The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University

Name

The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University

Legal name

The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center

Website

https://ddc.college.columbia.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Access & Youth Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Education & Dropout Prevention / Re-Engagement Programs (EDANAJAF)

Keywords

• College access programs
• Academic enrichment services
• Youth mentorship programs
• College counseling services
• TRIO educational programs

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Following the loss of federal funding in March 2025, DDC is now entirely donor-funded for the first time in its 60-year history. The organization hosts fundraising events including its 60th Anniversary Gala, accepts online donations through Columbia University's donation platform, and receives gifts by check. All donations are allocated directly to DDC's programs and services.
2. Government Grants (Previously): Prior to March 2025, DDC received approximately 95% of its funding from federal government grants including Department of Education TRIO programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search) and Project Start Right. On March 7, 2025, all federal grants were cut. The July 2025 agreement between Columbia University and the federal government explicitly excluded grants from the Department of Education from restoration.
3. Corporate and Foundation Support: DDC receives major financial support from corporations and foundations including Citi, JP Morgan Chase, Macquarie Group Foundation, The Morgan Stanley Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, Teagle Foundation, and United Way of New York. Columbia College and Columbia University also provide institutional support including office space in Lerner Hall.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Double Discovery Center (DDC) is a Columbia University college-access nonprofit that delivers free, comprehensive programming to help first-generation, low-income high school students in Harlem and Washington Heights prepare for, apply to, and succeed in college. Its core services include Saturday Academy (weekend college prep), Summer Academy (4-week immersive summer program), Academic Enrichment courses, College & Career Success counseling, the Healthy Minds & Bodies wellness curriculum, and near-peer mentorship from Columbia and Barnard undergraduates. Programs are offered at no charge to eligible students and historically have been supported by federal TRIO grants, corporate/foundation gifts, and individual donations.

Product overview

The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center (DDC) is a comprehensive college access and success program at Columbia University, not a software product. It offers a unified platform of educational services for first-generation, low-income high school students from Harlem and Washington Heights. The core offerings include: Saturday Academy (weekend programming), Summer Academy (4-week intensive summer program), Academic Enrichment courses, College & Career Success services, and Healthy Minds & Bodies wellness support. These programs work together to provide holistic preparation for college-bound students, combining academic instruction, counseling, mentorship, and emotional support. DDC also operates Upward Bound and Talent Search programs (federally funded) and the newer Project Start Right mentorship for college students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saturday Academy Weekend college-preparation and academic-enrichment program held at Columbia University's Morningside Campus for eligible high school students. Participants take grade-appropriate college-prep courses plus two enrichment courses of their choice (e.g., Sociology, Investing, Ballet), plus college tours and career panels. Free for eligible students.
• Summer Academy Four-week academic-enrichment summer program held on Columbia's Morningside campus for 9th- and 10th-grade New York City high school students. Includes reading, writing, research, and wellness workshops plus immersive college-experience activities. Free for eligible students; offered as a non-residential commuter program since 2025.
• Academic Enrichment Culturally-informed, project-based academic support across humanities, arts, and STEM, including a writing center and subject-based tutoring for DDC students. Aimed at building the skills necessary for college success.
• College & Career Success Comprehensive college-preparation program offering college-prep courses, individual college counseling, near-peer college mentoring, college tours, financial literacy for college and beyond, and career exploration and immersion activities. Free for DDC students.
• Healthy Minds & Bodies Wellness curriculum offering individual, small-group, and community activities for DDC students and families, including Relax, Relate, Release; Adolescent Public Health in Harlem; and Chat & Chill sessions. Designed to cultivate physical, mental, and emotional health.
• Upward Bound National federally funded college-prep program for first-generation and low-income high school students offering college advice and summer school programming. Historically delivered through DDC, currently suspended due to loss of federal funding.
• Talent Search Program bringing DDC volunteers and staff into local high schools to deliver college-access workshops during the school day. Historically served 737 students annually in Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood; suspended due to federal funding cuts.
• Project Start Right Mentorship program extending DDC's resources to first- and second-year college students to support transition through higher education. Launched in 2024 with federal support that was subsequently revoked.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Billion Oyster ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education partnership providing students with hands-on learning opportunities related to marine science and sustainability.
• The Bridge LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing additional educational resources and programs for DDC students.
• Bronxville Ballet NOT FOR SALEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partnership offering ballet instruction and performance opportunities for DDC students.
• Central Harlem Small Business DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting entrepreneurial education and career exploration for DDC students in the Harlem community.
• Columbia Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing business education resources, mentorship, and career exploration opportunities for DDC students through Columbia University students and faculty.
• Columbia School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering public health education and career pathways for DDC students, including workshops on adolescent health in Harlem.
• Columbia School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting DDC's Healthy Minds & Bodies program through social work students and faculty providing counseling and wellness services.
• Columbia University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing health-related educational opportunities and career exploration in medicine for DDC students.
• Hudson Lab VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering lab-based science experiences and research opportunities for DDC students.
• Loews Hotels & CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Constantine S. Dimas serves as Chief Business Officer at Loews Hotels & Co. Company represented on DDC Board of Friends, providing potential hospitality career pathways for students.
• Mayer Brown LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal partnership providing career exposure and mentorship opportunities in law for DDC students.
• Teachers CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Columbia's graduate school of education, providing educational resources, volunteer opportunities, and career pathways for DDC students.
• Zuckerman InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing neuroscience education through BRAINYAC program where DDC students learn about brain science at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute.
• Columbia CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDC is a department within Columbia College. Provides institutional support, office space in Lerner Hall, and access to Columbia resources.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution providing administrative support, facilities (Lerner Hall office space), and access to university-wide resources and student volunteers.
• SPURS: Biomedical ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional Columbia research program providing biomedical research opportunities for DDC students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• College Possible: National nonprofit providing near-peer college coaching to low-income and first-generation students from high school through college. Comparable in near-peer mentorship model, free services, and focus on college access for low-income and first-generation cohorts.
• Oliver Scholars: NYC-based nonprofit preparing high-achieving Black and Latinx students for success at top independent schools and selective colleges. Closely comparable in mission, target population (first-generation/underrepresented NYC youth), free-program structure, and selective-college counseling focus.
• Bottom Line: College access and persistence nonprofit serving first-generation and low-income students from high school through college graduation. Comparable in free, individualized college counseling model and first-generation focus, though Bottom Line operates nationally rather than NYC-anchored.
• Posse Foundation: NYC-founded nonprofit identifying and supporting diverse cohorts of students to attend selective colleges in 'poss' of 10. Comparable in mission (first-generation and underrepresented youth college access), peer-cohort model, and university partnership structure.
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO): NYC-based nonprofit providing college access and academic enrichment to high-achieving low-income and underrepresented high school students. Directly comparable to DDC in mission (first-generation college access), target population, and free-program model, though SEO has a stronger career-placement and corporate pipeline component.
• The TEAK Fellowship: NYC-based nonprofit providing free college access programming to low-income middle school students through college matriculation. Comparable in free model, NYC focus, multi-year programming, and selective-college outcomes focus.
• Prep for Prep: NYC-based college access nonprofit identifying and preparing high-achieving students of color for independent schools and elite colleges. Closely comparable to DDC in target population, free-service model, and NYC focus, though Prep for Prep's pipeline starts earlier (middle school) and emphasizes private-school placement.

Broad incumbents

• iMentor: National nonprofit pairing low-income students with adult mentors for college access and success support. Comparable in long-term mentoring model and college access mission, though iMentor's mentorship is adult-volunteer based rather than near-peer.

Regional players

• East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP): East Harlem-based nonprofit providing tutoring, mentoring and college access programs to local students from elementary through college. Comparable in NYC community-anchored college access mission and free programming for low-income students, though EHTP's pipeline starts in elementary school.
• Higher Achievement: Out-of-school-time college access nonprofit serving middle school students in Baltimore, DC, and Pittsburgh. Comparable in college access mission for low-income youth and use of near-peer mentors, though geographically focused on mid-Atlantic cities rather than NYC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ddccolumbia
• Facebookfacebook.com/DoubleDiscoveryCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-double-discovery-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbiaddc/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 The Double Discovery Center at Columbia University