518 ElevatED

What 518 ElevatED does

518 ElevatED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Albany, New York, that supports high school and college-aged students in New York's Capital Region through three integrated program pillars: Pathways to College (mentor matching, after-school workshops, college preparation, and scholarship navigation), Pathways to Career (workforce exploration including the National Grid Grid for Good energy-career program), and Pathways to Community (mental health, family, and life-skills resource wraparound). Founded in 1996 as Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar and rebranded to 518 ElevatED in 2022 to reflect its broader mission, the organization directly serves students at three public high schools — Albany High School, Schenectady High School, and Troy High School — through school-district partnerships and embedded in-school liaisons running weekly after-school sessions. Its service model is human-delivery rather than technology-mediated: matching of adult volunteer mentors with student scholars, workshops, college visits, annual events (Scholar Celebration, Fall-La-Palooza, Coffe'ED & Connect'ED), and a free online Student Resources Portal covering FAFSA, TAP, scholarships, study skills, and internships.

All student-facing services are provided at no cost to participants. Revenue is generated from individual donations, annual giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Notable partners include National Grid (Grid for Good, 2023), Bank of America (Better Money Habits financial literacy), the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, Ronald McDonald House of Albany, and 4 Pillars Fitness. The organization reports a college graduation rate for a two- or four-year degree that exceeds the 39% national average. Operationally, 518 ElevatED runs on a small (1–10 employee) staff led by a Director of Programs, Assistant Director of Programs, and Director of Donor Engagement & Communications, with a board of directors providing governance. There is no proprietary technology platform; program delivery is in-person via school-based sessions, in-person community events, and a basic web-based resource hub.

Name

518 ElevatED

Legal name

518 ElevatED

Website

https://518elevated.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

518 ElevatED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy, NY that delivers free mentoring, college preparation, and career-exploration programming to high school and college-aged students through three Capital Region public school district partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations from community members supporting student scholarships and program operations. The organization runs annual giving campaigns including First Generation Giving and general fundraising appeals.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Business sponsorships through annual partnership plans offering various recognition levels. Includes corporate partners like National Grid's Grid for Good program providing workforce development funding.
3. Grant Funding: Grant-based revenue supporting program operations, student support services, and workforce development initiatives. The organization engages in annual grant-seeking and funding applications.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

518 ElevatED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free college access and success programming to promising high school students and work-ready adults in New York's Capital Region. Its services are structured around three core pathways — Pathways to College (mentoring, college prep, financial aid assistance, scholarships), Pathways to Career (workforce development including the Grid for Good partnership with National Grid), and Pathways to Community (support resources for students, families, and mentors). All programs are delivered at no cost to participants and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

518 ElevatED operates as a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of educational access and success programs, primarily structured around three core Pathways: Pathways to College (helping students navigate to higher education), Pathways to Career (workforce development including the Grid for Good partnership with National Grid), and Pathways to Community (community support resources). The organization supplements these core programs with annual events (Scholar Celebration, Fall-La-Palooza, Coffe'ED & Connect'ED), scholarship programs (Deb White Scholarship Fund), and a comprehensive online Student Resources Portal. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but delivers services through in-person programming, after-school workshops, virtual events, and web-based resource materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pathways to College Program Core program connecting promising high school students with mentors, resources, and opportunities to help them achieve higher education through weekly after-school workshops, college and business exploration visits, and networking opportunities in Albany, Schenectady, and Troy high schools.
• Pathways to Career Workforce development pipeline providing career exploration and skill development for work-ready adults in the NYS Capital Region, including partnership with National Grid's Grid for Good program for energy industry career pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Higher college graduation rate compared to national average of 39%

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 4 Pillars FitnessminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 December 20234 Pillars Fitness hosted a special workout session on December 2, 2023 to raise funds for 518 ElevatED's Pathways to College program. The $25 event was a 1.5-hour full body workout open to community members.
• Museum of Innovation and Science (MiS)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 November 2023Scholar Celebration 2026 will be held at the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, featuring a PSA film created by 518 ElevatED scholars in collaboration with MiS.
• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2023518 ElevatED partnered with National Grid through its Grid for Good Workforce Experience program. The partnership conducts a 10-month career exploration program for up to 30 college-aged students and work-ready adults in the Capital Region. Participants explore career pathways in the energy industry with priority given to those with interest in engineering, electrical engineering, or sustainable energy. Participants can earn a $1,000 stipend upon completion, with an optional $500 for job-seeking expenses.
• Albany City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to College program with in-school liaison at Albany High School. Liaison supports weekly after-school sessions on Tuesday afternoons and facilitates communication between 518 ElevatED staff and school building leadership.
• Schenectady City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to College program with in-school liaison at Schenectady High School. Liaison supports weekly after-school sessions on Monday afternoons and assists with program logistics.
• Troy City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to College program at Troy High School, one of three high schools served by 518 ElevatED's after-school programming.
• Bank of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America's Better Money Habits program partnered with 518 ElevatED to share financial literacy tips and resources for students and families navigating college finances.
• Ronald McDonald House of AlbanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRonald McDonald House of Albany offers volunteer opportunities for 518 ElevatED mentors to engage with their student scholars while supporting guest families at the house.
• The BSides of Life (JT + Family)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media personality supporting the Deb White Scholarship Fund through fundraising efforts. The fund provides a $10,000 scholarship to 518 ElevatED scholars annually in memory of the program's original Executive Director.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• QuestBridge: Nonprofit connecting high-achieving, low-income high school students with selective colleges via scholarships and full need-based aid — comparable in serving promising underserved students navigating to selective higher education.
• College Possible: College access nonprofit deploying near-peer coaches to guide low-income high school students through college applications, financial aid, and persistence — directly comparable programmatic approach and target population to 518 ElevatED.
• uAspire: Nonprofit focused on college affordability, financial aid advising, and persistence support for low-income students — directly comparable to 518 ElevatED's financial aid navigation and scholarship support components.
• The Posse Foundation: College access and persistence organization supporting cohorts of underserved students through scholarships and mentoring at partner colleges — overlapping mission in college access, mentorship, and student success for underserved youth.
• iMentor: Nonprofit that pairs college-ready high school students with trained adult mentors for long-term mentoring relationships to support college persistence — closely aligned with 518 ElevatED's core mentorship model and outcomes focus.
• Bottom Line: National college access and success nonprofit providing one-on-one advising and mentoring to high school students from low-income backgrounds pursuing higher education — directly comparable mission and model to 518 ElevatED's Pathways to College program.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Large national workforce development nonprofit providing young adults with training, internships, and corporate placements — comparable in the Pathways to Career / Grid for Good workforce-development wing of 518 ElevatED's work.
• City Year: National education nonprofit placing young adults as near-peer mentors in schools to boost attendance, behavior, and course performance — comparable in the in-school mentoring and student-success support model.

Regional players

• Capital Roots: Albany/Capital Region-based nonprofit addressing community needs through related youth and community programs — directly comparable geography and overlapping regional stakeholder networks to 518 ElevatED.

Others

• National College Attainment Network (NCAN): National membership and advocacy organization supporting college access programs — adjacent sector infrastructure that 518 ElevatED would interact with as a practitioner member in the college access field.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/518ElevatED
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/518elevated
• Instagraminstagram.com/518elevated
• Xx.com/518ElevatED

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 518 ElevatED