Student Leadership Network
Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit that supports underserved students in accessing higher education through two models: 24 Young Women's Leadership Schools and the CollegeBound Initiative at 50 schools nationwide. It embeds college counselors in partner schools and provides near-peer mentorship through college graduation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Student Leadership Network does
Student Leadership Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York City that supports young people in diverse, under-resourced communities to access and complete higher education. The organization operates through two core program models: the Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) network, implemented at 24 schools nationwide and focused on girls'+ education and leadership development, and the CollegeBound Initiative (CBI), implemented at 50 schools (including 38 co-ed schools) nationwide and focused on building college-going school cultures. Across both models, Student Leadership Network embeds Directors of College Counseling (DCCs) and College Transition Coaches (CTCs) in partner schools, supports alumni persistence through the CollegeJourney near-peer mentorship program (expanded from one year to four years in 2024), and provides pre-college preparation via CollegeSendoff and signature career-exploration series such as Cool Careers / Potential Paths and TYWLS at the Workplace. To date, nearly 80,000 students have been impacted, graduates earn college degrees at 2X the national rate, and approximately $1B in scholarships and financial aid has been secured since 2001.
The organization is funded through three primary revenue streams: individual donations (including a Circle of Friends recurring-giving program), corporate partnerships (with named supporters including Apollo Global Management, RBC Capital Markets, Citi, Sony, Estée Lauder, Bloomberg, Costco, Deutsche Bank, Nike, Warburg Pincus, NYU Langone, Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young, and PepsiCo), and institutional funding from foundations and government programs such as the Apollo Opportunity Foundation, NYS HEOP, and EOP. Distribution is conducted through direct school partnerships, district-level services (e.g., Buffalo Public Schools), and a newer College Access Consulting Services arm that sells customizable counselor coaching, application support, and data-systems implementation to schools and districts. All programs and services are delivered free of charge to students, schools, and districts. The technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit tooling: Google Analytics for web reporting and third-party fundraising platforms Classy and Funraise for donation and event processing; there is no proprietary AI or ML capability.
Student Leadership Network operates across nine U.S. states (CA, NV, TX, MO, GA, FL, NC, NY, LA) with a staff of 51-100. Leadership includes CEO Yolonda Marshall (appointed 2024) and a Board of Directors that, as of November 2025, includes the organization's first alumna member, Talia Scott. The organization holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating (2024) and was previously known as the Young Women's Leadership Network before its 2024 brand revitalization.
Student Leadership Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Student Leadership Network
- Legal name
- Student Leadership Network Inc.
- Website
- https://studentleadershipnetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit that supports underserved students in accessing higher education through two models: 24 Young Women's Leadership Schools and the CollegeBound Initiative at 50 schools nationwide. It embeds college counselors in partner schools and provides near-peer mentorship through college graduation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Student Leadership Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Educational Support Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)
Keywords
Where Student Leadership Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Student Leadership Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization accepts individual donations through its website and events, with a 'Circle of Friends' giving circle program for recurring supporters.
- Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial support, volunteer hours, and career exploration opportunities for students. Partners include Apollo Global Management, RBC Capital Markets, Citi, Sony, The Estée Lauder Companies, Bloomberg, Costco, Deutsche Bank, Nike, Warburg Pincus, and others.
- Institutional Funding: The organization receives funding from institutional sources including foundations such as the Apollo Opportunity Foundation and government programs like NYS HEOP and EOP.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Student Leadership Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit organization that operates two flagship educational models: the Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) network of all-girls public schools (24 schools nationwide) and the CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) college access program (50 schools). It places Directors of College Counseling in partner schools, provides college transition coaching, runs the CollegeJourney near-peer mentorship program for alumni, and offers College Access Consulting Services and District Services to schools nationwide. Programs and services are delivered free of charge to students, schools, and districts.
Product overview
Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit organization operating two core educational models: the Young Women's Leadership network (24 schools nationwide) and the CollegeBound Initiative (50 schools nationwide including 38 co-ed schools). The organization offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services including Girls'+ Education, College Access & Success, CollegeJourney near-peer mentorship (expanded to 4 years in 2024), CollegeBound Month celebrations, Cool Careers Potential Paths career exploration, TYWLS at the Workplace site visits, CollegeSendoff pre-college preparation, and College Access Consulting Services. The portfolio includes signature events like the annual (Em)Power Breakfast, professional learning communities for educators, and various donor and partnership programs. Together these offerings provide end-to-end support from middle school through college graduation for students in diverse underserved communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS): All-girls public charter schools focused on college preparation and leadership development, currently implemented at 24 schools nationwide.
- CollegeBound Initiative (CBI)
- CollegeJourney
- Cool Careers, Potential Paths
- CollegeSendoff
- (Em)Power Breakfast
Products and services
- Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS)
- CollegeBound Initiative (CBI)
- CollegeJourney
- College Access Consulting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Students earn college degrees at 2X the rate of students nationally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Student Leadership Network
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Student Leadership Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Student Leadership Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RBC Capital MarketscoreHosts students for office visits providing early career exposure to financial services careers. Volunteers participate in Cool Careers, Potential Paths programs at The Young Women's Leadership Schools.
- SonycoreHosts TYWLS students at headquarters for TYWLS at the Workplace career exploration series, introducing students to music and film production careers through employee panels and office tours.
- CiticoreCorporate partner hosting events for students including a fireside chat with Ursula Burns during Women's History Month. Citi volunteers participate in career exploration programs.
- The Estée Lauder CompaniesminorCorporate partner that supports Student Leadership Network programs and provides volunteers for career exploration events.
- BloombergminorCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network's career exploration and volunteer programs.
- Deutsche BankminorCorporate partner providing volunteers for career day events and program support.
- NikeminorCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network programs through volunteer engagement.
- Warburg PincusminorCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration programs.
- NYU Langone HealthminorVolunteer partner for career exploration programs, sharing healthcare career paths with students.
- Morgan StanleyminorCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration and mentorship programs.
- Ernst & YoungminorProfessional services firm providing volunteers for career exploration programs.
- uAspirecorePartnership for financial aid support. CollegeJourney program includes Finances and FAFSA Renewal support in collaboration with uAspire.
- Buffalo Public SchoolscoreDistrict partnership expanding college access programming to Buffalo schools. Student Leadership Network provides tailored college access programs in partnership with the district.
- CostcominorCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network programs.
- PepsiCominorCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Student Leadership Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iMentor: Nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with college-educated mentors for college persistence support. Comparable given the near-peer/mentor-based model and focus on first-generation college success.
- Bottom Line: Nonprofit providing college access and success advising to first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Directly comparable given nearly identical mission and near-peer mentorship approach.
- Achievement First: Nonprofit charter management organization running public K-12 schools with college-prep focus in underserved communities. Closely mirrors TYWLS model in combining school operation with explicit college readiness outcomes.
- KIPP Foundation: National network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving underserved communities, with an explicit college completion focus. Most directly comparable given similar charter-school-based college access model and nationwide footprint.
- Uncommon Schools: Multi-state charter management organization operating public charter schools in underserved communities with a strong college completion mission. Comparable due to charter network structure and focus on first-generation college success.
- uAspire: Nonprofit focused on college affordability and financial aid advising for low-income students. Already a Student Leadership Network partner for FAFSA support; comparable as a college access nonprofit with consulting offerings to schools.
- College Spring: Nonprofit providing SAT prep, college advising, and application support to low-income and first-generation high school students. Comparable in target population and school-embedded delivery model.
Broad incumbents
- Year Up: Large nonprofit workforce development organization serving young adults from underserved communities. Comparable given the target demographic and corporate partner ecosystem, though Year Up focuses on direct-to-employment pathways rather than college access.
- National College Access Network (NCAN): National membership and advocacy organization supporting the college access and success field. Comparable as a sector peer though positioned as an industry backbone rather than direct service provider.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Large youth mentoring nonprofit with a nationwide footprint and donor-supported model. Comparable in mission scope and donation-based revenue model, though focused on youth development broadly rather than college access specifically.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Student Leadership Network social profiles
Digital presenceStudent Leadership Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Student Leadership Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Student Leadership Network subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Student Leadership Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Student Leadership Network 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 Student Leadership Network
What does Student Leadership Network do?
Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit organization that operates two flagship educational models: the Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) network of all-girls public schools (24 schools nationwide) and the CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) college access program (50 schools). It places Directors of College Counseling in partner schools, provides college transition coaching, runs the CollegeJourney near-peer mentorship program for alumni, and offers College Access Consulting Services and District Services to schools nationwide. Programs and services are delivered free of charge to students, schools, and districts.
Is Student Leadership Network a public or private company?
Student Leadership Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Student Leadership Network founded?
Student Leadership Network was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Student Leadership Network based?
Student Leadership Network is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Student Leadership Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and institutional Funding.
Who are Student Leadership Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iMentor, Bottom Line, Achievement First, KIPP Foundation, Uncommon Schools, uAspire and College Spring. Broad incumbents are Year Up, National College Access Network (NCAN) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Does Student Leadership Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Student Leadership Network.
What industry is Student Leadership Network in?
Student Leadership Network's product category is Nonprofit Educational Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAE, College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.