Student Leadership Network

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.

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

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

• College access programs
• Educational equity services
• Nonprofit education
• Girls education
• College persistence support

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts individual donations through its website and events, with a 'Circle of Friends' giving circle program for recurring supporters.
2. 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.
3. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RBC Capital MarketscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts 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.
• SonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts 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.
• CiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate 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 CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner that supports Student Leadership Network programs and provides volunteers for career exploration events.
• BloombergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network's career exploration and volunteer programs.
• Deutsche BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing volunteers for career day events and program support.
• NikeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network programs through volunteer engagement.
• Warburg PincusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration programs.
• NYU Langone HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer partner for career exploration programs, sharing healthcare career paths with students.
• Morgan StanleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration and mentorship programs.
• Ernst & YoungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing volunteers for career exploration programs.
• uAspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for financial aid support. CollegeJourney program includes Finances and FAFSA Renewal support in collaboration with uAspire.
• Buffalo Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partnership expanding college access programming to Buffalo schools. Student Leadership Network provides tailored college access programs in partnership with the district.
• CostcominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting Student Leadership Network programs.
• PepsiCominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing volunteers for career exploration programs.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/YWLNetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/StudentLeadNet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studentleadnet
• Instagraminstagram.com/studentleadnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Student Leadership Network