College Factory

What College Factory does

College Factory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Athens, Georgia, that provides free college preparation, career coaching, and post-secondary readiness services to high school students in Clarke County and the broader North Georgia region. The organization was founded to address a critical gap in college counseling driven by counselor-to-student ratios exceeding 450:1 in Clarke County schools, where the college-going rate is below 40%. Its core programs include the Go Succeed Program (on-site college coaching and test prep tutoring delivered by licensed Georgia-certified instructors at Clarke Central, Cedar Shoals, and Classic City High Schools), the SAT Boot Camp (a four-day intensive in partnership with Spivey Education Services), the Summer Youth Development Institute (a six-week summer program at Athens Community Career Academy), and the Young Entrepreneur Summer Series (delivered with the Minority Business Nonprofit Association and Goodwill of North Georgia). Additional offerings include community workshops, a scholarship resource database, and college care packages for graduating seniors.

The organization operates on a donation-and-grant funding model: all services are provided completely free of charge to students and families, with revenue sourced from individuals, corporations, organizations, and foundations. Notable financial supporters include the United Way of Northeast Georgia, Georgia Power, the Athens Area Community Foundation, Goodwill of North Georgia, the Dunta Robinson Foundation, and Chick-fil-A. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is conducted in person at partner school sites, supplemented by free online coaching through Spivey Education Services and basic digital marketing via the collegefactory.org website, email newsletter, and social media.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by Founder/President Lawrence Harris, Ph.D., with Executive Director Xernona J. Thomas, Ed.D. (former Superintendent of Clarke County School District) overseeing operations. Program staff includes a Program Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator, both University of Georgia students. Distribution relies on school-based partnerships and community referrals, with strong institutional ties to Clarke County School District providing both volunteer pipeline and student access. The organization's scale is modest, serving approximately 30 students per semester in its core mentoring program and 33 students in its inaugural SAT Boot Camp.

Name

College Factory

Legal name

College Factory

Website

https://collegefactory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

College Factory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Athens, Georgia that provides free college coaching, SAT preparation, and post-secondary readiness services to high school students in Clarke County via on-site programming at partner public high schools, funded entirely by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAKAA

Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

SECONDARYEDANAHAL

Gifted, Advanced & Acceleration Centers (Honors/AP/IB Enrichment)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Small-Group Tutoring & Learning Centers

SECONDARYEDAMAKAD

Portfolio, Capstone & Project-Based Program Support

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/College & Career Enrichment (Mentorship, Internships, Portfolio)

Keywords

• College preparation services
• High school mentoring
• Test prep tutoring
• College admissions coaching
• Youth education nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, College Factory operates entirely on donated funds from individuals, corporations, organizations, and foundations. The organization solicits donations through its website with suggested donation tiers supporting specific programs (test prep, college planning, college tours, workshops). No revenue-generating products or services are sold.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

College Factory is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Athens, GA that provides free college coaching, SAT/ACT test preparation, workshops, and summer youth development programs to high school students. Services are delivered directly at partner high schools and community locations by licensed Georgia-certified instructors and volunteer educators, focusing on first-generation and underserved students navigating post-secondary planning.

Product overview

College Factory is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of free educational programs and services to help high school students achieve post-secondary goals. The core offerings include the Go Succeed Program (college coaching and test prep tutoring), SAT Boot Camp (standardized test preparation), and Summer Youth Development Institute (comprehensive summer program). Additional programs include the Young Entrepreneur Summer Series (entrepreneurship training), Community Workshops (educational sessions on college preparation topics), Scholarship Resources (scholarship database), and College Care Packages. These programs are designed to supplement school counseling and help students navigate the complex college preparation process, providing services at no cost to students and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Go Succeed Program: Free college coaching and test prep tutoring program helping students set career goals, choose educational programs, improve reading and math skills, and prepare for admissions and financial aid applications.

Products and services

• Go Succeed Program Free college coaching and test prep tutoring program helping students set career goals, choose educational programs, improve reading and math skills, and prepare for admissions and financial aid applications. Provided at local high schools by licensed Georgia-certified instructors.
• SAT Boot Camp Free standardized test preparation program providing strategies, tips, and personalized support for SAT success, reducing test anxiety and helping students achieve target scores.
• Summer Youth Development Institute Six-week summer program exposing students to postsecondary options including college, careers, military, and entrepreneurship through tutoring, workshops, guest speakers, and field trips.
• Young Entrepreneur Summer Series Five-week summer program fostering entrepreneurial spirit through interactive curriculum, business-related subjects, and exposure to local business leaders.
• Go Succeed Symposium College preparation event featuring workshops and sessions to help students and families navigate the college admissions process.
• Community Workshops Engaging educational sessions covering topics such as time management, goal setting, college applications, financial aid, and resume writing for students and families.
• Scholarship Resources Database and guidance for local scholarship opportunities including application support and deadline tracking.
• College Care Packages Support program providing care packages with college essentials including personal hygiene items, school supplies, dorm decor, and appliances for graduating high school seniors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each semester, College Factory awards 30 CCSD high school students with scholarships to cover the cost of 13 weeks of mentoring sessions

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minority Business Nonprofit AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with College Factory to host the Young Entrepreneur Summer Series, a five-week program fostering entrepreneurial spirit in young people through resources and exposure to local business leaders. Provides curriculum and industry expertise.
• Goodwill of North GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with College Factory and Minority Business Nonprofit Association to host the Young Entrepreneur Summer Series, providing resources and support for the entrepreneurship and financial literacy training program.
• Spivey Education ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free online college and career coaching as part of the Go Succeed program. Also partnered to host the first-ever four-day SAT Boot Camp at the Athens Career Academy, providing experienced professionals for test prep instruction.
• Athens Community Career AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for SAT Boot Camp and Summer Youth Development Institute programs, providing facility space for College Factory programming.
• Athens-Clarke County LibraryminorOthersListed as an organizational supporter, providing content expertise and/or facility use support.
• Athens StepUpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership focused on making Athens-Clarke County a better place. The Athens StepUp Scholarship recognizes students who have overcome significant challenges to pursue education.
• Chess and CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthens-based nonprofit partnered with College Factory to empower youth through chess, community service, and educational enrichment. Uses chess as a tool for developing skills to manage impulsiveness and long-term thinking.
• Pro Bono Partnership of AtlantaminorOthersListed as an organizational supporter providing content expertise and/or facility use support.
• UGA Trio/Upward BoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an organizational supporter providing resources and support for College Factory's programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Matriculate: Nonprofit connecting high-achieving low-income high school students with virtual college advising support. Comparable in one-on-one advising model and first-generation/low-income target.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit delivering one-on-one college access and success advising to first-generation college students from low-income communities. Comparable in target demographic, free service model, and intensive coaching approach.
• College Possible: National 501(c)(3) providing near-peer coaching for low-income and first-generation high school students through college. Directly comparable in mission, target student population, and free coaching/service delivery model.
• uAspire: Nonprofit focused specifically on financial aid advising and college affordability for low-income students. Highly comparable to College Factory's financial aid navigation and scholarship support offerings.
• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with college-educated mentors for college persistence. Comparable in mentoring-driven delivery model targeting first-generation students.
• OneGoal: Nonprofit delivering a multi-year college readiness and success program to high school students from low-income communities. Comparable in cohort-based, multi-year coaching and persistence support.
• Schuler Scholar Program: Nonprofit providing multi-year college access programming including test prep, college visits, and advising to high-achieving students from low-income families. Comparable in test prep + advising portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Through College: KIPP's alumni support program helping KIPP graduates navigate college persistence. Comparable in college persistence support, but embedded within a broader K-12 charter school network.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund): Large national nonprofit providing scholarships and college access support primarily for African American students. Comparable in scholarship and college access mission at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• CollegeSpring (now part of uAspire): SAT/test prep-focused nonprofit for low-income students (now merged with uAspire). Directly comparable to College Factory's SAT Boot Camp offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/collegefactory

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 College Factory