Reaching Out Mba, Inc.

What Reaching Out Mba, Inc. does

Reaching Out MBA, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998 that supports LGBTQ+ MBA students and alumni through conferences, fellowship programs, and year-round networking and leadership programming. The organization operates a portfolio of events including the flagship three-day ROMBA Conference (1,100+ attendees at ROMBA 2025), Club Leadership Summit, IRIS Conference, PRIZM Experience (launched 2024), Prospective MBA Admissions Summit, and Summer Treks, supplemented by the ROMBA Fellowship scholarship program embedded in 60+ partner business schools and a digital LinkedIn community of 3,500+ members.

The organization generates revenue through three streams: corporate sponsorships from National Partners (Bain, BCG, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey, PwC, think-cell, UnitedHealth Group, Wells Fargo), individual donations supporting the James Robertson Student Access Fund, and proceeds from the annual ROMBA Raffle. Operations run on standard third-party SaaS platforms — Cvent for event registration, Qgiv for donation and raffle processing, and Airtable for fellowship interest forms — with no proprietary technology platform. A lean staff of 5+ named professionals, led by Executive Director Ryn Skultety, executes the programming alongside a Board of Directors and Advisory Council.

Reaching Out MBA serves three primary segments: LGBTQ+ MBA students and alumni seeking community and career support, business schools partnering through the Fellowship program to recruit and support LGBTQ+ talent, and corporate partners using ROMBA as a primary channel for LGBTQ+ MBA recruitment. The organization's geographic footprint is primarily U.S.-based (headquartered in Los Angeles, CA) with Fellowship outreach extending to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, and Australia.

Name

Reaching Out Mba, Inc.

Legal name

Reaching Out M.B.A., Inc.

Website

https://reachingoutmba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Reaching Out MBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports LGBTQ+ MBA students and alumni through the annual ROMBA Conference, the ROMBA Fellowship scholarship embedded in 60+ business schools, and year-round networking and leadership programming funded by corporate sponsors and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Professional Community Development

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

MBA & Executive MBA Programs (EDAHAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research, Innovation & Fellowship Prep (Labs, Competitions, Publications) (EDAMAKAI), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Corporate & Foundation Relations (Sponsorships, Grants, Partnerships) (EDALAOAE), Career Exploration & Industry Exposure (Guest Speakers, Company Visits) (EDAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ MBA community
• MBA fellowship programs
• Business school conferences
• Corporate diversity recruiting
• Professional networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations support the James Robertson Student Access Fund, which provides financial assistance to students attending ROMBA events.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners pay to sponsor events and gain access to recruitment opportunities with LGBTQ+ MBA students and alumni. National Partners include Bain, BCG, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey, PwC, think-cell, UnitedHealth Group, and Wells Fargo.
3. Raffle Proceeds: Annual raffle with tickets at $50 each, 3 for $125, or 6 for $200, with proceeds supporting the James Robertson Student Access Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Reaching Out MBA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports LGBTQ+ MBA students and alumni through year-round programming, including the flagship ROMBA Conference, the ROMBA Fellowship scholarship delivered via partner business schools, and additional events such as the Club Leadership Summit, IRIS Conference, PRIZM Experience, Prospective MBA Admissions Summit, and Summer Treks. The organization builds community, advances inclusion in business education, and connects members with corporate recruiting partners such as Bain, BCG, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey, and PwC.

Product overview

Reaching Out MBA operates a platform of events and programs centered on supporting the LGBTQ+ MBA community. The core offering includes the annual ROMBA Conference (flagship three-day event), the ROMBA Fellowship scholarship program (60+ partner schools), the Club Leadership Summit, IRIS Conference, PRIZM Experience, Prospective MBA Admissions Summit, and Summer Treks. These programs are supplemented by the Student Access Fund for financial assistance, the ROMBA LinkedIn digital community (5,000+ members), and the Rich Chicotel LGBTQ+ Leadership Award. The organization hosts 15+ national and regional events annually, with approximately 1,100 attendees at the 2025 ROMBA Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ROMBA Conference Three-day annual flagship conference for LGBTQ+ MBA students, alumni, and corporate partners, blending professional development, networking, recruitment, and celebration. Founded 1999; ~1,100 attendees at the 2025 edition; 2026 event scheduled October 1-3, 2026 in Dallas, TX.
• ROMBA Fellowship Program National scholarship program providing financial support to LGBTQ+ MBA students, delivered through 60+ partner business schools. Launched in 2014 with 17 schools and has grown to 200+ Fellows from 50+ business schools.
• Club Leadership Summit Annual summit bringing together student leaders of LGBTQ+ business clubs from across the country, including a Club Leadership Competition with a $5,000 prize. Supported by Shorenstein Properties in memory of Richard Chicotel.
• IRIS Conference Conference focused on targeted programming for the LGBTQ+ MBA community, part of Reaching Out MBA's year-round event portfolio.
• PRIZM Experience Specialized conference experience providing targeted programming for LGBTQ+ MBA students and professionals.
• Prospective MBA Admissions Summit Event designed for prospective MBA students to learn about business schools and the ROMBA Fellowship opportunity.
• Summer Treks Summer programming allowing students to continue building their network with students, alumni, and corporate partners throughout the year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,100+ attendees at ROMBA 2025 conference
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered national partner and strategic partner.

• Bain & Companynational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Bain & Company is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, participating as a corporate sponsor to engage with LGBTQ+ MBA talent at ROMBA events and connect with prospective employees through recruitment activities.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)national partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026BCG is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, engaging as a corporate sponsor to recruit LGBTQ+ MBA students and professionals at ROMBA events and programming.
• JPMorgan Chasenational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026JPMorgan Chase is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, participating in corporate sponsorship to access LGBTQ+ MBA talent pipeline and engage with diverse candidates.
• McKinsey & Companynational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026McKinsey & Company is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, engaging in corporate sponsorship and employer recruitment activities at ROMBA events.
• PwCnational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026PwC is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, participating as a corporate sponsor to recruit LGBTQ+ MBA talent and support diversity initiatives.
• think-cellnational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026think-cell is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, engaging as a corporate sponsor to connect with LGBTQ+ MBA professionals.
• UnitedHealth Groupnational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026UnitedHealth Group is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, participating in corporate sponsorship to access LGBTQ+ MBA talent for healthcare business roles.
• Wells Fargonational partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Wells Fargo is a National Partner of Reaching Out MBA, engaging as a corporate sponsor to recruit LGBTQ+ MBA talent in financial services.
• Shorenstein Propertiesstrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Shorenstein Properties supports the annual Club Leadership Summit in memory of Richard Chicotel, a former CFO and leader in the LGBTQ+ community. Their annual donation funds a $5,000 cash prize competition for LGBTQ+ business school clubs. Mr. Chicotel served as CFO of Shorenstein from 1988 until his death in 2012.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Campaign Foundation: HRC is the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy organization in the US, with corporate engagement programs and workforce initiatives. Comparable LGBTQ+ mission and corporate partner ecosystem, though operating at a much broader advocacy scale than ROMBA's MBA-specific focus.

Direct peers

• National Black MBA Association: NBMBAA is a long-standing non-profit supporting Black MBA professionals and students through annual conferences, career fairs, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to ROMBA in serving an underrepresented MBA community via conferences, corporate sponsorship, and student programming.
• ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America): ALPFA is a leading non-profit empowering Latino professionals through student programs, professional development, and corporate partnerships. Similar in non-profit structure, membership/community model, large annual conference, and corporate sponsorship revenue mix.
• Point Foundation: Point Foundation is the largest LGBTQ+ scholarship-granting non-profit in the US, funding LGBTQ+ students across disciplines including graduate and professional programs. Directly comparable to ROMBA's LGBTQ+ scholarship mission and non-profit scholarship model, though broader than MBA-only.
• Forté Foundation: Forté is a non-profit focused on launching women into business leadership through MBA programs, corporate partnerships, and a flagship conference. Highly comparable to ROMBA in mission-driven non-profit structure, MBA-focused programming, corporate sponsor model, and fellowship/ scholarship offerings targeting an underrepresented group in business.
• Toigo Foundation: Toigo Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, and career development to underrepresented MBA students pursuing careers in finance. Comparable to ROMBA in scholarship-driven model, MBA school partnerships, and finance industry corporate sponsorships.
• Prospanica: Prospanica (formerly National Hispanic MBA Association) supports Hispanic/Latino MBA students and professionals via conferences, scholarships, and corporate partnerships. Closely mirrors ROMBA's conference-driven, sponsorship-funded non-profit model serving an underrepresented MBA demographic.
• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management: Consortium is a non-profit alliance of top business schools and corporate partners focused on increasing diversity in MBA programs and corporate leadership. Comparable in fellowship/scholarship model, business school partnerships, and corporate sponsorship structure targeting underrepresented MBA students.

Emerging players

• StartOut: StartOut supports LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs through mentorship, networking events, and founder programming. Comparable LGBTQ+ focus and event/community-driven non-profit model, though oriented toward entrepreneurship rather than MBA pipeline.
• Out & Equal: Out & Equal is a non-profit advancing LGBTQ+ workplace equality through employer programming, summits, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in LGBTQ+ focus, corporate partnership model, and summit-style flagship event, though broader than MBA-specific.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/reachingoutmba
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/reachingoutmba
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReachingOutMBA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reaching-out-mba
• Instagraminstagram.com/reachingoutmba

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 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 Out Mba, Inc.