ASPIRA of New York

What ASPIRA of New York does

ASPIRA of New York Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1961 by Dr. Antonia Pantoja to address the high drop-out rate and low educational attainment of Puerto Rican and Latino youth in New York City. Headquartered at 15 West 36th Street, 15th Floor, the organization delivers 16 youth and family programs across NYC boroughs, serving 6,487 youth in 2024—nearly all from low-income households and many first-generation college entrants. Its core technology is the proprietary "Triple A" (Awareness, Analysis, Action) leadership development curriculum, delivered through ASPIRA Clubs in over 400 schools nationally, with NYC-specific delivery through Beacon, COMPASS, SONYC, and Community Schools partnerships with the NYC Department of Education and DYCD.

The organization operates a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining government grants (DYCD), foundation support, individual donations (tiered from $250 to $5,000), corporate sponsorships ($1,000–$25,000 tiers), and event revenue from the annual Circle of Achievers gala, which raised $1.1 million in 2024. It also runs the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) for NYC youth ages 14–24. ASPIRA of New York functions as the founding chapter of a federated national association with associate offices in Washington DC, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico, though each operates with local autonomy under its own board. The 1974 ASPIRA Consent Decree established bilingual education rights in NYC public schools and remains a landmark in the organization's institutional legacy. Reported outcomes include a 100% high school graduation rate and 99% college entry rate among Leadership & College Access Program participants.

Name

ASPIRA of New York

Legal name

ASPIRA of New York Inc.

Website

https://aspirany.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ASPIRA of New York is a 1961-founded nonprofit delivering 16 youth leadership, college access, and after-school programs to approximately 6,487 low-income Latino youth annually across New York City, funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships, donations, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved) (EDAAABAI)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• After-school programs
• College access services
• Community education nonprofits
• Summer youth employment

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fundraising and Donations: ASPIRA relies on charitable donations from individuals and corporations to fund programs. Donation tiers range from $250 for specific program support (CYC Workshop) to $5,000 to fully sponsor an ASPIRAnte.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers: Platinum ($25,000), Gold ($20,000), Silver ($15,000), Bronze ($10,000), Partner ($5,000), and Friend ($1,000). Sponsors receive recognition at events and in digital journals.
3. Event Revenue: The Circle of Achievers annual gala generates revenue through ticket sales. Early Bird tickets at $275, Regular tickets at $375, and Non-Profit tickets at $250. The 2024 event raised $1.1 million.
4. Government/Foundation Grants: Funding from government sources including DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development) and foundation sponsors to support after-school programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASPIRA of New York is a nonprofit organization that delivers youth leadership development and educational enrichment programs to Puerto Rican and Latino youth in New York City. Its core offerings include after-school programs (Beacon, COMPASS, SONYC, Community Schools), the Leadership & College Access Program, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and ASPIRA Clubs, all grounded in the proprietary Triple A (Awareness, Analysis, Action) curriculum. Programs are delivered on-site at over 400 partner schools and funded through government grants, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, and individual donations.

Product overview

ASPIRA of New York is a non-profit youth services organization offering a portfolio of 16 after-school programs serving thousands of students in New York City. The core offerings include Beacon, COMPASS, SONYC, and Community Schools (after-school programs), the Leadership & College Access Program (the organization's foundational youth leadership development initiative), the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and ASPIRA Clubs conducted in over 400 schools. The organization also hosts the annual Circle of Achievers fundraising event. These programs collectively provide educational excellence, leadership development, college preparation, career awareness, and workforce opportunities for Latino youth and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beacon ASPIRA Beacon program delivers an integrated array of culturally appropriate, challenging, and engaging youth development initiatives including community involvement, service learning, life and resiliency skill development, college preparation, career awareness, and academic enrichment in core subject areas for NYC youth at Beacon school sites.
• COMPASS (Comprehensive After School System) After-school programming providing a strong balance of academics, recreation, enrichment, and cultural activities to support and strengthen the overall development of young people at COMPASS partner schools in NYC.
• SONYC (School's Out New York City) After-school program serving NYC youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades as a pathway to success; structured as clubs offering choice in how students spend their time, providing rigorous sports and arts instruction, and requiring youth leadership through service.
• Community Schools Community Schools program creating and sustaining school and community-based organization partnerships through intentional, collaborative leadership that empowers students, families, and communities to thrive.
• Leadership & College Access Program The foundational ASPIRA of New York program equipping NYC youth with tools to become future community leaders through leadership development and pursuit of educational excellence.
• Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Provides NYC youth ages 14 to 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer through the Summer Youth Employment Program.
• ASPIRA Clubs ASPIRA's core activity operating in over 400 schools, providing leadership training, career and college counseling, financial aid, scholarship assistance, educational advocacy, cultural activities, and community action projects to students across the national ASPIRA network.
• Circle of Achievers Annual gala recognizing corporate achievers and awarding college scholarships to deserving ASPIRAntes; the 2024 event raised $1.1 million to support ASPIRA programs and is held at venues such as Marriott Marquis in New York City.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of Leadership and College Access Program students earned a high school diploma
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New York Academy of Sciences - Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPIRA Leaders at P.S. 107 in The Bronx has partnered with the New York Academy of Sciences' Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program. The program recruits STEM professionals (scientists-in-training, R&D specialists) as mentors in elementary and middle school programs with the goal of inspiring a lifelong interest in STEM.
• NYC Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPIRA operates programs in over 400 schools across NYC through partnerships with the Department of Education, delivering after-school programming at Beacon, COMPASS, SONYC, and Community School sites.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: NYC-based nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with college-educated mentors to support college access and success. Direct overlap with ASPIRA's Leadership & College Access Program in serving first-generation college-bound youth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National federation of school- and community-based youth development clubs offering after-school programming, leadership development, and college/career readiness. Closely comparable to ASPIRA's club-based delivery model and similar target demographic of low-income youth.
• UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza): National Latino-focused advocacy and education nonprofit operating affiliate network of community-based organizations. Comparable in Latino youth empowerment mission, federal/state advocacy role, and national affiliate structure paralleling ASPIRA's network.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult mentors with at-risk youth, with explicit college and career aspiration programming. Comparable in mission (youth development for underserved populations) and reliance on a national affiliate network with locally autonomous chapters.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino-focused nonprofit headquartered in NYC supporting Latino families through education, economic empowerment, and civic engagement. Direct overlap in target demographic (NYC Latino community) and education-advocacy mission with ASPIRA of NY.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving low-income young adults (ages 18-24) with skills training and corporate internships. Overlaps with ASPIRA's Summer Youth Employment Program and career awareness/college and career readiness offerings for older youth.
• College Possible: National nonprofit providing college access coaching for low-income and first-generation students, with documented college enrollment outcomes. Comparable in program design (intensive coaching/college prep) and focus on closing college attainment gaps.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs to youth in underserved communities, with academic, enrichment, and STEM components. Closely matches ASPIRA's after-school portfolio (COMPASS/SONYC) and school-based delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater New York: Regional affiliate of a national network offering after-school, youth development, college prep, and community services across NYC. Operates as a broader incumbent with overlapping after-school and youth programming in NYC schools.

Regional players

• Henry Street Settlement: Historic NYC settlement house delivering youth services, after-school programming, and college access support to lower-income residents on the Lower East Side. Comparable as a long-standing NYC community-based youth services organization with similar after-school and college access offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nyaspira
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGcQocx3A9JkTJhnbWUalOA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASPIRAofNewYork
• Instagraminstagram.com/aspiraofnewyork/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ASPIRA of New York