Oliver Scholars
Oliver Scholars is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1985 that prepares high-achieving Black and Latinx students from underserved communities for admission and success at top independent schools and colleges through a 14-month immersion program and a 90+ partner school consortium.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Oliver Scholars does
Oliver Scholars is a New York City–based nonprofit educational organization founded in 1985 that identifies high-achieving Black and Latinx students from underserved NYC communities and prepares them for admission to, and success at, selective independent day and boarding schools and competitive colleges. The core delivery vehicle is the Scholar Immersion and Placement (SIP) program — a 14-month structured immersion beginning after 7th grade that combines Summer Program I (test prep, application support), Saturday Academy (SSAT preparation, writing seminar, Algebra, Humanities, Science), Summer Program II capstone, and individualized placement services. Students are placed into a consortium of more than 90 partner schools (35+ NYC day schools including Dalton, Trinity, Horace Mann, and Allen-Stevenson; 55+ boarding schools across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and California including Phillips Academy Andover, Phillips Exeter, Groton, and Lawrenceville), with partner schools awarding approximately $6 million in financial aid annually. Post-placement, scholars receive up to ten years of continuous support through the high school and college years, including social-emotional learning, college application support (College Bound Initiatives), and pre-career training through the BrandU Business Camp (launched 2020) and the Internship Program (launched 2021).
The organization's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven: individual giving (including the Club 1984 monthly sustaining program at $19.84/month), major-donor leadership gifts ($25K+ Champions of Opportunity tier, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and several family and operating foundations), annual galas (the 2024 40th Anniversary Gala raised $1 million, the 2022 gala raised $824,000), foundation grants (The Pinkerton Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation, Wellington Management Foundation, Scripps Family Fund, and others), and limited program-services revenue from summer programming. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Dorothea B. Schlosser and led by CEO Dr. Danielle R. Moss Cox, with a C-suite that includes a Chief Development Officer, Chief Program & Equity Officer, Chief Enrollment and Academic Officer, and Chief Operations Officer. Outreach and recruitment operate through a community- and event-led GTM motion — counselor nominations, Admissions Info Meetings across NYC's five boroughs (September–February), Summer Open House, Interview Weekend, and a CEO Salon Series — backed by earned media coverage (CBS, CNN, NY1) and a sustained alumni community of more than 1,300 members.
Oliver Scholars firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Oliver Scholars
- Legal name
- Oliver Scholars
- Website
- https://oliverscholars.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Oliver Scholars is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1985 that prepares high-achieving Black and Latinx students from underserved communities for admission and success at top independent schools and colleges through a 14-month immersion program and a 90+ partner school consortium.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Oliver Scholars industry classification
Industry- Product category
- College Access and Education Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Honors & Advanced Coursework Tutoring (non-AP/IB) (EDANAKAD), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Oliver Scholars is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Oliver Scholars business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, with Club 1984 sustaining donor program requiring minimum $19.84 monthly contributions. Major donor program for leadership gifts of $25,000+.
- Annual Galas and Events: Major fundraising events including annual galas that have raised over $1 million (40th anniversary), $824,000 (2022), and $700,000+ (5th Annual Gala 2018).
- Summer Programs: Revenue from summer programming including Summer Program I (rising 8th graders) and Summer Program II (SIP capstone), though financial aid is provided to scholars.
- Grants and Foundations: Support from foundations including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Wellington Management Foundation, The Charles Hayden Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Club 1984 Monthly Giving Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels9 records
Oliver Scholars product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Oliver Scholars is a nonprofit educational organization that identifies high-achieving Black and Latinx students from underserved New York City communities and prepares them for admission to selective independent day and boarding schools. The organization delivers a 14-month Scholar Immersion and Placement (SIP) program combining academic enrichment, SSAT preparation, summer programming, and individualized placement support, followed by up to ten years of continuous counseling through high school and college.
Product overview
Oliver Scholars offers a comprehensive suite of educational programs designed to prepare high-achieving students from underserved NYC communities for success at top independent schools and colleges. The core offering is the Scholar Immersion Program (SIP), a 14-month intensive program beginning in summer after 7th grade. Supporting programs include Saturday Academy for SSAT prep and academic enrichment, Placement & Prep for application support, Social Emotional Learning for mental wellness, and College Bound Initiatives for college preparation. The organization also provides volunteer programs, CEO Salon Series community events, and maintains an active alumni network of over 1,300 members through its Alumni Community and Alumni Impact Fund.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scholar Immersion Program (SIP) A 14-month immersion program that prepares scholars for the rigor and opportunity at top high schools, including academic curriculum, SSAT preparation, and independent school application support. Targets high-achieving 7th-grade students from underserved NYC communities.
- Saturday Academy Weekly Saturday classes during the fall through June providing SSAT preparation, writing seminars, and academic enrichment including Algebra, Computational Thinking, Humanities, and Science. Delivered as part of the SIP program.
- SIP 1 and SIP 2 Summer Programs Summer immersion programs beginning after 7th grade (SIP 1) and ending after 8th grade (SIP 2), featuring advanced academic subjects, applied arts and media courses, social-emotional learning, and youth advisory. Financial aid is provided to scholars.
- Placement and Prep Individualized support during the independent school application process including intensive SSAT preparation, writing seminars, and curriculum reflecting independent school offerings. Helps scholars gain admission to selective partner schools.
- College Bound Initiatives Comprehensive college search and application support including college tours, one-on-one counseling, SAT/ACT prep, financial aid workshops, and advocacy for scholars and families. Begins in junior year of high school.
- Internship Program Pre-career training and work experience opportunities designed to prepare Oliver Scholars for college and professional advancement.
- BrandU Business Camp Business and entrepreneurship education program providing Scholars with exposure to business concepts and professional skills.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% high school graduation rate for all Oliver Scholars
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Oliver Scholars
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Oliver Scholars technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Oliver Scholars partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and minor.
- Brooklyn Friends SchoolfoundingFirst Oliver Scholar Interview Weekend hosted by Brooklyn Friends School in September 1985 with admissions representatives from ten member independent schools interviewing candidates. This established the foundational partnership model that has grown to over 90 consortium schools.
- The Allen-Stevenson SchoolcoreNYC partner day school that accepts Oliver Scholars. Part of the consortium of 35+ day schools in the New York area that participate in the program.
- The Dalton SchoolcoreMajor NYC partner day school accepting Oliver Scholars. Part of consortium of independent schools recruiting diverse, high-achieving students.
- Trinity SchoolcoreNYC partner day school that accepts Oliver Scholars. One of the prestigious independent schools in the consortium network.
- Horace Mann SchoolcoreNYC partner day school accepting Oliver Scholars. One of the major independent schools in the New York consortium.
- Phillips Academy AndovercoreElite boarding school partner that accepts Oliver Scholars. Part of the 55+ boarding school partners across the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and California.
- Phillips Exeter AcademycoreElite boarding school partner accepting Oliver Scholars. Major destination for scholars placed through the SIP program.
- Groton SchoolcorePrestigious boarding school partner accepting Oliver Scholars. One of the elite New England boarding schools in the consortium.
- Lawrenceville SchoolcoreBoarding school partner with long-standing relationship. Notable for having taught Oliver Scholars who trustees describe as 'outstanding students, who enlivened classroom discussion and were leaders on campus.'
- Don LemonminorCNN Anchor honored at 5th Annual Gala in 2018 for industry achievements and support of Oliver Scholars mission.
- Carmine Di SibiominorEY Global Managing Partner honored at 5th Annual Gala in 2018 for industry achievements and support.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Oliver Scholars competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- KIPP Foundation: Large charter school network serving underserved students; broad incumbent in college-prep for low-income communities, broader scope than Oliver's targeted placement approach.
Direct peers
- QuestBridge: Connects high-achieving low-income students to top colleges through college match and scholarships; comparable target population (high-achieving underserved youth) and selective-college placement focus.
- A Better Chance: National organization placing talented students of color into top independent and public schools; closest national-scale analog to Oliver's school-placement mission.
- Bottom Line: College access and success nonprofit focused on low-income and first-generation students; shares cohort-based advising and outcomes-driven approach with Oliver's College Bound Initiatives.
- Posse Foundation: College access program that recruits diverse student cohorts and supports them through college; overlaps on target population (high-achieving underrepresented students) and longitudinal support model.
- Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA): National nonprofit that recruits high-achieving low-income students for college success; shares target population (high-achieving underrepresented students) and cohort-based preparation model.
- Prep for Prep: NYC-based nonprofit that prepares high-achieving students of color for placement at competitive independent schools—virtually identical mission, geography, and recruitment model to Oliver Scholars.
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: Scholarship provider for high-achieving students with financial need; comparable student target and selective-college placement outcomes.
Emerging players
- The SEED Foundation: Operates public boarding schools serving underserved students; partial overlap with Oliver's residential placement pathway for high-need high-achieving students.
- Matriculate: Provides near-peer mentoring to help high-achieving low-income students apply to selective colleges; complementary rather than fully overlapping college-access support.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Oliver Scholars social profiles
Digital presenceOliver Scholars financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Oliver Scholars leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Oliver Scholars funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Oliver 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 Oliver Scholars
What does Oliver Scholars do?
Oliver Scholars is a nonprofit educational organization that identifies high-achieving Black and Latinx students from underserved New York City communities and prepares them for admission to selective independent day and boarding schools. The organization delivers a 14-month Scholar Immersion and Placement (SIP) program combining academic enrichment, SSAT preparation, summer programming, and individualized placement support, followed by up to ten years of continuous counseling through high school and college.
Is Oliver Scholars a public or private company?
Oliver Scholars is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Oliver Scholars founded?
Oliver Scholars was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Oliver Scholars based?
Oliver Scholars is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Oliver Scholars make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are annual Galas and Events, summer Programs and grants and Foundations.
Who are Oliver Scholars's main competitors?
KIPP Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are QuestBridge, A Better Chance, Bottom Line, Posse Foundation, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA), Prep for Prep and Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Emerging players are The SEED Foundation and Matriculate.
Does Oliver Scholars have an API?
No public API is recorded for Oliver Scholars.
What industry is Oliver Scholars in?
Oliver Scholars's product category is College Access and Education Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAGAE, Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs, with a secondary code of EDANAKAD, Honors & Advanced Coursework Tutoring (non-AP/IB). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.