Liberty's Promise

What Liberty's Promise does

Liberty's Promise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-0058022) founded in 2005 by Robert M. Ponichtera, Ph.D., headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with regional offices in Baltimore and Kensington, Maryland. The organization delivers in-person civic education, after-school programming, and career-readiness services to low-income documented immigrant youth ages 15-21 (with an expanding middle-school segment) across nine jurisdictions in the Washington D.C. metropolitan and Baltimore areas. Its core program portfolio includes Civics and Citizenship (the flagship program serving 800 youth annually across 21 partner high schools), CE-BELL (a Spanish-language adaptation for low-level ESOL students), Opportunities Plus (an 8-week paid internship placement program with local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits), Civics and Citizenship Junior (middle-school adaptation piloted in 2021-22), and the Trades Program (skilled-trades career exposure launched in Fall 2025 across four Montgomery County schools). All services are provided free of charge to participants, with the organization covering meals and transportation.

The organization's business model is donation- and grant-driven rather than revenue-generating. Funding derives from individual donors (including monthly recurring gifts and planned giving vehicles such as bequests, charitable IRA rollovers, and appreciated securities), employer matching gifts (facilitated through Double the Donation), real estate donations, and government grants from eight county/municipal partners: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Fairfax County, the DC Office of Out School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County. Programs are delivered at no cost under a freemium-style model targeting low-income documented immigrant youth, with a stated 97% high school graduation rate among participants versus a 74% national average for young immigrants.

The organization operates with approximately 20-25 staff members, the majority of whom are bilingual program officers with personal immigrant backgrounds drawn from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Liberty's Promise maintains a donor cultivation infrastructure through its website, email newsletter, alumni spotlights, regional giving-day participation (Spring2ACTion, Give Choose), and social media presence. The organization has cumulatively served more than 9,550 youth since inception and has launched ecosystem partnerships with Truist Bank, Fortinet, Baltimore Orioles, Montgomery Parks, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and others to broaden program impact beyond core civic education.

Name

Liberty's Promise

Legal name

Liberty's Promise

Website

https://libertyspromise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Civic Education and Immigrant Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

English for Citizenship, Civics & Integration (EDAAACAG), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), English for Citizenship (ESL/Civics Integrated) (EDAAADAC)

Keywords

• Youth civic education
• Immigrant youth programs
• After-school programs
• Internship programs
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to the organization through one-time or recurring gifts. Monthly donors provide critical sustainable funding.
2. Planned Giving: Bequests through wills/trusts, life income gifts, retirement account beneficiaries, IRA Charitable Rollover gifts for donors 70.5 or older.
3. Stocks and Securities: Gifts of appreciated stocks or securities provide full income tax deduction and avoid capital gains tax.
4. Real Estate Donations: Donated real estate provides tax advantages while eliminating property management responsibilities.
5. Employer Matching Gifts: Many employers match charitable contributions, doubling or tripling the impact of employee donations.
6. Government Grants: Funding from local government partners including Alexandria City, Arlington County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Fairfax County, DC Office of OST, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Liberty's Promise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free after-school civics education, career-readiness workshops, and paid internship placements to low-income documented immigrant youth ages 15-21 (and middle school programs) across the Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore metro areas. Programs are delivered directly at 21 partner high schools and middle schools and include meals and transportation support, bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction, and a middle-school through career pipeline (Civics and Citizenship, CE-BELL, Opportunities Plus, Civics and Citizenship Junior, Trades Program).

Product overview

Liberty's Promise is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth development programs for immigrant youth in the DMV and Baltimore areas. The core programs include Civics and Citizenship (flagship after-school civic engagement program), CE-BELL (Spanish-language version for beginning ESL students), Opportunities Plus (8-week internship program), Civics and Citizenship Junior (middle school adaptation), and Trades Program (skilled trades career exposure). The organization also runs summer volunteer programs like Manos Unidas and accepts donations through The Promise Fund. Merchandise such as commemorative T-shirts provides additional fundraising. All programs aim to help young immigrants become active American citizens while pursuing higher education and meaningful careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Civics & Citizenship: Flagship after-school civic engagement program serving immigrant youth in Washington DC and Baltimore Metro Areas
• CE-BELL
• Opportunities Plus
• Civics and Citizenship Junior
• The Promise Fund

Products and services

• Civics and Citizenship Flagship after-school civic engagement program serving at least 800 immigrant youth annually in the Washington DC and Baltimore Metro Areas. The program helps immigrant youth become civically engaged, increases school attendance, engagement, and self-esteem, and is completely free for participants. It is delivered at partner high schools across the DMV and Baltimore metro areas.
• CE-BELL (Civic Engagement for Beginning English Language Learners)
• Opportunities Plus Internship program that places low-income, documented, immigrant youth ages 15-21 in six- or eight-week internships with local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits. Includes job-skills workshops, resume and cover letter development, interview-skills training, and stipend support for participants.
• Civics and Citizenship Junior Modified version of the flagship Civics and Citizenship program for middle school immigrant youth. Covers civic engagement, career awareness, and high school preparedness through bilingual English and Spanish instruction, building confidence and go-getter attitudes. Delivered at middle schools including Holabird MS, Lansdowne MS, A. Mario Loiederman MS, Odessa Shannon MS, Seneca Ridge MS, Francis C. Hammond MS, and Charles Carroll MS.
• Trades Program Career pathway program exposing students to various skilled trades careers including electricians, carpenters, and construction workers, offering an alternative to the traditional college track. Delivered across four Montgomery County Schools, reaching 238 students in its initial implementation.
• Manos Unidas Summer volunteer program where youth volunteer at organizations including Kits To Heart, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity, accumulating Student Service Learning hours while giving back to their communities.
• The Promise Fund General donation fund supporting Liberty's Promise core programs for young immigrants, helping them become actively involved in civic life, pursue higher education, and embark upon meaningful careers.
• U.S. 250th Anniversary Commemorative T-Shirt Limited-edition commemorative T-shirt featuring winning student artwork celebrating America's 250th Anniversary. 100% of proceeds support Liberty's Promise programs helping immigrant youth access internships, civic engagement opportunities, and college preparation. Available in sizes S-XL.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% high school graduation rate (vs. 74% national average for young immigrants)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alexandria City Department of Community and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing funding and programmatic support for Liberty's Promise programs in Alexandria City schools.
• Arlington County, Department of Community Planning Housing & DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting programs at Arlington County schools including Wakefield High School.
• Baltimore City, Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner supporting Baltimore City programs at Benjamin Franklin High School and Patterson High School.
• Baltimore County, Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner supporting programs at Holabird and Lansdowne Middle Schools.
• Montgomery CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner supporting programs at Loiederman MS, Gaithersburg MS, John F. Kennedy HS, Northwood HS, Blair HS, and Wheaton HS.
• Truist BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy sessions delivered by Truist Bank experts in Liberty's Promise classrooms to teach students about interest rates and banking basics.
• DASH AlexandriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation partner providing reliable transit for students to remain mobile and civically engaged.
• Montgomery ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental stewardship partnership involving eight cleanup events at five parks, with youth contributing 165 community service hours.
• The Civic CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt workshop partner teaching democracy concepts through creative activities like flag design for the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
• FortinetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity workshop provider at Port Discovery Children's Museum, offering industry-recognized certifications to students.
• Baltimore OriolesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer fair host and community partner providing networking opportunities and professional sports industry exposure for students.
• Annie E. Casey FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation visit to elevate student work and explore potential funding opportunities for Baltimore programs.
• Esperanza CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit host site for Opportunities Plus internship placements, providing front desk services, data entry, and Spanish language class experience.
• Better Business BureauminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternship host partner in Baltimore providing community outreach experience and project leadership opportunities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CentroNía: DC-metro nonprofit delivering bilingual education, youth development, and family support programs for immigrant families. Closely comparable mission, bilingual model, and geographic footprint to Liberty's Promise.
• Latin American Youth Center (LAYC): DC-based nonprofit providing education, workforce, and supportive services to low-income immigrant and minority youth. Most direct operational peer to Liberty's Promise, serving overlapping populations in the DMV with comparable after-school, civic engagement, and workforce readiness offerings.
• Aspira Association: National nonprofit focused on education and leadership development for Hispanic youth. Closely comparable demographic focus (immigrant Latino youth), civic engagement emphasis, and college preparation model.
• Internationals Network for Public Schools: Network of public high schools designed specifically for newly arrived immigrant and refugee students. Comparable focus on immigrant youth civic integration, English acquisition, and graduation outcomes, though delivered through full schools rather than after-school programs.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington: Regional youth development organization operating after-school and civic/college readiness programs across the DMV. Comparable school-based delivery model and target demographic, though broader in scope and not immigrant-specific.
• Casa de Maryland: Maryland-based immigrant rights and services nonprofit operating across the DMV with workforce development, ESOL, and youth programs. Closely comparable geographic footprint, target population, and service mix including ESOL/civics instruction.

Emerging players

• College Track: National college access nonprofit serving underrepresented students from high school through college graduation. Comparable college preparation, scholarships, and post-secondary outcomes focus, though broader demographic scope.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing internships, job skills training, and post-secondary pathways for low-income young adults. Comparable Opportunities Plus internship model and target demographic, though operates at much larger national scale.
• KIPP DC: DC charter school network serving predominantly low-income and minority students with college-prep focus. Comparable target demographic and college-readiness outcomes, though full-school model rather than after-school supplemental programming.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington: Established regional youth services organization operating after-school, teen leadership, and civic engagement programs across the DMV. Comparable delivery mechanism and geographic footprint, but broader mission spanning wellness and recreation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/libertyspromise?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/libertyspromise
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liberty%27s-promise
• Instagraminstagram.com/libertyspromise/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Liberty's Promise