We Rise

What We Rise does

We Rise is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Todd Scott, a former J.P. Morgan finance professional and real estate developer who returned to his hometown after 25+ years to address generational poverty in East Baltimore. The organization delivers a portfolio of five interconnected youth programs—the core Mentorship Program (four modules: Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Career & Character Development, Industry Sectors), the Senators Program (a two-phase workforce development initiative), the Delegates Program (serving justice-involved youth at the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services' Victor Cullen Center), the House of Representatives Program (in-school mentorship at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School and Coppin Academy High School), and the Job Readiness Program (hands-on construction training with $20/hour stipends).

The operating model is distinctive: We Rise has acquired 10 abandoned row houses and 4 vacant lots in Baltimore's Broadway East neighborhood and uses them as the Basic Training Facility, where youth learn real estate development, construction, and financial literacy by actively rehabilitating the properties. Programs are delivered free of charge to participants at multiple sites including the We Rise Office at 1501 St. Paul St, the Victor Cullen Center in Sabillasville, and partner schools. Revenue derives from foundation grants (e.g., Foundation at Cross River, $15,000 in 2023), corporate sponsorships (Sherwin-Williams), and government/professional services partnerships (Maryland DJS).

The organization is founder-led, with a small team of approximately 1–10 staff including a Director of Community Programming, Deputy Director, Operations Consultants, and a Data Manager. The board includes Martin McCrae, who brokered the Morgan State University partnership. Recent strategic activity includes the 2025 expansion of in-school programming and the 2023 partnership with Morgan State University, though a November 2023 fire at an adjacent vacant property caused damage to a We Rise property that was 90% complete in redevelopment, representing a material operational setback.

Name

We Rise

Legal name

We Rise, A Non-Profit Corporation

Website

https://werisecommunity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

We Rise is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing youth mentorship, financial literacy, and workforce development programs to underserved youth ages 13+, using acquired vacant row houses as hands-on training sites for real estate and construction skills.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mentorship and Community Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Child and Youth Services (62411)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Youth mentorship programs
• Financial literacy education
• Workforce development training
• Community revitalization services
• Juvenile rehabilitation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Grant Funding: We Rise receives donations and grants from foundations such as Foundation at Cross River ($15,000 donation received). These funds support mentorship programs and job readiness initiatives.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial and material support to enable program operations. Current sponsors include Sherwin-Williams.
3. Government Partnerships: Partnership with Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to deliver programs at their facilities, implementing the Governor's ENOUGH Initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

We Rise is a Baltimore-based nonprofit that delivers free youth mentorship, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and job-readiness programs for participants ages 13 and older. It also acquires and redevelops abandoned row houses in the Broadway East neighborhood, converting the properties into hands-on classrooms where youth gain construction and real-estate development skills while earning paid stipends.

Product overview

We Rise is a mentorship and neighborhood revitalization program in Baltimore City focused on helping youth and families build generational wealth through financial literacy and homeownership. The organization operates as a unified program portfolio consisting of five interconnected programs: the core Mentorship Program (with four integrated modules covering Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Career and Character Development, and Industry Sectors), the Senators Program (a two-phase workforce development initiative), the Delegates Program (serving justice-involved youth), the House of Representatives Program (school-based early engagement), and the Job Readiness Program (hands-on workforce training with stipends). All programs are designed to work together to provide comprehensive support from financial education through practical job experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentorship Program

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025All-girls charter school in Baltimore City (grades 5-8). We Rise provides weekly in-school sessions focusing on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and real estate.
• Coppin Academy High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025We Rise expanded to Coppin Academy High School in summer 2025 where students receive weekly mentorship and access to workforce training programs in Park Heights.
• Morgan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Partnership led by Board Member Martin McCrae connects Morgan State students to work alongside We Rise mentors, supporting House of Representatives and Jr Senators program workshops.
• Park Heights RenaissancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to implement the Governor's ENOUGH Initiative through the Senators Program in Park Heights (West Baltimore). Provides access to CC Jackson Recreation Center for classroom instruction and connects youth to workforce development opportunities.
• Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a partner of DJS Innovation Team, We Rise facilitates weekly mentorship and skills-building workshops at Victor Cullen Center. Focus areas include financial awareness, conflict resolution, resume building, and entrepreneurship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit building affordable housing through volunteer labor and homebuyer partnership; shares We Rise's acquisition-and-rehab model in distressed neighborhoods and homeownership-pathway mission.
• YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit combining construction workforce training, education, and leadership development for opportunity youth ages 16-24. Closest analog to We Rise's blend of youth mentorship with hands-on real estate/construction redevelopment.
• Rebuilding Together: National nonprofit rehabilitating homes for low-income homeowners, similar property-revitalization mission in distressed neighborhoods and reliance on corporate sponsors like Sherwin-Williams.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free technology and professional skills training to adults from underserved communities. Comparable on tuition-free workforce training with employer-aligned outcomes.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit providing young adults with training, internships, and corporate partnerships across multiple U.S. cities. Comparable on youth workforce, financial literacy, and corporate sponsor engagement model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Long-standing youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk youth through one-to-one and group mentoring. Most direct analog to We Rise's core mentorship model and youth development outcomes.
• NPower: Nonprofit creating pathways to technology careers for young adults from underserved communities. Closely comparable on youth workforce development model with corporate employer partnerships.

Emerging players

• Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing career advising and financial aid guidance to first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds. Comparable on financial literacy and college-to-career outcomes focus.
• i.c.stars: Workforce development nonprofit training low-income young adults in technology and leadership through an immersive stipend-based apprenticeship model. Comparable paid-stipend apprenticeship approach.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development nonprofit offering mentoring, education, and career programming. Comparable on multi-module youth development curriculum and after-school delivery model, but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WeRiseBaltimore
• Xtwitter.com/WeRiseBmore
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WeRiseBaltimore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/we-rise-baltimore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 We Rise