Bridges From School to Work

What Bridges From School to Work does

Bridges from School to Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 1989 by descendants of J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott to connect young adults with disabilities to competitive employment. Operating in 10 major U.S. cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC), the organization serves youth ages 17-24 who have IEPs, 504 Plans, or other disabilities, providing job-readiness training, employer matching, placement, and up to one year of post-hire follow-up support. As of program year 2023-2024, Bridges enrolled 949 youth, placed 758 in jobs, and retained 483 at 180 days; since inception it has connected more than 28,000 youth to employment across more than 7,100 employer locations and 900 partner high schools. The organization has been the subject of five peer-reviewed journal articles and is currently being evaluated under the NextGen randomized controlled trial with Mathematica.

The core product offering is the Bridges Youth Employment Program, supplemented by Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students ages 14-22, a Trauma-Informed Care program certified in January 2025, and a standardized Bridges National Curriculum co-developed with the Center for Technology in Education at Johns Hopkins University. Service delivery is grounded in a state-of-the-art data management system for outcome tracking, supported by iPad-based field deployment across all program cities. CARF International accreditation is held for the Los Angeles and Chicago programs covering Community Employment Services. Roughly 51 Youth Employment Specialists operate across program cities with high-frequency in-person engagement at schools and employer sites; nine of ten program directors have been promoted internally from this specialist role.

Bridges is funded through a hybrid model: fee-for-service contracts with school districts, state vocational rehabilitation offices, and human services agencies; competitive federal grants from the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services; private philanthropy led by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation (which operates on a 1.5:1 leverage expectation, generating $1.50 from other funders per $1.00 contributed); corporate contributions; an annual Washington, DC gala that raised over $2.26 million in 2024; and individual donations routed through the Benevity matching-gift platform. FY2023 total revenue was approximately $11.5-12.6 million (private $9.3M, public $2.0M, other $1.2M). Participants receive services free of charge, with all costs absorbed through this mixed public-private funding structure.

Name

Bridges From School to Work

Legal name

Bridges from School to Work

Website

https://bridgestowork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bridges from School to Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1989 by the Marriott family, that connects young adults ages 17-24 with disabilities to competitive employment through 10 U.S. city offices, partnering with 900+ high schools and 7,100 employer locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Workforce development programs
• School-to-work transition
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Nonprofit employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-service contracts: Bridges operates with fee-for-service contracts with school districts, vocational rehabilitation programs, and human services agencies. This is the primary revenue model for program operations.
2. Government grants and contracts: Receives grants and contracts from U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, state vocational rehabilitation offices, workforce investment boards, and departments of children, youth, and families.
3. Private donations and foundation support: Individual donors, corporate contributions, and foundation grants comprise essential funding sources. The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation provides core support with a 1.5:1 leverage ratio.
4. Annual Gala: Annual fundraising gala hosted by Richard Marriott that generates significant donations for programming. The 2024 Gala raised over $2,260,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bridges From School to Work is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive workforce development services connecting young adults with disabilities (ages 17-24) to competitive employment across 10 major U.S. cities. The organization delivers job readiness training, employer matching, on-the-job coaching, and up to one year of post-hire support through Youth Employment Specialists embedded in schools and communities. Services are provided free of charge to eligible youth and are funded through fee-for-service contracts with school districts, vocational rehabilitation agencies, government grants, foundation support, and corporate donations.

Product overview

Bridges From School to Work is a nonprofit workforce development organization offering a unified program that connects young adults with disabilities (ages 17-24) to competitive employment. The core offering is the Youth Employment Program, which operates in 10 major U.S. cities and provides comprehensive services from job readiness training through post-hire support. Supporting components include Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students ages 14-22, a Trauma-Informed Care program (certified January 2025), and a National Curriculum used across all locations. The organization also maintains CARF accreditation for Community Employment Services (Employment Supports and Job Development) at select locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridges Youth Employment Program A workforce development program that connects young adults with disabilities (ages 17-24) to entry-level jobs across 10 major U.S. cities, providing job readiness training, employer matching, and up to one year of post-hire support.
• Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of employers are satisfied with the performance of Bridges youth
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and minor.

• MathematicamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization conducting NextGen randomized controlled trial to evaluate Bridges program efficacy. Partnership with Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within U.S. Department of Human Services and Social Security Administration.
• Center for Technology in Education at Johns Hopkins UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to revamp and refresh 16 new hire e-learning modules for Bridges staff training.
• AccenturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided pro bono consultative services to develop strategic plan 2025-2027. Major employer partner with multiple Bridges participants hired across locations.
• Manhattan Strategy GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetained Bridges to provide technical assistance and training to federal Department of Education ODEP grantees.
• NYC Public SchoolsmajorOthersOne of the three largest school districts in the nation, serving as primary referral source for Bridges participants.
• Los Angeles Unified School DistrictmajorOthersOne of the three largest school districts in the nation, serving as primary referral source for Bridges participants.
• Chicago Public SchoolsmajorOthersOne of the three largest school districts in the nation, serving as primary referral source for Bridges participants.
• State vocational rehabilitation officesmajorOthersApproved provider of state vocational rehabilitation services in most Bridges cities, operating WIOA programs.
• Marriott InternationalmajorOthersFortune 200 hospitality company and original founding partner's family business, providing ongoing employment opportunities for Bridges participants.
• TargetmajorOthersFortune 200 retailer providing employment opportunities for Bridges participants across multiple program cities.
• AmazonmajorOthersFortune 200 e-commerce and logistics company providing employment opportunities for Bridges participants.
• CVSmajorOthersFortune 200 healthcare/retail company providing employment opportunities for Bridges participants.
• AramarkmajorOthersFortune 200 food service company providing employment opportunities for Bridges participants, including national account partnerships.
• KrogermajorOthersFortune 200 grocery retailer providing employment opportunities for Bridges participants.
• BenevityminorOthersPlatform enabling corporate employees to make matching gifts to Bridges through workplace giving programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit operating jobs and inclusive employment programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most direct comparable - both organizations place participants with employers, share senior talent (new Bridges CEO came from Best Buddies), and compete for the same federal grants and corporate partnerships.
• Melwood: Nonprofit providing employment, vocational training, and supportive services for people with disabilities across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Direct geographic overlap with Bridges in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, with overlapping employer relationships.
• SourceAmerica: AbilityOne-authorized nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal contracts and partnerships with private employers. Competes for vocational rehabilitation contracts and serves a similar transition-age population through workforce development programs.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development network with mission-related employment services for people with disabilities. Operates retail-funded training programs that compete for state VR contracts in many of Bridges' cities.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including employment support services through its chapter network. Larger footprint than Bridges but typically less focused on direct school-to-work transition outcomes.
• Easterseals: National disability services nonprofit network offering employment, education, and rehabilitation services across the U.S. Larger and broader than Bridges, but operates competing employment placement programs and competes for the same federal and state vocational rehabilitation funding.

Emerging players

• Disability:IN: National nonprofit driving corporate disability inclusion through the Disability Equality Index and supplier diversity programs. Adjacent rather than directly competing on job placement, but increasingly relevant to Bridges' Fortune 200 employer relationships and ESG positioning.
• National Disability Institute: National nonprofit focused on financial capability and employment for people with disabilities. Overlaps with Bridges on employer-facing disability inclusion work and federal grant funding streams but typically operates through partnerships rather than direct service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BridgesToWork
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BridgesToWork
• Facebookfacebook.com/bridgestowork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridges-from-school-to-work?trk=biz-companies-cym
• Instagraminstagram.com/bridgestowork

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bridges From School to Work