Providence Student Union
Providence Student Union is a youth-led nonprofit in Providence, Rhode Island that organizes high school students around educational justice campaigns (Cook v. McKee, Counselors Not Cops, ethnic studies) and provides direct mutual aid through its Well-Being Aid program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNew Providence, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Providence Student Union does
Providence Student Union (PSU) is a youth-led nonprofit organization based at 763R Westminster Street in Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 2009 and operating continuously since its first campaign in 2010. The organization's mission is to build student power by organizing Providence public high school students around educational justice, culturally relevant curriculum, school safety, and basic-needs security. PSU operates a community-organizing and mutual-aid model in which youth drive all campaigns and decisions, supported by adult allies who provide resources and operational backing.
PSU's core products span three categories: (1) advocacy campaigns, including the Cook v. McKee federal lawsuit (2018-2022) that established a state Civic Readiness Task Force, the ongoing Counselors Not Cops campaign, the #OurHistoryMatters ethnic-studies campaign, the Fix Our Schools infrastructure campaign, and the Walk In Our Shoes bus-pass campaign that expanded eligibility to 1,800+ additional students annually; (2) direct mutual-aid services, most notably the Well-Being Aid (WBA) program providing up to $250 per school year per youth and family for housing, food, utilities, transportation, and personal care; and (3) coalition infrastructure, including PSU's co-founding role in the Providence Alliance for Student Safety (PASS) and its steering-committee seat in OurSchoolsPVD. The underlying technology is a community-organizing platform paired with a mutual-aid coordination system — functional software rather than proprietary AI.
PSU's business model is nonprofit fundraising: individual donations (one-time and via 'The Huddle' monthly giving program), community giving events such as 401Gives, and partnerships with peer nonprofits. Services are provided free of charge. The organization reaches its audience through a physical office with structured school-year hours, Instagram and Facebook channels, a monthly newsletter, community events and rallies, and in-school task forces. Its geographic scope is explicitly limited to Providence, RI, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Providence Student Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Providence Student Union
- Legal name
- Providence Student Union
- Website
- https://pvdstudentunion.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Providence Student Union is a youth-led nonprofit in Providence, Rhode Island that organizes high school students around educational justice campaigns (Cook v. McKee, Counselors Not Cops, ethnic studies) and provides direct mutual aid through its Well-Being Aid program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Providence Student Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Advocacy and Community Organizing Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)
Keywords
Where Providence Student Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Providence Student Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: PSU generates revenue through individual donations via its monthly giving program 'The Huddle', one-time donations, and participation in community giving events like 401Gives. The organization also receives support through partnerships with nonprofits and community organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Well-Being Aid Assistance |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Providence Student Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Providence Student Union is a youth-led nonprofit that organizes Providence high school students around educational justice campaigns (Counselors Not Cops, Ethnic Studies, school infrastructure, civic education) and delivers direct mutual aid services through its Well-Being Aid program, which provides up to $250 per school year per youth and family for basic needs such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and personal care items. The organization also produces educational guides, runs coalition partnerships, and sustains itself through The Huddle monthly donor program.
Product overview
Providence Student Union is a single unified youth-led advocacy organization rather than a platform with modules. The organization operates through interconnected programs: core advocacy and community support services (Well-Being Aid, educational guides), multi-issue campaigns (Student Bill of Rights, Counselors Not Cops, Ethnic Studies, Fix Our Schools), and coalition partnerships (PASS, OurSchoolsPVD). The Huddle monthly giving program supports organizational sustainability. All initiatives are youth-led and focused on educational justice and student power in Providence, RI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Youth Advocacy and Community Organizing Programs Youth-led advocacy program providing community support systems, empowering youth leadership, and providing resources for youth expression through organizing, campaigns, and direct services for Providence high school students.
- Well-Being Aid (WBA) Program Mutual aid program supporting Providence high school students and families with resources including housing assistance, food assistance, utility assistance, weather-appropriate clothing, transportation (bus passes), and personal care items, capped at $250 per school year per youth and family.
- Student Bill of Rights Comprehensive student-authored document uniting demands for safe, healthy, and engaging education, serving as the framework underlying PSU's major campaigns including civics education, ethnic studies, school infrastructure, and student voice in governance.
- Educational Guides and Resources Library of downloadable PDF guides including Know Your Rights Brochure, Counselors Not Cops 101, Walk In Our Shoes campaign materials, Civics Education Cook v. Raimondo resources, Black Lives Matter curated education guides, and Removal of School Resource Officers materials for students, families, and community members.
- The Huddle Monthly Giving Program Monthly donor program providing recurring financial support for PSU's mission, with exclusive communications, event invitations, volunteer opportunities, PSU merchandise, and access to an adult ally Facebook group for supporters.
Companies that use Providence Student Union
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Providence Student Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Providence Student Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Providence Alliance for Student Safety (PASS)corePASS was started in December 2019 by ARISE, Providence Student Union (PSU), and Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) to fight for safe and healthy schools. The coalition has grown to include Youth In Action, Young Voices, and Rhode Island Urban Debate League. PASS advocates for Counselors Not Cops in schools.
- OurSchoolsPVDcoreAn alliance of youth-led organizations working to ensure state control of Providence Public School District results in racially just and equitable public education. Led by a steering committee of ARISE, PSU, PrYSM, RIUDL, and Youth In Action.
- RI Civic Learning CoalitionminorA multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational coalition committed to ensuring equitable access to high-quality civic learning opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.
- Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE)coreCo-founder of PASS coalition and member of OurSchoolsPVD steering committee. Works on educational justice for Southeast Asian students in Rhode Island.
- Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM)coreCo-founder of PASS coalition and member of OurSchoolsPVD steering committee. Youth-led organization focused on social justice organizing in Providence.
- Rhode Island Urban Debate League (RIUDL)coreMember of PASS coalition and OurSchoolsPVD steering committee. Provides debate and civic education programming for Rhode Island youth.
- Youth In ActioncoreMember of PASS coalition and OurSchoolsPVD steering committee. Youth-led organization empowering young people in Rhode Island.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Providence Student Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Rhode Island Urban Debate League (RIUDL): Rhode Island youth civic education organization that is a member of both PASS and OurSchoolsPVD; provides debate and civic learning programming that complements PSU's civics education campaign work.
- Chicago United for Equity (CUE) / Chicago students organizing: Chicago-area youth-led organizing groups focused on school equity, restorative justice, and student voice; comparable in tactics and demographic focus to PSU even if structurally larger.
- Ignite (national youth civic engagement): National nonpartisan organization building civic power among young women and gender-expansive youth; partial overlap with PSU's civic education and youth advocacy focus though broader in scope.
Direct peers
- Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM): Providence-based youth-led social justice organization that co-founded PASS and OurSchoolsPVD with PSU; pursues similar educational justice, immigrant rights, and school discipline reform campaigns.
- UrbEd Inc. Philadelphia-based youth-led organization advocating for public education equity and restorative justice in schools; functionally analogous to PSU in campaign focus and youth governance model.
- Boston Education Justice Alliance: Youth and parent-led coalition in Boston advocating for equitable public education; directly comparable in model, mission, and tactics to PSU's coalition-driven advocacy approach.
- Padres y Jóvenes Unidos: Denver-based youth and parent organizing group advancing educational justice, ethnic studies, and ending the school-to-prison pipeline; long-running peer organization with a comparable youth-led organizing model.
- Youth In Action (Providence): Youth-led organizing group in Providence advancing youth power, education equity, and racial justice; member of both PASS and OurSchoolsPVD coalitions with PSU.
- Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE): Co-founder of PASS and OurSchoolsPVD alongside PSU; youth-led educational justice organization serving Providence and Rhode Island students with overlapping campaigns on culturally relevant curriculum and school safety.
- Young Voices (Rhode Island): Rhode Island youth-led civic engagement organization and PASS coalition member; focuses on youth advocacy and leadership development closely parallel to PSU's mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Providence Student Union social profiles
Digital presenceProvidence Student Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Providence Student Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Providence Student Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Providence Student Union 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 Providence Student Union
What does Providence Student Union do?
Providence Student Union is a youth-led nonprofit that organizes Providence high school students around educational justice campaigns (Counselors Not Cops, Ethnic Studies, school infrastructure, civic education) and delivers direct mutual aid services through its Well-Being Aid program, which provides up to $250 per school year per youth and family for basic needs such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and personal care items. The organization also produces educational guides, runs coalition partnerships, and sustains itself through The Huddle monthly donor program.
Is Providence Student Union a public or private company?
Providence Student Union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Providence Student Union founded?
Providence Student Union was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Providence Student Union based?
Providence Student Union is headquartered in New Providence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Providence Student Union make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Fundraising.
Who are Providence Student Union's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Rhode Island Urban Debate League (RIUDL), Chicago United for Equity (CUE) / Chicago students organizing and Ignite (national youth civic engagement). Direct peers are Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), UrbEd Inc., Boston Education Justice Alliance, Padres y Jóvenes Unidos, Youth In Action (Providence), Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE) and Young Voices (Rhode Island).
Does Providence Student Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Providence Student Union.
What industry is Providence Student Union in?
Providence Student Union's product category is Youth Advocacy and Community Organizing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAJALAM, After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8300.