The City School
The City School is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that develops youth and young adults (ages 14–25) into social justice leaders through summer programs, school-year pathways, fellowships, and paid workshops across New England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The City School does
The City School is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that develops youth and young adults (ages 14–25) as leaders for social justice through long-form leadership programs, school-year pathways, and paid workshop engagements. Its core delivery vehicles are the Summer Leadership Program (SLP), a five-week intensive that has run for 30 years and serves roughly 60 teens each summer; Pathways to Change, a school-year program with tracks for community educators, youth organizers, and organizational leaders; the Ella Baker Young Adult Fellowship for emerging adult organizers; the Social Justice Leadership Institute (SJLI) for New England independent-school students; and the Social Justice Education Institute (SJEI), which delivers tailored 2–3 hour workshops on a sliding-scale fee basis ($750–$6,000) to organizations and schools. The organization also co-leads the Boston People's Response coalition, which submitted a community-led mental health crisis response model to Mayor Michelle Wu.
The underlying "technology" is a codified popular-education methodology — participatory, affinity-group-based curriculum covering racial, economic, gender, queer, and disability justice — packaged into reusable retreat and workshop formats. The City School monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible individual donations processed via Givelively, institutional grants (AGM Summer Fund, Boston Youth Fund, Hyams Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, United Way of Massachusetts Bay), retreat registration fees ($425–$525/student), workshop fees, and ancillary space-rental income from its Dorchester facility at 614 Columbia Road. Headcount is not disclosed but the visible leadership team includes an Executive Director, Directors of Administration & Operations, Programs & Strategy (two), Pathways to Change, Youth Leadership Programs, and Resource Organizing, plus coordinators and youth support staff.
The City School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The City School
- Legal name
- The City School
- Website
- https://thecityschool.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The City School is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that develops youth and young adults (ages 14–25) into social justice leaders through summer programs, school-year pathways, fellowships, and paid workshops across New England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The City School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Leadership Development and Social Justice Education
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
Keywords
Where The City School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The City School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations from individuals. The City School is a 501(c)(3) organization, making contributions tax-deductible.
- Institutional Grants and Foundation Support: Funded by institutional donors including AGM Summer Fund, Boston Youth Fund, Hyams Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and others.
- Social Justice Education Institute Workshops: Fee-for-service workshops delivered to organizations and schools. Pricing scales by organizational budget size ($750-$6,000 per 2-3 hour workshop for 6-20 participants).
- Social Justice Leadership Institute Registration: Registration fees for Introductory ($475-$525/student) and Advanced ($425-$450/student) retreats at partner independent schools.
- Space Rental: Rental income from versatile event space in Uphams Corner, Dorchester. Contact for pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Introductory Retreat - Early Bird (until Oct 10, 2025): $475/student; Final Registration: $525/student |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Advanced Retreat - Early Bird (until Jan 7, 2026): $425/student; Final Registration: $450/student |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | One time | 2-3 hour workshop for 6-20 participants - Budget <$200K: $750-$1,500 |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | One time | 2-3 hour workshop for 6-20 participants - Budget $200K-$500K: $2,000-$3,000 |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | One time | 2-3 hour workshop for 6-20 participants - Budget $500K-$1M: $3,500-$4,500 |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | One time | 2-3 hour workshop for 6-20 participants - Budget >$1M: $5,000-$6,000 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
The City School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The City School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth leadership development programs for teens and young adults (ages 14-25), including a multi-week Summer Leadership Program, a school-year Pathways to Change program, the Ella Baker Young Adult Fellowship, Social Justice Leadership Institute retreats for independent school students, and fee-for-service Social Justice Education Institute workshops for organizations. It uses popular education methods to teach analysis of systems of oppression and develop organizing, facilitation, and leadership skills.
Product overview
The City School is a youth leadership development organization that offers a portfolio of programs focused on developing young people (ages 14-25) as leaders for social justice. Its core offerings include the Summer Leadership Program (SLP), a five-week intensive summer experience; Pathways to Change (PTC), a school-year program with pathways for youth to develop as educators, organizers, and organizational leaders; the Ella Baker Young Adult Fellowship for emerging adult leaders; the Social Justice Leadership Institute (SJLI) for independent school students; and the Social Justice Education Institute (SJEI) offering workshops for external organizations. The organization also conducts advocacy campaigns including Boston People's Response and maintains a rental facility for events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Summer Leadership Program (SLP) A five-week intensive summer program for youth ages 14-19 delivering community building, political education, leadership development, and action projects focused on racial, economic, gender, queer, and disability justice; includes retreat, youth-led popular education curriculum, community action projects, affinity groups, and internships at local nonprofits.
- Pathways to Change (PTC) A school-year program offering three career pathways for youth — Community Educators, Youth Organizers, and Organizational Leaders — providing training and mentorship to develop as educators, organizers and advocates, and organizational leaders.
- Ella Baker Young Adult Fellowship A fellowship program for young adults aged 18-26 that develops youth workers, facilitators, and organizers into effective organizational leaders to strengthen movement building across Boston.
- Social Justice Leadership Institute (SJLI) A two-session accelerated social justice program for high school students from independent schools, with an introductory weekend retreat and advanced retreat held at partner schools, focusing on racial and social justice, systemic political analysis, community leadership, and organizing skills.
- Social Justice Education Institute (SJEI) Tailored racial and social justice workshops delivered on-site to organizations and schools across New England using popular education methodology; covers introductory sessions on justice topics, youth power, community organizing, facilitation, and collective care in 2-3 hour workshops for 6-20 participants.
- Boston People's Response A community-led campaign, in partnership with Boston Liberation Health and a coalition of community organizations, to design and advocate for a non-police, non-carceral mental health crisis response model for the city of Boston.
- The Unnamed Coalition A youth organizing network coalition focused on social justice initiatives that collaborate with The City School's programming.
- Space Rental Rental of The City School's versatile event space in Uphams Corner, Dorchester for corporate meetings, intimate gatherings, or creative workshops, with amenities including seating, movable wall dividers, a complete kitchen, and various tables.
Quantifiable outcome
- SLP provides 60 diverse teenagers with leadership development each summer, with SLP 2024 marking 30 years of programming
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The City School
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The City School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
The City School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Alternatives for Community and Environment (REEP)minorEnvironmental justice organization and program partner supporting The City School's community-based work.
- The Unnamed Youth Organizing NetworkminorYouth organizing network partner collaborating on social justice initiatives and movement building.
- Youth Justice and Power UnionminorBoston-based youth organizing group that collaborated on Mental Health Crisis Response design and advocacy work.
- World Education, IncminorInternational education organization providing programmatic support and resources.
- Boston Liberation HealthcoreMental health collective co-designing community-led mental health crisis response model for Boston (December 2022). Led 14-person community design team that developed non-police, non-carceral model submitted to Mayor Wu.
- Muslim Justice LeaguecoreAdvocacy organization that organized for community design process and funding for mental health crisis response model.
- Asian American Resource WorkshopcoreAAPI community organization that organized for community-led mental health crisis response process.
- Material Aid and Advocacy ProgramcoreMutual aid organization that organized for community-led mental health crisis response and funding.
- Phillips Academy AndovercoreHost school for SJLI Introductory Retreat on December 6-7, 2025. Secures safe space for youth to explore social justice topics. Leads in creating inclusive school cultures.
- Cushing AcademycoreHost school for SJLI Advanced Retreat on February 21, 2026 in Ashburnham, MA. Provides venue for advanced leadership training.
- Governor'S AcademyminorPast host for SJLI retreats. Participated in bundled offers for Introductory and Advanced retreats.
- Concord AcademyminorPast host for SJLI retreats.
- Northfield Mount Hermon SchoolminorPast host for SJLI retreats.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The City School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Lead For America: Nonprofit placing young leaders in local government and community roles; adjacent in youth civic-leadership pipeline development, with overlapping age segment (recent grads and young adults).
Direct peers
- Mikva Challenge: Chicago-area nonprofit that develops youth as civic leaders through action civics programming in schools and communities; comparable in youth civic engagement mission, school-partnership distribution, and fee-for-service workshop offerings.
- IGNITE: Nonprofit training young women in college and high school to run for office and lead policy campaigns; comparable in youth political-leadership development and gender/intersectional justice framing.
- Generation Citizen: Nonprofit bringing action civics programming to schools and colleges; comparable in civic-engagement curriculum, school-partner distribution model, and youth leadership development focus.
- The Brotherhood Sister Sol: NYC-based nonprofit developing youth through social justice leadership, education, and organizing — directly comparable in age range served, popular-education methodology, BIPOC-led staff, and explicit political-justice orientation.
- RYSE Center: Richmond, CA youth-led organization building power and leadership for social justice among young people of color; directly comparable intersectional-justice framework, community-organizing orientation, and youth-adult partnership model.
Broad incumbents
- YouthBuild USA: National nonprofit network providing leadership development, education, and pathways to young adults ages 16–24. Comparable in target age range and leadership-development orientation, but operates at much broader national scale.
Regional players
- Center for Community Alternatives: NY-based nonprofit working at intersection of youth justice, leadership, and community organizing; comparable in organizing methodology and youth-development mission but operating in different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The City School social profiles
Digital presenceThe City School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The City School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The City School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The City School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The City School 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 The City School
What does The City School do?
The City School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth leadership development programs for teens and young adults (ages 14-25), including a multi-week Summer Leadership Program, a school-year Pathways to Change program, the Ella Baker Young Adult Fellowship, Social Justice Leadership Institute retreats for independent school students, and fee-for-service Social Justice Education Institute workshops for organizations. It uses popular education methods to teach analysis of systems of oppression and develop organizing, facilitation, and leadership skills.
Is The City School a public or private company?
The City School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The City School founded?
The City School was founded in 1987.
Where is The City School based?
The City School is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The City School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are institutional Grants and Foundation Support, social Justice Education Institute Workshops, social Justice Leadership Institute Registration and space Rental.
Who are The City School's main competitors?
Lead For America is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Mikva Challenge, IGNITE, Generation Citizen, The Brotherhood Sister Sol and RYSE Center. YouthBuild USA is listed as a broad incumbent. Center for Community Alternatives is listed as a regional player.
Does The City School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The City School.
What industry is The City School in?
The City School's product category is Youth Leadership Development and Social Justice Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAI, Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.