Project Success

What Project Success does

Project Success is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization founded in 1994 that delivers experiential learning programming to middle and high school students (grades 6 through 12) through deep partnerships with school districts. The organization serves as the long-term youth development partner of Minneapolis Public Schools — its primary anchor relationship since inception — and expanded to Mankato Area Public Schools in 2023-2024, marking its first geographic extension beyond the Twin Cities. Over its 30+ year history, Project Success has served more than 225,000 students and currently reaches approximately 17,000 students annually through in-class workshops, 9,000+ through theater experiences, 3,000 through expeditions, and 1,000+ through institute certificates and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center.

Name

Project Success

Legal name

Project Success

Website

https://projectsuccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Project Success is a Minneapolis nonprofit founded in 1994 that delivers free experiential learning programming — workshops, arts, expeditions, and career credentials — to middle and high school students through school district partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Experiential Learning Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retention, Persistence & Completion Programs (EDALABAD)

Keywords

• Youth experiential learning
• Student purpose programs
• After-school enrichment
• Career exploration programs
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Project Success is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization hosts events and campaigns including a Dreams to Action Breakfast and receives support from local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project Success is a nonprofit that delivers experiential learning programs to 6th-12th grade students through direct in-classroom partnerships with school districts. Its offerings span four pillars—Workshops, Arts (theater), Expeditions, and Institute (skill certificates and career pathways)—all structured around the proprietary DIG (Dream. Ignite. Grow.) methodology. Programs are provided free of charge to students and include transportation and childcare.

Product overview

Project Success is a nonprofit educational organization that offers experiential learning programs for Minneapolis and Mankato middle and high school students. The organization operates four interconnected program pillars: Workshops (in-classroom facilitation), Arts (theater and performing arts experiences), Expeditions (outdoor adventures and college tours), and Institute (career skill certificates and tech programs). Programs are delivered through a proprietary DIG (Dream, Ignite, Grow) curriculum methodology and are primarily free to students. Supplementary offerings include virtual experiences, college preparation resources, and the Best Buy Teen Tech Center maker space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workshops Monthly in-class experiential learning activities for 6th-12th grade classrooms, led by Project Success facilitators, focused on community building, identity, goal-setting, and leadership for middle school students and conscious decision-making for high school students. Delivered directly inside partner schools.
• Arts (Theater Experiences) Live theater performances, middle school musicals, dance residencies, and staged productions providing students access to performing arts. Includes free tickets to 50+ theater partners for students and families.
• Expeditions Outdoor adventures, college and career tours, and global experiences including BWCA and Apostle Islands trips, local and national college tours, and cultural exploration programs for students.
• Institute Certificates Skill-building programs including Bike Tech, Creative Writing, Baking, Cooking, and other certificates taught by local professionals, plus Emergency Medical Responder and CNA Career Pathways programs.
• Best Buy Teen Tech Center Technology-focused maker space at Project Success headquarters providing hands-on experience with the latest technology for students age 13-18, with transportation provided to and from the center.
• Virtual Experiences Online platform offering virtual theater performances and virtual global experiences that students can access anytime, including recordings of dance, music, and cultural performances from theater partners.
• College Resources College preparation resources including the College Conversations Podcast, 30+ virtual college tours and admissions chats, and scholarship information for high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students report that Project Success helps them set goals and create a plan for after graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sebastian Joe'sminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026Local ice cream shop created a limited-edition flavor benefiting Project Success. All proceeds from ice cream sales support PS programming. Partnership represents community connection and fundraising vehicle.
• The Henry Lake ProjectminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2026WCCO Radio host Henry Lake partnered with Sebastian Joe's to create charitable ice cream flavor benefiting Project Success. Henry Lake has personal connection to PS through family history.
• Best BuycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Best Buy Teen Tech Center located at Project Success headquarters provides technology education and maker space for students aged 13-18. Best Buy provides resources and support for the technology center.
• Theater Partners (50+)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner50+ theater partners donate tickets to professional performances, allowing PS students and families to attend live theater experiences at no cost. Partners include regional and national theater organizations.
• South Central CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course and CNA Career Pathways Program for Mankato students through Project Success, enabling healthcare career exploration and certifications.
• Mankato Ballet CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance residency program bringing ballet experiences to Mankato middle school students, with over 1,700 students participating in first-time ballet experiences.
• Mayo Clinic Ambulance Station #1minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare career exploration site where students in EMR courses can tour facilities, meet emergency response professionals, and explore healthcare career pathways.
• Minneapolis Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner since 1994. PS serves all 6th-12th grade students across the district through in-class workshops, expeditions, and institute programming.
• Mankato Area Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded partner district since 2023, representing PS's first expansion beyond Twin Cities. Serves students at five schools including middle and high schools.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spark: Nonprofit providing career exploration and workplace mentoring programs for middle and high school students, aligned with PS's Expeditions, career tours, and Institute programs focused on self-discovery and career pathways.
• Year Up: Workforce-development nonprofit providing career pathway training and credentials for young adults, comparable to PS's Institute Certificates and career exploration programs such as EMR/CNA with South Central College.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit that supports first-generation and low-income students from high school through college completion, comparable to PS's college preparation, scholarship support, and post-graduation planning focus.
• College Possible: Nonprofit focused on college access and success coaching for low-income and first-generation high school students, closely aligned with PS's college tours, scholarship resources, and post-secondary planning focus.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit focused on goal-setting, persistence, and post-secondary outcomes for K-12 students, comparable in mission and youth development outcomes to Project Success's programming.
• Junior Achievement: National nonprofit that delivers in-classroom career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship programming to K-12 students through school district partnerships, directly comparable to PS's in-class facilitation model.
• iCouldBe: Nonprofit providing online mentoring and career exploration for underserved high school students, comparable to PS's Virtual Experiences platform and college/career exploration mission.
• CLIMB Theater: Minnesota-based nonprofit that delivers in-school theater and arts-based programming for youth; explicitly named in Project Success management bios as a prior employer, confirming close peer alignment in mission, geography, and delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• City Year: National education nonprofit placing AmeriCorps members in schools to support attendance, behavior, and course performance for K-12 students, comparable in school-district embedded delivery and student success outcomes.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large, established national youth development organization offering broader programming across education, career exploration, and the arts; overlaps with PS on youth enrichment and goal-setting but operates at much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/projectsuccess1
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectSUCCESS.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-success_2
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectsuccessorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Project Success