Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2012, that provides college preparation, scholarships, mentoring, and postsecondary success coaching to students in the Hazel Park School District through embedded in-school advising and a network of philanthropic partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersHazel Park, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network does
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 to expand college access and postsecondary success for students in the Hazel Park School District, a population approximately 30% Black, 25% Hispanic, and 35% White. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including early-college awareness, college preparation advising, direct scholarships (over $1M disbursed cumulatively since inception), the Viking Bridge mentoring program (serving 240+ students), and postsecondary success coaching. Its delivery model is built on embedded in-school advising, partnerships with postsecondary institutions such as Oakland Community College (which provides free tuition pathways), and longitudinal relationships with students from high school through college persistence.
The organization's business model is philanthropic: it raises funds through institutional grants, individual donations, and an annual Race to College Dinner fundraiser held since 2014. Major institutional funders reportedly include the Ballmer Group, Jacob Family Foundation, and Sutar-Sutaruk-Meyer Foundation. The operating team consists of 8 staff, including recently hired leadership (Executive Director Fernando Monge, Fall 2024), a Manager of College Success Programs (Kitty Groeller, Fall 2025), and a dedicated Web Developer (Ryan Drew, 2024), indicating modest capacity-building investment.
The technology stack is minimal and not described in technical depth; the 2024 Web Developer hire suggests investment in digital infrastructure such as the organization's web presence and donor-facing platforms. There is no evidence of proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, or scalable software products. The competitive position rests on district-embedded access, multi-funder ecosystem relationships, and 12+ years of community trust rather than on technology differentiation.
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network
- Legal name
- Hazel Park Promise Zone
- Website
- https://hazelparkpromise.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2012, that provides college preparation, scholarships, mentoring, and postsecondary success coaching to students in the Hazel Park School District through embedded in-school advising and a network of philanthropic partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- College Access and Success Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)
Keywords
Where Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hazel Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The organization is a US tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, community supporters, and sponsors to fund scholarships and programs.
- Annual Fundraiser (Race to College Dinner): Annual fundraising dinner event that brings together students, families, alumni, administrators, partners, and sponsors to celebrate and fund the mission. All funds raised go directly back into college access and success work.
- Grant Funding: Funding from grant donors including Ballmer Group, Jacob Family Foundation, and Sutar-Sutaruk-Meyer Foundation to support operations and scholarship programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hazel Park Promise Zone is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free college access, preparation, scholarship, and postsecondary success services to all Hazel Park School District students and recent alumni (up to six years post-graduation). Its core offerings include in-school college advising, FAFSA and admissions support, near-peer mentorship, one-on-one success coaching, and scholarship funding (including free Oakland Community College tuition for residents and up to $2,000 in university scholarships).
Product overview
The Hazel Park Promise Zone is a nonprofit organization offering a holistic suite of educational support services to Hazel Park School District students and alumni. The organization operates four interconnected core programs: College Preparation Services (providing advisers and navigators for admissions and financial aid), Postsecondary Success Coaching (one-on-one ongoing support for college persistence), Near-Peer Mentoring Program (pairing students with college mentors), and Scholarship Programs (financial support including OCC tuition coverage and university scholarships up to $2,000). These services are complemented by a Resources Hub providing curated external tools. The organization has supported over 240 students through mentoring, awarded over $1M in scholarships, and provided SAT prep to more than 400 students since 2012.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College Preparation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 240+ students impacted through mentoring program
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Oakland Community CollegecoreKey educational partner where Hazel Park resident graduates can receive free tuition for their first certificate or Associate's Degree; students can receive up to 6 credits covered through the Promise Zone
- Hazel Park School DistrictcoreHost organization for the Promise Zone; provides staffing and operational support; includes Hazel Park High School, Advantage Alternative High School, and INVEST-Roosevelt High School
- Oakland 80coreProgram partner providing navigators at alternative high schools (Advantage and INVEST-Roosevelt) to support student college access
- Michigan College Access NetworkmajorStatewide network supporting college access initiatives; provides resources and peer support for Promise Zone programs
- Michigan State University College Advising CorpsmajorProvides college advisers who work with high school students to increase college enrollment
- Michigan Promise Zones AssociationmajorStatewide association connecting the 13 Promise Zones in Michigan for shared learning and advocacy
- Oakland County Michigan WorksmajorWorkforce development partner providing employment and internship resources for students
- Amazon PrimeminorSenior sponsor supporting the annual fundraiser and organizational mission
- PNC BankminorProgram partner providing financial support and resources
- Clark HillminorLaw firm program partner providing pro bono or discounted legal services
- Hazel Park CitymajorCity government partner supporting community-wide educational initiatives
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- College Possible: National nonprofit that pairs low-income students with near-peer coaches for college application, enrollment, and persistence support. Highly comparable near-peer mentoring model and college access mission.
- Bottom Line: National college access and success nonprofit providing one-on-one advising to first-generation students from high school through college graduation. Comparable mission and direct-service model, operating at significantly larger scale across multiple cities.
- Michigan College Access Network (MCAN): Statewide intermediary that supports all 13 Michigan Promise Zones and a broader network of local college access programs. Functions as the umbrella organization and resource backbone for the type of work Hazel Park Promise Zone does.
Others
- StriveTogether: National cradle-to-career network supporting local partnerships working to improve educational outcomes from early childhood through postsecondary attainment. Comparable in working at the intersection of K-12 districts and postsecondary success, though at a broader systemic level.
Direct peers
- Grand Rapids Promise Zone: Michigan Promise Zone offering college access advising and last-dollar scholarships to Grand Rapids Public Schools students. Directly comparable community-based Promise Zone model.
- Kalamazoo Promise: The most prominent Michigan Promise scholarship program, providing tuition coverage to Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates. Highly comparable as a place-based Promise scholarship serving a single school district in Michigan.
- Detroit Promise Zone: Another Michigan Promise Zone serving Detroit Public Schools Community District students with similar college access, advising, and scholarship services. Operates the same Promise Zone model in a different Michigan urban district.
- I Have A Dream Foundation: National nonprofit that sponsors entire cohorts of students in a single school or community through college access, mentoring, and long-term scholarships. Closely mirrors Hazel Park's place-based, cohort-driven, multi-year support model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network social profiles
Digital presenceHazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access 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 Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network
What does Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network do?
The Hazel Park Promise Zone is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free college access, preparation, scholarship, and postsecondary success services to all Hazel Park School District students and recent alumni (up to six years post-graduation). Its core offerings include in-school college advising, FAFSA and admissions support, near-peer mentorship, one-on-one success coaching, and scholarship funding (including free Oakland Community College tuition for residents and up to $2,000 in university scholarships).
Is Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network a public or private company?
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network founded?
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network based?
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network is headquartered in Hazel Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are annual Fundraiser (Race to College Dinner) and grant Funding.
Who are Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are College Possible, Bottom Line and Michigan College Access Network (MCAN). StriveTogether is listed as an others. Direct peers are Grand Rapids Promise Zone, Kalamazoo Promise, Detroit Promise Zone and I Have A Dream Foundation.
Does Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network.
What industry is Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network in?
Hazel Park Promise Zone & College Access Network's product category is College Access and Success Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts, with a secondary code of EDADAHAD, Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8200.