What Higher Achievement does

Higher Achievement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 in Washington, DC by Greg Gannon, a teacher at Gonzaga College High School. It operates an evidence-based afterschool and summer academic enrichment program serving approximately 10,000+ historically underserved middle school scholars (grades 5-8) across three Mid-Atlantic metro areas: Baltimore, DC Metro (including Prince George's County), and Richmond. The program delivers services through 15+ Achievement Centers embedded inside partner public middle schools, providing year-round mentor-led small-group instruction, summer programming with college visits and field trips, grade-specific curriculum spanning academic enrichment and social-emotional learning, high school placement advising, and alumni support including the newly launched Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship. Two randomized controlled trials have validated statistically significant academic impact, placing Higher Achievement among the small minority of nonprofits with gold-standard evidence of effectiveness.

The organization employs 101-250 staff and is led by CEO Lynsey Wood Jeffries (since 2012), with regional Executive Directors in each metro area and a dedicated Learning Director at each Achievement Center. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions — no fees are charged to scholars or families. The funding mix includes individual donations across tiered programs (Gannon Society $1,000+ with three-year commitment, monthly giving tiers $10-$85), planned giving vehicles (bequests, IRA QCDs, beneficiary designations), stock and securities transfers, foundation and government grants (including a 2014 U.S. Department of Education i3 Grant), and corporate sponsorships through workplace giving and direct partnerships. The 2025 50th Anniversary Campaign raised $2M+ for operations (Gift for Today) and $5.8M in endowment commitments (Gift for Tomorrow) — the organization's first-ever endowment.

Higher Achievement's go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial: services are delivered free of charge to scholars, recruited through school partnerships and community referrals; mentors are recruited from the volunteer pool; and donor relationships are cultivated through events (Going Places, Love Out Loud), earned media (NBC4 Washington coverage), and a multi-channel digital presence. There is no traditional sales function, no pricing model, and no technology platform — the organization uses standard web infrastructure and third-party donation processing. Reported outcomes include 95% on-time high school graduation, 90-95% sense of belonging, 3x higher likelihood of four-year college completion versus peers, and 68%/67% of scholars maintaining A/B or improving a letter grade in ELA and Math respectively.

Name

Higher Achievement

Legal name

Higher Achievement

Website

https://higherachievement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Higher Achievement is a 50-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating evidence-based afterschool and summer enrichment programs for underserved middle school scholars in Baltimore, DC Metro, and Richmond, funded entirely through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• Afterschool academic enrichment
• Youth mentoring programs
• College preparation services
• Middle school education
• Opportunity gap nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through various programs including the Gannon Society ($1,000+ annually with 3-year commitment), monthly giving, one-time donations, and planned giving vehicles such as bequests, retirement plan beneficiaries, and life insurance.
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Donors can make planned gifts including bequests in wills, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs starting at age 70½.
3. Stock and Securities Gifts: Donors can transfer stocks, ETFs, or mutual fund shares electronically to Higher Achievement's account at Pershing, LLC/McLaughlin Ryder Investments.
4. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations at tiered levels ($10 Ally, $25 Advocate, $40 Amplifier, $85 Accelerator) that sustain ongoing operations.
5. Foundation and Government Grants: Higher Achievement receives funding from foundations and government sources including Department of Education i3 grants and various corporate foundation grants.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide financial support, volunteer mentors, and partnership opportunities. Workplace giving campaigns including Combined Federal Campaign (CFC: 33770) and United Way (8949).
7. 50th Anniversary Campaign: Exceeded $2 million goal for Gift for Today and secured $5.8 million in commitments through Gift for Tomorrow endowment initiative.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Higher Achievement provides a rigorous free afterschool and summer academic enrichment program for middle school youth from at-risk communities, anchored by school-based Achievement Centers in Baltimore, DC Metro, and Richmond. The program combines mentor-led small-group instruction, year-round academic and social-emotional support, high school placement advising, and college/career exposure over a multi-year 3-4 year engagement period. Services are provided at no cost to scholars and their families, funded entirely through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Higher Achievement is an educational nonprofit offering a single unified program model focused on closing the opportunity gap during the middle school years. The core offerings include the Afterschool Academy (year-round mentor-led small-group instruction), Summer Link (summer programming with field trips and academic classes), and High School Placement services. Supporting components include a High School Readiness Curriculum with grade-specific progression, the Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship for college completion, and enrichment activities such as Electives and Field Trips. The organization also hosts the annual Love Out Loud showcase event for scholar performances. Family Navigator Sessions and the 9th Grade Bridge Summer Retreat provide additional transition support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Afterschool Academy Out-of-school programming with mentor-led small-group instruction providing academic intervention and targeted support for middle school scholars during the academic year.
• Summer Link Summer programming that includes weekly field trips, college visits, and academic classes in math, literature, science, and social studies.
• High School Placement Program helping scholars identify and pursue accelerated college-preparatory programs at public, private, and parochial schools by or before 9th grade.
• High School Readiness Curriculum Grade-specific curriculum (5th-8th grade) focused on academic preparation, career exploration, writing skills, and social-emotional skill-building through mentoring.
• Last Dollar Alumni Fund Scholarship Scholarship program providing up to $1,000 in flexible financial support to alumni facing unexpected financial obstacles in completing college or trade programs.
• Love Out Loud Annual showcase event where scholars share their creative talents through original works of poetry, dance, theater, and art.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of scholars graduate high school on time and ready for post-secondary success
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Baltimore City Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCPS hosts Baltimore Achievement Centers and works alongside the city's Blueprint for Success to help scholars develop skills to succeed.
• Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGE commits as a high-level corporate sponsor, collaborating on college and workforce development pipeline through Shadow Days and participating in the MLK Day of Service.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity mentors support scholars in Higher Achievement's Afterschool Academy through volunteer mentoring programs.
• Towson UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity mentors support scholars in Higher Achievement's Afterschool Academy through volunteer mentoring programs.
• District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCPS supports Higher Achievement through funding opportunities and as a host to DC Achievement Centers.
• Prince George's County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGCPS supports Higher Achievement through funding opportunities and as a host to the Greenbelt Achievement Center.
• Mayer BrownmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayer Brown is a center sponsor providing financial and volunteer support for scholars. Scholars toured the office and spent time with attorneys and business professionals.
• Clark Construction GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark Construction Group sponsors DC Metro's Ward 1 Achievement Center, providing financial and volunteer support.
• Bates White Economic ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBates White commits to service as corporate partner and mentor partner with focus on Higher Achievement's Ward 8 Center.
• Learn24coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLearn24 supports out-of-school time programs to ensure youth in Washington, DC have access to quality educational and enrichment opportunities beyond the school day.
• AltriamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAltria helps close the opportunity gap at Higher Achievement Richmond as a corporate sponsor.
• Capital OnemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor whose club sponsored at Higher Achievement sparked a scholar's interest in coding, leading to acceptance at CodeRVA specialty school.
• Bon Secours Richmond Health SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBon Secours Richmond Health System demonstrates dedication to investing in the local community as partners work together to close the opportunity gap.
• Virginia Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Virginia Department of Education is committed to quality educational opportunities for all young people in the commonwealth.
• Richmond Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPS supports Higher Achievement as a host to Richmond Achievement Centers.
• United Way of Greater Richmond and PetersburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way demonstrates dedication to equality as they work together to bridge the opportunity gap.
• United Way of Central MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way demonstrates dedication to a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed as they work together to close the opportunity gap.
• LSM (Architecture Workshops)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSM expanded architecture workshops to include more scholars and centers in learning about design principles through hands-on projects.
• BUILD (Design Challenge Curriculum)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BUILD offers an elective to help scholars develop entrepreneurial skills through BUILD's Design Challenge curriculum focusing on human-centered design.
• 2UminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAt 2U, Greenbelt scholars explored career paths in marketing and tech and data science during spring field trips.
• MICA (Maryland Institute College of Arts)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMICA's Community Site Leaders program allows scholars to explore various mediums and fine art techniques through art history lessons and studio time.
• Everyman TheatremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Everyman Theatre and their Theatre 101 curriculum teaches scholars acting, public speaking, technical work, costume, and set design.
• Bryn Mawr SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bryn Mawr school supports SEL-themed yoga elective in collaboration with a Higher Achievement intern.
• University of RichmondmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll scholars toured campus visiting athletics, business, science, and arts departments. Students learned about mice driving cars in science dept.
• Virginia State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond scholars visited Virginia State for overnight college visit experience.
• University of Maryland College ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholars visited University of Maryland College Park for overnight college visit experience.
• Virginia Union UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between VUU and Richmond Public Schools offers 50 RPS students a full ride scholarship. Jasmine Simmons was awarded this scholarship.
• Middle School AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, YMCA of Greater Richmond, and NextUp as the OST intermediary for Richmond afterschool programming.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing college access and persistence support to first-generation students from under-resourced communities. Highly comparable to Higher Achievement's high school placement and Last Dollar Alumni Fund programs.
• Summer Search: National youth development nonprofit providing long-term mentoring and college access support starting in high school. Comparable on multi-year mentoring model, college placement outcomes, and alumni outcomes tracking.
• 826 National: Network of youth writing and tutoring centers offering afterschool academic support with volunteer mentors. Directly comparable on small-group, volunteer-led afterschool enrichment and writing-focused academic outcomes.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit pairing adult volunteers with youth for long-term, relationship-based mentoring. Closely comparable on mentoring model and outcome tracking, though less academically focused than Higher Achievement.
• KIPP Foundation: National network of public charter schools focused on college prep for students in underserved communities. Highly comparable mission of closing the opportunity gap through K-12 academic rigor and alumni support through college.

Emerging players

• BUILD (Build.org): National youth entrepreneurship and college persistence nonprofit, offering an afterschool Design Challenge curriculum. Already a direct programmatic partner of Higher Achievement (electives), with overlapping middle-school-to-college support model.
• CollegeSpring: Nonprofit delivering SAT prep, college advising, and mentoring to high school students from low-income backgrounds. Adjacent in the college-readiness funnel that Higher Achievement feeds into through its high school placement work.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults through training, mentorship, and corporate partnerships. Comparable on college-to-career pipeline outcomes and corporate-funder engagement model, though focused on older youth.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA (youth programs): National community-based nonprofit delivering afterschool academic enrichment, mentoring, and teen leadership programming. Direct operational overlap with Higher Achievement and a named partner in the Richmond Middle School Alliance.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest national afterschool and youth development nonprofit, offering academic enrichment, mentoring, and college/career readiness. Directly comparable to Higher Achievement's afterschool model and is already a partner via the Middle School Alliance in Richmond.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/higherachieve
• Facebookfacebook.com/higherachieve

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Higher Achievement