A Step Beyond
A Step Beyond is a 501(c)(3) Creative Youth Development nonprofit in Escondido, California that provides free dance education, academic support, college and career readiness, and family services to underserved youth in North San Diego County through a 10-year commitment from 3rd grade through high school graduation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersEscondido, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What A Step Beyond does
A Step Beyond is a 501(c)(3) Creative Youth Development nonprofit founded in 2014 and headquartered in Escondido, California, serving youth and families living at or below the poverty line in North San Diego County (Escondido and San Marcos). The organization commits to a 10-year program model that enrolls students in 3rd or 4th grade through high school graduation, delivering free after-school dance education, academic tutoring, a structured college and career readiness curriculum (World of Work, in partnership with Beable Education and now Project Next), and family services including food and rental assistance referrals and trauma-informed support. Programs are delivered through direct instruction by teaching artists and academic managers, school-based recruitment via partnerships with 11+ Title I elementary schools across the Escondido and San Marcos districts, community classes (Step Into Dance) at the California Center for the Arts, and signature performances including the El Alebrije reimagined Nutcracker.
The organization is entirely supported by contributed revenue, with no program fees charged to participants. Funding streams include individual donations, a newly launched monthly giving program (A Step Further), foundation grants from entities such as San Diego Foundation, Conrad Prebys Foundation, Clare Rose Foundation, and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, a tiered corporate sponsorship program ranging from $500 to $25,000, an annual Wine Tasting Benefit (Creating Bright Futures) with $200 individual tickets, and scholarship and emergency aid funds hosted by the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. Quantified outcomes reported by ASB include 100% expected high school graduation with immediate college or career enrollment, 98% of students reporting greater school success, 99% reporting increased self-confidence, a 4.7/5 parent satisfaction rating, and a third-party IMPLAN economic analysis (conducted with Cal State San Marcos) showing $1.38 of community economic impact per $1 donated and $44.56 of total economic impact per $1 spent.
The strategic plan through 2028 targets gradual enrollment growth from the current 230+ students to more than 280 students, expansion of a two-year post-graduation alumni support program for the existing 36 alumni, and continued investment in the Escondido program model. The organization holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025) and is governed by a board chaired by a Deloitte Consulting principal, with leadership including CEO James Wright and Chief Artistic Officer Jennifer Oliver.
A Step Beyond firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Step Beyond
- Legal name
- A Step Beyond
- Website
- https://a-step-beyond.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A Step Beyond is a 501(c)(3) Creative Youth Development nonprofit in Escondido, California that provides free dance education, academic support, college and career readiness, and family services to underserved youth in North San Diego County through a 10-year commitment from 3rd grade through high school graduation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Step Beyond industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)
Keywords
Where A Step Beyond is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Escondido
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Step Beyond business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time gifts, monthly giving program (A Step Further), and tribute gifts from individual donors supporting dance education, academic support, college and career readiness, and family services.
- Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including San Diego Foundation, Conrad Prebys Foundation, Clare Rose Foundation, and others for program operations and expansion.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program with multiple tiers (Platinum $25,000, Gold $10,000, Silver $5,000, Bronze $1,000, Ruby $500) providing event tickets, brand recognition, and facility tours.
- Fundraising Events: Annual wine tasting benefit Creating Bright Futures with individual tickets at $200 and sponsorship opportunities supporting student participation in programs.
- Scholarship Funds: Donations to Student Scholarship Fund, A Step Above Donor Pledge Scholarship Fund, and Emergency Aid Fund through Rancho Santa Fe Foundation supporting alumni college and career pursuits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for qualifying students |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
A Step Beyond product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Step Beyond provides a free 10-year Creative Youth Development program for underserved youth in North San Diego County, combining after-school dance classes, academic support, family services, and a college/career readiness curriculum (World of Work). Programs are delivered on-site at schools, at the California Center for the Arts, and through community partnerships, with all services offered at no cost to qualifying students and families.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 10-Year Creative Youth Development Program Core program offering free after-school dance classes, academic support, college/career readiness, and family services to qualifying underserved youth from 3rd grade through high school graduation and beyond, in Escondido and San Marcos. Provides a 10-year structured commitment with continuing alumni support.
- After-School Dance Education Free after-school dance classes for enrolled students in the 10-year program, taught by Teaching Artists and led by the Chief Artistic Officer. Focuses on building confidence, discipline, collaboration, and creative expression, and prepares signature performances including El Alebrije and Arise! concerts.
- Academic Support Services Free academic tutoring and homework support for enrolled students, with documented outcomes of 100% homework completion increase and 98% of students feeling more successful at school. Support is supervised by an Academic Manager and Academic Services Supervisor.
- World of Work (College and Career Readiness) Structured college and career readiness program delivered in partnership with Beable Education, providing career simulations, professional mentorship, and educational decision-making support to enrolled students. Replicates the model developed by Cajon Valley Union School District. In March 2026, Project Next partnership expanded individualized coaching, postsecondary planning, financial aid guidance, resume and interview preparation, and career exploration for high school students.
- Family Services Social services and trauma-informed care support for families of enrolled students, including food and rental assistance, parent workshops, referrals to social services (e.g., Interfaith Community Services), and parent liaison support.
- Step Into Dance Community Classes Weekly community dance classes open to all interested students ages 8-14 in the Escondido community, held at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Operates on a pay-what-you-can model as a community outreach pipeline into the 10-year program.
- Fall Into Dance School Outreach School-based outreach program partnering with Mojalet Dance Collective to bring hour-long dance master classes to all 3rd and 4th grade students at 11+ Title I elementary schools in Escondido and San Marcos, serving as the recruitment pipeline for the 10-year program auditions.
- Creating Bright Futures Wine Tasting Benefit Annual signature fundraising event featuring blind tastings of 10 premier wines, with individual tickets at $200 and corporate sponsorship tiers, raising funds to support student participation in ASB programs.
- El Alebrije Performance Annual reimagined Nutcracker-style performance featuring ASB students, produced in partnership with Bocón (youth theater) and the San Diego Guild of Puppetry. Showcases student achievement and engages donors and community members.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% of ASB students believe their participation helps them feel more successful at school
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use A Step Beyond
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
A Step Beyond technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
A Step Beyond partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Project NextcorePartnership with Project Next to expand college and career readiness support for high school students. Project Next brings Future Center programming directly to ASB, including individualized coaching, postsecondary planning, financial aid guidance, resume and interview preparation, and career exploration opportunities. The partnership combines ASB's artistic, academic, and family programming with Project Next's structured career coaching model.
- Beable EducationcoreA Step Beyond launched the World of Work program in partnership with Beable Education, helping youth develop deeper understanding of themselves and informing educational decisions that lead to fulfilling careers. The program replicates the successful model developed by Cajon Valley Union School District.
- Cal State San Marcos (CSUSM)corePartnership with CSU San Marcos College of Business Administration for economic impact analysis using IMPLAN software. Students conducted research and analysis of ASB's community impact. Also includes dance studies program collaboration, service learning partnerships for academic tutors, and Department of Social Work for MSW interns.
- Mojalet Dance CollectivecoreTeaching artists from Mojalet Dance Collective partner with ASB during Fall into Dance to teach hour-long dance master classes to all 3rd and 4th grade students in partner elementary schools, and lead annual auditions.
- California Center for the Arts in EscondidocoreSpace provider for Step Into Dance community classes and performances. Partnership provides access to studio space and arts master classes, museum tours for students.
- Escondido Union School DistrictcorePartnership with 10 elementary school partners in Escondido for Fall into Dance recruitment and school-based programming.
- San Marcos School DistrictcorePartnership with 2 school partners in San Marcos for Fall into Dance recruitment and school-based programming.
- BocónminorYouth theater company partnership for El Alebrije production, creating culturally resonant script and collaborative programming.
- San Diego Guild of PuppetryminorPartnership for El Alebrije production, creating stunning large-scale puppets for performances.
- Interfaith Community ServicesminorFamily services resources partner providing referrals and support for ASB families in need.
- San Diego Creative Youth Development NetworkminorCommunity partnership, professional development, and technical support for creative youth development programming.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
A Step Beyond competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- San Diego Civic Youth Ballet: Regional San Diego dance education nonprofit offering ballet training and performance opportunities for youth. ASB's Institutional Giving Manager previously led philanthropy here; comparable regional dance-education focus but more traditional ballet pathway vs. ASB's Creative Youth Development model.
Direct peers
- A Reason to Survive (ARTS): National City, CA-based nonprofit that uses arts to empower at-risk youth. Directly comparable arts-based youth-development model serving similar San Diego-area populations; an ASB teaching artist previously worked here.
- transcenDance Youth Art Project: San Diego nonprofit using dance as a vehicle for youth empowerment and community building among underserved teens. Comparable mission, geography, and dance-as-youth-development approach; one of ASB's teaching artists previously worked here.
- Young Audiences of San Diego (Arts for Learning, San Diego): San Diego-based arts education nonprofit delivering in-school and after-school arts programming to K-12 students. ASB's Chief Artistic Officer previously served in senior roles here, making it a direct local peer in arts-based youth development.
- National Dance Institute: New York-based nonprofit providing free dance education programs to underserved children through long-term, in-school and after-school programming. Directly comparable mission, delivery model (arts-based youth development for low-income communities), and outcome orientation.
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — Ailey Arts In Education: National dance organization delivering long-term dance education and residency programs to underserved youth in schools and communities. Comparable arts-education-for-youth model with significantly larger scale.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego: Regional youth-development nonprofit serving underserved children and teens in San Diego with academic support, arts, and family services. Comparable target population and geographic footprint, with broader program scope than ASB's dance-centric model.
- Bocón Community Arts: San Diego youth theater organization partnering with ASB on the El Alebrije production. Comparable arts-based youth development serving similar demographics, focused on theater rather than dance.
Broad incumbents
- Ballet Hispánico: National Latinx-focused dance organization with education and community outreach programs serving youth. Comparable dance-education-for-diverse-youth model with larger national footprint.
- Creative Youth Development Network: National network representing and supporting creative youth development organizations across the country. ASB is part of this ecosystem; the network convenes funders, researchers, and practitioners in the same CYD space ASB operates in.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
A Step Beyond social profiles
Digital presenceA Step Beyond financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Step Beyond leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
A Step Beyond funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Step Beyond 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 A Step Beyond
What does A Step Beyond do?
A Step Beyond provides a free 10-year Creative Youth Development program for underserved youth in North San Diego County, combining after-school dance classes, academic support, family services, and a college/career readiness curriculum (World of Work). Programs are delivered on-site at schools, at the California Center for the Arts, and through community partnerships, with all services offered at no cost to qualifying students and families.
Is A Step Beyond a public or private company?
A Step Beyond is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Step Beyond founded?
A Step Beyond was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is A Step Beyond based?
A Step Beyond is headquartered in Escondido, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Step Beyond make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, corporate Sponsorships, fundraising Events and scholarship Funds.
Who are A Step Beyond's main competitors?
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are A Reason to Survive (ARTS), transcenDance Youth Art Project, Young Audiences of San Diego (Arts for Learning, San Diego), National Dance Institute, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — Ailey Arts In Education, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego and Bocón Community Arts. Broad incumbents are Ballet Hispánico and Creative Youth Development Network.
Does A Step Beyond have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Step Beyond.
What industry is A Step Beyond in?
A Step Beyond's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAK, Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit), with a secondary code of EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.