase COVID-19's impact on communities of color, displayed via billboards and featured on Revolt TV.
• Saatchi & Saatchi NYminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2014BroSis partnered with Saatchi & Saatchi NY to launch the 'Talk About The Talk' campaign, a PSA about conversations between Black parents and their children regarding police encounters, raising awareness about racial disparities.
• Oprah WinfreycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2001Presented co-founders Khary Lazarre-White and Jason Warwin with the Angel Network Use Your Life Award in 2001. Twenty years later, Oprah surprised them with a special message, highlighting the organization's enduring impact.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harlem Children's Zone: Largest comparable Harlem-based youth development nonprofit serving Black and Latinx youth with cradle-through-college programming, holistic wraparound services, and similar outcome reporting metrics. Operates in the same geography and target population with similar funding mix of philanthropy and government grants.
• The Door - A Center for Alternatives: NYC-based youth services nonprofit serving young people ages 12-24 with education, career, health, and counseling programs; directly comparable in multi-service youth development model, free services model, and NYC urban context.
• East Harlem Tutorial Program: East Harlem-based youth education nonprofit providing afterschool tutoring, college access, and youth development programming for Black and Latinx students; highly comparable given shared geography, demographics, and outcome-focused model.
• DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI): Harlem youth development nonprofit combining athletics with academic and college-access programming for youth; comparable target population, holistic model, and outcome-tracking approach serving NYC youth.
• Good Shepherd Services: Large NYC youth and family services nonprofit providing afterschool, counseling, housing, and college/career programs across boroughs; comparable in breadth of services, NYC focus, and reliance on government and foundation funding.
• Boys' Club of New York: Historic NYC youth development organization serving boys and young men with afterschool, mentorship, and college access programs; directly comparable in youth development focus, NYC geography, and long-term member-based program model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City: Nationally affiliated NYC mentoring nonprofit providing one-to-one youth mentoring with proven outcomes around educational attainment and socio-emotional development; comparable in mentoring-first model and youth outcomes focus.
• Graham Windham: NYC-based child and family services nonprofit offering youth development, foster care, and education programs; comparable in NYC non-profit structure, multi-program model, and mission-driven service to underserved youth.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Defense Fund: Nationally recognized child advocacy organization with Harlem/NYC roots that combines direct service with policy advocacy on behalf of Black and Latinx children; comparable in social-justice framing but operates at much larger national scale.
• YMCA of Greater New York: Large incumbent NYC youth services provider offering afterschool, swim/sports, college prep, and summer programming with comparable target population; broader portfolio but similar program categories and free/subsidized offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brosis512
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bhss512
• Facebookfacebook.com/BroSis512
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brotherhood-sister-sol
• Instagraminstagram.com/brosis512

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Brotherhood Sister Sol