Washington Alliance For Better Schools

What Washington Alliance For Better Schools does

Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partnership organization, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shoreline, Washington, that convenes K-12 school districts, industry employers, and community stakeholders to deliver career-connected learning programs. The organization serves 10 member school districts (Bellevue, Edmonds, Federal Way, Kent, Lake Washington, Marysville, Mukilteo, Northshore, Seattle, and Spokane) across King, Snohomish, and Spokane counties, reaching 3,000+ students through Career Tours in 2025-26 and 670 high school students through Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) 2025. WABS operates a portfolio of programs including STEM4Good (elementary STEM after-school), Career Tours, Career Shadows, Family Career Night, Career Launch (paid on-the-job pathways with employers like T-Mobile and Providence), Natural Leaders (family engagement), Teach2Connect (educator professional development), 21st Century Community Learning Centers (federally funded after-school in Marysville), and PBL Curriculum Units aligned to Common Core and NGSS standards.

WABS's core technology is non-proprietary; the organization uses standard web technologies for program delivery, volunteer coordination, and content distribution via wabsalliance.org. There are no patents, proprietary software products, or AI/ML systems disclosed. The principal assets are the branded program portfolio, the board-level relationships with major Washington employers (Boeing, Microsoft Philanthropies, Providence, Port of Seattle, McKinstry, T-Mobile, NOAA), and the institutional trust built over three decades. Programs are delivered free to students, families, and schools in member districts.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit funding structure: (1) federal grants, primarily through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program funding after-school enrichment in Marysville School District; (2) individual donations and charitable contributions; and (3) corporate sponsorships (Boeing, McKinstry, Heritage Bank) supporting events like Showcase of Success and the SCIH healthcare career fair. All direct programming is free to end users; the organization is governed by a board comprising K-12 superintendents and industry leaders co-chaired by Dr. Rebecca Miner (Edmonds School District) and Israel Vela (Kent School District), with Emily Yim serving as President & CEO.

Name

Washington Alliance For Better Schools

Legal name

Washington Alliance for Better Schools

Website

https://wabsalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington Alliance for Better Schools is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes 10 Washington State K-12 school districts and major regional employers to deliver career-connected learning programs reaching 3,000+ students annually through Career Tours, STEM4Good, healthcare career fairs, and paid Career Launch pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Career-Connected Learning Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Career-connected learning
• K-12 STEM programs
• Work-based learning
• School industry partnerships
• After-school enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Shoreline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: WABS receives federal funding through 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants to provide after-school and summer academic enrichment programs for low-income youth in Marysville School District.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations and charitable contributions support the organization's programs. The organization is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with EIN 91-1698851.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor events like Showcase of Success and SCIH healthcare career fair. Boeing, McKinstry, Heritage Bank, and others have been sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington Alliance for Better Schools is a nonprofit partnership organization that coordinates between K-12 school districts, industry employers, and community organizations to deliver career-connected learning programs for students. Its offerings span elementary STEM after-school programming (STEM4Good), high school career exploration (Career Tours, Career Shadows, Sound Careers in Healthcare, Career Launch), federally funded after-school enrichment (21st Century CLC), family engagement (Natural Leaders, Family Career Night), educator professional development (Teach2Connect, Curriculum Units), and industry-facing resources (Internships guide, HILT Student Experience Package). All programs are delivered free of charge to students, families, and schools in member districts.

Product overview

Washington Alliance for Better Schools is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides a portfolio of career-connected learning programs and educational services for students, families, educators, and industry partners across Washington State. Rather than a unified technology product, WABS operates as an alliance offering distinct programs including STEM4Good (elementary STEM after-school programming), Career Tours, Career Shadows, Family Career Night, Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH), Career Launch programs, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Natural Leaders family engagement, Teach2Connect educator professional development, Curriculum Units (PBL lessons), and the HILT Student Experience Package for healthcare career exploration. These programs serve K-12 students, families, and educators across member school districts with industry partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEM4Good: After-school program for elementary students in grades 3-5 that empowers students to imagine future STEM careers through playful, real-world problem solving
• Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH)
• Teach2Connect
• Career Tours
• Career Shadows
• Career Launch
• Natural Leaders
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Products and services

• STEM4Good An after-school program for elementary students in grades 3-5 in WABS member districts that empowers students to imagine future STEM careers through playful, real-world problem solving using WABS-designed curriculum infused with industry-inspired career-connected learning.
• Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) An annual, free, half-day healthcare career fair co-hosted with HILT and UW for high school students, featuring hands-on activities and networking with healthcare professionals across dentistry, nursing, surgery, and other fields.
• Career Tours Workplace visits for high school students providing career awareness and exploration where students see what companies do, hear from employees about educational and professional pathways, and participate in work-based learning activities at employer worksites.
• Career Shadows An employer-hosted work-based learning experience where students develop and deepen exposure to specific careers through matching with employee volunteers who share insights about competencies, skills, and experiences required for the role.
• Family Career Night A program helping middle school students and their families identify career strengths and interests, discover career profiles, and connect with industry professionals with similar profiles.
• Career Launch Programs combining meaningful, high-quality paid on-the-job experience with classroom learning, creating pathways to careers with upward mobility and family-sustaining wages through employer and educational institution partnerships (e.g., T-Mobile Full-Stack Developer, Providence Ambulatory Care, Boeing Engineering Technician).
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers Federally funded after-school and summer academic enrichment programs for low-income youth providing homework help, hands-on STEM activities, literacy enrichment, and leadership opportunities in the Marysville School District.
• Natural Leaders A family engagement program using an asset-based model to help families identify and cultivate skills, with parents taking leadership roles to build stronger relationships and help students succeed.
• Teach2Connect An educator professional development program that brings together industry mentors and educators to strengthen student learning through authentic workplace connections, with participants earning up to 20 STEM clock hours.
• Curriculum Units (PBL) Problem-Based Learning (PBL) units created by participants in WABS Instructional Leadership programs that integrate multiple content areas and align with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards, available for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grades.
• HILT Student Experience Package Healthcare industry-led experiences for students furthest from opportunity including career events, speakers bureau, and video library introducing students to high-demand healthcare careers.
• Creating High School Internships Guide A comprehensive employer guide outlining key considerations and requirements for establishing high school internship positions, covering legal considerations, planning, and the key components for quality internship experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of students more aware of healthcare career choices after SCIH
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

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

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Boeing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor industry partner providing Career Tours, Career Shadows hosting, STEM4Good sponsorship, and curriculum unit development. Boeing employees serve as industry mentors in Teach2Connect and contribute to curriculum units including Wetland Community Park and Mission: Space Junk. Boeing Engineering leadership (Linda Hapgood) sits on WABS Board.
• ProvidencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner hosting Career Launch programs including Ambulatory Care Project Manager and Home & Community Care Pathway to Nursing. Joel Gilbertson, EVP Regional Chief Executive, serves as WABS Board Member. Providence provides $1.6 billion in community benefit regionally.
• Port of SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins serves on WABS Board. Port provides Career Tour hosting opportunities and workforce development initiatives. Port staff including Vy Nguyen and Anna Pavlic participate in Industry Advisory Council.
• T-MobilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT-Mobile partnered with Edmonds School District, Seattle Public Schools, Edmonds College, and Seattle Colleges to create Career Launch Full-Stack Developer program. Job starts at ~$70,000 with pathway to $85,000+ software developer position. Program started in 2020, expanding to Cybersecurity and UX Design pathways.
• McKinstrymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial real estate design/build/operate company. Matt Allen, EVP Chief Client Officer, serves on WABS Board. McKinstry sponsors Showcase of Success events and contributes industry volunteers to STEM programs including Zombie Outbreak curriculum.
• Healthcare Industry Leadership Table (HILT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHILT co-hosts Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) career fair with WABS and UW's WIHSE. Healthcare industry collaborative focused on workforce development and career pathways in healthcare fields.
• University of Washington Center for Workforce Inclusion & Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW healthcare system equity center co-hosts SCIH career fair. UW Doctor for a Day volunteers lead interactive stations across healthcare fields at SCIH events serving 670+ students annually.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner making STEM4Good possible alongside Boeing and Port of Seattle. NOAA professionals contribute to curriculum units including Rain Gardens and NOAA Career Connections.
• Edmonds CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner in Career Launch programs. Students earn 59-credit full stack developer certificate through Edmonds College as part of T-Mobile Career Launch pathway. Also partner in Engineering Technician Career Pathway with Boeing.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in Career Launch Lab Technician program with Shoreline Community College and Shoreline Public Schools, creating pathways for students into laboratory science careers.
• Renton Technical CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner in Healthcare Career Launch programs with Providence and Renton School District, providing pathways to nursing and ambulatory care careers.
• Healthcare Industry Leadership Table (HILT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHILT co-hosts Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) career fair with WABS and UW's WIHSE. Healthcare industry collaborative focused on workforce development and career pathways in healthcare fields.
• AmazonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company contributing to curriculum units including Save the Lake and Multitasking Mania (with UW and Boeing), providing industry context for STEM education.
• Microsoft PhilanthropiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJolenta Coleman-Bush, Director of Education, Workforce, and AI Skills for Washington State at Microsoft Philanthropies, serves on WABS Board, overseeing education partnerships and investments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: Year Up is a workforce development nonprofit providing career pathways for young adults furthest from opportunity, partnering with employers. Comparable mission focus (equitable career access, employer partnerships, durable skills) though targets older youth than WABS's K-12 focus.
• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning is a K-12 education nonprofit that builds school models around workplace-based learning and mentor relationships. Highly comparable mission of connecting students with industry through school redesign, though operates via school network rather than district consortium.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): NAF operates career academies within high schools connecting districts with industry partners, mirroring WABS's Career Launch model. Comparable in target audience (K-12 students) and core mechanism (industry-aligned pathways with employer co-design), though NAF operates nationally while WABS is regional.
• Jobs for the Future: JFF is a national nonprofit driving equitable economic advancement through education and workforce partnerships, with comparable career-connected learning and employer-engagement programming. Both organizations serve underrepresented youth via multi-stakeholder partnerships bridging districts, employers, and community.
• America Achieves: America Achieves runs career-connected learning initiatives with employer and district partnerships at national scale. Strong overlap with WABS in focus on durable skills, employer-led career exploration, and outcomes-oriented program design.

Broad incumbents

• Schools That Lead: Schools That Lead supports K-12 districts in continuous improvement through educator networks and professional development. Comparable audience (K-12 districts and educators) and nonprofit partnership model, though focuses on broader school improvement rather than career-connected learning specifically.
• Battelle for Kids: Battelle for Kids is a national K-12 education improvement nonprofit focused on student success, educator development, and community engagement. Comparable nonprofit structure serving school districts, with broader national scope and different program mix than WABS.

Regional players

• College Success Foundation: College Success Foundation is a Pacific Northwest-based nonprofit supporting college access and student success for low-income and first-generation students. Comparable regional nonprofit focus on educational equity in Washington State, though centered on higher education rather than K-12 career pathways.
• CareerConnect (Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative): CareerConnect-style regional STEM/career-connected learning collaboratives operate similar district-industry partnership models across the U.S. Comparable structurally — small regional nonprofits convening multiple districts with employer partners to deliver STEM programming — but in different geographies.

Others

• National Skills Coalition: National Skills Coalition advocates for policies connecting education and workforce development, particularly for underrepresented workers. Thematically aligned with WABS's mission of equitable career access, though operates primarily as policy/advisory rather than direct program delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WAllianceforBetterSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-alliance-for-better-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/wallianceforbetterschools
• Xx.com/WABS_Nonprofit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Alliance For Better Schools