Strada

What Strada does

Strada Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social impact organization founded in 2017 and incorporated in Delaware, with a primary headquarters in Washington, D.C. and a secondary office in Indianapolis. Its stated mission is to connect education with opportunity — particularly for learners facing barriers to career success — through five focus areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment.

The organization operates a portfolio of research, grantmaking, policy advocacy, and strategic investment activities rather than a unified technology product. Key offerings include the State Opportunity Index (a benchmarking tool built on 56,000+ student surveys across 36 states), the $25 million HBCU Initiative (47 partner institutions, 350,000+ students reached annually), the $4 million Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge (11 community colleges), the Strada Institute for the Future of Work (employer research, including work on AI's impact on entry-level hiring), and named sub-brands such as Strada Impact and Strada Scholars. Strada does not develop proprietary software; its data assets come from primary research, surveys, and partner-reported outcomes.

Strada's revenue model is philanthropic rather than commercial. The foundation is funded through contributions and grant funding, deploys capital as grants (e.g., $400,000 individual awards under the Partnership Challenge), and makes strategic investments in education and workforce technology companies (notably a participation in Nectir's $12.5 million round). Customer segments include learners and job seekers (primary), employers, and educational institutions. The organization is led by President and CEO Stephen Moret (joined January 2022, previously CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership) and President of Strada Impact Ruth V. Watkins (joined April 2021, formerly president of the University of Utah).

Name

Strada

Legal name

Strada Education Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://strada.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Strada Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects education with opportunity through research, grantmaking, and policy advocacy. It serves learners, employers, and educational institutions via programs including the HBCU Initiative, Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge, and the State Opportunity Index.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education-to-Career Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Higher Education Capacity Building & Scholarships (BPADAKAG)

Keywords

• Education-to-career services
• Workforce development research
• Nonprofit grantmaking programs
• Higher education policy
• Postsecondary education support

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropy and Grant Funding: Strada operates as a nonprofit foundation supported primarily through philanthropic contributions and grant funding. The organization awards grants to educational institutions, workforce development programs, and community college partnerships.
2. Strategic Investments: Strada makes strategic investments in education and workforce technology companies, as demonstrated by their participation in Nectir's $12.5 million funding round. Returns on these investments support the foundation's ongoing mission.

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Strada Education Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) social impact organization that connects education with opportunity through grantmaking, research, policy advocacy, and strategic investments. It awards grants to community colleges and HBCUs, publishes research on workforce and education outcomes, and operates programs focused on five areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment.

Product overview

Strada Education Foundation is a nonprofit social impact organization dedicated to connecting education with opportunity. Rather than offering a unified technology product, Strada operates a portfolio of research reports, benchmarking indices, grant programs, and educational initiatives. Key offerings include the State Opportunity Index (a state-level benchmarking tool), research publications on work-based learning and HBCU outcomes, the Strada HBCU Initiative (a $25M scholarship and development program), the Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge (a $4M grant program), and the Strada Institute for the Future of Work (conducting employer research on workforce trends including AI's impact on hiring). The organization focuses on five strategic focus areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work-Based Learning, and Employer Alignment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strada Institute for the Future of Work: A division of Strada focused on research and analysis of the future of work and employer hiring practices.
• Strada Impact
• Strada Scholars

Products and services

• State Opportunity Index A state-level benchmarking tool that measures how well states connect education after high school with equitable pathways to opportunity, based on surveys of 56,000+ students and engagement with 300+ state leaders across 36 states.
• Strada HBCU Initiative A $25 million multi-year grant initiative supporting 47 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with student scholarships, internship stipends, leadership development, and career pathway support, reaching 350,000+ HBCU students annually.
• Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge A $4 million grant program supporting partnerships between 11 community colleges and employers to meet regional workforce needs, with grants of up to $400,000 over two years to fund work-based learning programs and employer partnerships.
• Strada Institute for the Future of Work A research division of Strada that conducts employer surveys and produces reports analyzing workforce trends, including the Entry-Level Hiring in the AI Era research examining how AI affects hiring practices.
• Strada Scholars Program A scholarship program for HBCU students providing annual scholarships, internship stipends, leadership development, and career exposure; 100+ Strada Scholars are expected to graduate in 2026, with 63% completing paid internships.
• Work-Based Learning: Who Gets Paid? Report A research report from the 2025 State Opportunity Index examining national participation patterns in paid work-based learning across demographic groups and institution types, published as part of Strada's research output.
• The Significant Value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Report A research report examining student and alumni experiences at HBCUs, highlighting outcomes in career preparation, skill development, and social mobility compared to non-HBCU institutions, including data on $15+ billion in annual economic impact and 134,000 people employed by HBCUs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ Strada Scholars expected to graduate in 2026 with 63% completing paid internships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrada has partnered with 47 HBCUs through the Strada Scholars program and a $25 million multi-year initiative. These partnerships provide financial support, paid internships, and career coaching to HBCU students, addressing the unique challenges facing these institutions and their students.
• MiraCosta CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrada awarded a $400,000 grant to MiraCosta College to expand its IDEA-BTEC biotechnology education program. The program is conducted in partnership with Sterogene Bio-Separations and Open Biopharma Research and Training Institute, creating pathways for students in biotechnology careers.
• Community College of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrada awarded a $400,000 grant to the Community College of Rhode Island to enhance its dental hygiene training program. The program is conducted in partnership with Delta Dental of Rhode Island, creating pathways for students in dental health careers.
• Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge GranteescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrada's $4 million Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge supports 11 community colleges including Broward College, Carl Albert State College, Green River College, Honolulu Community College, Ivy Tech Community College, and Pima County Community College District. Grants of up to $400,000 over two years fund employer partnerships and work-based learning programs.
• Sterogene Bio-SeparationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MiraCosta College's IDEA-BTEC biotechnology education program, funded by Strada's $400,000 grant. Sterogene provides industry expertise and practical training components for biotechnology students.
• Open Biopharma Research and Training InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MiraCosta College's IDEA-BTEC biotechnology education program, funded by Strada's $400,000 grant. Open Biopharma provides research and training infrastructure for biotechnology education.
• Delta Dental of Rhode IslandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with the Community College of Rhode Island on dental hygiene training program, supported by Strada's $400,000 grant. Delta Dental provides industry expertise and potential employment pathways for graduates.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lumina Foundation: Indianapolis-based private foundation focused on postsecondary education attainment and workforce outcomes. Highly comparable as a peer grantmaking foundation targeting education-to-career pathways with comparable geographic footprint and employer-alignment focus.
• ECMC Foundation: Education-focused foundation supporting postsecondary success, particularly for underserved learners. Comparable in mission emphasis on career pathways, affordability, and supporting institutions serving underrepresented students.
• Kresge Foundation: Major US foundation with significant education and workforce development grantmaking. Comparable in deploying multi-million-dollar program initiatives and engaging in policy advocacy on postsecondary access and economic opportunity.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit focused on workforce and education pathways for underserved learners. Comparable as a direct peer in designing programs that connect community colleges, employers, and learners to economic opportunity.
• Achieving the Dream: Nonprofit network supporting community college student success and completion. Comparable as a peer working with community colleges on student outcomes, employer alignment, and work-based learning initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest US philanthropic foundation with a substantial postsecondary education portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent in education grantmaking but operating at vastly greater scale and across many sectors beyond Strada's focus.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: Major foundation focused on child and youth welfare, including education and workforce pathways. Comparable in mission alignment with underserved populations and postsecondary success, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Complete College America: Nonprofit focused on increasing college completion and closing equity gaps. Comparable as a peer organization driving state and institutional policy on postsecondary outcomes and equity, with narrower scope than Strada.
• National Skills Coalition: Policy and advocacy organization focused on skills training, workforce development, and equitable economic opportunity. Comparable as an adjacent peer working at the intersection of education, employers, and policy.
• Credential Engine: Nonprofit providing transparent data on credentials and their value in the labor market. Comparable as a peer organization working on 'clear outcomes' for learners, directly relevant to one of Strada's five focus areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stradaeducation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKAa0sENL-7dSJKA2Ezp61A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strada-education-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments8 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Strada