DC College Access Program

What DC College Access Program does

DC College Access Program (DC CAP) is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 and headquartered at 1425 K Street NW, Washington, DC. The organization helps Washington, DC public and public charter school students prepare for, enroll in, and graduate from college by combining scholarship funding, intensive student-success coaching, and curated partnerships with a network of 13-14 universities. DC CAP reports having helped more than 35,000 students enroll in college, supported over 14,000 graduates, and awarded nearly $62 million in scholarships since inception; it currently supports more than 1,200 students through college via a retention division.

The organization operates three core programs. The flagship University Partnerships (UP) program matches DC students with partner universities and stacks $5,000-$7,500 annual DC CAP scholarships with federal Pell, DC TAG (up to $10,000/year), and institutional aid; partners include George Mason University (largest recipient), HBCUs (Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T), faith-based and Hispanic-Serving institutions (Catholic University, Marymount), and flexible/online models (ASU Local). The Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship Program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, provides renewable $12,000/year scholarships plus dedicated coaching for students from DC's historically underserved wards. GEAR UP is a federally funded six-year, $21M cohort-based program — partnered with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) — providing early college awareness to ~480-800 middle and high schoolers.

DC CAP's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual and corporate donations (Capital One, Sallie Mae, Venture Global, Trae Young Family Foundation), foundation grants (Clark Foundation $10M, Gates Foundation, Lumina, Greater Washington Community Foundation), a $21M federal GEAR UP grant, and an undisclosed gift from MacKenzie Scott (December 2025) — capped by a historic $30M campaign announced April 2025. The 2024 launch of the 2050 Moonshot Goal to raise DC's six-year college completion rate from 37% to 80% reframes the organization's mission from college access to systemic completion. Reported outcomes include a 90% first-to-second-year retention rate for University Partnership scholars and 75% on-time graduation (75-95% at most established programs). Services are provided at no cost to students.

Name

DC College Access Program

Legal name

District of Columbia College Access Program

Website

https://dccap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DC CAP is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that helps DC public and charter school students enroll in and graduate from college through stacked scholarship aid, intensive coaching, and a network of partner universities, currently supporting 1,200+ college students and 14,000+ alumni.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: DC CAP relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Major donors include Monumental Sports & Entertainment, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Capital One, Sallie Mae, and others. The organization hosts College Signing Day and other events that serve as fundraising opportunities.
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: Significant funding received from foundations including a $30 million campaign ($10M each from Clark Foundation and Leonsis/MSE with $10M matching), Gates Foundation funding for Ward 7&8 scholarships, and a $21M GEAR UP federal grant through OSSE partnership.
3. Major Gift from MacKenzie Scott: DC CAP received a gift from MacKenzie Scott as part of her philanthropy, contributing to organizational growth and strategic priorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DC College Access Program (DC CAP) is a nonprofit organization that provides college access and completion services to DC public and public charter school students. Through three core programs (University Partnerships, Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship, and GEAR UP), DC CAP combines renewable scholarship funding ($5,000-$12,000 annually), intensive student success coaching, and partnerships with 13+ universities to help students enroll in and graduate from college with minimal debt.

Product overview

DC College Access Program (DC CAP) is a nonprofit organization providing college access and completion services through three core programs: the University Partnerships Program (matching students with partner institutions and providing scholarships and coaching), the Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship Program (Gates Foundation-funded scholarships for students in underserved wards with coaching), and GEAR UP (federally-funded early awareness program for middle and high school students). All programs combine financial aid, university partnerships, and wraparound student support services to help D.C. students enroll and graduate from college with minimal debt.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University Partnerships Program DC CAP's flagship program that matches DC students with a curated network of 13+ partner universities, combining scholarship funding ($5,000-$7,500 annually), intensive student support, and cohort-based community experience from enrollment through graduation. Designed for DC public and public charter school students pursuing undergraduate degrees.
• Ward 7 & 8 Scholarship Program A Gates Foundation-funded renewable scholarship program providing up to $12,000 annually for students attending high schools in Wards 7 and 8, paired with personalized coaching from enrollment through graduation. Targeted to address educational inequities in historically underserved DC communities.
• GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) A federally funded cohort-based support program helping approximately 800 middle and high school students in DC, particularly those in Wards 7 and 8, prepare for post-secondary education through school-based coaching, family engagement, hands-on experiences, and $11,000/year post-secondary scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% first-to-second year retention rate for University Partnership scholars
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Integration2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Marymount UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Virginia's first Hispanic-Serving Institution located in Arlington near DC. Provides career-connected opportunities with proximity to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies.
• Trinity Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Women's college in DC founded 1897, enrolling more DC residents than any other private university. 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio with $11M+ in aid to DC undergraduates.
• Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2023Federal grantee for $21M GEAR UP grant. OSSE and DC CAP partner to serve approximately 480-800 middle/high school students in Wards 7 and 8 with coaching, workshops, and $11,000 scholarships.
• Alabama A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBCU and 1890 Land-grant institution; provides scholarship pathways for DC students. Part of DC CAP's University Partnership network with over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Arizona State University LocalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewest partner as of 2025/2026 application season. Offers flexible online coursework with in-person support at ASU Barrett & O'Connor Center near White House, allowing students to earn ASU degree while staying in DC.
• The Catholic University of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based university in Washington, DC with 80+ majors. Committed to student success with hands-on support for DC CAP scholars.
• Florida A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic HBCU in Tallahassee, Florida. Part of State University System of Florida with main campus and satellite locations including College of Law in Orlando.
• George Mason UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner institution; largest recipient of DC CAP scholars. Located near DC with strong internship and career connections. Known for innovation and undergraduate research opportunities.
• Kent State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio university with 300+ degree programs. DC CAP scholars participate in CommUNITY Lab living-learning program with dedicated staff providing individualized support.
• Marshall UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-centered research institution in Huntington, West Virginia. Offers 150+ academic programs with hands-on learning opportunities.
• North Carolina A&T State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand-grant doctoral research university and largest HBCU in the country. Strong STEM education reputation with national rankings.
• SUNY OswegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic teaching-focused institution founded in 1861 on Lake Ontario in Central New York. Offers 120+ undergraduate and graduate programs with 150+ student organizations.
• University of Massachusetts LowellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop-ranked public research university. First DC CAP cohort graduated in 2023. Strong first-gen student support through River Hawk Scholars Academy.
• West Chester UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania State System university with 118+ undergraduate, 80+ graduate, and 5 doctoral programs. Strong experiential learning and undergraduate research opportunities.
• Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of DC-area universities supporting DC CAP's mission. Multiple college presidents have signed pledge supporting 2050 Moonshot Goal.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• QuestBridge: National nonprofit connecting high-achieving, low-income students with full scholarships at partner colleges. Comparable college access mission, partner university network structure, and focus on stacking financial aid to minimize debt.
• OneGoal: National college persistence program supporting low-income high school students through high school graduation and first year of college. Comparable mission, cohort model, and student-success coaching approach to DC CAP.
• College Possible: National nonprofit providing college access coaching and support to low-income students from high school through college completion. Operates multi-state with AmeriCorps-powered coaching model, directly comparable to DC CAP's cohort-based university partnership approach.
• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with college-educated mentors for college access and persistence support. Comparable long-horizon student-success coaching approach and partnership with DC-area schools.
• Posse Foundation: National college access and leadership program identifying and placing diverse cohorts at partner colleges. Comparable cohort-based approach, university partnerships, and leadership-development wraparound services to DC CAP's model.
• College Track: National nonprofit providing comprehensive college access, persistence, and graduation support starting in 9th grade through college completion. Operates in multiple states with cohort model similar to DC CAP's University Partnerships and GEAR UP.
• College Advising Corps: National nonprofit deploying recent college graduates as near-peer college advisers in underserved high schools. Comparable mission of expanding college access through school-based advising, overlapping with DC CAP's school counselor partnerships.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit focused on college access and degree completion for first-generation students from low-income backgrounds, serving Boston, New York, Washington DC, and other metros. Directly comparable mission, coaching model, and student demographic.

Others

• National College Access Network (NCAN): Membership and intermediary organization supporting the college access and success field, including DC CAP. Comparable ecosystem role, but operates as a network rather than directly serving students; useful as a sector signal and peer convening body.

Emerging players

• Matriculate: Nonprofit providing virtual college advising to high-achieving, low-income high school students. Comparable college-access advising model with partial overlap on student demographic and selective-college pathway focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dccapscholars
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dccapscholars
• Facebookfacebook.com/dccapscholars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dccapscholars
• Instagraminstagram.com/dccapscholars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 DC College Access Program