“I was the first in my family to apply to college. My STRIVE coach stayed up till 2am editing my essays.”
Amara J. — Howard ’27, Nursing • Detroit Chapter
National Nonprofit • Est. 2011 • 35 States
Strive to
Strive to
Thrive Together
STRIVE National helps young people — especially first-generation students — graduate with confidence, find mentors who believe in them, and step into careers with purpose. 48,000+ alumni and counting.
0Youth Served
0Graduation Rate
0Partner Cities
0Employer Partners
Amara J. • Scholar ’24“STRIVE saw my potential first.” ★★★★★
92%
College Persistencevs 61% national avg
✦ College Access✦ Career Pathways✦ Mentorship✦ Equity✦ Leadership✦ Belonging✦ Scholarships✦ Community✦ College Access✦ Career Pathways✦ Mentorship✦ Equity
01 — WHO WE ARE
About Strive National
Born in a church basement in 2011, now a national movement. We exist to close the opportunity gap — not with charity, but with coaching, community and capital.
Our Mission
Every young person deserves a pathway — not just a chance.
STRIVE National partners with schools, families and employers to guide students from 9th grade through first job. We combine near-peer mentors, paid internships, SAT & college coaching, mental-wellness circles and emergency micro-grants.
First-Gen FocusTrauma-InformedYouth-Led
Our Story • 2011 → 2026
See Our Impact
2011 — The Basement Beginning
12 students, 3 volunteers, one borrowed projector in Detroit. 11 of 12 graduated and enrolled in college.
2016 — Going National
Launched chapters in 12 cities, first 1,000 mentors trained, Strive Scholars fund created.
2021 — Career Leap
Added paid tech, health & green-energy apprenticeships with 400 employers.
2026 — 48,000 Strong
35 states, 120+ communities, $18M in scholarships. And we’re just getting started.
01
Belonging First
Students learn best when they feel seen. Every cohort starts with story-sharing, not test scores.
02
High Expectations + High Support
We demand excellence and provide tutoring, therapy access and 24/7 mentor chat.
03
Wealth, Not Just Jobs
Financial literacy, matched savings, paid internships — pathways out of poverty, not into it.
02 — PROVEN IMPACT
Numbers that mean names, faces, futures.
Independent evaluation by Northwood Lab (2024-2025) found STRIVE students 2.3× more likely to persist in college and earn 31% more in first job.
0Alumni Network
from 9th grade to career
0High-School Graduation
vs 86% national
0College Enrollment
4-year + community
0Scholarships Unlocked
last 5 years
03 — WHAT WE DO
Four pathways, one promise
Pick your starting point. Every student gets a personal coach, a peer squad and a clear roadmap to 25.
Ages 14-18
Strive Scholars
After-school + Saturday academy: GPA rescue, SAT prep, college essays, campus tours.
- 1:4 tutoring & writing lab
- $2,000 completion scholarship
- Parent college nights in 5 languages
Ages 16-24
Career Pathways
Paid internships in tech, healthcare, design & green jobs. Real pay, real mentors.
- 320-hour paid placements ($18/hr avg)
- LinkedIn + interview bootcamp
- 850 employer partners hiring
College Success
Campus & Beyond
We don’t drop you at dorm day. Coaches stay through sophomore year + emergency aid.
- $500 emergency micro-grants in 48h
- Mental-wellness circles
- Transfer & FAFSA navigation
Youth Voice
Leadership Lab
Youth board, city fellowships, storytelling & advocacy. Students design the future.
- Paid Youth Council ($1,500 stipend)
- Speak at City Hall & Capitol
- Media & podcast studio
04 — HOW IT WORKS
Your journey from 9th grade to paycheck
01
Belong
Join a squad of 12 + near-peer mentor. Weekly dinners, goal-setting, no judgment.
02
Build
Master academics + life skills: study systems, money habits, wellness toolkit.
03
Launch
Apply to best-fit colleges + paid internships with coach by your side.
04
Lead
Give back as mentor, earn alumni fund, open doors for next class.
05 — ALUMNI STORIES
Don’t take our word. Take theirs.
“Paid internship at 17 changed everything. Now I’m a junior dev and I mentor two freshmen.”
Diego R. — Tech Apprentice → Full-time • Phoenix
“STRIVE didn’t just get me into college — it taught me to negotiate salary and save.”
Priya S. — First-gen grad, Analyst • Atlanta
06 — NEWSROOM
Latest news & updates
Wins, guides, research and community announcements. Click any story to read the full article.
No news yet — check back soon.
We publish mentorship tips, scholarship deadlines and alumni wins every week.
07 — GET INVOLVED
Your time. Your talent.
Their turning point.
Mentor 2 hours a week. Hire an intern. Fund a scholarship. 87¢ of every dollar goes directly to youth.
Volunteer
Mentor a Squad
No degree required — just consistency. Training + stipend provided.
Partner
Hire STRIVE Talent
Pre-vetted, coached interns ready for tech, health, creative roles.
Donate
Fuel a Future
$50 = SAT book + test fee. $500 = emergency grant. $2k = scholarship.
08 — FAQ
Questions? Answered.
Still curious? Message us below — a real human replies within 2 days.
Who can join STRIVE? +
Students in grades 9-12 and ages up to 24 in our 120+ partner cities. Priority for first-generation, low-income and foster youth. No GPA minimum — just commitment.
Is it really free? +
Yes. All programs, tutoring, trips and coaching are 100% free. Internships are paid. We even cover bus passes, test fees and emergency needs.
How do I become a mentor? +
Apply in 10 minutes, background check, 6-hour training. Mentor 2 hrs/week for one school year — in person or virtual.
Where does my donation go? +
87% directly to youth: scholarships, stipends, tutoring. Audited annually. EIN available on request via contact form.
Do you work with schools & employers? +
Yes — 300+ schools and 850 employers. We co-design internships, dual-enrollment and hiring pipelines.
Contact
Say hello. We listen.
Headquarters: 400 Hope Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm ET
Response time: under 48 hours.