breakthrough birmingham
Breakthrough Birmingham is a nonprofit education organization providing free year-round academic enrichment, college preparation, and teacher coaching programs for underrepresented middle and high school students, college Teaching Fellows, and early-career educators in Birmingham and Talladega, Alabama.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What breakthrough birmingham does
Breakthrough Birmingham is a private nonprofit education organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with a satellite site in Talladega. It operates as an independently chartered affiliate of the Breakthrough Collaborative, a national nonprofit founded in 1978 that runs programs in 26 cities. The organization delivers year-round programming free of charge to participants, targeting three beneficiary groups: underrepresented middle and high school students (rising 7th-9th graders and high schoolers), college students recruited as Teaching Fellows, and early-career teachers. Its product portfolio comprises five lines: a six-week Summer Program, a School Year Program with Culture Nights and Exposure Clubs, ExploreU for high school college/career preparation, the Teaching Fellows summer teaching fellowship (with 100+ hours of training and a $4,000 stipend), and Thrive Teacher Coaching, a 10-month cohort-based coaching program for new teachers with a $3,000 stipend.
The organization runs on a near-peer instructional model in which college students teach and mentor middle schoolers under the supervision of veteran educators, several of whom are retired Birmingham City Schools teachers with 25-29 years of classroom experience. There is no proprietary technology platform, app, or API; all program delivery is in-person at partner school and community sites. Revenue is generated entirely through donations, recurring giving (Breakthrough Champions), corporate sponsorships, and foundation/government grants — with listed supporters including EBSCO, Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation, Regions Bank, Shipt, Truist Foundation, PNC Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Women's Foundation of Alabama, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, and Alabama Power Foundation, among others.
Breakthrough Birmingham reports serving 73 scholars and engaging 17 community partners during the 2023-2024 academic year, and over 900 scholars cumulatively since 2013. Reported outcomes include 76% immediate college enrollment (versus local averages), 84% persistence to a second year of college, 75% of Teaching Fellows entering education careers, and 100% of Thrive Teacher Coaching participants returning to the classroom. The organization was recognized as the Most Impactful Project by the Birmingham Business Journal Nonprofit Awards in 2024. Core staff consists of approximately 12 personnel led by Executive Director Mariohn Michel, supplemented by ~45 Teaching Fellows recruited annually from colleges across the Southeast.
breakthrough birmingham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- breakthrough birmingham
- Legal name
- Breakthrough Birmingham
- Website
- https://breakthroughbham.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Breakthrough Birmingham is a nonprofit education organization providing free year-round academic enrichment, college preparation, and teacher coaching programs for underrepresented middle and high school students, college Teaching Fellows, and early-career educators in Birmingham and Talladega, Alabama.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
breakthrough birmingham industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Credit Recovery & Learning Loss Catch-Up Programs (K–12) (EDAJAGAI)
Keywords
Where breakthrough birmingham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
breakthrough birmingham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Breakthrough Birmingham is funded through individual donations from supporters. The organization mentions recurring donors (like Ralph Hendrix who has given monthly for 33 months) and encourages monthly giving through their 'Breakthrough Champions' program. Donations support year-round programming at no cost to families.
- Grants and Foundation Funding: The organization receives significant funding from corporate sponsors, foundations, and government grants. Listed supporters include EBSCO, Joseph S. Bruno Charitable Foundation, Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, Women's Foundation of Alabama, AL Dept of Early Childhood Education, Susan Mott Webb Charitable, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, and numerous others. Grants support specific programs and operational costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for scholars |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
breakthrough birmingham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Breakthrough Birmingham is a nonprofit that provides free, year-round academic enrichment, college preparation, and social-emotional programs to underrepresented middle and high school students in Birmingham and Talladega, Alabama, via a near-peer model in which college students serve as Teaching Fellows. It also runs a 10-month Thrive Teacher Coaching program providing coaching, professional development, and a stipend to first and second-year teachers to reduce early-career attrition. All scholar programming is delivered free of charge to families and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.
Product overview
Breakthrough Birmingham is a nonprofit education organization offering a multi-product program portfolio designed to serve middle and high school students, their families, and educators. The core offerings include: the Summer Program (six-week intensive academic enrichment for rising 7th-9th graders), the Teaching Fellows Program (college students trained as summer teachers and mentors), the School Year Program (year-round academic and social-emotional support including Culture Nights, Exposure Clubs, and Super Saturdays), ExploreU (high school college/career preparation), and Thrive Teacher Coaching (professional development for new teachers). All programs operate free of charge to scholar families and are delivered through a 'near-peer' model where college students teach and mentor middle schoolers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thrive Teacher Coaching: A holistic, cohort-style, year-long coaching experience that supports first and second-year teachers
- ExploreU (XU)
- Summer Program
- School Year Program (SYP)
Products and services
- Summer Program A six-week intensive summer program for middle school students (rising 7th–9th graders) that provides academic enrichment, electives, mentorship from college-student Teaching Fellows, weekly field trips, and preparation for the upcoming school year. The program is free to families and serves underrepresented Birmingham and Talladega students.
- Teaching Fellows Program A summer teaching fellowship that recruits undergraduate college students from across the Southeast (including Alabama A&M, UAB, Samford, Tuskegee, Vanderbilt and others) to serve as teachers and mentors for middle school scholars. Fellows receive 100+ hours of training, a $4,000 stipend, and teach core subjects and electives in small classes of 10–12 under veteran-educator mentorship.
- School Year Program (SYP) Extended year-round support for middle schoolers featuring academic support, Culture Nights, Exposure Clubs, Super Saturdays, and hands-on learning opportunities focused on social-emotional skill-building and career exposure for Birmingham and Talladega scholars.
- ExploreU (XU) High school program supporting college and career preparation through social-emotional learning workshops, exposure to career networks, ACT preparation, externship opportunities, college tours, and parent engagement resources for Birmingham area high schoolers.
- Thrive Teacher Coaching A 10-month cohort-based professional development program for first and second-year teachers, providing bi-weekly classroom observations, monthly professional development workshops, weekly virtual check-ins, and a $3,000 stipend. Coaches are retired veteran educators with 25+ years of experience, and the program targets teachers in Birmingham-area schools (many in Title I settings) to reduce early-career attrition.
Quantifiable outcome
- 76% of Breakthrough scholars immediately entered college in 2023, vs. local BCS average
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use breakthrough birmingham
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
breakthrough birmingham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
breakthrough birmingham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Birmingham City SchoolscoreFounding partner school district since Breakthrough Birmingham launched in 2013. Provides access to students, facilities, and coordination with school administration. Breakthrough operates summer programs at BCS sites and coordinates with school calendar.
- Talladega City SchoolscoreKey partner for Talladega site expansion. Breakthrough operates dedicated programming at Talladega High School location. Provides access to Talladega students and facilities for year-round programming.
- Breakthrough CollaborativecoreNational parent organization founded in 1978, providing programmatic framework, institutional knowledge, and network of 26 cities. Breakthrough Birmingham launched as a partnership between BCS and Breakthrough Collaborative in 2013.
- Teach For America (TFA)majorPipeline partner for placing Teaching Fellows in teaching careers post-graduation. Multiple Teaching Fellows have transitioned to TFA teaching positions. TFA Alabama also partners with former Teaching Fellows like Ruchi Soparawala.
- EmpowerED BirminghamsupportingCommunity partner supporting education initiatives in Birmingham.
- College Choice FoundationsupportingFoundation partner supporting college access and preparation programs.
- Big City MountaineerssupportingPartner providing outdoor and exposure experiences for scholars through programming like mountain biking club.
- Jones Valley Teaching FarmsupportingCommunity partner providing enrichment experiences and exposure to agricultural/culinary education through field trips and hands-on learning opportunities.
- Birmingham BoulderssupportingLocal rock climbing gym partner providing exposure club activities and physical education experiences for scholars.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
breakthrough birmingham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): National college-readiness system adopted by schools serving underrepresented students. Comparable college-prep curriculum focus delivered to similar middle and high school populations.
- Breakthrough Collaborative (national network): National parent network of 26 Breakthrough affiliates using the same near-peer college-student-teaches-middle-school model. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization of which Breakthrough Birmingham is a chartered member.
- KIPP Alabama: Larger charter school network operating in Birmingham with a college-prep mission for underrepresented students. Comparable target population and outcomes-oriented approach, though delivered through schools rather than supplemental programs.
Direct peers
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama: Local youth development nonprofit serving Birmingham-area youth with after-school and summer programming, including academic enrichment for low-income students. Comparable mission, target demographic, and free programming model.
- City Year Birmingham: AmeriCorps program placing young adults in schools as near-peer mentors and tutors for at-risk middle and high school students. Directly comparable near-peer model, target demographic, and Birmingham-area presence.
- Teach For America Alabama: National teacher corps placing recent graduates into high-need schools; Breakthrough Birmingham is an explicit TFA pipeline partner. Closely comparable on the educator-pipeline and equity side of Breakthrough's mission.
- College Possible: National nonprofit providing college access coaching and near-peer mentoring for underrepresented students. Operates a similar model combining near-peer coaching, college preparation, and AmeriCorps-style program staff.
- Bottom Line: Nonprofit focused on college access and degree completion for first-generation students from low-income backgrounds, using intensive one-on-one coaching and near-peer advisors—parallel to Breakthrough's scholar and Teaching Fellow model.
Regional players
- The Posse Foundation: National college access and leadership program identifying and supporting cohorts of underrepresented students; not Birmingham-based but serves comparable populations with similar near-peer cohort-based support.
Others
- Birmingham Education Foundation: Local education-focused foundation supporting Birmingham City Schools initiatives. Comparable as a Birmingham-area education-support organization pursuing equity outcomes, though operating as a funder rather than direct service provider.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
breakthrough birmingham social profiles
Digital presencebreakthrough birmingham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
breakthrough birmingham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
breakthrough birmingham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
breakthrough birmingham M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about breakthrough birmingham
What does breakthrough birmingham do?
Breakthrough Birmingham is a nonprofit that provides free, year-round academic enrichment, college preparation, and social-emotional programs to underrepresented middle and high school students in Birmingham and Talladega, Alabama, via a near-peer model in which college students serve as Teaching Fellows. It also runs a 10-month Thrive Teacher Coaching program providing coaching, professional development, and a stipend to first and second-year teachers to reduce early-career attrition. All scholar programming is delivered free of charge to families and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.
Is breakthrough birmingham a public or private company?
breakthrough birmingham is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was breakthrough birmingham founded?
breakthrough birmingham was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is breakthrough birmingham based?
breakthrough birmingham is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does breakthrough birmingham make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grants and Foundation Funding.
Who are breakthrough birmingham's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Breakthrough Collaborative (national network) and KIPP Alabama. Direct peers are Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, City Year Birmingham, Teach For America Alabama, College Possible and Bottom Line. The Posse Foundation is listed as a regional player. Birmingham Education Foundation is listed as an others.
Does breakthrough birmingham have an API?
No public API is recorded for breakthrough birmingham.
What industry is breakthrough birmingham in?
breakthrough birmingham's product category is Youth Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAB, K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.