Reaching Higher

What Reaching Higher does

Reaching Higher Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit leadership development organization founded in 1999 by Susie Dahlmann and headquartered in Brighton, Michigan. The organization delivers a proprietary personal leadership curriculum across three primary customer segments: youth in grades 2-12 (RH4Youth, Plant Great Seeds Summer Camps), adult professionals (RH4Pros), and corporate clients (RH360). Its core technology is the curriculum itself, refined over 25+ years, delivered through in-person instruction at schools and community sites, live online courses, summer camps, and one-on-one coaching. Supporting services include Instructor Certification (a two-day facilitator training) and RH4Life (a graduation continuation program with video/podcast content).

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of charitable contributions and fee-based services. Individual donations processed through Givebutter and direct mail form the largest baseline, supplemented by signature fundraising events including the annual Night of Champions gala (which raised over $185,000 in 2025), golf outings, and Boots & Bling. RH360 corporate contracts and RH4Pros individual course fees generate earned revenue, pricing for which is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: school partnerships for youth programs, direct outreach to HR and leadership teams for RH360, and recruitment of volunteer mentors and certified instructors to support delivery. Marketing relies on the website, Mission Monday video series, podcasts, and community partnerships.

Reaching Higher operates as a public charity governed by a board of directors, with no parent company or institutional investment. Its geographic footprint is concentrated in Michigan (especially Livingston County), with early signals of Houston-community expansion via board appointment. The organization employs a small team (eight named individuals in leadership and management) and is led by Executive Director Ken Giles, with Susie Dahlmann continuing in a founder capacity.

Name

Reaching Higher

Legal name

Reaching Higher Inc.

Website

https://reachinghigherinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reaching Higher is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1999 that delivers a personal leadership development curriculum to youth (grades 2-12), adult professionals, and corporate clients through in-person classes, virtual courses, and summer camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams (EDABAAAM)

Keywords

• Leadership development training
• Youth education programs
• Corporate training services
• Professional development courses
• Nonprofit organization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Reaching Higher relies on individual donations from supporters who contribute through their website (givebutter.com platform) and direct mail. Donors range from 5-star donors to Inspire Partners at various contribution levels.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual gala events (A Night of Champions), golf outings, and other fundraiser events generate significant revenue. The 2025 gala raised over $185,000 through auctions, appeals, partnerships, and donations.
3. Corporate Training Programs (RH360): Reaching Higher generates revenue through organizational partnerships, providing leadership development courses, executive coaching, and professional development workshops to businesses. Services include the six-session RH4Pros course, ROI surveys, and customized company workshops.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reaching Higher is a non-profit leadership development organization that delivers personal leadership curriculum to three audiences: youth in grades 2-12 through RH4Youth classes and Plant Great Seeds Summer Leadership Camps, adults seeking personal and professional growth through the RH4Pros six-week virtual course, and organizations through RH360 which bundles employee courses, executive coaching, workshops, and strategic planning services.

Product overview

Reaching Higher is a non-profit leadership development organization offering a portfolio of programs for youth, adults, and organizations. The core products include RH4Youth (8-session or summer immersion course for grades 5–12), Plant Great Seeds Summer Leadership Camps (for elementary students grades 2–5), and RH4Pros (6-week virtual course for adults). For organizations, RH360 bundles RH4Pros with executive coaching, workshops, and strategic planning services. Supporting offerings include Instructor Certification (two-day training to certify new facilitators), RH4Life (graduation continuation with video and podcast content), and Personal Development Coaching. All programs share the same foundational personal leadership curriculum focused on self-confidence, goal-setting, and decision-making skills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RH4Youth An 8-session personal leadership development course for students in grades 5 through 12, designed to build self-confidence, goal attainment, positive stress management, positive decision-making skills, and increased motivation. Also offered as a one-week Summer Immersion course.
• RH4Pros (Reaching Higher For Pros) A six-week virtual personal leadership development course for adults, empowering individuals to lead, live, and reach higher both personally and professionally.
• RH360 (Reaching Higher for Organizations) A person-centered leadership development approach for organizations, offering the RH4Pros course, executive coaching (three-month one-on-one series), ROI opportunity identification, workshops (e.g., Positive Life Choices, AHA, Ethical Organization, Core Communication, Giving/Receiving Feedback), and Company Strategic Planning.
• Plant Great Seeds Summer Leadership Camp A summer day camp for elementary students entering grades 2 through 5, helping students gain confidence, make friends, and build foundational leadership skills.
• Instructor Certification A two-day in-person training program that certifies individuals to teach the Reaching Higher curriculum in their own contexts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Employee profitability increased 60 percent higher than national average (nearly doubled in 2023) for one insurance agent following Reaching Higher's Vision Map and coaching
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and moderate.

• Cheryl & David BazzettaminorOthers5-Star Donor contributing to Reaching Higher's mission. Dr. David Bazzetta also serves as Chief of Staff and board member.
• Jerrad & Leslie BeauchampminorOthers5-Star Donor supporting Reaching Higher's youth leadership development programs.
• Gary PriceminorOthers5-Star Donor listed among Reaching Higher's top supporters.
• Oak Pointe Country ClubminorOthersVenue partner for the annual Reaching Higher Golf Outing. Located at 4500 Club Dr., Brighton, Michigan.
• Crystal GardensminorOthersVenue partner for Reaching Higher's annual gala events (A Night of Champions, A Night in Venice). Located at 5768 E Grand River Ave., Howell, Michigan.
• Kennedy IndustriesmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerPresident Mark Hemeyer serves as Reaching Higher's board president. Multiple Kennedy teammates participate as mentors and in adult Reaching Higher classes. The organization represents Reaching Higher's corporate partnership model.
• Lazy J RanchminorOthersVenue partner for Boots & Bling fundraiser event in 2024. Located at 625 S. Hickory Rd., Milford, Michigan.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BetterUp: Digital-first enterprise coaching and leadership development platform competing for the same corporate leadership development budget as RH360, but with technology-driven scale and analytics.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership and talent development company serving enterprises with assessment-based leadership programs — comparable to RH360's corporate training and executive coaching services.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Global non-profit leadership development provider offering executive education, coaching, and research, comparable to RH360's executive coaching and corporate leadership offerings.
• FranklinCovey: Established leadership and organizational performance training provider selling enterprise-wide programs — directly competes with RH360 but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Toastmasters International: Non-profit membership organization offering structured personal development in leadership and communication through peer-driven clubs, closely comparable to Reaching Higher's community/mentor-led leadership development model.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Global personal and professional development training organization focused on leadership, communication, and confidence-building — Reaching Higher's founder was directly inspired by Dale Carnegie training after her accident, and the curriculum addresses the same core outcomes.
• Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY): Non-profit dedicated to youth leadership development for high school students, directly comparable to Reaching Higher's RH4Youth program serving grades 5-12 with structured leadership curriculum and mentorship.

Emerging players

• Lead4Change: Non-profit providing free leadership curriculum and resources to schools and youth-serving organizations, comparable to RH4Youth's in-school leadership programming model.
• Junior Achievement: Non-profit delivering leadership, financial literacy, and career-readiness curricula in K-12 schools; overlaps with Reaching Higher's in-school youth leadership offering though broader in scope.

Regional players

• YMCA: Community-based non-profit delivering youth development programs including leadership and confidence-building activities comparable to Plant Great Seeds summer camps and youth mentoring, primarily serving local/regional communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLDahVm_ddMqH4ZgAfz9EoexYYdAhYUuPs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reachinghigherinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Reaching Higher