PLATINUM2023

HBCU First

College + career success for Black youth

New York, NY   |  https://hbcufirst.com

Mission

HBCU First is a student-led community on a mission to increase college and career success for Black youth. As the nation's leading HBCU internship and mentoring program, we leverage relationships with 70+ HBCUs to help Black youth navigate the college-to-career journey.

Notes from the nonprofit

67% of gross receipts are paid directly to students in cash.

Ruling year info

2019

Managing Founder

Courtney Gray

Main address

244 Madison Ave #227

New York, NY 10016 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

84-3831738

NTEE code info

Educational Services and Schools - Other (B90)

Cultural, Ethnic Awareness (A23)

Youth Development Programs (O50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2021, 2020 and 2020.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We have a global work crisis that’s twofold. Professional jobs are increasing faster than we can fill them, and most of us — from senior executives to college interns — feel undervalued, overworked, and uninspired. This deficit in skills and morale is driven by the adoption of new technology, socioeconomic inequality, and our outdated approach to education and training.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

HBCU Day-One-Ready Program

HBCU Day-One-Ready is a college-to-career navigation program driven by near-peer mentoring and student-led workshops & events.

Students attending America's 100+ HBCUs pair up to build skills and grow their network. This remote, 10-week internship program is paid and open to HBCU students.

Population(s) Served
Young adults
People of African descent
Students

Equity in Data & Research (EDRP) is a student-led, research & development program on a mission to make data analytics and primary research more accessible relevant to Black youth.

HBCU students leverage education & training from industry leaders to close critical skills and data gaps. This hybrid program is paid and open to elite HBCU students.

Population(s) Served

Current HBCU students called "HBCU Student Advocates" lead choice-focused workshops helping college-bound Black youth navigate the high-school-to-college journey. This hybrid program is open to HBCU and high school students.

Population(s) Served
Young adults
Adolescents
People of African descent
Students

HBCU Youth Social Entrepreneurship (YSE) STEM is an experiential learning program helping Black youth foster a social entrepreneur mindset through STEM skill mastery.

Leveraging the YSE Choice-Based Learning Framework, the Program provides K-12 students hands-on STEM experiences and a pathway to STEM-based careers.

Population(s) Served
People of African descent
Students
Low-income people
Children and youth

The HBCU Leadership Incubator is a hands-on, 11-week leadership development program helping Black college students bridge the gap between classroom learning and business-world doing.

Students gain leadership know-how by developing and managing an HBCU First program. This hybrid program is paid and open to elite HBCU students.

Population(s) Served
Young adults
People of African descent
Students
Young adults
People of African descent
Students

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total dollars received in contributions

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of program graduates

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total dollars paid directly to students

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of career events produced and hosted

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of corporate speakers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of partner Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Young adults, People of African descent, Students

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

HBCU First aims to:
• Develop a dynamic channel of HBCU talent with high-demand, transferable skills
• Transform America's approach to educating and training Black youth

We believe bringing together our most resilient community (Black youth) and our most resourced community (industry leaders) is key to transforming America's approach to educating and training Black youth. We focus on helping Black youth (1) navigate the college-to-career journey and (2) bridge the gap between learning and doing. Our strategy is driven by our student-led internship programs: HBCU Near-Peer Mentoring Program, Equity in Data & Research (EDRP), HBCU Exploratory Program, and the HBCU Leadership Incubator.

HBCU First is uniquely qualified to fulfill our mission and achieve our goals for 2 reasons:
• we built America's most elite community of diverse HBCU students
• we have the vision and lived experience required to adapt and get things done

KEY FACTS
• 670 HBCU students completed our programs
• $350,000+ in cash stipends paid to students
• 175 career events produced & hosted
• 350+ corporate speakers at our events
• 70+ partner HBCUs
• 1+ million views of our map of HBCUs

Financials

HBCU First
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

HBCU First

Board of directors
as of 05/08/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Courtney Gray

Josh Bruce

Discover

Dwight Howell

Target

Carlton Tiolo-Sapp

Northwestern Mutual

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 12/23/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability