Waukegan to College

What Waukegan to College does

Waukegan to College is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 45-4860376) founded in 2009 and headquartered at 410 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois. Its mission is to prepare first-generation students from the Waukegan community to enroll in and graduate from a four-year college or university. The organization runs a long-horizon cohort model that engages students from grades 4 through college graduation, delivering programming through 11-50 staff and a network of volunteer tutors and mentors.

Core programming includes the Read to Achieve 1:1 reading tutoring line, general Tutoring & Mentoring, Khan Academy-based Math Skill Building, college access preparation (SAT prep, Application Boot Camp, Scholarship Club), College Persistence advising for enrolled undergraduates, the Skyrocket summer enrichment program targeting pandemic learning loss, monthly Family Workshops in English and Spanish, and Expanding Horizons field trips to colleges and cultural venues. Reported outcomes include a 95% six-year college graduation rate, $10M in cumulative financial aid and scholarships secured, 84% of students achieving greater than 3.0 GPA in math and English, 114 college graduates since founding, and acceptances from 131+ colleges and universities.

The organization is funded entirely through charitable contributions. Programming is delivered free of charge to students at an average annual cost of approximately $4,000 per participant. Revenue streams are individual donations and corporate sponsorships at tiered giving levels from $100 (mentor matching) to $5,000+ (intensive week-long workshops). The organization has been recognized with the National Partner for Educational Success Award (2022), a Candid 2026 transparency award, and a Charity Navigator rating, and maintains board representation from AbbVie, Amgen, Takeda (retired), Accenture (retired), and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.

Name

Waukegan to College

Legal name

Waukegan to College

Website

https://waukegantocollege.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waukegan to College is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 in Waukegan, Illinois, providing free college readiness programming — including tutoring, mentoring, SAT prep, family workshops, and college persistence advising — to first-generation students from grades 4 through college graduation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Access and Persistence Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Summer Programs, Research & Extracurricular Planning for Admissions (EDANAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

College & Career Exploration Camps (Pre-College Samplers, Pathways) (EDAMALAN), Summer School & Extended-Year Academic Catch-Up (EDANAJAH)

Keywords

• College readiness programs
• First-generation student support
• Tutoring and mentoring services
• College access advising
• College persistence support

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukegan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time, annual, or recurring monthly donations to support student programming. Waukegan to College is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN: 45-4860376) with donations being tax-deductible.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial support and sponsorships, with various giving levels ranging from $100 to $5,000+ that fund specific programs and student services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Waukegan to College is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free, in-person college-readiness and persistence programming to first-generation students in Waukegan, Illinois from grade 4 through college graduation. Its core offerings include one-on-one reading tutoring (Read to Achieve), general tutoring and mentoring, math skill building via Khan Academy, college application and FAFSA preparation (College Week, Application Boot Camp, Scholarship Club), college persistence advising, bilingual family workshops, Expanding Horizons campus and career field trips, and the Skyrocket summer enrichment program. All services are provided at no cost to participating students and families.

Product overview

Waukegan to College is an educational support organization offering a holistic college readiness program. The core offering includes academic tutoring through the Read to Achieve program, general tutoring and mentoring, Khan Academy-based math skill building, and preparation for college access including SAT prep and Application Boot Camp. The organization provides ongoing college persistence support, family workshops, field trips through the Expanding Horizons program, the Skyrocket summer enrichment program for middle schoolers, and a Scholarship Club. All services are provided free of charge to participating students in grades 4-11 who are first-generation college students from Waukegan, Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Read to Achieve Personalized 1:1 tutoring sessions with a coach for struggling readers that builds confidence and increases comprehension and competency, helping students discover reading for fun. Designed for first-generation Waukegan students.
• Tutoring & Mentoring Homework assistance, test preparation, and organization/time management skill development provided by volunteer tutors, with personal mentors paired with students needing additional support. For Waukegan students in the program.
• Preparation for College Access Standardized test prep, College Week for rising seniors, Application Boot Camp, and guidance through the college application process and financial aid/FAFSA. For Waukegan high school students in the program.
• College Persistence Ongoing support for college students including scholarship information, internship opportunities, and advising on student issues to help ensure degree completion. For Waukegan scholars enrolled in college.
• Skyrocket Summer Program Summer academic enrichment program for middle school students focused on recovering learning loss from the pandemic. For Waukegan middle school students in the program.
• Family Workshops Monthly 2-hour sessions on topics including College Admissions 101, stress and anxiety management, and what to look for on a college visit, offered in both English and Spanish. For families of participating Waukegan students.
• Expanding Horizons Field Trips Yearly field trips to cultural events, institutions, and career/technical venues to spark student interest in learning and careers. For Waukegan students in the program.
• Math Skill Building with Khan Academy Online learning tool using Khan Academy combined with individualized coaching by volunteers to help students progress from basic skills to advanced equations. For Waukegan students in the program.
• Scholarship Club Weekly meetings for seniors to work on scholarship applications and receive guidance on financial aid opportunities. For Waukegan high school seniors in the program.
• Mentorship Program Long-term relationships for supporting high school and college students with challenges beyond the academic, including mental health, social, and career goals. For Waukegan high school and college students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% 6-year college graduation rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate Partners (Logos displayed)minorOthersVarious corporate partners provide financial support and sponsorships to the organization. The partnerships section displays multiple corporate logos but specific partnership details are not extensively documented on the website.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing low-income students with volunteer mentors for college readiness and success. Directly comparable in the volunteer mentor + college readiness model.
• College Possible: National nonprofit providing college access and success coaching for low-income and first-generation students from high school through college graduation. Closely comparable in target population, long-term model, and outcomes focus.
• Summer Search: Nonprofit combining mentoring, summer experiential learning, and college counseling for low-income high school students. Comparable in mentoring and college access focus with a similar youth-population profile.
• College Track: College access and completion nonprofit supporting first-generation students from 9th grade through college graduation. Comparable in cohort-based, multi-year support and first-generation focus.
• Bottom Line: Nonprofit delivering one-on-one college access and success advising to first-generation students from high school through college graduation. Matches the sustained, near-peer advisory model that distinguishes Waukegan to College.
• OneGoal: College persistence program supporting low-income students through high school and into college completion. Comparable in persistence-through-graduation design for low-income, often first-generation cohorts.
• Posse Foundation: College access and leadership program that identifies and supports cohorts of first-generation students through college graduation. Comparable in cohort and persistence focus, though operates through partner universities.
• National College Advising Corps: Places recent college graduates as near-peer advisors in underserved high schools to support college access. Comparable target population and advising approach, though delivered via recent-grad advisors rather than volunteers.

Regional players

• Big Shoulders Fund: Chicago-area nonprofit supporting inner-city school students through scholarships, enrichment, and college access programming. Comparable in mission and program mix but geographically focused on Chicago, not Waukegan.

Emerging players

• ScholarMatch: Nonprofit pairing low-income, first-generation students with mentors and scholarship support through college. Comparable first-generation focus with a smaller, more digitally-mediated delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwyF-Im7DDTLC2tE8qL4kUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Waukegan2College
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waukegan-to-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/waukegantocollege
• Xx.com/w2college

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Waukegan to College