Pep Foundation

What Pep Foundation does

The PEP Foundation (Tax ID 22-3376822), operating the PEP Program, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational support organization headquartered at 43 Franklin Place in Summit, NJ. Founded in 1995 and operating with 1–10 staff, it provides free academic coaching, subject-based tutoring, social-emotional development, college readiness, career readiness, community service, and financial assistance to motivated, financially needy students recruited in 6th grade from Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and supported continuously through college graduation. The program currently serves over 70 students and reports outcomes of 90–92% of students earning a 'B' average or higher each quarter, 100% senior college acceptance among applicants, 76% enrolling in college within one year of graduation, and 75% graduating college within six years.

The program's core product is an integrated, longitudinal service stack delivered at PEP House and through a network of 30+ community and corporate partners (e.g., Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Princeton-Blairstown Center, Summit Area YMCA, Microsoft, Novartis). Tech surface is minimal: a website (pepprogramnj.org), an Embark-hosted online admissions portal, and standard email/telephone communications. There is no proprietary platform, no licensed technology product, and no data product.

The revenue model is donation-funded through two tax-exempt entities: The PEP Foundation, a private operating foundation that funds educational supplies, enrichment, and program operations; and The Summit Foundation, a public charity that funds college scholarships. Services are free to accepted students. Customer acquisition is community-led, relying on school counselor referrals, alumni word-of-mouth, and community partner channels, with a defined December–January admissions window. The program is geographically constrained to Summit, NJ public school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Name

Pep Foundation

Legal name

The PEP Foundation

Website

https://pepprogramnj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The PEP Foundation operates the PEP Program, a free college access program serving motivated, financially needy students from Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School in Summit, NJ, providing tutoring, college guidance, and financial assistance from 7th grade through college graduation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Access and Educational Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAC

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• College access program
• Academic tutoring services
• Scholarship financial assistance
• College readiness advising
• Social-emotional learning support

Headquarters

HQ city

Summit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations to The PEP Foundation: The PEP Foundation (Tax ID EIN 22-3376822) is a private operating foundation that supports educational supplies, enrichment workshops, field trips, school supplies, summer reading books, and textbooks. Contributions are tax-deductible.
2. Donations to The Summit Foundation: The Summit Foundation (a public charity) funds college scholarships for PEP students. Donations are tax-deductible and can be designated 'For PEP Scholars Award' to support tuition, room and board, books, and other fees.
3. Private funding: PEP is a nonprofit, privately funded organization that provides free services to accepted students. The program relies entirely on private donations and foundation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pep Foundation runs the PEP Program, a free, long-term college access program for motivated, financially needy students attending Summit, NJ public schools, beginning in 7th grade and continuing through college graduation. The program delivers subject-based tutoring, executive skills coaching, standardized test prep, social-emotional development, cultural enrichment, community service, college admissions advising, career readiness workshops, and direct financial assistance (scholarships and last-dollar aid up to $8,000/year) to accepted students. All services are provided at no cost to participants and funded through donations to The PEP Foundation and The Summit Foundation.

Product overview

The PEP Program is a single, unified college access program providing comprehensive educational support from 7th grade through college graduation. The program consists of interconnected components: a Secondary Program (7th-12th Grade) offering academic coaching, tutoring, and enrichment; a Post-Secondary Program providing ongoing college support; Academic Guidance for subject-based instruction; College Readiness workshops for admissions preparation; Social-Emotional Support and Enrichment for character development; Community Service for civic engagement; and Financial Assistance through the PEP Scholarship for Academic Excellence and PEP Financial Assistance awards. These services work together to provide a holistic approach to educational opportunity for Summit, NJ students with demonstrated financial need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary Program (7th–12th Grade) After-school academic coaching, tutoring, workshops, community service, enrichment activities, and special field trips for middle and high school students in Summit, NJ public schools. Provides core instructional and developmental programming from 7th grade through high school graduation.
• Post-Secondary Program College support services including academic coaching, individual advising, financial assistance, and transition-to-college workshops for PEP students pursuing undergraduate education.
• College Readiness College preparation workshops and individualized meetings beginning in 8th grade, covering the admissions process, standardized testing, financial aid, and scholarship applications.
• College Support Ongoing support for enrolled college students, including personalized transition meetings, campus visits, mid-semester check-ins, and one-on-one academic coaching.
• Career Readiness Professional development services including career panels, resume and cover letter writing, mock interviews, and connections to summer internships and employment opportunities for PEP students.
• Social-Emotional Support and Enrichment Curriculum developing healthy identities, emotional management, goal achievement, empathy, supportive relationships, and responsible decision-making, paired with enrichment activities such as art workshops and leadership retreats.
• Community Service Service-learning program requiring 20 hours for middle school students and 30 hours for high school students, fostering civic responsibility and leadership through local nonprofit partnerships.
• PEP Scholarship for Academic Excellence Merit-based scholarship awards of up to $250/year for high school students maintaining a 3.6+ GPA, and up to $500/year for post-secondary students making the Dean's List.
• PEP Financial Assistance Last-dollar financial assistance of up to $8,000/year for up to five years post-graduation, covering tuition, room and board, books, and fees after other financial aid is applied.
• Academic Guidance Individualized academic coaching, one-on-one tutoring, concentrated study, group instruction, and peer-to-peer learning covering math, science, reading, writing, and social studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of PEP students earn a 'B' average or higher each quarter
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Visual Arts Center of New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership providing art workshops and cultural enrichment experiences for PEP students. Students visit the center for workshops on collage-making, photography composition, and other visual arts activities.
• Princeton-Blairstown CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides leadership and team-building retreats for middle school students. Supports social-emotional development through experiential learning activities.
• Summit Area YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing enrichment activities and resources for PEP students.
• YMCA Camp MasonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer programming partner offering outdoor camp experiences for PEP students.
• Summit Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school partnership with Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Summit High School. PEP recruits students from these schools and coordinates academic support.
• Community Foodbank of New JerseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partner providing opportunities for students to give back while addressing food insecurity in the community.
• Junior League of SummitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's volunteer organization supporting PEP through community service initiatives and enrichment programs.
• Bridges Outreach Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity outreach organization partnering with PEP for service opportunities.
• Gifting SenseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial literacy workshops in partnership with PEP, helping students develop money management skills.
• Reeves-Reed ArboretumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education partner offering nature-based learning experiences and community service opportunities.
• Summit Free Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides educational resources and programming support for PEP students.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing workplace visits for career exploration opportunities.
• NovartisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing workplace visits for career exploration opportunities.
• Fountain Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partner organization.
• Central Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partner organization.
• Azucar BuffetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner.
• Eleven+minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing additional academic support resources.
• Fisk FotominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography education partner supporting visual arts enrichment.
• GRACEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partner organization.
• Modernly MannersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEtiquette and professional development partner.
• SHIPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization.
• Summit BoostersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool community support organization.
• Summit Community ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal community programming partner.
• Summit Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service and safety education partner.
• Summit Free MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource partner providing support services.
• Summit Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement and safety education partner.
• Summit Volunteer First Aid SquadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service partner organization.
• Sunny AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner.
• TRYCANminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization.
• Zappia'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business partner.
• Empowering Kids OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization.
• Connection for Women & FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity support organization providing resources for families.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Bottom Line: National nonprofit that provides long-term, one-on-one college access and success coaching for low-income and first-generation students from high school through college graduation, closely mirroring PEP's continuous-coaching model.
• iMentor: Pairs low-income high school students with college-educated mentors for college access and persistence support via a long-term mentoring model that overlaps with PEP's continuous coaching approach.
• Let's Get Ready: Provides college access programming including SAT prep, application coaching, and advising for low-income students, comparable in mission though more concentrated on the high school application phase.
• QuestBridge: Connects high-achieving, low-income students to full four-year scholarships at top colleges; comparable in targeting first-generation/low-income students with college-bound scholarship support, though more selective.
• The Posse Foundation: Identifies, trains, and sends diverse student cohorts to selective colleges with full-tuition scholarships, combining leadership development with scholarship support - directly comparable to PEP's scholarship-plus-coaching approach.
• College Possible: Nonprofit delivering near-peer coaching for college admission and persistence to low-income high school and college students, with a similar coaching-plus-support structure for the same target population.

Emerging players

• CollegeSpring: Nonprofit offering SAT prep and college counseling to low-income high school students, with overlapping focus on test prep and college access but a narrower, shorter intervention than PEP.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: Larger national charter network providing college-prep K-12 education and alumni support through college, including the KIPP Through College program that supports alumni persistence at scale - a much bigger incumbent in the same college-access mission.
• AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination): School-based college readiness system used in many districts to close the opportunity gap; comparable in academic coaching and college-readiness goals but operates as a school-embedded curriculum rather than a free-standing program.

Others

• ECMC Foundation: Philanthropic funder focused on improving educational outcomes for underserved students, including grants to college-access nonprofits; comparable as a peer funder in the same ecosystem rather than as a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pep-foundation-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pep Foundation