BLU Educational Foundation

Name

BLU Educational Foundation

Legal name

BLU Educational Foundation

Website

https://bluedfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Equity and College Access Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Aid, Scholarships & FAFSA/CSS Profile Support (EDANAEAI), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Accelerated Learning & Grade Advancement Programs (EDAJAGAE)

Keywords

• College access programs
• Career readiness education
• Youth leadership development
• Education equity nonprofit
• Civic engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Bernardino

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: BLU is a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on individual and institutional donations to fund operations and programming. Donation links are prominently featured on the website with multiple PayPal giving options.
2. Merchandise Sales: BLU operates an online shop selling branded merchandise including t-shirts ($20-$25) featuring messages such as 'College Is A Black Thing' and 'Black Girls Matter'. Proceeds support student scholarships and specific programs such as the Black Educator Pipeline.
3. Grants and Foundation Funding: BLU receives grants from foundations and community organizations. Recent grants include the Gates Educational Advancement Grant (distributed via Inland Empire Community Foundation) for staff support and student leadership programming. Additional funders include the California Endowment, Weingart Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, U.S. Bank, and Conservation Lands Foundation.
4. Program and Registration Fees: BLU charges registration fees for some programs and events, including Hustle & Flow Academy and Black History Camp, with ticketing managed through platforms such as Zeffy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BLU Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers college access (admissions, financial aid, retention), career pathway exploration, leadership development, civic engagement, and parent advocacy services to underrepresented K-16+ students and families in California's Inland Empire. Programming is delivered free to students through partner school districts, colleges, churches, and community organizations, supported by donations, foundation grants, registration fees, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

BLU Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a comprehensive suite of educational access and equity programs serving youth, adults, and organizations in California's Inland Empire. The portfolio consists of core programs including the College Exodus Project (college access and success support), the Purposeful Pathways Initiative (career pathways framework covering Health, Education, Business, Arts, Social Justice, STEM, and Environmentalism), and the Black Equity Initiative coalition. Key sub-programs include the Black Educator Pipeline and Uzima Health Scholars career pathways, the BLU Summer Internship and JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship programs, and the Hustle & Flow Academy job readiness curriculum. The organization also operates leadership development programs including Soul Brothers Servant Leadership Camp, Soul Sisters Leadership Academy, Black Public Officials Leadership Training, and African American Parents Leadership Training, along with policy initiatives such as the Inland Empire Black Education Agenda. Additional offerings include The Arts programming, voter engagement services, the Uhuru Education Project (charter school initiative), the Black College & Career Access Network, financial aid assistance, enrichment activities, merchandise, scholarships, and annual events like Black Student Success Week and the Inland Empire Black Education Congress.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• College Exodus Project (CEP): A program designed to assist students in obtaining undergraduate or graduate degrees from accredited colleges and universities, with the intent that they contribute to the Inland Empire economy.
• Uhuru Education Project
• Black College & Career Access Network (BCCAN-IE)
• Black Educator Pipeline (BEP)
• Uzima Health Scholars
• Hustle & Flow Academy

Products and services

• College Exodus Project (CEP) A comprehensive college access and success program that assists underrepresented Inland Empire students in obtaining undergraduate or graduate degrees from accredited institutions by providing admissions support, financial aid navigation, retention case management, peer advising, parent involvement, and college tours. Free of charge to participating students, it is implemented in local schools, churches, and community organizations.
• Purposeful Pathways Initiative A career pathways framework that aligns A-G eligible coursework, dual enrollment, industry certifications, and work-based learning for high school and college students across seven industry sectors (Arts, Business, Education, Environmentalism, Health, STEM, and Social Justice) with culturally responsive communication and marketing.
• Black Educator Pipeline (BEP) A pathway program designed to recruit, prepare, and support African-American and Black students in their journey to become Black educators, available to high school and college students in the Inland Empire.
• Uzima Health Scholars A year-long program that encourages and guides Black students toward becoming health professionals, currently exclusive to high school students at Rialto Unified School District.
• BLU Summer Internship A paid internship program offering students hands-on projects in College & Career Access, Film/Media & Entertainment, Black History Camp, or Public Policy & Advocacy, with the possibility of BLU scholarships for exceptional work.
• JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship A paid workforce development internship program providing 20-22 high school and college students with internships across Social Justice, Health, Business, Education, and Arts pathways, co-led with Just San Bernardino Collaborative and Arts Connection.
• Hustle & Flow Academy A career readiness curriculum covering networking, mock interviews, office etiquette, resume development, public speaking, personal branding, and goal setting; used in BLU's internship programs and offered as a workshop series to school districts and partner organizations.
• Soul Brothers Servant Leadership Camp A leadership camp designed to train young men of color ages 14-21 to address issues affecting themselves and their community, building character, service commitment, and college graduation outcomes.
• Soul Sisters Leadership Academy An intensive leadership training program for young Black women ages 14-21 that focuses on Black women's history, cultural identity, leadership skills, and college and career planning.
• Black Public Officials Leadership Training A 6-session training program designed to support new and emerging leaders interested in running for public office or appointment to public commissions and boards, covering base building, candidate development, and campaign development.
• African American Parents Leadership Training Leadership training program designed to empower African American parents with skills to advocate for educational equity and participate in school governance.
• Civic Engagement Fellowship A fellowship program focused on civic engagement programming that empowers Inland Empire residents to influence policies affecting their communities.
• BLU Merchandise (BEP T-Shirts, College Is Merchandise) Branded merchandise including BEP T-Shirts (Black, $25; proceeds fund student scholarships and the Black Educator Pipeline) and "College Is" merchandise in Black, Blue, Red, and Olive ($20 each), plus a "Black Girls Matter" shirt ($20). Sold through BLU's online shop.
• College Exodus Project Scholarship A scholarship provided by BLU Educational Foundation for students who have participated in BLU programs either through their school site or Inland Empire-wide programs, requiring a minimum 2.0 GPA, with support through the disbursement process.
• Black Student Success Week An annual statewide initiative held April 20-24 that celebrates Black student achievement and advances strategies for access, belonging, and success in higher education through workshops, a resource fair, and original podcast episodes.
• Inland Empire Black Education Congress An annual event hosted by BLU Educational Foundation bringing together students, parents, teachers, and district personnel to co-create solutions for Black student achievement centered around five priorities from the Inland Empire Black Education Agenda.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 underrepresented students helped to gain college admission, scholarships, and financial aid nationwide.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary, primary and minor.

• Just San Bernardino Collaborative (JustSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship workforce development program with BLU and Arts Connection. JustSB provides funding for 20-22 paid internships across Social Justice, Health, Business, Education, and Arts pathways. Originally launched in 2024 as the BLUPrint Internship, the program grew under JustSB's support in 2025.
• Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-leads the JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship with BLU and JustSB. Arts Connection places interns within the Arts, Media, and Entertainment (AME) sector, connecting students with creative organizations throughout San Bernardino.
• Rialto Unified School DistrictprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner district receiving BLU's programming, including the Uzima Health Scholars pathway program exclusively available to high school students in Rialto Unified.
• San Bernardino City Unified School DistrictprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor education partner district in BLU's service area. BLU provides College Exodus Project, career pathways programming, and civic engagement services within district schools.
• San Bernardino Valley CollegeprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for BLU's main office (The Village Building 8). Partner for Black Student Success Week events, Inland Empire Black Education Congress, BEI quarterly convenings, and general programming collaboration.
• Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing programming support, internship pathways, and alumni connections for BLU students. Several BLU staff members have degrees from or are pursuing graduate studies at CSUSB.
• University of California, Riverside (UCR)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCR is a partner through the Center for Social Innovation, which co-published the Inland Empire Black Education Agenda report with BLU. BLU students are case-managed at UC Riverside through the retention program.
• Inland Empire Black Equity Initiative (BEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2014, BEI is a network of Black-led and serving organizations working on issues affecting the Black community. BLU serves as a member and active participant, and the organization's Black Equity Initiative Liaison helps coordinate quarterly convenings and communication among member organizations.
• Kaiser High School (Fontana Unified School District)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner high school in the Fontana Unified School District receiving BLU programming for college access and career pathways.
• California Black Power NetworkminorOthersBLU is a member of the California Black Power Network, a coalition of Black-led organizations working to advance educational equity and collective impact.
• Inland Empire Black Women's CollectiveminorOthersBLU participates in the Inland Empire Black Women's Collective, a coalition of Black-led organizations focused on issues affecting Black women and families in the region.
• Just San BernardinominorOthersBLU is a member of Just San Bernardino, a collaborative of organizations working collectively on social justice and community advancement in San Bernardino.
• Arts ConnectionsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity partner for internship placements in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment sector. BLU students are placed with Arts Connection partner organizations as part of the JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship.
• Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C.minorOthersHost organization for JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship placements, providing students with legal sector experience as part of the Social Justice career pathway.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland EmpireminorOthersHost organization for JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship placements, providing students with community development and housing sector experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Direct peers

• Schuler Scholar Program: Schuler Scholar Program is a nonprofit that provides college access, scholarship funding, and advising to first-generation and low-income high school students across multiple states. Comparable to BLU's College Exodus Project in serving first-gen students through intensive advising, financial aid support, and long-horizon student engagement.
• Bottom Line: Bottom Line is a nonprofit that partners with first-generation students from low-income backgrounds to get into college, graduate, and go far in their careers through intensive advising and persistence support. Comparable to BLU's College Exodus Project in target population (first-gen, low-income) and in providing persistent one-on-one college access and retention advising across multiple years.
• College Track: College Track is a nonprofit that provides a comprehensive college access, persistence, and career readiness program for first-generation and underrepresented students from high school through college graduation. It directly mirrors BLU's K-16+ model, including near-peer advising, college tours, financial aid support, and career pathways, making it the closest comparable direct peer.
• uAspire: uAspire is a national nonprofit that helps students overcome financial barriers to college through advising, scholarships, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to BLU's financial aid navigation (FAFSA/CADAA), scholarship assistance, and college advising services, with similar focus on first-generation and underrepresented students.
• iMentor: iMentor is a national nonprofit that pairs underrepresented students with college-educated mentors for college application and persistence support. Comparable to BLU's peer advising, mentoring, and retention components, with similar emphasis on sustained relationships and first-generation student outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Year Up is a large workforce-development nonprofit providing young adults with career training, internships, and college credit in a year-long program. Comparable to BLU's career pathways and internship offerings for opportunity youth, though Year Up operates at much larger national scale and serves a broader population.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): UNCF is the largest national education nonprofit supporting Black students' college access, scholarships, and retention through member institutions. It is comparable to BLU because both center college access and success for Black students via scholarships, advising, and institutional partnerships, but UNCF operates at national scale with member HBCUs while BLU is community-embedded in the Inland Empire.

Others

• National College Attainment Network (NCAN): NCAN is a national membership organization that supports programs helping low-income, first-generation students navigate to and through postsecondary education. Comparable to BLU as an ecosystem enabler in the college access and FAFSA completion space, including advocacy work that parallels BLU's role in passing California AB 469.

Emerging players

• Braven: Braven is a national career-acceleration nonprofit that helps underrepresented college students build skills and land strong first jobs through a credit-bearing career course and mentorship. Comparable to BLU's Purposeful Pathways career-readiness and Hustle & Flow Academy offerings, with overlapping employer partnerships, though Braven focuses on the postsecondary career-launch phase.
• INROADS: INROADS is a nonprofit that develops and places talented underrepresented youth in business and industry internships and corporate roles. Comparable to BLU's JustSB Purposeful Pathways Internship and BLU Summer Internship programs, with shared focus on career pathway exposure for Black and Latino students via employer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BLU.Educational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blu-educational-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/bluedfoundation
• Xx.com/BLUEDFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 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 BLU Educational Foundation