Rising Stars Program
The Rising Stars Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that trains young people ages 16-24 for careers in construction, clean energy, and the sustainable built environment across six U.S. cities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rising Stars Program does
The Rising Stars Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that trains young people ages 16-24 for careers in construction, clean energy, and the sustainable built environment. Founded by David Hutchinson in 2020 and formally launched in February 2022, the program operates across six U.S. cities (Brooklyn, Newark, Cleveland, Charlotte, Brockton, and Boston) and delivered 150+ graduates with a 75-80% graduation rate and 80% post-program placement into apprenticeships, jobs, or continued education. The core program consists of a 16-session curriculum covering trades (roofing, carpentry, glazing, painting, tile), OSHA 10 safety certification, architecture, sustainability, building science, and project management, supplemented by five specialized sub-programs: Achieve Green (green construction pathways with IUPAT apprenticeship and HERS Energy Rater tracks, funded by MassCEC), Built to Lead (post-graduation mentorship in Brooklyn), Trade Trailblazers (8-week summer internship with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston), Careers of the Future (1-week crash course with The Possible Zone), and the Foundry Circle (tiered corporate sponsorship community).
The program does not operate proprietary technology platforms; its "technology" footprint is limited to a Wix-hosted website, standard social media properties, and a partnership with Julius Edu for AI-powered career mapping and skill development plans. The organization became an independent 501(c)(3) (EIN 33-2120430) on November 22, 2024, after operating as an initiative under Tremco CPG. Revenue is generated entirely through grants (notably the MassCEC Workforce Equity Grant), corporate sponsorships (15+ sponsors including Turner Construction, Cushman & Wakefield, Con Edison, RPM International affiliates), individual donations at suggested tiers of $25 to $10,000, and the Foundry Circle's tiered founding partnerships ($2,500 to $25,000+). All program services are delivered free of charge to youth participants, with transportation support included.
Rising Stars Program firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rising Stars Program
- Legal name
- Rising Stars Program
- Website
- https://risingstarsprogram.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Rising Stars Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that trains young people ages 16-24 for careers in construction, clean energy, and the sustainable built environment across six U.S. cities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rising Stars Program industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Workforce Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)
Keywords
Where Rising Stars Program is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Rising Stars Program business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grants: Funded by grants such as the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Workforce Equity Grant, which supports the Achieve Green program focused on green construction careers.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Supported by Tremco CPG and more than 15 sponsors who fund program operations, training materials, PPE, transportation, and stipends for participants.
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time or recurring donations (monthly giving), with suggested amounts of $25, $100, $500, $2,500, and $10,000 levels. 100% of donations support programming.
- Foundry Circle Founding Partnerships: Multi-year corporate sponsorships through the Foundry Circle at four levels: Anchor Builder ($25,000+), Cornerstone Partner ($10,000-$24,999), Structural Partner ($5,000-$9,999), and Pipeline Partner ($2,500-$4,999).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free program for youth participants ages 16-24 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rising Stars Program product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rising Stars Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that provides free training, industry exposure, certification, mentorship, and employment pathways to young people ages 16-24 seeking careers in construction, clean energy, and the sustainable built environment. The program operates through a 16-session curriculum delivered across six U.S. cities with specialized sub-programs covering green construction apprenticeships, union trade internships, and post-graduation mentorship.
Product overview
The Rising Stars Program is a nonprofit workforce development initiative that operates as a single unified program with multiple specialized sub-programs. The core Rising Stars Program provides young adults ages 16-24 with a 16-session curriculum covering trades, architecture, safety, sustainability, building science, and project management. Specialized programs include: Achieve Green (green construction career pathways with IUPAT apprenticeship and HERS Energy Rater tracks), Trade Trailblazers (8-week summer internship), Careers of the Future (1-week crash course), Built to Lead (post-graduation mentorship), and Foundry Circle (founding sponsorship community). The program operates across 6 cities (Brooklyn, Newark, Cleveland, Charlotte, Brockton, Boston) and connects graduates to apprenticeships, employment, and continued education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Achieve Green: A Rising Stars program creating pathways for young people to pursue careers in green construction sector, funded by MassCEC Workforce Equity Grant.
- Built to Lead
- Trade Trailblazers
- Careers of the Future
- Rising Stars Foundry Circle
Products and services
- Rising Stars Program Free, nonprofit workforce development program providing a 16-session curriculum covering trades (roofing, carpentry, glazing, painting, tile), architecture, safety, sustainability, building science, and project management for youth ages 16-24 seeking construction, clean energy, and sustainable built environment careers. Operates across six U.S. cities with hands-on training, OSHA 10 certification, mentorship, and direct pathways to apprenticeships, jobs, and continued education.
- Achieve Green A Rising Stars sub-program creating pathways for young people into green construction careers, funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MASSCEC) Workforce Equity Grant. Includes the IUPAT Apprenticeship Pathway (Glazing and Weatherization Technician tracks) and the HERS Energy Rater Pathway with rating field inspector training and RESNET HERS certification.
- Built to Lead A Brooklyn-based mentorship alliance that pairs Rising Stars graduates with industry mentors for up to a year after graduation to ease their transition into the workforce. Funded by a Con Edison Clean Energy & Tech Careers planning grant, with mentors drawn from Urban Green's professional network.
- Trade Trailblazers
Quantifiable outcome
- 150+ graduates with 75-80% graduation rate and 80% post-program placement rate
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rising Stars Program
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rising Stars Program technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rising Stars Program partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Boston Day and Evening AcademycoreEducation partner providing participant recruitment and support for the Rising Stars program in Boston.
- Boston Public SchoolscoreMajor education partner in Boston providing student access and partnership for the Achieve Green program tracks.
- Brockton Public SchoolscoreEducation partner providing participant recruitment and program delivery in Brockton, Massachusetts.
- Cleveland Heights High SchoolcoreEducation partner providing student access to the Rising Stars program in the Cleveland area.
- Hopewell High SchoolcoreEducation partner providing student access to the Rising Stars program in the Cleveland area.
- Madison Park Technical Vocational High SchoolcoreTechnical vocational education partner providing career and technical education connections for Rising Stars participants.
- Roxbury Community CollegecoreCommunity college partner supporting participant pathways to continued education and workforce training in the Boston area.
- School for ClassicsminorEducation partner providing student access to the Rising Stars program.
- IUPAT (International Union of Painters & Allied Trades)coreGold industry partner providing union trade pathways, apprenticeship opportunities, and support for the IUPAT Apprenticeship Pathway in Achieve Green (Glazing and Weatherization Technician tracks).
- Modular Building InstitutecoreGold industry partner supporting sustainable built environment education and modular construction career pathways.
- Urban Green CouncilcoreGold industry partner providing professional mentorship network for the Built to Lead program and supporting sustainable building education.
- ACE Mentor Program of ClevelandminorSilver industry partner helping high school students explore career paths in architecture, construction, engineering and skilled trades in the Cleveland area.
- Cycle Architecture and PlanningminorSilver industry partner providing architecture and design expertise for program curriculum.
- Finishing Trades InstitutecoreSilver industry partner supporting the IUPAT Apprenticeship Pathway with pre-apprenticeship training and guided transition coaching.
- Northeast Home Energy Rating System Alliance (NEHERS)coreSilver industry partner supporting the HERS Energy Rater Pathway in Achieve Green with rating field inspector training and RESNET HERS certification.
- Cushman & WakefieldcoreEmployer partner providing site visits, mentorship, and potential employment opportunities. Robert Skinner, Managing Principal of New England, serves on the board of directors.
- Holt ConstructioncoreEmployer partner providing site visits, mentorship, and employment pipeline for Rising Stars graduates.
- IUPAT DC 35coreEmployer partner providing union apprenticeship pathways and placement support for participants in the New England region.
- NY Green RoofsminorEmployer partner providing green roofing and sustainable construction training and employment pathways.
- Paul A Castrucci ArchitectsminorEmployer partner providing architectural expertise, site visits, and mentorship for Rising Stars participants.
- Turner Construction CompanycoreMajor employer partner providing site visits, mentorship, and employment for graduates. Dexter Hendricks, VP of Community & Citizenship, serves on the board. Jaylen Ryan (Newark '24) and Shamyah Brown are graduates now working in the industry.
- Urban EcospacesminorEmployer partner providing sustainable construction training and employment opportunities.
- WT Rich CompanyminorEmployer partner providing construction industry employment pathways.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of BostoncoreCommunity partner co-developing the Trade Trailblazers program, an eight-week summer internship for students ages 17-18 with hands-on union trade training.
- Browning the Green SpacecoreCommunity partner supporting the IUPAT Apprenticeship Pathway and HERS Energy Rater Pathway in Achieve Green with training and placement support.
- Greater Cleveland Career ConsortiumminorCommunity partner providing career development support and connections for Cleveland-area participants.
- Julius EducoreProvides AI-powered career mapping tools for Trade Trailblazers participants and career assessment and custom skill development plans for Achieve Green participants.
- New Community CorporationminorCommunity partner providing support and resources for Newark-area participants.
- The Possible ZonecoreStrategic partner co-developing the Careers of the Future program, a one-week crash course blending project-based training with green construction skills, and providing STEAM technology instruction and wrap-around student support.
- RiseBoro Community PartnershipcoreCommunity partner providing mentorship support through the Built to Lead program. Joscelyn Truitt, VP of Empowerment, serves on the board.
- Youth Opportunities UnlimitedminorCommunity partner providing workforce development support for Cleveland-area youth.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rising Stars Program competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Home Builders Institute (HBI): NAHB-affiliated national nonprofit providing skills training and job placement in the building industry, including construction trades pathways for youth and adults. Comparable construction-career training mission and employer-aligned curriculum.
- Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit serving young adults ages 18-24 from underrepresented communities with training, mentorship, and corporate internships. Closely comparable youth-targeted workforce development model with employer partnership flywheel.
- Helmets to Hardhats: Nonprofit that connects military veterans with career opportunities in the union building and construction trades. Comparable as a workforce-development nonprofit placing young adults into construction apprenticeships and union careers.
- GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit providing clean-energy job training, primarily in solar installation, with workforce development programs for underrepresented communities. Closely comparable to Rising Stars' Achieve Green sub-program in green-construction career pathways.
- YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit providing education, job training, and leadership development to low-income youth ages 16-24, with a strong construction/trades pathway component. Directly comparable mission, age cohort, and construction-career focus.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: Nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training to adults from underrepresented communities. Comparable tuition-free, employer-partnered workforce development model even though the target industry (IT) differs from construction.
- NPower: Nonprofit offering free technology workforce training and job placement to young adults and military veterans from underserved communities. Comparable youth-focused, employer-partnered workforce development model.
Others
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development organization co-developing the Trade Trailblazers program with Rising Stars. Adjacent youth-development ecosystem player and referral channel, not a direct workforce training competitor.
- ACE Mentor Program: National nonprofit introducing high school students to careers in architecture, construction, and engineering through mentorship. Already a partner of Rising Stars; thematically aligned youth-to-construction pipeline.
Broad incumbents
- Job Corps: Federal workforce development program for low-income youth ages 16-24 offering career technical training including construction trades. Comparable target demographic and trade-training curriculum but operates as a much larger government-funded program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rising Stars Program social profiles
Digital presenceRising Stars Program financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rising Stars Program leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rising Stars Program subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Rising Stars Program funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rising Stars Program 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 Rising Stars Program
What does Rising Stars Program do?
Rising Stars Program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization that provides free training, industry exposure, certification, mentorship, and employment pathways to young people ages 16-24 seeking careers in construction, clean energy, and the sustainable built environment. The program operates through a 16-session curriculum delivered across six U.S. cities with specialized sub-programs covering green construction apprenticeships, union trade internships, and post-graduation mentorship.
Is Rising Stars Program a public or private company?
Rising Stars Program is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rising Stars Program founded?
Rising Stars Program was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rising Stars Program based?
Rising Stars Program is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rising Stars Program make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, individual Donations and foundry Circle Founding Partnerships.
Who are Rising Stars Program's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Home Builders Institute (HBI), Year Up, Helmets to Hardhats, GRID Alternatives and YouthBuild USA. Emerging players are Per Scholas and NPower. Others are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and ACE Mentor Program. Job Corps is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Rising Stars Program have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rising Stars Program.
What industry is Rising Stars Program in?
Rising Stars Program's product category is Youth Workforce Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAD, Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.