California Competes

What California Competes does

California Competes is a nonpartisan research and policy organization founded in 2011 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It operates at the intersection of higher education, equity, and the California economy, conducting rigorous policy research and convening state leaders to address fragmentation and inequity across California's higher education and workforce systems. The organization serves California policymakers — including the Governor's office, the State Legislature, and the three public higher education systems (Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California) — by producing research publications, policy analysis, white papers, and an interactive Postsecondary to Prosperity Dashboard that braids multiple data sources to visualize opportunity across counties. It also convenes stakeholders through policy institutes, webinars, and the 'Degrees of Change' podcast.

Its core technology comprises the Postsecondary to Prosperity (P2P) Dashboard, an interactive data portal integrating higher education, employment, and quality-of-life metrics across California counties, and the Public Benefit Finder Tool, which connects students to 30+ support programs. The organization plays a central role in California's Cradle-to-Career Data System, with access to 200+ metrics and over one billion data points. It operates a network of coalition partnerships including the co-led California Alliance for Student Parent Success, CaliforniaAttain!, California ASPIRES, the California EDGE Coalition, and Career Nexus, and has produced 40+ research publications and resources.

California Competes is structured as a private nonprofit with no commercial revenue. Its operating budget is funded by philanthropic grants from foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, College Futures Foundation, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Kresge Foundation, Stupski Foundation, Waverley Street Foundation, ECMC Foundation, and Imaginable Futures. A lean team of 11 staff, supported by a 12-member board of directors, delivers outsized policy impact, having influenced Cal Grant equity reforms reaching 150,000+ adults, steered $2 billion in student housing security funding, and shaped $17 billion in state career education investments via the California Education Interagency Council.

Name

California Competes

Legal name

California Competes

Website

https://californiacompetes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Competes is a nonpartisan research and policy organization that conducts rigorous higher education and workforce research, maintains the Postsecondary to Prosperity data dashboard, and convenes California state policymakers, legislators, and the three public higher education systems to drive equity-centered education and workforce policy reform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Policy Research and Advocacy

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education Regulators & Tertiary Education Commissions (EDADAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

State Legislature/Regional Assembly Administration (BPAIABAB)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Higher education advocacy
• Workforce development
• Education policy
• Equity research

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: California Competes operates as a nonprofit research and policy organization funded primarily through grants and donations from foundations and supporters. Key funders include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, College Futures Foundation, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Kresge Foundation, and Stupski Foundation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

California Competes is a nonpartisan research and policy organization that conducts rigorous policy research, publishes analysis, and convenes stakeholders to identify solutions to California's most critical higher education and workforce issues. The organization produces data tools, research publications, podcasts, and policy briefings, and engages directly with state legislators, the Governor's office, and higher education system leaders to drive equity-centered policy reforms.

Product overview

California Competes is a nonpartisan research and policy organization, not a software product company. It does not offer a commercial product or software platform. The organization conducts policy research, publishes reports and analysis, maintains an interactive Postsecondary to Prosperity Dashboard (p2p.californiacompetes.org) for visualizing higher education and workforce data, produces a podcast called Degrees of Change, and facilitates partnerships including The California Alliance for Student Parent Success, CaliforniaAttain!, and California ASPIRES. The organization focuses on policy research at the intersection of higher education, equity, and the economy rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The California Alliance for Student Parent Success: A coalition co-led by California Competes and EdTrust-West focused on advancing solutions for the postsecondary success and well-being of student parents and their families.
• Degrees of Change
• Postsecondary to Prosperity (P2P) Dashboard

Products and services

• Postsecondary to Prosperity (P2P) Dashboard

Quantifiable outcome

• Unlocked access to financial aid for over 150,000 adults through Cal Grant equity reforms
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• The California Alliance for Student Parent SuccesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2026California Competes co-leads The California Alliance for Student Parent Success with EdTrust-West. This initiative advances solutions for the postsecondary success and well-being of student parents and their families, including policy advocacy and analysis on financial aid and basic needs support.
• EdTrust-WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdTrust-West partners with California Competes on The California Alliance for Student Parent Success, co-leading analysis on student parent issues and policy solutions for California.
• CaliforniaAttain!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on higher education attainment across California, aligning regional partners toward shared education and career readiness priorities.
• California ASPIRESmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative focused on advancing postsecondary success and career readiness outcomes in California through cross-sector collaboration.
• California EDGE CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bridge education and career through research, analysis, and collaboration with educational partners and employers to improve the workforce pipeline.
• The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership advancing key changes to state financial aid programs to ensure equitable and affordable access to postsecondary credentials.
• Career NexusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing a bridge between education and career through real-time collaboration with educational partners and employers to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
• UCLA Civil Rights ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on white paper exploring equity-centered vision for California's postsecondary system as part of UCLA Civil Rights Project series on civil rights agenda.
• California Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState system partner for policy alignment and coordination, working to strengthen connections between higher education and workforce.
• California State University SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState university system partner in efforts to improve college access and completion across California.
• University of California SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity system partner in policy coordination and system alignment efforts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS): California-headquartered nonprofit policy and research organization focused on college affordability and financial aid, directly partnering with California Competes. Operates with a similar research-to-policy model targeting state and federal higher education reform.
• National Skills Coalition: National organization advocating for public investments in skills training and postsecondary education, with state-level affiliates. Shares California Competes' focus on workforce alignment and equity-centered policy reform.
• Campaign for College Opportunity: California-based nonpartisan policy and advocacy organization focused on expanding college access and success, particularly for underrepresented students. Closely aligned mission and stakeholder base with California Competes.
• The Century Foundation: National progressive think tank with a Higher Education program that conducts policy research on college access, affordability, and equity. California Competes' former Executive Director Bob Shireman was previously a Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, reflecting closely aligned research and advocacy agendas.
• The Education Trust-West: West Coast-based nonprofit that advocates for educational equity and higher education access. Co-leads The California Alliance for Student Parent Success with California Competes, sharing a near-identical mission around underrepresented student populations.
• California Budget & Policy Center: Independent nonpartisan policy analysis organization focused on California's economic and budget policy with implications for education and workforce. Shares California Competes' nonpartisan, research-driven approach to state-level policy influence.

Broad incumbents

• WestEd: Nonprofit research, development, and service agency working on education and workforce issues across the western United States. Comparable to California Competes in research methodology and education-policy focus, with broader service offerings and geographic scope.
• Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC): Larger, established California-based nonpartisan think tank producing research across multiple policy areas including higher education and workforce. A wider-scope analog of California Competes with deeper resources and broader legislative engagement.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit driving workforce and education transformation, with a strong focus on equity and postsecondary attainment. Comparable to California Competes in mission and target populations, with significantly broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• College Futures Foundation: California-based philanthropic foundation that funds higher education policy and advocacy. Functions as both a funder and policy shaper with overlapping grantees and issue areas, making it a thematic peer as well as a financial partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/4UQmtMxd0VQn5QlYkck83j
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-competes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Competes