Prison Scholar Fund

What Prison Scholar Fund does

Prison Scholar Fund (PSF) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 by Dirk van Velzen, a formerly incarcerated individual, to deliver postsecondary educational opportunities to incarcerated U.S. residents. PSF's core offering is a scholarship-funded distance-education program that pays tuition and books for correspondence and degree courses, supplemented by mentoring, advising, college preparation, and career development. The organization partners with correctional facilities, universities (University of Washington, Jackson College, U.C. Berkeley's Underground Scholars), and education-technology providers (Edovo secure tablets; Code Fellows full-stack programming) to deliver curriculum adapted to prison security constraints, including a UW-developed locally cached "online" Bachelor's in Integrated Social Sciences that functions without internet access.

Beyond education, PSF runs a Western Washington Food Security Program and transition support services (digital navigation, employment, social navigation) for returning citizens. Its revenue model is donations and grants; private donors cover operating costs so that 100% of charitable contributions reach program beneficiaries. The organization has achieved Excellence in Giving Certified Transparent status, won the 2015 Social Venture Partners Fast Pitch competition, and distributes awareness through a bi-weekly "Our Social Impact" podcast and active social media presence. As of available data, PSF operates with 1-10 employees and has awarded at least 191 scholarships historically.

Name

Prison Scholar Fund

Legal name

Prison Scholar Fund

Website

https://prisonscholars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Prison Scholar Fund is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides scholarships, mentoring, and transition support so that incarcerated individuals in U.S. prisons can pursue postsecondary distance education and reduce recidivism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Correctional Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Correctional Education Programs (Community College-Delivered) (EDAHADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE), Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support Platforms (EDAFAMAF)

Keywords

• Correctional education
• Postsecondary distance education
• Prison scholarship funding
• Reentry support services
• Incarcerated student aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Revenue primarily from private donations and grants. Private donors cover operating costs so that 100% of donations can be directed to educational programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Prison Scholar Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides incarcerated individuals in U.S. prisons with access to postsecondary education through scholarships covering tuition and books, plus mentoring and advising services. The core program delivers distance education via correspondence courses and locally cached offline degree programs, complemented by transition support services (digital navigation, employment, social navigation) and a food security program for individuals and families affected by incarceration.

Product overview

Prison Scholar Fund operates as a nonprofit organization providing a portfolio of educational and support services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The core offering is a postsecondary distance education program that provides scholarships, mentoring, and advising to help transform lives through education. The organization complements its education mission with an Our Social Impact podcast series featuring conversations with justice reform advocates, transition support services (including digital navigation, employment services, and social navigation), a food security program serving Western Washington, and a platform for success stories from scholars. The portfolio works together to address the full spectrum of educational access, support during incarceration, and successful reentry into society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Postsecondary Distance Education Program Core educational program providing incarcerated individuals access to postsecondary distance education through scholarships covering tuition and books, alongside mentoring and advising services, delivered via correspondence courses and locally cached offline degree programs.
• Transition Support Services Comprehensive reentry support services for formerly incarcerated individuals, including Digital Navigation Services, Employment Services, and Social Navigation Services to assist with reentry into society.
• Food Security Program Program providing nourishment and food pantry support to individuals in need throughout Western Washington, extending assistance to those affected by incarceration and their families.
• Our Social Impact Podcast A bi-weekly podcast series featuring interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals, justice reform advocates, and community leaders discussing topics related to incarceration, rehabilitation, education, and reentry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% reduction in recidivism for those receiving correctional education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 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 supporting.

• JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through JLUSA's Leading with Conviction (LwC) program, a year-long cohort-based advanced leadership training for formerly incarcerated, mid-senior level leaders with proven track records in advocacy and community organizing.
• College Success FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership featuring Michael Cheever, College Success Foundation Executive Vice President of External Affairs, discussing mentorship programs and community partnerships to promote college-going cultures in underserved communities.
• University of WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding a locally cached 'online' degree program offering a Bachelor's degree in Integrated Social Sciences, designed to work within prison security constraints where internet connectivity is unavailable.
• Code FellowscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to teach inmates full-stack programming skills, which are extremely-highly sought in today's labor market, preparing them for tech employment upon release.
• EdovosupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to provide secure tablets for inmates to use in their living units for educational programs, enabling access to learning materials within prison security parameters.
• Underground Scholars (U.C. Berkeley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with U.C. Berkeley's Underground Scholars program supporting formerly incarcerated students pursuing higher education at the university.
• Jackson College (Michigan)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Jackson College in Michigan to assist incarcerated people access education and invest in their futures through college programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Defy Ventures: Defy Ventures provides entrepreneurship education, mentoring, and reentry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Comparable target population and nonprofit model, though weighted toward business rather than academic postsecondary education.
• The Last Mile: The Last Mile provides in-prison technology and coding education plus post-release employment support to incarcerated individuals. Closely comparable to PSF's postsecondary education, mentoring, and reentry services, and Code Fellows partnership.
• Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison: Hudson Link funds and delivers college education to incarcerated individuals in New York State, mirroring PSF's scholarship-based, university-partnered model for postsecondary prison education.
• Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP): PEP provides entrepreneurship and higher education programming to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in Texas. Directly comparable to PSF in target population (prisoners), educational and vocational mission, and nonprofit delivery model.
• JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA): JLUSA develops leaders directly impacted by the criminal justice system through the Leading with Conviction program. PSF partners with JLUSA, and the organizations share a formerly incarcerated-led leadership development mission.
• Petey Greene Program: Petey Greene Program recruits and prepares volunteers to provide tutoring and educational support to incarcerated individuals. Comparable mission of expanding educational access in prisons through volunteer and partnership-driven delivery.
• Underground Scholars (UC Berkeley): Underground Scholars is a university-based program supporting formerly incarcerated and system-impacted students pursuing higher education. PSF is a formal partner, and the program is directly comparable in mission and reentry higher-education focus.

Emerging players

• Edovo: Edovo provides secure tablet-based educational and rehabilitative content to incarcerated individuals. PSF is a partner of Edovo, and Edovo is a complementary technology platform enabling the in-cell education delivery PSF relies on within prison security constraints.
• College Success Foundation: College Success Foundation promotes college access and success for underserved students, including mentorship programs. PSF is a formal partner, and the foundation shares PSF's focus on scholarships, mentorship, and college access for underrepresented populations.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): CEO is a larger, established nonprofit providing employment services to people returning from incarceration. Comparable reentry and transition-support mission to PSF's Transition Support Services, though at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/prisonscholars
• Facebookfacebook.com/prisonscholars
• Instagraminstagram.com/prisonscholars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Prison Scholar Fund