THE ISSUE In today’s global economy, a college degree is the key to economic and social mobility. Despite the fact that students are enrolling in college at higher rates than ever before, college completion rates are dismal, particularly for underserved students. According to Education Trust West, only 55% of students who enroll at four-year colleges and universities end up with a degree six years later. While college completion rates are rising overall, the gap between different races is widening. By age 24, African American students earn college degrees at 1/2 and Latino students at 1/3 the rate of white students. Low-income students earn degrees at 1/8 the rate of their more advantaged peers (9% versus 75%). There are many programs emphasizing the importance of college entrance for low income students of color, many of whom are the first in their family to attend college. However, the bigger issue is that there are minimal, if any, programs that support the students once they get there.

THE MISSION

Beyond 12 is a national nonprofit whose mission is to increase the number of first generation, underrepresented and low-income students who graduate from colleges and universities. Beyond 12 acts as a data and service bridge between lower and higher education systems to help high schools and colleges provide their students with the academic, social and emotional support they need to succeed in higher education.

THE PROJECT Beyond 12 sought Full Circle Fund’s help to develop the initial strategy and delivery mechanisms for the two major threads of their work: their student tracking platform and personalized student coaching services.

THE WORK

To understand the landscape, Full Circle Fund launched a comprehensive market research project. By interviewing key stakeholders – board, funders, administrators, policymakers, and technology providers, they helped Beyond 12 understand opportunities for higher education partnerships and the appropriate tools required. The team created customized product offerings based on the type of academic setting, and corresponding pricing models as part of their sales and marketing strategy. Finally, the team created an ROI calculator to create customized cost/benefit documents for prospective schools to demonstrate Beyond 12’s effectiveness as a critical tool to retain students.

“There really isn’t anything else out

there quite like Full Circle Fund. The team brought both early funding and a diverse range of

talents and connections.”

“The members are professionals with full-time jobs of their own, but they make time to do the work.”

- Alex Bernadotte

Founder & CEO

Beyond 12

SNAPSHOT GRANT YEAR: 2010-11

SINCE FULL CIRCLE FUND INVESTED,

BEYOND 12 HAS QUADRUPLED

THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS SERVED TO

1,800 IN 2011

IN 2010, BEYOND 12 EXPANDED TO LA AND BOSTON. BY 2014, THEY WILL REACH NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., CHICAGO, AND NEW ORLEANS

BEYOND 12 IS ONE OF THE FIRST THREE

INVESTMENTS NEW SCHOOLS VENTURE FUND MADE FOR THEIR

$5M “WAITING FOR SUPERMAN”

PLEDGE

Beyond 12 BRIDGING THE GAP TO COLLEGE SUCCESS CIRCLE: EDUCATION

Full Circle Fund is an engaged philanthropy organization

cultivating the next generation of community leaders and driving lasting social change in the Bay Area. We recruit top leaders from the private, public, and

nonprofit sectors, and empower them to leverage their

experience, connections, and financial resources to benefit

innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations.

www.fullcirclefund.org

GRANT PARTNER IMPACT STORY