Roads to Success
Roads to Success is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2000, that delivers free after-school enrichment, college and career access, paid workforce development, and community-based wraparound services to 8,000+ underserved youth annually across Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and East Harlem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Roads to Success does
Roads to Success (RTS) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded around 2000 that delivers integrated academic enrichment, social-emotional learning (SEL), college and career access, paid workforce development, and community-based wraparound services to underserved youth from Pre-K through age 24. Its service portfolio comprises the CREATE after-school program (Pre-K to Grade 5), EXPLORE (Grades 6-8), College and Career Exploration, Workforce Development (including the NYC DYCD-funded Work Learn Grow internship program placing 1,200+ youth in paid internships annually), a Community School at James Weldon Johnson (MS 57) in East Harlem, the Cornerstone Community Program at two Bronx sites (Boston Secor and Gun Hill), and Summer Camps. Core methodology combines a Social Emotional Learning framework with project-based learning, a Growth Mindset curriculum, and a College-Going Culture model, supported by a dedicated Youth Mental Health Manager role added in 2024.
RTS operates 101-250 employees across sites in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and East Harlem, serving more than 8,000 youth and young adults annually with over 2 million hours of direct service. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants. RTS does not sell a product; it is a service-delivery nonprofit funded primarily by government contracts (NYC DYCD, NYC Office of Community Schools), corporate and foundation sponsorships (AT&T, Wells Fargo, Deloitte, Citi Bank, JetBlue, Build-A-Bear Foundation), charity athletic event fundraising (TCS NYC Marathon, TD Five Boro Bike Tour), individual donations (High Fivers Club), and an annual Spring Benefit gala. Distribution is community-led: services are delivered through partner schools, community centers, and the DYCD Connect registration platform. Governance is led by CEO Sheila Duke (joined January 2023) and Board Chairman Larry Hackett (appointed June 2026).
Roads to Success firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Roads to Success
- Legal name
- Roads to Success
- Website
- https://roadstosuccess.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Roads to Success is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2000, that delivers free after-school enrichment, college and career access, paid workforce development, and community-based wraparound services to 8,000+ underserved youth annually across Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and East Harlem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Roads to Success industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Roads to Success is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Roads to Success business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Contracts and Grants: Primary revenue from NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) contracts for programs including Work Learn Grow, Cornerstone, and Community Schools. Funded by NYC Office of Community Schools for community school operations.
- Corporate and Foundation Sponsorships: Funding from corporate partners including AT&T, Wells Fargo, Deloitte, Citi Bank, and foundation grants. Includes dedicated digital literacy funding from AT&T.
- Charity Athletic Events: Fundraising through TCS NYC Marathon charity partnership (6th consecutive year) requiring $5,000 minimum per runner, and TD Five Boro Bike Tour charity partnership requiring $500 minimum per rider.
- Individual Donations: High Fivers Club monthly giving program and one-time donations through organization's giving platforms.
- Annual Spring Benefit: Annual gala event raising funds from corporate sponsors and individual supporters (2025 event with Wells Fargo, Deloitte, AT&T, Citi Bank, JetBlue, Columbia University as sponsors).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Free youth programs funded by donations and government grants |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Roads to Success product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Roads to Success is a NYC-based nonprofit organization providing integrated academic, recreational, and workforce development programs for youth from Pre-K through age 24. Core offerings include tiered after-school programs (CREATE for Pre-K to Grade 5, EXPLORE for Grades 6-8), College and Career Exploration, paid internship-based Workforce Development, a Community School in East Harlem, Cornerstone Community Centers in the Bronx, and Summer Camps. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through government contracts, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Product overview
Roads to Success operates a portfolio of interconnected youth development programs serving NYC youth from Pre-K through young adulthood (age 24). The core offerings include two tiered after-school programs—CREATE (Pre-K to Grade 5) and EXPLORE (Grade 6-8)—which provide academic support, enrichment activities, and social-emotional learning. These are complemented by the College and Career Exploration Program and Workforce Development Programs for teens and young adults, offering college access programming, paid internships, and career preparation. The Community School initiative (Pre-K to Grade 8) in East Harlem provides holistic school-based services, while the Cornerstone Community Program offers year-round neighborhood-based resources at two Bronx locations. Summer Camps round out the seasonal programming. Together, these programs serve over 8,000 youth annually with academic support, social-emotional development, college readiness, and workforce preparation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CREATE After-School Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 8,000+ youth and young adults served annually
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Roads to Success
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Roads to Success technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Roads to Success partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.
- TD Five Boro Bike TourflagshipProud Charity Partner for 2026 event. Riders commit to raise $500 minimum to support RTS programming. Provides fundraising and community visibility.
- TCS New York City MarathonflagshipOfficial Charity Partner for 6th consecutive year. Runners raise minimum $5,000 to support RTS youth programs. Charity partner status provides fundraising platform and community engagement opportunity.
- NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)corePrimary government funder providing contracts for Work Learn Grow internship program, Cornerstone Community Centers, and workforce development. DYCD connects RTS with youth ages 14-24 for employment programs and provides ongoing program funding.
- NYC Office of Community SchoolscorePrimary funder for Community School programming at James Weldon Johnson (MS 57) in East Harlem. Provides funding to address challenges in underserved neighborhoods through integrated student supports.
- AT&TcoreSupported launch of Digital Literacy Program in East Harlem. Corporate sponsor of RTS programming with multi-year support for technology education initiatives.
- DeloittecoreCorporate partner providing annual career day experiences, Deloitte Impact Day resilience workshops, and professional mentorship. Board member Allie O'Shea facilitates engagement. Multiple touchpoints annually.
- NYC Public SchoolscorePartner school network including charter schools and traditional public schools where RTS delivers after-school programs. Locations span Manhattan, Bronx, and Brooklyn.
- NYC Department of EducationcoreCollaborative relationship with NYC DOE for community school initiatives and expanded learning programs serving public school students.
- Fordham UniversitysecondaryProvides campus tours and financial literacy workshops for middle school students. Student ambassadors lead campus visits inspiring college aspirations.
- Columbia UniversitysecondaryHost venue for RTS Success Summit and college fair exposing youth to 50+ colleges. Partnership enables access to prestigious venue and educational programming.
- Citi BankcoreCorporate sponsor providing financial futures programming and career day opportunities for RTS youth. Multi-year supporter of youth empowerment initiatives.
- DataikusecondaryTechnology company providing office visits and career exposure for RTS Work Learn Grow interns, introducing youth to data science and tech industry careers.
- Advantage CapitalsecondaryInvestment firm hosting annual career day with resume building, networking skills, and professional development workshops for RTS youth.
- Hope Community, Inc.secondaryCo-organized holiday gift and food distribution events serving underserved families in East Harlem. Partnership for community support services.
- NY Common PantrysecondaryFood insecurity partner providing frozen meat and food assistance for holiday distribution to families in need.
- The Community Initiative of New York (TCIONY)coreStrategic partner co-founding programs including Teaching A Generation (T.A.G). Jointly hosts commissioner forums, music events, and youth empowerment initiatives.
- NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant AffairssecondaryCommissioner Manuel Castro provided opening address at RTS Success Summit, highlighting commitment to immigrant youth empowerment.
- Mercy UniversitysecondaryDr. Scorpio Rogers serves as VP of Mercy University while on RTS Board, creating pathway for youth college access and mentorship.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Roads to Success competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC): NYC nonprofit focused on expanding learning time through after-school and summer enrichment partnerships with NYC public schools. Comparable in the after-school enrichment and summer camps delivery model and city-funded programming.
- The Door: NYC nonprofit delivering college access, career exploration, workforce development, and social services to teens and young adults. Highly comparable for RTS's College & Career Exploration and Work Learn Grow programming for the 14–24 age band.
- Henry Street Settlement: Lower East Side NYC settlement house providing after-school enrichment, workforce programs, mental health services, and community center programming. Comparable wraparound youth-and-family service model across NYC.
- Phipps Neighborhoods: Bronx-based nonprofit operating after-school programs, summer camps, workforce development, and community services. Directly comparable to RTS's Bronx Cornerstone Community Centers and youth programs.
- Good Shepherd Services: NYC-based nonprofit providing after-school programs, workforce development, and community-based services to youth and families across Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Directly comparable as a multi-borough NYC youth development nonprofit competing for the same DYCD and Community Schools contracts.
- Children's Aid: Large NYC nonprofit running after-school programs, community schools, college access, and workforce development across Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Westchester. Overlaps RTS almost exactly in service mix and government funding streams.
- Boys & Girls Club of Harlem: Provides after-school, college access, and workforce/career readiness programming to Harlem and Upper Manhattan youth. Direct geographic and programmatic overlap with RTS's East Harlem and Manhattan footprint.
- YMCA of Greater New York: Operates after-school programs, summer camps, youth leadership, and community-based programming across NYC boroughs, including Cornerstone-like community center sites. Directly comparable scale and service mix to RTS.
Emerging players
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City: NYC mentoring nonprofit serving youth with mentorship, college and career readiness, and youth development programming. Comparable in the college/career access mission for underserved NYC youth, though focused on mentoring rather than direct after-school service delivery.
- CASES (Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services): NYC nonprofit offering workforce development, education, and youth programs for court-involved and at-risk youth. Adjacent peer for RTS's Work Learn Grow employment pathways and re-engagement-focused programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Roads to Success social profiles
Digital presenceRoads to Success financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Roads to Success leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Roads to Success funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Roads to Success M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Roads to Success
What does Roads to Success do?
Roads to Success is a NYC-based nonprofit organization providing integrated academic, recreational, and workforce development programs for youth from Pre-K through age 24. Core offerings include tiered after-school programs (CREATE for Pre-K to Grade 5, EXPLORE for Grades 6-8), College and Career Exploration, paid internship-based Workforce Development, a Community School in East Harlem, Cornerstone Community Centers in the Bronx, and Summer Camps. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants and funded through government contracts, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Is Roads to Success a public or private company?
Roads to Success is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Roads to Success founded?
Roads to Success was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Roads to Success based?
Roads to Success is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Roads to Success make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts and Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Sponsorships, charity Athletic Events, individual Donations and annual Spring Benefit.
Who are Roads to Success's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ExpandED Schools (formerly TASC), The Door, Henry Street Settlement, Phipps Neighborhoods, Good Shepherd Services, Children's Aid, Boys & Girls Club of Harlem and YMCA of Greater New York. Emerging players are Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and CASES (Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services).
Does Roads to Success have an API?
No public API is recorded for Roads to Success.
What industry is Roads to Success in?
Roads to Success's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.