Project GRAD Houston
Graduation Really Achieves Dreams
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Of the five million students enrolled in Texas public schools 60% are classified as economically disadvantaged. Of those students, it is forecasted only 10% will earn any credential beyond high school (Texas Tribune, Higher Education Outcomes, 2015). According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the demand for skilled and knowledgeable workers continues to outpace workforce supply in Texas. Today, 38% of 25-34 year old Texans hold a post-secondary credential, yet by 2030 Texas will have a workforce need for 60%. When compared to the national average of 42%, Texas faces a serious challenge to remain competitive. If success in education after high school is achieved by only 1 out of every 10 students from our most rapidly growing populations, then the vast majority of young Houstonians will compete for the lowest level jobs, threatening the future prosperity of the Greater Houston area. Success in education that yields readiness for employment is the only solution.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
GRADcafe by Project GRAD
COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESS!
GRADcafé by Project GRAD is a one-stop clearinghouse of information, resources, and experts offering free guidance to individuals preparing for, applying to and enrolling in a higher education institution of their choice, and completing their college and career plans.
We offer free services to help you decide on a career, apply to college, and find the financial aid you need.
Whether you want to attend college to get a degree or work on a certificate in a professional trade, we are here to guide you through every step. You’re never too young or old to get started.
GRAD Scholar Program
Upon enrolling in 9th grade, or earlier, students have the opportunity to become Project GRAD Scholars. They and their parents sign a commitment to make college and career readiness a priority during high school and to achieve important benchmarks. All Scholars participate in a rigorous, well-defined curriculum called ""CLASS ACT"" that leads them step by step along the path to and through college.
College Institute Summer Programs
Each summer, Project GRAD serves approximately 1,000 high school age GRAD Scholars in our award-winning College Institutes, which equip students with college and career knowledge, increase their motivation for college, investigate high demand careers in the Houston region, and learn about financial aid.
Aspiring Young Adult Mentorship Program
GRAD's Aspiring Young Adult Mentorship Program allows young adults to work together with their mentor to develop & achieve their individual education & career goals
Where we work
Awards
Crystal Award 2007
TAPE
Accolades Award 2011
Children at Risk
Best Practice 2011
College Board
Neighborhood Builders 2012
Bank of America
Star Award Nominee 2014
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Project GRAD Houston's mission is to improve lives in low-income communities by helping individuals develop and achieve their educational aspirations. Kathryn and Jim Ketelsen founded Project GRAD over twenty five years ago with the belief that with the right support and motivation, college and a brighter future are possible for all. Project GRAD has since grown to serve multiple low-income communities in the Greater Houston area, providing relevant programming and support to youth and young adults as they strive to create a better future through education. GRAD has expanded collaborations, positioning the organization to expand its reach with increased sustainability. Together with the City of Houston and the Houston Public Library, GRAD opened cafécollege Houston in December 2015, Houston's first community-based college and career center offering open access to information and support to all. In 2018, GRAD expanded the café model to Baytown through a collaboration with Lee College.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Project GRAD reaches individuals and families from low-income communities: through school-based collaborations, and through the GRADcafé model, an open access community-based delivery of services where clients receive information to guide their college planning. GRAD Advisors welcome over 5,000 visitors and serve over 2,600 individuals through the GRADcafé model each year.
Project GRAD serves: Traditional students and families from low-income communities who are enrolled in the education pipeline who are working towards high school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion; or youth and young adults who are 16-24 years old not enrolled in school and unemployed/underemployed and are seeking assistance in becoming reengaged in the education system for future employment opportunities.
GRAD services are delivered from community-based locations using a coaching framework. Trained coaches advise clients on the college application and financial aid processes; academic readiness for college; career interests; and mentoring. Individuals have the opportunity to participate in the following programs:
- Project GRAD Aspiring Young Adults (AYA) – Opportunity Youth (16-24 year olds not enrolled in school and unemployed/underemployed) commit to an intensive coaching program designed to guide and support them in: 1) identifying and planning for employment in high demand career opportunities in Houston, 2) applying for and accessing resources to pay for best in class education and training, and 3) successfully enrolling in and completing industry credentials, ultimately gaining employment into desired fields.
- Project GRAD Scholars – Upon enrolling in 9th grade, or earlier, students become Project GRAD Scholars. They and their parents commit to making college and career readiness a priority and to achieve important milestones. GRAD's rigorous, well-defined curriculum, GRAD CLASS ACT, leads Scholars step-by-step along the path to college. Along the way, Scholars have the opportunity to earn badges from GRAD's BadgeUp Challenge. These badges are credentials designed to document a Scholar's incremental progress leading to college readiness.
- GRAD College and Career Institutes – During multi-day programming, students tour the college campus, receive information about college applications and financial aid, investigate career options, and experience college classroom instruction related to certificates and degrees needed for specific high-demand careers. As a result, students better understand potential education pathways – and the choices they have in order to access the future they hope to create for themselves.
- GRAD College Success Coaching – GRAD's iMentor for College Success programming, which matches GRAD Scholars, who receive mentoring through text-based reminders, with volunteer mentors from the business community.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
GRAD's many years of service to individuals from low-income communities in the Greater-Houston area have resulted in the successful community college or university enrollment of more than 8,000 individuals. GRAD Scholars are succeeding in college at more than twice the rate of their peers across Texas. To date, 57% have graduated or remain enrolled. Of the GRAD Scholars who have completed a credential, 36% have earned a community college workforce certificate or associate's degree, and 64% have earned a bachelor's degree. GRAD programming and advisors help individuals navigate the process of career planning, college access, and college success. GRAD's success with at-risk communities and longstanding commitment to community engagement and collaboration have distilled into a demand driven “café" model, open to any one of any age through community-based “café" locations, expanding our support to include Opportunity Youth as well as traditional high school and college students.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Today, GRAD is Houston's premier organization supporting individuals on the journey to and through college. GRAD's impact is evidenced through:
- Approximately 8,000 students have enrolled in community college or university with GRAD's support
- Approximately 60% of students who receive GRAD's support are either completing college or remain enrolled, more than double the rate of success of their peers throughout Texas.
- Over 5,000 individuals visited cafécollege each year since its opening.
With the opening of GRADcafé Baytown in 2018, GRAD will expand to each an addition 5,000 youth and young adults annually with career planning, college access, and college success support.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- 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.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
Project GRAD Houston
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Mrs. Kathryn Ketelsen
Project GRAD Houston
Mrs. Kathryn Ketelsen
Project GRAD Houston
Alberto Antenangeli
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Shannon Bryan
Shell Downstream, Inc.
Emily Cole
University of Houston-Downtown
Ann Kaufman
Community Volunteer
Gracie Saenz
Saenz & Associates
Greg Hassell
JPMorgan Chase
Mark Montgomery
Amegy Bank
David Sanders
Deloitte LLP
Consuelo Duroc-Danner
Community Volunteer
Erika Foster
Goose Creek CISD
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? Yes -
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? Yes
Organizational demographics
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
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/26/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.