Degrees of Change

What Degrees of Change does

Degrees of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Tim Herron and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. The organization operates an integrated portfolio of educational equity programs — Act Six, Seed Internships, Seed Teachers, and the Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways — that collectively form a continuum from college access through career placement. Its primary beneficiaries are diverse, first-generation, and low-income college students and prospective students, with emphasis on "homegrown leaders" who are expected to return to their home communities after graduation. The flagship Act Six program, launched in 2002, has served 1,335+ scholars across 7 cities and 17 partner colleges; Seed Internships, launched in 2018, has facilitated 260+ paid summer internships; and Seed Teachers, launched in 2023, provides a debt-free pathway to teacher certification in partnership with Pacific Lutheran University. The Strickland Fellowship, launched in January 2025, extends the model into engineering career pathways in partnership with the City of Tacoma and UW Tacoma.

The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants — no tuition or program fees are charged to students. Named corporate sponsors include MultiCare Health System, Symetra, Tacoma Public Utilities, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, Johnson Stone Pagano P.S., and the Arcora Foundation, with a 2026 employer partner roster of seven organizations. Programs are delivered directly by Degrees of Change staff in collaboration with a network of 15+ college partners (Whitworth, Pacific Lutheran, Saint Martin's, Gonzaga, George Fox, Augsburg, Bethel, Concordia Moorhead, and others) and community affiliates (Urban Ventures, The Contingent, Yakima Valley Community Foundation). Geographic reach spans the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, with primary service concentration in Pierce and King Counties, Washington. There is no proprietary technology product; the entity's intellectual property is concentrated in its program curricula, brand recognition, and alumni network of approximately 1,500 scholars.

Name

Degrees of Change

Legal name

Degrees of Change

Website

https://degreesofchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Degrees of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Tacoma, Washington that prepares diverse, homegrown leaders for college and career through integrated programs: Act Six (leadership scholarships), Seed Internships (paid employer placements), Seed Teachers (debt-free certification), and the Strickland Fellowship (engineering pathways).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Equity and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

Keywords

• College scholarship programs
• Leadership development training
• Career readiness programs
• Paid internship matching
• Teacher certification pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

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. Individual Donations: The organization accepts online donations and recurring donations from individual supporters to fund programs supporting diverse, homegrown leaders.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Year-round corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for brand visibility and recognition, including speaking opportunities. Sponsors include MultiCare Health System, Symetra, Tacoma Public Utilities, Johnson Stone Pagano P.S., and Arcora Foundation.
3. Foundation Funding: Foundation partners provide generous financial support to ensure sustainability of programs, particularly in Pierce and King Counties.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Degrees of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers an integrated portfolio of college-access and career-readiness programs for diverse, underrepresented students. Its offerings include the Act Six leadership development and full-tuition scholarship program, Seed Internships (paid summer internships with employer partners), Seed Teachers (debt-free pathway to teacher certification at Pacific Lutheran University), and the Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways (hands-on municipal engineering experience with stipends).

Product overview

Degrees of Change is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering an integrated portfolio of educational equity programs. The organization operates three distinct programs that form a continuum from college access through career readiness: Act Six (leadership development and college scholarship program providing full-tuition scholarships with cohort-based support), Seed Internships (career readiness internship matching diverse college students with Puget Sound employers), and Seed Teachers (debt-free pathway to teacher certification). The Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways, a newer program launched in partnership with UW Tacoma and the City of Tacoma, provides engineering students with hands-on municipal experience and financial stipends. Together, these programs prepare diverse, homegrown leaders to succeed in college and career to build more vibrant and equitable communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Act Six: A leadership development and college scholarship program that brings together diverse cadres of emerging leaders who want to use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their home communities.
• Seed Internships
• Seed Teachers
• Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways

Products and services

• Act Six Leadership development and full-tuition college scholarship program bringing together diverse cadres of emerging leaders who use their college education to make a difference on campus and in their home communities. Includes full-need, full-tuition scholarships at 15+ partner colleges combined with cohort-based leadership training and wraparound supports.
• Seed Internships Career readiness internship program that identifies exceptional diverse college students and recent graduates and matches them with top local employers for 10-week paid summer internships, combined with weekly professional development on self-advocacy, communication, public speaking, mentorship, and networking.
• Seed Teachers Cohort-based pathway program offering diverse Pierce County students a debt-free path to their college degree and teacher certification, leading to teaching positions in their home communities. Provides scholarship packages at Pacific Lutheran University with paid work opportunities in school districts throughout college.
• Strickland Fellowship for Career Pathways Engineering career pathway program powered by City of Tacoma departments (Environmental Services, Public Works, Planning & Development Services, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Power) offering local UW Tacoma students hands-on experience on municipal engineering projects with student worker stipends ranging from $2,000-$7,500 per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of Act Six scholars graduate within 6 years (12 points higher than mean rate for all students at partner colleges)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• City of SumnercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026City of Sumner is an employer partner for the Seed Internships program. A growing community in Pierce County with historic downtown and strategic location in Puget Sound region, situated between Tacoma and Seattle with Sounder commuter rail access.
• Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026EDB is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the South Sound economy through job creation and business growth. Has helped attract more than $1.6 billion in capital investment and supported creation of over 25,000 jobs over 20 years.
• MacDonald-Miller Facility SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026MacDonald-Miller delivers innovative mechanical, energy, and building solutions across the Pacific Northwest. With more than 1,500 employees and 13 locations, the company partners with clients to build sustainable, future-ready communities.
• MultiCare Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026MultiCare is the largest community-based, locally governed health system in Washington, serving communities through 13 hospitals and 300+ clinics. Founded in 1882 with 20,000+ team members serving Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.
• SymetracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Symetra is a Bellevue, Washington-based financial services company providing life insurance, employee benefits, retirement solutions, and annuities nationwide. Founded in 1957, serves more than 5.5 million customers with nearly $78 billion in assets.
• Tacoma Public UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Tacoma Public Utilities is a publicly owned utility providing electric, water, and rail services to more than 170,000 customers. Established in 1893, TPU is the largest department of the City of Tacoma and operates as a self-supported utility.
• Transpo GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Transpo Group is a transportation planning and engineering consulting firm based in Kirkland, Washington, founded in 1975. Serves public and private clients across the U.S. and internationally, specializing in safer and more sustainable transportation systems.
• MultiCare Health System (Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 corporate sponsor providing financial support for Degrees of Change programs with brand visibility and recognition benefits.
• Symetra (Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 corporate sponsor providing financial support for Degrees of Change programs with brand visibility and recognition benefits.
• Tacoma Public Utilities (Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 corporate sponsor providing financial support for Degrees of Change programs with brand visibility and recognition benefits.
• Johnson Stone Pagano P.S.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252025 corporate sponsor providing financial support for Degrees of Change programs.
• University of Washington TacomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Strickland Fellowship providing engineering pathway for local students. Also partner in Act Six program for scholarship support.
• City of TacomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Strickland Fellowship providing engineering work experience and financial stipends through departments including Environmental Services, Public Works, Planning & Development Services, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Power.
• Tacoma Public Utilities (Strickland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Strickland Fellowship providing engineering pathway opportunities for local students.
• Urban VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six community affiliate and partner in Minneapolis-St. Paul, running the largest Act Six site with 200 scholars across six colleges.
• The ContingentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six community affiliate and partner in Portland-Salem region.
• Yakima Valley Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six community affiliate and partner in Yakima Valley region.
• Augsburg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
• Bethany Lutheran CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars.
• Bethel UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
• Concordia College MoorheadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars.
• Corban UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Portland-Salem region.
• George Fox UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars. Arturo Lucatero, current board chair, attended George Fox as Act Six Cadre 5 scholar.
• Gonzaga UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Spokane region.
• Heritage UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Yakima Valley region.
• North Central UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
• Northwest UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars.
• Pacific Lutheran UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six and Seed Teachers college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Tacoma-Seattle region.
• Saint Martin's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Tacoma-Seattle region.
• Taylor UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars.
• University of Northwestern-St. PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six college partner providing full-tuition scholarships to diverse scholars in Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
• Whitworth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAct Six founding college partner, the first to commit $1 million to launch the program in 2002. Has graduated multiple Act Six cadres including first cadre of 11 scholars in 2007.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: Pair-based mentoring model supporting students from low-income communities through college; comparable cohort-and-mentor architecture used to drive college persistence.
• The Posse Foundation: Provides full-tuition scholarships and leadership development for diverse cohorts of students across partner colleges — nearly identical theory of change to the original Act Six model now wound down at Degrees of Change.
• OneGoal: College-success program supporting first-generation and low-income students through high school and into postsecondary completion; Michelle Bess (current Degrees of Change board member) previously worked at OneGoal, indicating direct programmatic overlap.
• College Possible: National nonprofit providing college-access coaching and AmeriCorps-supported programming to low-income students seeking postsecondary credentials; directly comparable college-readiness mission and cohort model.
• Bottom Line: College-success nonprofit focused on first-generation students from under-resourced communities achieving degrees and career outcomes; closely comparable target population and outcome metrics.
• Braven: Career-readiness and leadership program for diverse college students that pairs professional development with employer partnerships — most direct peer to Degrees of Change's Seed Internships model.
• America Needs You: Two-year mentoring and career-coaching program pairing low-income college students with professionals; directly comparable mentorship-driven college-to-career pipeline work.
• Per Scholas: Tuition-free technology and skilled-trades workforce training with employer-hiring pipelines; comparable to Seed Internships/Strickland Fellowship on paid-training-as-onramp-to-jobs model.

Broad incumbents

• UNCF: Largest dedicated funder of scholarships and capacity-building for students at historically Black colleges; comparable scholarship mission but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Others

• National College Attainment Network: National membership association advancing college access and success; adjacent ecosystem connector whose research and advocacy infrastructure underpins programs like Degrees of Change's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/degreesofchange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/degreesofchange
• Instagraminstagram.com/degreesofchange2002

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Degrees of Change