Campaign for College Opportunity

What Campaign for College Opportunity does

Campaign for College Opportunity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy advocacy organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Los Angeles, with a second office in Sacramento. Its mission is to champion student-centered higher education policy transformation in California and dismantle inequitable systems that produce educational, income, and wealth disparities. The organization does not sell products or services; instead it monetizes influence through a donations-and-grants model funded by foundations and individuals, and its outputs are research publications (100+ to date), policy advocacy campaigns, public-awareness initiatives, student leadership programming, and recognition events.

Core offerings are organized around three 'pillars': Partnerships, Public Awareness, and Policy Advocacy, plus a set of recurring campaigns and initiatives. The flagship campaigns are Equity in College Placement (supporting AB 705/AB 1705 implementation that moved 80% of incoming community college students out of remedial sequencing into transfer-level coursework) and Transforming Transfer (supporting SB 1440/AB 928, through which nearly 500,000 community college students have earned an Associate Degree for Transfer since 2010). The Student Leadership Institute is a 5-month cohort program that has trained nearly 1,000 student advocates. Recurring awards programs include Excellence in Placement (2022 inaugural, now annual) and Champions of Higher Education for Excellence in Transfer. The Campaign cites $8.1B in cumulative state investments for students influenced since 2004.

The underlying 'technology' is intentionally minimal: the organization is not a software or platform business and has no APIs, SDKs, proprietary AI, or commercial product. Its distribution is a multi-channel advocacy stack built on a WordPress site, a separate Real Cost of College in CA microsite, ConstantContact email, and active presences on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, augmented by in-person policy forums and earned media. GTM is coalition- and event-driven: the organization assembles broad coalitions of business, education, civil-rights, and student leaders, runs statewide listening tours, and mobilizes advocates during legislative cycles rather than pursuing transactional sales.

Name

Campaign for College Opportunity

Legal name

The Campaign for College Opportunity

Website

https://collegecampaign.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Campaign for College Opportunity is a California nonprofit founded in 2004 that uses research, policy advocacy, and student leadership programs to expand college access, affordability, and completion for underrepresented students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Government & Leadership Programs (EDALAHAA)

Keywords

• Higher education policy
• College access advocacy
• Transfer reform
• Educational equity research
• Student leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Campaign relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations who support their mission to expand college access and improve student success in California. The donation page states that contributions help drive research, advocacy, and policy change.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Campaign for College Opportunity is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that champions student-centered higher education policy transformation. It conducts policy research, runs legislative and budget advocacy campaigns on transfer reform, equitable placement, financial aid, and admissions, and operates the Student Leadership Institute to train student advocates. The organization also produces publications such as the State of Higher Education series and recognizes campus excellence through award programs.

Product overview

The Campaign for College Opportunity is a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on higher education policy transformation in California. Rather than a technology product platform, it offers a portfolio of research publications, policy advocacy campaigns, and student leadership programs. Key offerings include the State of Higher Education research report series analyzing equity outcomes across racial groups, the Student Leadership Institute (a 5-month program developing student advocates), and policy campaigns such as Equity in College Placement and Transforming Transfer. The organization also hosts annual awards programs recognizing excellence in community college placement and transfer practices. These offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of eliminating educational inequities through student-centered policy change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500,000 community college students have earned Associate Degrees for Transfer through historic transfer reform policies since 2010
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Complete College AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Complete College America to strengthen transfer pathways and support California's goal of 70% postsecondary attainment by 2030. Joint publication 'Set Up to Succeed: Meeting California's Postsecondary Education Attainment Goal' serves as a student-centered roadmap for completion at scale.
• California Business RoundtablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California Business Roundtable, a statewide nonpartisan organization of CEOs from California's leading corporations, is one of the co-founders of the Campaign. The Roundtable continues as a key partner in the broad-based coalition.
• MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Saenz, President & Senior Counsel at MALDEF, serves on the Board of Directors. MALDEF is a civil rights organization working on educational access.
• Asian American FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReshma Shamasunder, Executive Director of Asian American Futures, serves on the Board of Directors. The organization focuses on advancing opportunities for Asian American communities.
• Chinese for Affirmative ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy at Chinese for Affirmative Action & Stop AAPI Hate, serves as Secretary on the Board. Vincent Pan, Co-Executive Director, serves on the Advisory Council.
• College Futures FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEloy Ortiz Oakley, President and CEO of College Futures Foundation and former Board Member of Campaign for College Opportunity, represents ongoing partnership in supporting student success.
• Education Trust-WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristopher J. Nellum, Ph.D. serves on the Advisory Council. Organization focuses on educational equity and improving outcomes for students of color.
• Excelencia in EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeborah Santiago, Chief Executive Officer, serves on the Advisory Council. Organization accelerates Latino student success in higher education.
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer partner organization referenced through staff transition; Jessie Hernandez-Reyes previously served as Legislative Analyst for the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
• California State University SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with the CSU system on transfer reform, enrollment funding, and student success initiatives. The CSU Board of Trustees has multiple members affiliated with the Campaign.
• UC Immigrant Legal Services CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaria Blanco, Former Executive Director, serves on the Advisory Council. Organization provides immigration legal services to UC campuses.
• Public AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSbeydeh Viveros-Walton, Director of Higher Education, serves on the Expert Advisory Group. Organization is a nonprofit law firm advocating for social justice.
• Association of Independent California Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKristen Soares, President, serves on the Advisory Council. Represents the independent college and university sector in California.
• BLU Educational FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDina Walker, President & CEO, serves on the Board of Directors. Organization focuses on educational empowerment.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Excelencia in Education: Accelerates Latino student success in higher education through research, policy, and practice; shares the Campaign's equity-focused policy advocacy model and serves on its advisory council.
• The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS): Research and policy organization working on college affordability, financial aid, and student debt; comparable research-publication-driven advocacy model in higher education.
• Complete College America: National nonprofit focused on increasing college completion and closing attainment gaps; a direct peer and explicit partner of the Campaign on the 'Set Up to Succeed' attainment playbook.
• The Education Trust: National education equity advocacy organization that works on college access and completion for low-income and students of color, overlapping heavily with the Campaign's mission.
• Education Trust-West: West Coast affiliate of The Education Trust focused on educational equity and outcomes for students of color in California and the western U.S.; an advisory council partner of the Campaign.
• College Futures Foundation: California-focused foundation working to increase college completion and close equity gaps; partners with the Campaign and shares overlapping board representation.
• MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund): Civil rights organization that litigates and advocates for educational access for Latinos; shares a board representative with the Campaign and works on overlapping equity issues.
• Public Advocates: California-based nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization addressing educational equity and access; serves on the Campaign's Expert Advisory Group.

Regional players

• California Budget & Policy Center: State-level policy research and advocacy organization analyzing California's budget and tax policy, including education funding; comparable California-focused research-publication model.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): National anti-poverty policy organization advocating for low-income families, including postsecondary access and success; shares equity-driven policy advocacy DNA at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/collegeopp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/@CollegeOpp
• Facebookfacebook.com/collegecampaign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/campaign-for-college-opportunity
• Instagraminstagram.com/collegeopp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Campaign for College Opportunity