Pass the Torch for Women Foundation

What Pass the Torch for Women Foundation does

Pass the Torch for Women Foundation is an independent 501c3 nonprofit public charity founded in 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana (originally as Mentoring Women's Network), headquartered at 9640 Commerce Drive, Suite 436 in Carmel, Indiana. The foundation operates a multi-tiered mentorship portfolio covering women across the career continuum: Project Grow for female college students (partnered with Ivy Tech Community College, Strada Education Network, and formerly USA Funds), Developing Professionals for entry-to-mid-level career women, Developing Leaders (launched June 2020) for mid-level professionals entering leadership, and the Legacy Leaders Community for executive mentors. Supporting offerings include the Torch Talk webinar and podcast series, the 500 Circle membership tier, the Carla Perinne Perry Scholarship, the Corporate Program for D&I and talent-pipeline buyers, and signature events such as the International Women's Day Breakfast and Ignite for Women simulcast.

The organization does not sell a product; rather, it delivers programs free of charge to participants and generates revenue from four streams: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event ticket sales, and grants from charitable trusts (the only publicly disclosed grant being $75,000 from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust in August 2018). Distribution is direct to beneficiaries via 1:1 mentorship matching, bi-weekly virtual community hubs, online learning modules, and signature events, supplemented by a corporate partnership channel (logos include Ivy Tech, Barnes & Thornburg, Infosys, KSM, NextGear Capital, and Indiana Farm Bureau) and an institutional channel through community college and education-network partnerships.

The foundation operates with a small staff (1–10 employees) led by CEO Deb Hallberg (appointed September 2018) and Board Chair Akilah Darden (from March 2023), with marketing delivered through a WordPress blog, social media presence (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters (Torch Times), webinars, and in-person events. Cumulative impact since 2014 includes over 300 college students served through Project Grow, over 100 Developing Professionals, and over 100 500 Circle member mentors. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, and no app product; the underlying 'technology' is a community-led mentorship methodology and curated mentor–mentee matching framework.

Name

Pass the Torch for Women Foundation

Legal name

Pass The Torch For Women Foundation

Website

https://passthetorchforwomen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pass the Torch for Women Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, operating multi-stage mentorship programs (Project Grow, Developing Professionals, Developing Leaders, Legacy Leaders) for women from college through executive levels, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women’s Mentorship and Career Development

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Women mentorship programs
• Career development services
• Leadership development programs
• Corporate diversity initiatives
• Professional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis, Indiana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to support the foundation's mission of mentoring women at all career stages. Donations help fund programs and extend services to women who may not have built-in support systems.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Organizations sponsor the foundation to expand women at leadership levels. Corporate sponsors engage employees as mentors, provide mentors for female employees, and gain access to networking events. Benefits include HR talent acquisition/retention, diversity & inclusion enhancement, skills training, and promotion of women in leadership.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for events such as the annual International Women's Day Breakfast, Ignite for Women simulcast events, Torch Talks, and Pass the Torch Relay events.
4. Foundation Grants: Grants from charitable trusts such as the $75,000 grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust announced in August 2018.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pass the Torch for Women Foundation delivers free, career-stage-based mentoring and professional-development programs for women from college through executive leadership. Its services combine one-to-one matching, mentor training, virtual community hubs, online learning modules, networking events, and a corporate sponsorship program.

Product overview

Pass the Torch for Women Foundation is a mentorship-driven nonprofit organization that operates a multi-tiered program portfolio supporting women at all stages of their careers. The core offerings include the Project Grow Program for female college students, the Developing Professionals Community for entry to mid-level professionals, the Developing Leaders Program for mid-level professionals entering leadership, and the Legacy Leaders Community for executive-level mentors. Supporting programs include Torch Talk Webinars and Podcast Series for professional development, a Corporate Program for organizational partnerships, and various signature events including Ignite for Women, Pass the Torch Relay, and Pass the Mic events. The Foundation also offers a 500 Circle Membership tier and administers the Carla Perinne Perry Scholarship fund. Together, these programs create a comprehensive ecosystem for mentoring, community building, and career development for women.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Grow Program A mentorship program that pairs female college students with executive mentors to support educational achievement, career advancement, leadership skills, and strategic relationship building.
• Developing Professionals Community A community for entry-to-mid-level professional women who mentor college students while receiving mentorship from executive mentors, supporting career development and community impact.
• Developing Leaders Program A one-to-one mentorship program for mid-level professionals seeking guidance as they enter leadership, pairing them with successful executives who are passionate about mentoring.
• Legacy Leaders Community A community of established industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives who mentor up-and-coming women and share accumulated professional experience.
• Corporate Program A corporate sponsorship program that provides employee mentoring opportunities, access to leadership events and mentoring networks, and support for diversity, inclusion, and social-impact initiatives.
• 500 Circle Membership A membership community for established women leaders and professionals that provides networking and leadership-development opportunities.
• International Women's Day Breakfast A ticketed annual breakfast event supporting the foundation’s women’s professional-growth and mentoring activities.
• Ignite for Women A simulcast event featuring speakers addressing women’s empowerment and leadership development.
• Pass the Torch Relay Event An annual community event that brings participants together for fundraising and recognition of women’s professional growth and empowerment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 college students served since 2014
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USA FundscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership with USA Funds to support Project Grow program mentoring women college students to achieve higher education and career advancement goals. USA Funds was the original partner for the Project Grow program focused on educational success and building strategic relationships.
• Strada Education NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Pass The Torch For Women Foundation and Strada Education Network for Project Grow program committed to mentoring women college students to achieve goals for higher education and career advancement.
• Dress for Success IndianapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership where female college students in the Pass The Torch Project Grow Program receive executive mentoring and professional development, then receive professional attire at Dress for Success when preparing for job interviews. Dress for Success Professional Women's Group members can join Pass the Torch executive mentoring program.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide partnership announced January 30, 2020 between Ivy Tech Community College and Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. Students from Ivy Tech participate in Project Grow program and various foundation events and programs.
• Gregory S. Fehribach CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Ball State University and Eskenazi Health through the Gregory S. Fehribach Center to provide internship experiences to students with physical disabilities. Summer 2023 cohort included Pass the Torch interns. Internship program helps students gain professional expertise and develop skills.
• Girls on the RunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner for annual holiday party where donations are collected. Girls on the Run is a youth empowerment organization serving girls in grades 3-8.
• Indie Airport AuthorityminorOthersRachel Stevens, Senior Director and Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Indianapolis Airport Authority, serves as a mentor with the organization. The Authority partnered with Pass the Torch for Women.
• Indie Airport AuthorityminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Purple InkminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• KSMminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Gregory Fehribach CenterminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Business FurnitureminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• InfosysminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Barnes & ThornburgminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Indiana Farm BureauminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Purdue For Life FoundationminorOthersCorporate partner of Pass the Torch for Women Foundation shown in corporate partners logo section.
• Fresh Figs MarketingminorOthersEvent sponsor for holiday party. Jennifer Riley Simone is founder of Fresh Figs Marketing and has been involved with Pass the Torch for Women for over 14 years.
• Worley Erhart-GravesminorOthersEvent sponsor for holiday party.
• Secure Today FinancialminorOthersEvent sponsor for holiday party.
• NextGear CapitalminorOthersCorporate partner. Betty Lonis, Senior HR Leader at NextGear Capital, has been involved with the foundation for several years as part of the partnership.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dress for Success: Nonprofit supporting women's economic independence through professional attire, career development, and mentoring. Already a PTTFW partner and serves a closely aligned beneficiary population.
• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing college students with professional mentors for career and education outcomes. Directly comparable youth mentoring model serving first-generation and underserved students.
• Girls Inc. National nonprofit inspiring and mentoring girls through educational and career programs. Comparable as a youth mentoring nonprofit targeting girls' professional development.
• Lean In Foundation: National nonprofit founded by Sheryl Sandberg focused on women's empowerment, mentorship circles, and career advancement. Directly comparable as a women's professional development community with corporate partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Female Executives (NAFE): Professional association supporting women in executive leadership through networking and resources. Comparable as a women's career advancement membership organization.
• Catalyst: Global nonprofit working to advance women in workplace leadership with corporate partnerships and research. Comparable as a women-in-leadership nonprofit serving corporate D&I buyers.
• American Association of University Women (AAUW): National nonprofit advancing gender equity through education, research, and mentorship programs including scholarships. Comparable as a women-focused education and grantmaking nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Junior Achievement: Youth-serving nonprofit providing career readiness, mentoring, and work readiness education. Comparable in mentoring model targeting students transitioning to careers, though co-ed.
• AnitaB.org: Nonprofit advancing women in technology through mentoring and career programs. Comparable as a women's career mentoring nonprofit, though narrower in industry focus.

Others

• Mentorloop: Mentoring platform provider serving enterprises and nonprofits. Comparable as an enabling technology for structured mentoring programs serving women professionals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/passtorch4women
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MentoringWomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/PassTorch4WomenFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pass-the-torch-for-women-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/passtorch4women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pass the Torch for Women Foundation