Approach

Braven

We helped fund the launch of Braven, a career success program targeting the education-to-employment gap, in New York City through a strategic partnership with Lehman College. Building on the early success of this partnership, we further expanded Braven’s presence in New York City by supporting partnerships with high-performing college access programs – Bottom Line, OneGoal, KIPP NYC, and College Bound Initiative — through a new program, Braven Online.

Braven offers a two-part career education experience for underrepresented college students that begins with a credit-bearing course and is followed by a post-course experience that lasts through college graduation.

A recent impact report indicates that 90% of Braven Fellows are graduating from college on time and 61% of the 680 Braven college graduates secured quality full-time jobs within six months of graduation.

Heckscher’s catalytic support will fuel Braven’s launch in New York City at Lehman College to ensure first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and students of color have the skills, networks, experiences, and confidence to graduate college with a strong first job and a path to economic mobility. As an early champion, Heckscher provides the critical financial support, thought partnership, and endorsement that will allow us to scale effectively across New York City.
Aimée Eubanks Davis
CEO & Founder, Braven