Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

What Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network does

The Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, that builds community, career, and educational infrastructure for formerly incarcerated college students, graduates, and professionals. The organization operates a private Hivebrite-powered online community platform, a curated Fair Chance job board, and three core program areas: CAPSS (Center for Academic Programs and Student Success) for higher-education-in-prison support; PLACE (Pathways to Leadership and Career Excellence) for employment and leadership development including the FIELD executive retreat; and FIND (Formerly Incarcerated Network Development) for regional community building through events and advocacy. FICGN also delivers the HEP Orientation training program for prison educators and runs the Person First Pledge language-advocacy initiative alongside student-loan support partnerships with Savi (My Way to Repay) and the ISBD pilot.

FICGN's revenue model is multi-stream nonprofit funding: institutional grants (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, Tow Foundation, Laughing Gull, Porticus, CJI Fund, Public Welfare Foundation, Digital Lift, Ichigo Foundation), individual donations, corporate giving and sponsorships, planned/legacy giving, merchandise sales, and paid program fees (FIELD retreat tickets at $1,199-$2,699). The go-to-market is community-led, with member acquisition driven by word-of-mouth, referrals, events (annual conference, regional barbecues such as the Northwest BBQ in Tacoma), and channel partnerships with universities, correctional agencies, and Fair Chance employers including ASU, Georgetown, Villanova, LinkedIn Social Impact, and Pioneer Human Services.

Membership has grown to 2,050+ formerly incarcerated college graduates across 48 states and 10 countries, with 2,175+ degrees earned among members and 100+ jobs posted through the employment platform. The organization is led by Founding Executive Director Terrell A. Blount, supported by a 6-person team and a board that includes former Vera Institute of Justice and Laughing Gull Foundation staff, JSTOR Prison Education leadership, and other practitioners in the reentry and higher-education-in-prison ecosystem. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; first grants were received in 2022 totaling $130,000.

Name

Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Legal name

Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network

Website

https://ficgn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network (FICGN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 2,050+ member community, a Fair Chance job board, leadership training, and education-in-prison programs for formerly incarcerated college students, graduates, and professionals across 48 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reentry and Justice Reform Community Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF), Financial Education & Coaching (Digital Programs, Tools) (FSAGADAH), Study Habits & Homework Systems Workshops (EDAMAIAL)

Keywords

• Reentry support services
• Higher education in prison
• Fair chance employment
• Community network platform
• Criminal justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lacey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters who contribute to FICGN's mission of supporting formerly incarcerated college graduates.
2. Institutional Grants: Funding from foundations including Mellon Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, Tow Foundation, and others that support specific programs and general operations.
3. Corporate Giving & Sponsorships: Corporate donations, sponsorships, and employee matching programs from companies that support FICGN's mission.
4. Legacy Giving: Estate planning and planned giving options for donors who wish to include FICGN in their long-term charitable giving.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts and hoodies through the FICGN shop, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FICGN provides community, education, employment, and advocacy programs for formerly incarcerated college graduates through three core program areas (CAPSS, PLACE, FIND) and specialized offerings including the FIELD executive leadership retreat, HEP Orientation for prison educators, Success Coaching, and the Person First Pledge advocacy initiative. The organization operates a private online community platform, a curated Fair Chance job board, and merchandise sales, all funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

FICGN operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized under three core program areas: CAPSS (Center for Academic Programs and Student Success) focused on education in prison and reentry contexts; PLACE (Pathways to Leadership and Career Excellence) for employment and career advancement; and FIND (Formerly Incarcerated Network Development) for community building and advocacy. The organization also offers specialized training programs including FIELD (Executive Leadership Development) and HEP Orientation for prison educators. Supporting initiatives include the Person First Pledge for language advocacy, My Way to Repay student loan support in partnership with Savi, and the ISBD pilot program. Members access a private Hivebrite-powered community platform for networking and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAPSS (Center for Academic Programs and Student Success) Program area dedicated to supporting higher education in prison and reentry contexts, offering professional development for prison educators and comprehensive educational resources for currently and formerly incarcerated students.
• PLACE (Pathways to Leadership and Career Excellence) Program area focused on empowering system-impacted individuals by enhancing leadership skills and driving career advancement through FIELD training, job board access, and success coaching.
• FIND (Formerly Incarcerated Network Development) Program area that establishes state and regional communities to support members through events, online networking, local advocacy, and community volunteering initiatives.
• FIELD (Formerly Incarcerated Executive Leadership Development) Paid expert-led training experience that empowers system-impacted leaders through policy advocacy, coalition building, nonprofit leadership skills, and trauma-informed development, culminating in an executive retreat.
• HEP Orientation (Higher Education in Prison Orientation) Professional development program designed to enhance the skills of Prison Education Program educators and staff through content-rich modules, hands-on activities, and group discussions on creating learning communities, humanizing language, and navigating carceral spaces.
• Success Coaching Training and coaching program that empowers system-impacted individuals to provide individual support to those in reentry.
• Person First Pledge Advocacy initiative promoting person-first language to counter dehumanization of formerly incarcerated individuals, including resources, guides, and a pledge for organizations and individuals to adopt inclusive language.
• My Way to Repay Partnership initiative with Savi aimed at guiding student loan borrowers through effective repayment strategies, ensuring financial stability and educational continuity.
• Member Community Platform Private online community platform powered by Hivebrite for member networking, events, and engagement, currently accepting directly-impacted individuals who apply and are vetted.
• FICGN Branded Merchandise Branded t-shirts and hoodies sold through the online FICGN shop, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,050+ members have joined the network
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• QA CommonscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026QA Commons, funded by Ascendium Education Group, partnered with the Missouri Department of Corrections and FICGN to test how employability skills frameworks could be adapted for correctional education and reentry contexts. The initiative provided six weeks of instructor training across Missouri correctional facilities.
• Vera Institute of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading criminal justice reform organization; FICGN's Executive Director previously worked at Vera and continues advisory board involvement.
• Jobs for the Future (JFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFICGN collaborated with JFF's Center for Justice & Economic Advancement to develop design principles for high-quality postsecondary education programs in prisons.
• LinkedIn Social ImpactsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLinkedIn's social impact program supporting organizations working in the justice reform space.
• SavisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for 'My Way to Repay' initiative helping student loan borrowers through effective repayment strategies.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing time, expertise, and learning resources to the Summer 2025 FIELD program.
• The Op Ed ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization contributing to the Summer 2025 FIELD program.
• Nonprofit Leadership AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner contributing leadership training expertise to FIELD program.
• Pioneer Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of the 7th Annual Northwest BBQ event supporting FICGN's community gatherings.
• Missouri Department of CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in the QA Commons employability skills pilot project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vera Institute of Justice: One of the most established criminal justice reform nonprofits in the U.S., with deep Higher Education in Prison work and Pell Grant policy advocacy. Directly comparable to FICGN given overlapping mission, shared staff lineage (FICGN's ED came from Vera), and joint Pell restoration coalition efforts.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): Large-scale reentry employment nonprofit serving formerly incarcerated individuals with job placement and retention services. While CEO focuses on a broader population (not specifically college-educated), it is a direct comparator on Fair Chance employer relationships and employment outcomes for the justice-impacted.
• The Fortune Society: Long-standing New York-based reentry organization providing education, employment, housing, and advocacy for formerly incarcerated individuals. Operates a Higher Education in Prison program and parallels FICGN's multi-pronged model (education + employment + community).
• Safer Foundation: Chicago-based reentry organization providing employment, education, and supportive services to formerly incarcerated individuals. Comparable to FICGN across the education-employment continuum and employer partnership development.

Direct peers

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National nonprofit focused on workforce development and postsecondary education access, with a Center for Justice & Economic Advancement. FICGN collaborated directly with JFF on design principles for prison postsecondary programs, making it a direct peer in HEP programming and reentry workforce policy.
• JustLeadershipUSA: National organization dedicated to building leaders who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system. Strongly comparable to FICGN's lived-experience leadership model and FIELD program's emphasis on developing system-impacted executives and advocates.
• YSRP (Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project): Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing legal and reentry support to youth sentenced to life sentences. Listed as an FICGN partner/employer; operates a similar direct-service-plus-advocacy model for system-impacted individuals.
• Defy Ventures: National nonprofit offering entrepreneurship training and executive mentorship to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Closely comparable to FICGN's FIELD executive leadership program in serving ambitious, system-impacted leaders through intensive programming.
• College & Community Fellowship: New York-based nonprofit specifically supporting formerly incarcerated women in pursuing higher education. Highly comparable to FICGN's focus on the college-educated, formerly incarcerated population and similar peer-support community model.

Emerging players

• Root & Rebound: California-based nonprofit providing reentry legal support, education, and advocacy for formerly incarcerated people. Comparable to FICGN on the legal/advocacy and education dimensions, particularly for formerly incarcerated college graduates navigating barriers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ficgn
• Facebookfacebook.com/FICGN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ficgn
• Instagraminstagram.com/ficgnetwork/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network