Through its pro bono program, Bates White completed an analysis for Higher Achievement regarding the fee-for-service landscape in Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Richmond area schools, areas where Higher Achievement operates. The team conducted interviews with senior leaders from a number of nonprofits that offer services similar to Higher Achievement, as well as with Higher Achievement staff. They identified and analyzed data on funding contracts to supplement their findings from the interviews in order to help determine whether fee-for-service contracts with individual schools might be a sustainable funding source for Higher Achievement. The team presented overall and area-specific findings to Higher Achievement executives, who will use the information in formulating future funding plans.
“Thanks to Bates White’s pro bono team, we now more deeply understand the competitive landscape for school-based funding in our markets,” commented Lynsey Jeffries, CEO of Higher Achievement. “This revenue source has long been opaque, and this new depth of knowledge is now undergirding our sustainability and growth planning. We are so grateful.”
Bates White has partnered with Higher Achievement since 2006, with numerous employees volunteering weekly as tutors for middle school students to help them identify, apply, and enroll in college prep high school programs.