A Better Chance
A Better Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that places high-performing students of color from underserved communities (grades 4-9) into 200+ top independent and public schools across the U.S. and supports them through college completion, funded entirely by donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What A Better Chance does
A Better Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1963 and headquartered in New York that places high-performing students of color in grades 4-9 from historically underserved communities into a national network of over 200 independent day, boarding, and public college preparatory schools. The organization recruits families through community outreach and information sessions in seven major metropolitan markets (Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco/Oakland, and Los Angeles), processes applications annually between February and April via an online portal powered by Social Solutions and Blackbaud, and provides end-to-end scholar support spanning parent programming, summer enrichment, college readiness workshops, Career Week programming, and access to an 18,000+ alumni network. Headcount is approximately 20 staff organized into Administration, Development, and Programs departments with a five-region placement management structure. A Better Chance reports strong outcomes, including nearly 100% college enrollment for graduating seniors and 85% four-year degree completion.
Revenue is generated entirely through donations, with no fees charged to families. Funding streams span individual giving (one-time donations and the Dream Builders Society monthly recurring program), corporate partnerships (Xerox as Cornerstone, plus Capital One, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, TIAA, Accenture, Deloitte, Skadden, State Street, Stanley Black & Decker, and others), special events (the annual Kaleidoscope Ball), and planned giving (legacies via FreeWill, stock donations, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and Donor Advised Fund grants through DAF Direct). The organization is led by President & CEO Francisco Tezén, who joined in February 2020, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Notable infrastructure includes a $10 million endowment established by Oprah Winfrey in 2000, Charity Navigator Four Star Rating and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (both 2024), and a nationwide network of Affiliated Colleges including Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, and Wellesley.
A Better Chance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Better Chance
- Legal name
- A Better Chance, Inc.
- Website
- https://abetterchance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- A Better Chance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1963 that places high-performing students of color from underserved communities (grades 4-9) into 200+ top independent and public schools across the U.S. and supports them through college completion, funded entirely by donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Better Chance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Access Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)
Keywords
Where A Better Chance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Better Chance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time donations, monthly recurring gifts through the Dream Builders Society, and fundraising events.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners including Capital One, Xerox, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and others provide financial support, volunteer programs, and Career Week sponsorship.
- Special Events: Annual Kaleidoscope Ball and other benefit dinners generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships.
- Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including bequests, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, stock donations, and Donor Advised Fund grants.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels12 records
A Better Chance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Better Chance identifies, recruits, and places high-performing students of color in grades 4-9 from historically underserved communities into a national network of over 200 independent day schools, boarding schools, and public schools. The organization supports Scholars and their families throughout the educational journey through application guidance, placement services, college readiness programming, career exploration, and ongoing alumni engagement, with services provided at no cost to families.
Product overview
A Better Chance is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1963 that operates a single integrated program focused on placing high-performing students from underserved communities in grades 4-9 into the nation's top independent day schools, boarding schools, and public schools. The core Placement Program is supported by a network of over 200 Member Schools, the Community Schools Programs for residential support, and a suite of supporting services including Scholar Support Services, Parent Programs, and Career Week. The organization also provides an Application Portal (powered by Social Solutions and Blackbaud) for families to submit applications during the annual February-April window. Fundraising capabilities include the Dream Builders monthly giving program, Legacy Giving options, and annual events like the Kaleidoscope Ball. An Affiliated Colleges Program extends support to Scholars pursuing higher education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- A Better Chance Placement Program Flagship educational placement service that identifies, recruits, and places high-performing middle and high school students (grades 4-9) from historically underserved communities into a network of over 200 independent day schools, boarding schools, and public schools across the nation. Provided at no cost to families.
- Scholar Support Services Comprehensive support for enrolled Scholars including summer abroad programs, enrichment opportunities, college readiness workshops, career programs, and access to the Alumni network of 18,000+ members.
- Parent Program Family programming including parent newsletters, Parent Resource Groups (PRGs), semi-annual town hall meetings, recruitment support, and volunteer opportunities designed to empower parents throughout their Scholar's educational journey.
- Career Week Annual national virtual showcase for career exploration and skills development for current Scholars and college-aged Alumni, featuring career partners providing programming and content over a week-long event.
- Affiliated Colleges Program Partnership with colleges and universities committed to diversity that provides a pathway for Scholars continuing their education, supporting scholar success through college access and completion.
- Community Schools Programs Independent 501(c)3 organizations that allow Scholars to live away from home in suburban communities and attend high-performing public schools, providing an alternative to traditional boarding schools.
- Information Sessions Virtual and in-person information sessions hosted by A Better Chance to educate prospective families about program opportunities and the application process, held across seven major metropolitan markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 100% of A Better Chance graduating seniors enroll in college
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use A Better Chance
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A Better Chance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
A Better Chance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and cornerstone.
- Capital OnecoreCorporate partner supporting A Better Chance's mission to build diverse leaders through educational access. Partner participates in Career Week programming and provides volunteer support.
- Arnold & Porter LLPcoreCorporate partner providing legal industry perspective and support for A Better Chance programs and events.
- Xerox CorporationcornerstoneCornerstone partner with long-standing relationship. Named in honor of former Chairman Ron Pressman and wife Mary through the Pressman Society. John Visentin, former President & CEO of Xerox, was a champion for the transformative power of education.
- Stanley Black & DeckercoreCorporate partner supporting A Better Chance's mission. Executive Adrea Williams serves on the Board of Directors.
- TeneocoreGlobal CEO advisory firm partner with executive Tayo Famakinwa serving on the Board of Directors. Teneo provides sponsorship support for events.
- AccenturecoreGlobal professional services company providing Valedictorian-level sponsorship for the 2026 Kaleidoscope Ball.
- DeloittecoreProfessional services firm providing Magna Cum Laude sponsorship. Executive Roger Arrieux serves as East Region Market Leader & New York Managing Partner.
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPcoreMajor law firm providing Summa Cum Laude sponsorship. Board Emeritus Peter Atkins serves as Partner at the firm.
- The UPS FoundationcoreCorporate foundation providing Magna Cum Laude sponsorship. Executive Tayo Famakinwa serves on the Board.
- Global AtlanticcoreFinancial services company sponsoring Career Week programming for scholars and alumni.
- Affiliated Colleges and UniversitiescoreNetwork of colleges and universities demonstrating commitment to diversity including Dartmouth College, Brown University, Cornell University, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and others. These institutions partner with A Better Chance to support scholar success through college access and completion.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Better Chance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- QuestBridge: National nonprofit that connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds to top colleges and preparatory opportunities. Most comparable direct peer in mission, target population, and partner-institution model, though focused more on college than K-12 placement.
- Prep for Prep: New York-based nonprofit that identifies high-performing students of color and prepares them for placement at independent day and boarding schools. Closest regional peer with nearly identical K-8/9 entry point, school matching model, and scholar support structure.
- Oliver Scholars: New York-based nonprofit preparing high-achieving students of African and Caribbean descent for independent school placement and college success. Comparable target population, K-12 placement mission, and scholar lifecycle support model.
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: National scholarship nonprofit supporting high-achieving students with financial need from elementary school through college. Comparable focus on talent identification and longitudinal academic support, with a large endowed scholarship base.
Emerging players
- SEED Foundation: Operates urban boarding schools for underserved students and supports college transition. Comparable mission of placing underserved students in rigorous educational settings, though SEED owns its schools rather than placing into partners.
- Breakthrough Collaborative: National nonprofit supporting high-achieving students from under-resourced backgrounds with summer and school-year enrichment leading to top college placement. Comparable talent-development mission but more program-based than K-12 placement focused.
- Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing college access and degree-completion support to first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Comparable college-success focus and target population, but complements rather than directly competes with K-12 placement.
- Posse Foundation: National college access nonprofit placing diverse student cohorts at top universities. Comparable mission of diversifying leadership pipelines and partnering with selective institutions, though focused on the college transition rather than K-12 placement.
Others
- National College Match (QuestBridge Match): Run by QuestBridge, this is the largest national college match program for high-achieving low-income students. Adjacent to A Better Chance's Affiliated Colleges Program in helping scholars gain admission to selective institutions.
Broad incumbents
- KIPP Foundation: Large national charter school network serving predominantly underserved students. Compares on mission (educational access for underserved communities) but delivers via owned charter schools rather than placement into partner institutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A Better Chance social profiles
Digital presenceA Better Chance compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
A Better Chance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Better Chance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
A Better Chance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Better Chance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A Better Chance
What does A Better Chance do?
A Better Chance identifies, recruits, and places high-performing students of color in grades 4-9 from historically underserved communities into a national network of over 200 independent day schools, boarding schools, and public schools. The organization supports Scholars and their families throughout the educational journey through application guidance, placement services, college readiness programming, career exploration, and ongoing alumni engagement, with services provided at no cost to families.
Is A Better Chance a public or private company?
A Better Chance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Better Chance founded?
A Better Chance was founded in 1963. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is A Better Chance based?
A Better Chance is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Better Chance make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, special Events and planned Giving.
Who are A Better Chance's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are QuestBridge, Prep for Prep, Oliver Scholars and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Emerging players are SEED Foundation, Breakthrough Collaborative, Bottom Line and Posse Foundation. National College Match (QuestBridge Match) is listed as an others. KIPP Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does A Better Chance have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Better Chance.
What industry is A Better Chance in?
A Better Chance's product category is Educational Access Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAJALAM, After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.