Missouri College & Career Attainment Network

What Missouri College & Career Attainment Network does

MOCAN (Missouri College and Career Attainment Network) is a St. Louis-based statewide nonprofit network organization founded from the consolidation of two prior initiatives — Missouri College Access Network and St. Louis Graduates — to improve postsecondary attainment for Missouri students from low-income backgrounds, particularly students of color, first-generation college students, and students in rural communities. The organization delivers a portfolio of interconnected programs across four pillars: Access (Professional Development Institute training for high school counselors, KCCAN embedded advising in Kansas City Public Schools), Affordability (My Scholarship Central aggregating 200+ scholarships and $16M+ in annual funding, KC FAFSA Initiative), Completion (KCCAN Completion Project with three partner universities, Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative), and Career (Career Pathway Maps, TRHT Campus Center programming). Reach includes 17,000+ students annually through My Scholarship Central, more than half of Missouri public school counselors participating in PDI, six embedded advisors in KCPS high schools, and 173 rural high schools supported via the rootEd Missouri partnership.

MOCAN's revenue model is nonprofit-driven, funded through foundation grants (notably the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation as primary KCCAN funder, the Boniface Foundation for a three-year St. Louis initiative, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), individual donations, and institutional partnerships. All programs and services are free to end users — students, families, and counselors. The go-to-market is hybrid: community-led network coordination, event-driven engagement (PDI workshops, summits, Brotherhood Leadership Academies), and embedded field operations (school-based advising). Technology is not a differentiator; platforms consist of standard web infrastructure (My Scholarship Central portal, Canvas LMS for PDI, WordPress for the main site).

MOCAN is governed by a statewide board representing education, nonprofit, business, and community leaders, with leadership including Executive Director Laura Winter (former St. Louis Graduates Executive Director), Deputy Director Cherelle Washington, and senior strategy directors aligned to the four mission pillars. The organization operates across Missouri, with concentrated impact in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas and a statewide rural reach through the rootEd partnership. MOCAN is the only nonprofit designated as a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center by the American Association of Colleges & Universities, providing a unique positioning in the equity-in-education space.

Name

Missouri College & Career Attainment Network

Legal name

Missouri College and Career Attainment Network

Website

https://mocollegecareer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MOCAN is a St. Louis-based statewide nonprofit network that improves college and career attainment for Missouri's low-income students through counselor training, embedded school advising, scholarship aggregation, and cross-sector partnerships across Kansas City, St. Louis, and 173 rural high schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Education and Postsecondary Attainment Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Career Counseling (Admissions, Scholarships, Pathways) (EDAJALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships) (EDAJAMAO)

Keywords

• College access programs
• Career readiness services
• Scholarship coordination
• Counselor professional development
• Postsecondary attainment

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: MOCAN accepts donations from individuals and organizations through their website (PayPal, credit card) and by mail. Donations help build a strong statewide network of support for students from low-income communities.
2. Grant Funding: MOCAN receives grant funding from foundations and organizations including the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation to support initiatives like KCCAN and other postsecondary attainment programs.
3. Partnership Support: MOCAN partners with organizations like the Boniface Foundation on specific initiatives such as the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative, providing programmatic support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MOCAN is a nonprofit statewide network that delivers free programs to increase postsecondary attainment for Missouri students, including the Professional Development Institute training for high school counselors via workshops and the Canvas-based PDI Portal, the My Scholarship Central scholarship hub connecting students to 200+ scholarships and $16M+ in funding, the KCCAN regional initiative placing full-time college and career advisors in six Kansas City Public Schools, Career Pathways Maps, the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative, the KCCAN Completion Project, and the TRHT Campus Center racial equity programming.

Product overview

MOCAN is a statewide network organization (not a technology product company) offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and initiatives focused on increasing postsecondary attainment for Missouri students. The core offerings include: the Professional Development Institute (PDI) which provides free training for counselors and advisers through workshops and the Canvas-based PDI Portal; My Scholarship Central, a scholarship hub connecting students to 200+ scholarships; the regional KCCAN initiative placing college advisors in Kansas City schools; Career Pathway Maps for career planning; and TRHT Campus Center programming for racial equity. These programs are designed to work collaboratively across the pillars of Access, Affordability, Completion, and Career to support students from low-income communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kansas City College and Career Attainment Network (KCCAN): Regional partnership working to expand postsecondary access, affordability, and completion across the Kansas City metro area.
• My Scholarship Central
• Professional Development Institute (PDI)

Products and services

• Professional Development Institute (PDI)

Quantifiable outcome

• 15.4% year-over-year increase in Kansas City FAFSA completions in 2024-25
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• rootEd MissouricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOCAN partners with rootEd Missouri to develop career pathways maps and provide free career advising resources. Maps help students and families explore education and training options in 20 high-demand career pathways. MOCAN also supports rootEd's work in 173 rural high schools across Missouri.
• American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOCAN is the only nonprofit organization designated as a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center through AAC&U. This designation provides programming, strategic support and thought leadership in TRHT pillars: narrative change, racial healing and relationship building.
• Trellis ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the State of Student Aid and Higher Education in Missouri (SOSA) report commissioned by MOCAN to serve as a reference document providing current and timely data for practitioners.
• Missouri Scholarship & Loan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the production of the SOSA report and partners on scholarship-related initiatives.
• MOHELA (Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the production of the SOSA report providing data on student loan debt in Missouri.
• Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MOCAN in creating the state's strategic plan to increase attainment among adult learners. MOCAN participates in MDHEWD's Adult Learner Network to increase postsecondary opportunities for adult learners.
• National College Attainment Network (NCAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOCAN is a member of NCAN, the national network of college access professionals. MOCAN participates in NCAN conferences and initiatives including the KC FAFSA Initiative which is part of NCAN's broader efforts.
• Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCCAN partners with KCPS to embed six full-time college and career advisors in high schools including East High School, Northeast High School, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Paseo Academy, Central High School, and Southeast High School.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented on KCCAN Steering Committee to guide regional strategy and ensure alignment with workforce development priorities.
• Metropolitan Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCCAN Completion Project partner alongside UMKC and Northwest Missouri State University to increase college persistence and completion rates for KCPS graduates.
• University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCCAN Completion Project partner working to increase postsecondary attainment of KCPS graduates. Dr. Kristi Holsinger serves on KCCAN Steering Committee.
• Northwest Missouri State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCCAN Completion Project partner working to increase college persistence and completion rates for KCPS graduates.
• Greater Kansas City Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErik Bergrud, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, serves on KCCAN Steering Committee and MOCAN Board of Directors.
• Postsecondary Equity Network (PEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOCAN collaborates with PEN on the Postsecondary Equity Network and Brotherhood Leadership Academies in St. Louis and Kansas City to increase representation and career advancement for diverse men in education.
• Harris-Stowe State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary Institution Partner in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative, working to increase persistence and graduation rates for students from partner organizations.
• Ranken Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary Institution Partner in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Saint Louis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary Institution Partner in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative and hosts TRHT Town Hall events.
• St. Louis Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary Institution Partner in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative. Hosts PEN Student Leadership Forum events.
• University of Missouri-St. LouisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary Institution Partner in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Access AcademiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoniface Collective Partner organization participating in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Boys Hope Girls Hope / Hope IgnitesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoniface Collective Partner organization participating in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Loyola AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoniface Collective Partner organization participating in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Marian Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoniface Collective Partner organization participating in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Wyman CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoniface Collective Partner organization participating in the Boniface Scholars Postsecondary Success Initiative.
• Shawnee Mission Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEd Marquez represents the foundation on KCCAN Steering Committee to guide regional strategy.
• Greater Kansas City Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRosisella Blakney, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, serves on KCCAN Steering Committee and MOCAN Board. Active in MOCAN's Scholarship Provider Network.
• KC Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in KCCAN Summer College & Career Center, hosting drop-in advising sessions at the Plaza Branch during summer months.
• Education Strategy GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the Building Better Outcomes playbook for districts, which MOCAN promotes as a resource for improving postsecondary data practice in K-12 districts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bottom Line: National college access nonprofit providing 1:1 advising to students from low-income backgrounds. Comparable mission, target population, and school-embedded advising model.
• uAspire: National nonprofit focused on financial aid advising and college affordability for low-income students. Comparable mission to MOCAN's Affordability pillar and scholarship/FAFSA support work.
• KC Scholars: Kansas City-based college access and scholarship nonprofit serving low-income students. Operates in the same KC metro geography with overlapping mission, audience, and funders as MOCAN's KCCAN initiative.
• National College Attainment Network (NCAN): The national membership network of college access and success organizations. MOCAN is a member organization of NCAN and participates in NCAN initiatives including the KC FAFSA Initiative, making it a direct state-level peer.
• Scholarship America: Nation's largest private scholarship provider, managing scholarship programs and providing scholarship access services. Comparable to My Scholarship Central's role as a scholarship aggregator and resource hub.
• Missouri College Advising Corps: Missouri-based AmeriCorps program placing recent college graduates as college advisers in high schools. Multiple KCCAN advisors came from this program, and it serves overlapping schools and student populations.
• College Possible: National nonprofit deploying near-peer coaches in high schools to support college access for low-income students. Closely comparable embedded-advising model and target population to MOCAN's KCCAN program.
• rootEd Missouri: Missouri-focused college and career access nonprofit serving 173 rural high schools. MOCAN is a close strategic partner and co-develops career pathways maps, operating in an overlapping mission and geography.

Others

• St. Louis Graduates: Predecessor network that MOCAN was built upon, focused on St. Louis postsecondary equity. While MOCAN absorbed and succeeded this initiative, St. Louis Graduates remains a thematically aligned regional network.

Emerging players

• Education Strategy Group: Consulting firm that partners with states and districts on postsecondary data and strategy, including the Building Better Outcomes playbook promoted by MOCAN. Overlapping audience of K-12 district leaders and shared policy/goals focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MOCollegeCareer
• Facebookfacebook.com/MOCollegeCareer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mocollegecareer
• Instagraminstagram.com/mocollegecareer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Missouri College & Career Attainment Network