Reach Prep

What Reach Prep does

REACH Prep Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 at Greenwich Academy and headquartered at 484 Pacific Street, Stamford, Connecticut. The organization delivers a 12-year educational access continuum for underserved, high-achieving Black and Latinx 4th-grade students from low-to-low-moderate-income households in Fairfield County (CT), Westchester County (NY), and The Bronx (NY). Its program comprises seven stages: a 15-month intensive Prep Academy hosted at Sacred Heart Greenwich (grades 4–5), independent school placement support (including ISEE test prep and interview coaching), middle and high school academic and emotional support, summer opportunity placement, college guidance (grades 11–12), college success through graduation, and lifelong alumni community engagement. Core services are free to all accepted students; the organization does not pay tuition but works with families to secure financial aid from receiving schools.

The business model is purely philanthropic: revenue derives from individual donations (check, wire, stock gifts via Morgan Stanley, planned/retirement/bequest gifts), corporate grants and sponsorships (EE Ford Foundation, Macy's, Capital One), and signature fundraising events (Annual Benefit Luncheon, Swing for Our Scholars Golf & Tennis Outing, Virtual 5K Walk/Run, milestone galas). Reported capital efficiency is high, with the organization stating 85% of donations go directly to programming. The organization maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and Candid/GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Outcomes are exceptional and serve as the primary value proposition: 100% high school graduation, near-100% college acceptance, 90% college graduation within 4–6 years (versus a 63% national average), and $11 million of need-based financial aid facilitated annually—more than $50 million cumulatively. The 11–50 employee organization is led by CEO Becky Reiser (appointed October 2023) with a specialized director-level staff across admissions, programs, development, and administration, and serves approximately 250 students per year in cohort-based delivery.

Name

Reach Prep

Legal name

REACH Prep Inc.

Website

https://reachprep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

REACH Prep is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that delivers a free 12-year educational access continuum—from a 15-month Prep Academy through college graduation—for approximately 250 underserved Black and Latinx students annually in Fairfield County (CT), Westchester County (NY), and The Bronx (NY), funded entirely through charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Access Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Extended Learning Time Programs (After-School/Summer Intervention) (EDAJAGAK)

Keywords

• Educational access programs
• College preparation services
• Scholarship placement support
• Academic enrichment programs
• Youth education nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: REACH Prep relies entirely on charitable donations from individuals. Donors can contribute via check, wire transfer, stock gifts, or planned gifts (retirement accounts, life insurance, bequests). The organization maintains a donor privacy policy and does not sell or share donor information.
2. Corporate Grants and Sponsorship: REACH Prep receives grants from corporations such as the EE Ford Foundation ($100K grant) and corporate sponsorships from companies like Macy's and Capital One. Event sponsorships also contribute to revenue.
3. 85% of Donations to Programming: The organization states that 85% of donations go directly to programming, demonstrating efficient allocation of charitable funds to mission-related activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

REACH Prep delivers a free, 12-year educational access continuum for underserved, high-achieving Black and Latinx students from low-income households, beginning with a 15-month intensive Prep Academy for grades 4-5 hosted at Sacred Heart Greenwich and continuing through independent school placement, ongoing middle and high school support, college guidance, college success services, and a lifelong alumni network. The program is provided at no cost to accepted students and is funded entirely by individual donations, corporate grants, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

REACH Prep is a single unified educational access program (not a software platform) structured as a 12-year educational continuum. The core offering consists of seven interconnected program stages: Prep Academy (15-month intensive enrichment for grades 4-5), Independent School Placement Support, Middle & High School Support, Summer Opportunities, College Guidance (grades 11-12), College Success (through graduation), and Alumni Community. The organization serves 250 students annually from Fairfield County (CT), Westchester County (NY), and the Bronx (NY), providing free services to underserved, high-achieving Black and Latino students. The program results in 100% high school graduation, near-universal college acceptance, and 90% college graduation rates within 4-6 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prep Academy Intensive, interdisciplinary 15-month academic enrichment program for grades 4 and 5, hosted at Sacred Heart Greenwich, designed to prepare students for admission into top independent schools through accelerated coursework, small class sizes, and Saturday sessions during 5th grade year.
• Independent School Placement Support Guides families through the independent school admissions process during 5th grade, including individual application guidance, practice interviews, ISEE test preparation, and financial aid navigation, supporting placement at over 35 partner independent schools.
• Middle & High School Support Ongoing personal guidance and academic support for students in grades 6-12, including liaison services between schools and parents, academic monitoring, workshops, individualized meetings, regular check-ins, school visits, and access to community service opportunities.
• Summer Opportunities Connects REACH Prep Scholars with diverse summer experiences including pre-collegiate immersion programs on college campuses, community service, volunteering, study abroad programs, academic enrichment coursework, and early career exploration.
• College Guidance Supplementary college preparation support for grades 11-12, including campus tours, admissions information sessions, SAT/ACT test preparation, interview coaching, family planning sessions, and financial aid guidance to help students find the best academic, social, and financial fit.
• College Success Ongoing guidance for college students through graduation, including individualized support from college transition through graduation, financial aid re-application guidance, campus visits, regional gatherings, and career planning including resume preparation, interview support, and internship opportunities.
• Alumni Community Lifelong engagement network for REACH Prep graduates, connecting nearly 200 engaged young leaders who have completed college and are prepared to make significant differences in their communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of REACH Prep Scholars graduate from high school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Capital OneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2021Capital One hosted a panel discussion on 'Building and Leveraging Your Network for Personal and Professional Success' for REACH Prep college students and alumni, providing professional development and networking opportunities.
• Sacred Heart GreenwichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSacred Heart Greenwich hosts the 15-month Prep Academy program at their campus, providing the facility for intensive academic enrichment for 4th and 5th grade students during summers and Saturdays.
• Independent Schools NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH Prep works with over 35 independent schools including Phillips Academy Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, The Hotchkiss School, Horace Mann School, and others for student placement and ongoing support.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH Prep is a proud member of NAIS, supporting the independent school ecosystem and access to diverse students.
• Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH Prep is a proud member of CAIS, supporting independent school access in Connecticut.
• Educational Records Bureau (ERB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH Prep uses ERB testing (including ISEE) for student assessment and admissions preparation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Steppingstone Foundation: Boston-based nonprofit preparing underserved students for placement at independent schools and selective colleges via year-round academic enrichment — directly comparable prep-to-placement-to-college continuum.
• Breakthrough Collaborative: National network of summer and school-year programs providing academic enrichment and college prep for students from under-resourced communities — overlaps with REACH Prep's Prep Academy and college guidance stages.
• A Better Chance: National nonprofit placing high-achieving students of color into top independent and boarding schools with ongoing support — directly comparable mission, target demographic, and placement model.
• Oliver Scholars: NYC-based program preparing high-achieving Black and Latino students for independent schools and selective colleges — near-identical mission, geography, and program structure to REACH Prep.
• TEAK Fellowship: NYC nonprofit that identifies and prepares high-achieving students from low-income families for top independent schools and selective colleges. REACH Prep's own Director of College Success spent 10 years at TEAK, evidencing the close program overlap.
• Prep for Prep: NYC-based nonprofit providing academically gifted underrepresented students with access to top independent schools through a multi-year prep program and ongoing support — closely mirrors REACH Prep's model, target population, and continuum.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: National network of public charter schools serving underserved students from kindergarten through college — operates in the same educational equity space but at vastly larger scale and via the public school system rather than independent school placement.

Emerging players

• Horizons National Student Enrichment Foundation: Network of summer and after-school academic enrichment programs for underserved students with the goal of closing the opportunity gap — comparable to the extended-learning-time component of REACH Prep's Prep Academy.
• SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity): NYC-based nonprofit providing academic enrichment, college access, and career programming for underserved high school and college students — overlaps with REACH Prep's college guidance and career planning stages.

Others

• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Large national scholarship provider supporting high-achieving students with financial need through high school, college, and graduate school — adjacent funder and ecosystem participant rather than a direct program operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@reachprep/videos
• Xx.com/REACHPrep
• Facebookfacebook.com/REACHPrep

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Reach Prep