Robertson Scholars
Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a nonprofit, fully funded undergraduate scholarship and leadership development program at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, funded by the Robertson Foundation. It selects ~25 students per year for dual-campus study, funded summers, wilderness expeditions, and lifelong alumni engagement spanning 630+ leaders across six continents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersChapel Hill, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Robertson Scholars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Robertson Scholars
- Legal name
- Robertson Scholars Leadership Program
- Website
- https://robertsonscholars.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a nonprofit, fully funded undergraduate scholarship and leadership development program at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, funded by the Robertson Foundation. It selects ~25 students per year for dual-campus study, funded summers, wilderness expeditions, and lifelong alumni engagement spanning 630+ leaders across six continents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Robertson Scholars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Scholarship
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)
Keywords
Where Robertson Scholars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chapel Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Robertson Scholars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations and Fundraising: The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program operates primarily through philanthropic support. In 2023, the program launched a Generosity Campaign to establish the Julian H. Robertson, Jr. Alumni Fund, with a goal of $1,000,000 in gifts and three-year pledges. The campaign had already secured $750,000 at the time of reporting. The Robertson Foundation and family provide ongoing major funding, including full coverage of tuition, room, board, fees, summer experiences, and study abroad for all scholars.
- Alumni Contributions (Sustainers): The program offers an RSLP Sustainer option for alumni giving $50 or more per month toward the JHR Alumni Fund. One-time gifts and pledges up to three years also count toward campaign goals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Full Scholarship Award — covers all costs for 8 semesters at Duke and/or UNC |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Robertson Scholars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program delivers a fully-funded undergraduate scholarship covering eight semesters of tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, including dual-campus access, up to three funded summer experiences, two semesters of study abroad, NOLS wilderness expeditions, LEAD Grants for self-directed learning, and lifelong alumni programming. Recipients are selected through a competitive multi-stage application process, with no cost to admitted scholars.
Product overview
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program is a single, unified scholarship program offering comprehensive undergraduate support. The core product is the leadership scholarship itself, providing full tuition, room and board, and fees for eight semesters at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. This is supported by a structured suite of experiences including Community Summer, Exploration Summer, and Launch Summer; academic programming such as the Colloquium in Ethics and Campus Switch semester; funding mechanisms like LEAD Grants; and community-building initiatives including Dinners for 6, Cookies for 10, and Robertson Collective. The Robertson Connect platform serves as the alumni engagement portal. The Robertson Express Bus provides physical connectivity between the two university campuses. Together, these components form an integrated four-year leadership development experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Robertson Scholars Leadership Program A fully-funded undergraduate leadership scholarship program providing eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, plus funding for up to three summer experiences, two semesters of study abroad, NOLS expeditions, LEAD Grants, and lifelong alumni programming. For high-achieving high school students and current first-year Duke/UNC students with demonstrated leadership potential.
- Community Summer A minimum 8-week community service summer experience where Robertson Scholars work alongside community-based organizations in the Mississippi Delta, Eastern North Carolina, Appalachian Kentucky, or New Orleans. Required for Robertson Scholars as part of their three-part summer model.
- Exploration Summer A self-designed summer experience occurring after sophomore year, allowing Robertson Scholars to explore their interests and commitments through domestically or internationally structured activities. Part of the three-part summer model.
- Launch Summer An independent, self-designed project occurring the summer after junior year, intended to focus Robertson Scholars' interests and launch them into life after college. Completes the three-part summer model.
- Campus Switch A semester in residence at the partner sister school (Duke or UNC) during sophomore spring, providing an immersive experience diving deeper into the culture and opportunities of the partner institution. Available to Robertson Scholars.
- LEAD Grants Leadership Enhancement and Development Grants providing up to $1,000 per academic year to support Robertson Scholars' self-directed and experiential learning and personal leadership development needs.
- Colloquium in Ethics A one-credit required academic course for first-year Robertson Scholars designed to understand ethical frameworks for leadership, reflect on the meaning of being a Robertson, and prepare for Community Summer.
- Robertson Express Bus Transportation service (RSX) connecting Duke University's West Campus to UNC-Chapel Hill's main campus, operating when classes are in session with ADA-accessible 18-passenger vehicles (operated by Carolina Livery) including bike racks, on-board Wi-Fi, and charging stations. Approximate 75% reduction in route carbon footprint versus larger vehicles.
- Robertson Connect Online alumni portal where Robertson alumni update career and contact information, enabling connection between alumni and current scholars for mentorship and career opportunities. Hosted at robertson.force.com/community/login.
Quantifiable outcome
- 630+ alumni making transformational contributions across six continents
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Robertson Scholars
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Robertson Scholars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Robertson Scholars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)coreThe Robertson Scholars Leadership Program has a longstanding partnership with NOLS. As part of Scholar Orientation, all first-year Robertson Scholars embark on a NOLS expedition aimed at fostering connection and collaboration. Additionally, all Robertson Scholars can apply to attend a fully funded week-long NOLS expedition in subsequent years (typically in May), focusing on developing wilderness skills and applying outdoor leadership theory to everyday ventures. The program has also extended its partnership with NOLS to offer an alumni-only sea-kayaking excursion in Alaska.
- Carolina LiveryminorCarolina Livery operates the Robertson Express Bus (RSX) service connecting Duke University's West Campus to UNC-Chapel Hill's main campus. Their 18-passenger vehicles are ADA accessible and include bike racks, on-board Wi-Fi, and charging stations. The smaller vehicles result in an approximate 75% decrease in the route's carbon footprint.
- Community-Based Organizations (Mississippi Delta, Eastern NC, Appalachian Kentucky, New Orleans)coreDuring Community Summer, Robertson Scholars work alongside community-based organizations in four locations: the Mississippi Delta, Eastern North Carolina, the Appalachian region of Kentucky, and New Orleans. These partnerships create internship experiences focused on community service, with Robertson program staff facilitating scholar placements at these partner organizations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Robertson Scholars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stamps Scholars Program: A multi-university merit scholarship offered at dozens of partner colleges, providing full tuition and an enrichment fund. It is comparable as a fully-funded, multi-institutional merit scholarship with leadership development programming.
- Morehead-Cain Scholarship: The premier merit scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill, Robertson's sister institution. It is fully funded and includes a summer enrichment program (Discovery Fund), making it the closest direct comparison for the UNC leg of Robertson's dual model.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars: Stanford's fully-funded graduate fellowship and leadership development program. Comparable as a fully-funded leadership scholarship with structured cohort programming and a global alumni community.
- Schwarzman Scholars: A fully-funded master's fellowship at Tsinghua University in Beijing focused on leadership and global affairs. Comparable as a fully-funded, leadership-focused scholarship with strong alumni outcomes, though at the graduate level.
- Posse Foundation: A leadership-development scholarship program that identifies and supports cohorts of students from diverse backgrounds at top-tier universities. Comparable in mission, cohort-based structure, and leadership-development focus, though it operates across many more partner schools.
- Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship: Duke University's most prestigious merit scholarship for incoming first-year students. It is the closest direct comparator for the Duke leg of Robertson's model and competes with Robertson for the same applicant pool.
Broad incumbents
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: One of the largest U.S. scholarship funders, awarding the Cooke College Scholarship and Cooke Graduate Scholarship to high-achieving students with financial need. Comparable as a major merit/need-based scholarship provider with deep alumni outcomes.
- Horatio Alger Association: A national nonprofit that awards need-based scholarships and operates the National Scholars Program and State Scholars Programs. Comparable as a long-established U.S. scholarship nonprofit with a structured selection process and alumni engagement model.
- The Gates Scholarship: A highly selective, last-dollar full-cost scholarship for high-achieving, minority, Pell-eligible high school seniors. Comparable as a fully-funded national merit scholarship targeting top applicants to elite universities.
Emerging players
- QuestBridge: A national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with full scholarships at top colleges, including partner programs at Duke and UNC. Comparable as a college-access/scholarship nonprofit targeting elite institutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Robertson Scholars social profiles
Digital presenceRobertson Scholars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Robertson Scholars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Robertson Scholars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Robertson Scholars 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 Robertson Scholars
What does Robertson Scholars do?
The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program delivers a fully-funded undergraduate scholarship covering eight semesters of tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, including dual-campus access, up to three funded summer experiences, two semesters of study abroad, NOLS wilderness expeditions, LEAD Grants for self-directed learning, and lifelong alumni programming. Recipients are selected through a competitive multi-stage application process, with no cost to admitted scholars.
Is Robertson Scholars a public or private company?
Robertson Scholars is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Robertson Scholars founded?
Robertson Scholars was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Robertson Scholars based?
Robertson Scholars is headquartered in Chapel Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Robertson Scholars make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are alumni Contributions (Sustainers).
Who are Robertson Scholars's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stamps Scholars Program, Morehead-Cain Scholarship, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Schwarzman Scholars, Posse Foundation and Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship. Broad incumbents are Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Horatio Alger Association and The Gates Scholarship. QuestBridge is listed as an emerging player.
Does Robertson Scholars have an API?
No public API is recorded for Robertson Scholars.
What industry is Robertson Scholars in?
Robertson Scholars's product category is Higher Education Scholarship. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts, with a secondary code of BPAGADAE, College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.