What Private School Axis does

Private School Axis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 by Collette Bowers Zinn and headquartered in Los Angeles. It operates a portfolio of programs designed to address educational equity in LA-area independent schools, with three core service lines: a Student Placement Program that guides families of color through private school admissions and supports them for the duration of their independent school journey; an Educator Placement Program that places qualified educators of color into independent schools and runs an annual cohort with ongoing professional development; and a Social Responsibility Certification (SRC), described as first-of-its-kind, through which schools complete institutional self-evaluation, site visits, and planning collaboratives to earn certification. Surrounding initiatives include a Student Leadership Program for high school students, the Axis to Equity Fund (seed-funded by CalFund) for supplemental costs beyond tuition, and a BIPOC Student Mental Health Initiative backed by a partner-school pledge.

The organization is supported by a 4-person core staff (Founder & Executive Director, Director of Operations, Director of Communications, and Admissions Associate), an 8-member Board of Directors, and a 12-member Advisory Board. Its revenue model is donation- and fundraising-driven rather than fee-based: services for families and educators are delivered at no cost, while schools fund Axis indirectly through multi-tier gala sponsorships (Illuminate, Glow, Sparkle, Advocate) and institutional engagement. The inaugural Glow Up Gala raised $150K in 2022, and the 5-Year Celebration Gala was held in October 2025 at Gravitas in Beverly Hills. Marketing and pipeline generation run through earned media — Tavis Smiley on KBLA 1580AM, Essence, The Grio, Roland Martin Unfiltered, the LA Sentinel, and Child Nexus Podcast — supplemented by an email newsletter and the annual gala. The technology footprint is thin: a proprietary AI manager is referenced as part of the SRC knowledge base, but the underlying technology is described as "service-based" with no API, no app, and no disclosed core platform.

Name

Private School Axis

Legal name

Private School Axis

Website

https://privateschoolaxis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Private School Axis is a Los Angeles–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that guides underrepresented students and families of color through private school admissions, places educators of color into independent schools, and certifies schools in social responsibility best practices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Equity and Private School Access Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Educational equity services
• Private school admissions
• Educator placement
• Social responsibility certification
• Student placement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Private School Axis operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 85-1806443) that generates revenue primarily through donations and fundraising events. The organization hosts an annual Glow Up Gala event.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Private School Axis operates a portfolio of programs that match underrepresented students and families of color with Los Angeles-area independent schools and help qualified educators of color secure positions at those schools. Its three core programs are the Student Placement Program, the Educator Placement Program, and a first-of-its-kind Social Responsibility Certification for partner schools, supplemented by initiatives such as the Student Leadership Program, Axis to Equity Fund, and BIPOC Student Mental Health Initiative.

Product overview

Private School Axis is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of programs to create pathways to educational equity for underrepresented students and families of color in Los Angeles independent schools. The core offerings include the Student Placement Program (guiding families through private school admissions), Educator Placement Program (supporting educators of color in finding positions at independent schools), and Social Responsibility Certification (a first-of-its-kind certification for schools). Additional offerings include the Student Leadership Program for high school students, the Axis to Equity Fund to cover supplemental costs beyond tuition, and the BIPOC Student Mental Health Initiative. The organization also hosts the annual Axis Glow Up Gala for fundraising and community celebration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Placement Program A service that guides, supports, and represents students and families of color throughout the private school admissions process and for the duration of their independent school journey. It is delivered through cohort-based engagement in the Los Angeles area.
• Educator Placement Program A service that helps qualified educators of color find employment at independent schools and provides ongoing professional development for an annual educator cohort, including resume revision, interview preparation, and contract negotiation support.
• Social Responsibility Certification A certification that supports private schools in creating equitable learning communities through a peer-reviewed process including institutional self-evaluation, site visits, and future-planning collaborative; certified schools receive access to a proprietary AI knowledge base.
• Student Leadership Program A year-long program for high school students at Axis Partner Schools that fosters leadership opportunities through projects focused on social responsibility and student empowerment, growing bold collaborative student leaders.
• Axis to Equity Fund A fund that helps cover supplemental costs of private school education (books, technology, uniforms, activities) beyond tuition for Axis students in Partner Schools who are financially unable to meet these expenses.
• BIPOC Student Mental Health Initiative An initiative that encourages Partner Schools to uplift BIPOC student mental health through focus groups, culturally responsive curriculum evaluation, affinity groups, and safe reporting mechanisms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ partner schools across Los Angeles area
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

37 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AphetaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerIlluminate sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Managing partner Lalat Pattanaik serves on the Axis Board of Directors.
• Brentwood SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIlluminate sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Campbell HallcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSparkle sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Marlborough SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSparkle sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• New Roads SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSparkle sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Oakwood SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSparkle sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Harvard-Westlake SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs. Founder Collette Bowers Zinn is an alum.
• The Center for Early EducationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Turning Point SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school that signed the BIPOC Student Mental Health Pledge.
• Wildwood SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school that signed the BIPOC Student Mental Health Pledge.
• Windward SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• The Waverly SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• The Willows SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlow sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Archer School for GirlscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs. Works with Axis to facilitate access for underrepresented students of color.
• The Buckley SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs. Sherrie Singer, Head of Upper School, serves on the Social Responsibility Certification Advisory Committee.
• Carlthorp SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Chadwick SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school that signed the BIPOC Student Mental Health Pledge.
• Country SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school that signed the BIPOC Student Mental Health Pledge.
• Crossroads SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Echo Horizon SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Hollywood School of FilmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Jabali AcademyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school. Dr. Jon Carroll, Founder and Head of School, received the 2025 Reveta Bowers Legacy Award at the Glow Up Gala.
• Laurence SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAxis Advocate sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Los Encinos SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAxis Advocate sponsor of the Axis Glow Up Gala 2025. Partner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Oaks SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Pilgrim SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Pluralistic School (PS1)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school that signed the BIPOC Student Mental Health Pledge.
• Polytechnic SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• St. James SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Sequoyah SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• UCLA Lab SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Village SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Webb SchoolscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Wesley SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• Westland SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs. Rasheda Carroll, Assistant Head of School for Equity, Inclusion, and Counseling, serves on the Advisory Board.
• Westridge SchoolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.
• WNS (Westchester North School)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner school in student and educator placement programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steppingstone Foundation: Boston-area nonprofit preparing underserved students for admission to and success at independent secondary schools, with a comparable multi-year cohort model analogous to Axis's Student Placement.
• A Better Chance: National nonprofit placing high-achieving students of color into top independent schools and selective public schools. Most directly comparable to Axis's Student Placement Program in mission, target population, and partner-school model.
• Independent School Alliance for Minority Students: Northern California nonprofit placing underrepresented students in member independent schools. Closely comparable mission and partnership structure, though serving the Bay Area rather than LA.
• TEAK Fellowship: NYC nonprofit providing academic preparation and mentorship so low-income students can access top high schools and colleges. Comparable placement-plus-scholarship-plus-support model targeting similar demographics.
• Prep for Prep: New York-based nonprofit that identifies and prepares high-achieving students of color for placement at independent and selective schools. Closely analogous in placement-plus-leadership-development model, though operating in NYC.
• The Oliver Scholars Program: Selective program preparing high-achieving students of color for admission to and success at top independent boarding and day schools. Closely comparable mission and partner-school ecosystem orientation.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): Trade association representing the broader independent school sector. Comparable institutional relevance to Axis's partner schools, but a sector-wide membership body rather than a placement/certification specialist.
• KIPP Foundation: National network of public charter schools focused on college access for students from underserved communities. Shares educational equity mission and cohort-based support ethos, though operating in public rather than independent school sector.

Regional players

• Southern Education Foundation: Regional philanthropic foundation advancing equitable education in the American South. Comparable equity-in-education mission and donor-advised funding model, though operating in a different geography and serving public school systems.

Emerging players

• Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: National scholarship and educational opportunity foundation serving high-achieving students with financial need. Comparable equity-driven educational access mission, though operating at far larger scale with college-level focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/privateschoolaxis

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Private School Axis