IRS 990 Nonprofit Profile

Project Success

Mission & vision: project success motivates and inspires young people to dream about the future, helps them take steps to get there and gives them the tools they need to achieve their goals.Our vision is that every child entering middle school will graduate high school with a plan for their future and have the skills and confidence that will take them through the rest of their lives. innovative approach: project success is a catalyst for self-discovery that ignites possibility with students. we invest deeply in youth because we believe the key to success exists within each individual if empowered to unlock it. our proven methodology inspires deeper engagement from students, increases academic performance, and sets the stage for future success. since 1994, project success (ps) has been connecting students to their purpose through proven methodology of experiential learning called dig. dig is identified by three strategic objectives for students, grades 6-12: dream big: this phase opens minds. championing boundless thinking and risk-taking to empower trust in oneself and others. ps helps students create purposeful futures, helping them unlock opportunities that express their true authentic selves by imagining the possibilities, making sense of their choices, and having fun along the way. ignite possibilities: this phase connects to ideas. teaching the value of successes and failures to embolden critical thinking and understanding. from 6th to 12th grade, ps is a trusted companion in students' lives. engaging in experiential learning is an invitation to learn, be immersed in new perspectives, and exposed to new challenges. students get to know themselves - and the world around them - better. grow exponentially: this phase moves to action. preparing promising futures via unique resources - to expand one's personal vision. over seven years, students gain the information and tools to grow broadly and deeply. through dig, students build the agency, competencies and integrated identity research has shown that young adults need to fulfill their goals. for three decades and counting, hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from project success and our proven methodology, dig - advancing self-fulfilling futures for youth in minneapolis, mankato and beyond. curriculum: dig is fulfilled through a proprietary curriculum of four components: workshops: in-class activities guide cumulative development for students, gaining tools, purpose, and confidence. each month, a ps facilitator guides experiential programming that complements the students' academic work. annually, 17,000 students in minneapolis and mankato area public schools participate in in-class workshops. arts: theater experiences create a springboard for discussion, inviting risk-taking and possibility. observing live theater performances and participating in staged productions gives students a window into the performing arts, from front of stage to behind the scenes. annually, 9,000 students and their families attend live theater and other arts experiences. expeditions: adventure trips to colleges, workplaces, cities, and nature settings open new perspectives for one's potential in the world. supervised trips (locally to globally) are purposefully planned based on students' interests, availability and need. more than 3,000 students experience outdoor field trips, bwca and apostle island trips, college and career tours, and global experiences. institute: certificates and other programs build critical life and career skills that enrich one's independence. participating in out-of-school courses and events led by diverse and experienced content experts satisfies students' interests and provides relevant skills for the future. annually, more than 1,000 students participate in institute programming including certificates, career pathways, and the best buy teen tech center at project success. nearly all programming is offered at no cost to students and families. for the few programs that include a fee, students can apply for fee scholarships. while other programs are available, barriers to access them -- trust, time, transportation, childcare, meals, language, cost, selection criteria, relevancy and learning differences -- have made it more challenging for students to participate. ps specializes in dismantling barriers that hold inequities in place - perceived and real - so students are more likely to show up. our participants have told us so. key accomplishments 2024-2025: 1. expanded career-connected learning: five nights of weekly institute programming at headquarters, and new career tours and pathways programs 2. academic credit opportunities: more students earning high school and college credit through ps programs 3. geographic expansion: successfully extended services to mankato area public schools (maps) for a full school year, increasing minnesota access 4. organizational strength: decrease in staff turnover, increased internal promotions, and stronger retention 5. infrastructure investment & accessibility: completed headquarters renovations, including a new elevator connecting three renovated student learning spaces and creating an accessible campus 6. enhanced sustainability: as of 2025, project success now fully owns its headquarters campus at 1 groveland terrace with a transformative gift that allowed us to close our mortgage. this building is not simply an administrative headquarters - it is a transformational space for the students in our community. fully owning our headquarters campus allows us to provide inclusive and accessible environments for learning, mentoring, and community connection while eliminating rent, reducing operational inefficiencies, and reinvesting resources into student supports like transportation and multilingual learning. since launching the ps institute in 2017 with 23 students, the space has grown into a thriving hub that now works with more than 1,000 students annually onsite, as part of our broader reach of 17,000 across minneapolis and mankato. impact: for today's students to stay in school, prepare for post-secondary success, and develop the durable skills needed for adulthood, they need more caring, adult support to encourage them and facilitate their future planning and skill development and equitable access to experiences of excellence that help them make those connections and plan and prepare for that transition. project success closes this gap by providing equitable access to meaningful experiences and highly trained adult support over time for all minneapolis public schools (mps) 6th-12th grade students and all mankato area public schools (maps) 6th-8th grade students. project success leverages large-scale data analysis from the university of minnesota's center for applied research and educational improvement (carei) and minneapolis public schools (mps) to validate our life-changing results, particularly for historically underserved student populations. our demographic outcomes-75% bipoc and 72% low-income participation-surpass school-level representation, demonstrating that we reach and engage those students most impacted by systemic barriers. 1. enhancing future planning and motivation: -89% of minneapolis middle school students reported that project success "helped me think about my future". -89% of high school students rated project success ahead of friends, counselors, and teachers in assisting with future planning, second only to parents or guardians. -90% of students report that project success helps them set goals and create a plan for after graduation, with 96% of teachers agreeing. 2. improved academic engagement, particularly for students of color: -students of color participating in project success were 8% more likely to attend high school than non-participants, indicating an increase in motivation. -85% of mps students who participate in project success are on track to graduate, surpassing district averages. -african american and latino students participating in college tours and musicals show up to a 26% gpa increase over four years. 3. cultivating belonging and durable skills: -over half (54%) of teachers believed project success positively impacted student relationships with teachers. -71% of teachers observed a positive impact on student relationships with other students, building supportive community and addressing the widespread crisis of belonging. -internal evaluations demonstrate that our programs foster critical durable skills highly valued in the 21st-century workforce, such as analytical thinking, creative thinking, leadership, resilience, flexibility, adaptability, curiosity, self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and active listening. carei reported that our program garners statistically significantly higher impact for students of color and for students from schools located in neighborhoods with the largest socioe

Filing year

2024

Total revenue

$8.0M

Total expenses

$6.6M

Program expenses

$5.0M

Administration

$987K

Fundraising

$600K

Program share of expenses

76%

EIN

411837278

Location

Minneapolis, MN

WWW.PROJECTSUCCESS.ORG