In 2025-26, we celebrated 10 years of in-the-trenches work to redefine economic mobility for Indianapolis urban youth through 24/7/365 holistic mentoring relationships that foster sustainable transformation leading to a lifetime of thriving contribution.
Entering our second decade, we invite you to join us as we build on the solid foundation of impact we established in our first 10 years. Together, let's continue to break down barriers to opportunities and bridge access to employers across Central Indiana while we ramp up preparation of our city's youth with 21st-century skills for viable-wage careers.
No one gets there alone
While expanding horizons, igniting dreams, and overcoming unjust barriers together, students’ capacity to thrive and succeed in life and be collaborative leaders who bring change to their communities grows, and their life trajectories shift away from poverty toward lifelong well-being.
- Mentoring that Equips and Empowers for Community Leadership
- Development that Builds on Inherent Assets and Abilities
- College and Career Preparation Leading to Upward Economic Mobility
- Collaborations that Transform Lives and Strengthen Neighborhoods
shifting life trajectories
Expanding horizons, infusing with knowledge and skills, and bridging gaps reorient students’ mindset to the future and fuel action that achieves self-identified goals. With a solid foundation, they enter our city’s workforce prepared to progress on their chosen career pathway.
2024-25 Graduation Rate
100%
Seniors who graduated with their cohort – 106/106
Graduation Rate Five-Year Average
99%
Average graduation rate for students over five years
2024-25 On-Track to Graduate Rate
95%
High school students who made academic progress needed to earn diplomas in four years
Relationship with Teacher-Mentor
69%
High school students who report deep relationships with teacher-mentors in 2024-25 program year
our holistic impact
EDUCATION
With the guidance, encouragement, and advocacy of teacher-mentors, students choose career pathways that align with interests and talents, stay on track to graduate from high school, and take action to achieve the goals established in the comprehensive high school and post-secondary plans they shape together.
CHARACTER
Students exhibit strong character defined by our curriculum's seven character qualities – vision, courage, respect, caring, responsibility, positive work ethic, and integrity – and six life skills – career mindedness, communication, leadership, problem solving, decision making, and goal setting.
COMMUNITY
Students develop into servant-leaders who give back to their neighborhoods. They prioritize others, express gratitude, and contribute collaboratively alongside neighbors. While identifying their communities' assets and struggles, they own their part in its transformation and take action for change.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
Strengthened with an awareness of all facets of the whole person, including social-emotional, students gain the tools to engage others and build relationships in healthy ways. They learn to manage emotions, set boundaries, show empathy, make responsible decisions, and other vital social-emotional competencies.
our thriving youth model
Solidly rooted in our core beliefs and driven by our mission, we dedicate ourselves to serving students holistically through our model's six components that work in tandem to maximize the inherent potential of our students.
Holistic Life-on-Life Mentoring
Trust grows as students connect with, receive the support of, and learn from teacher-mentors via 1:1, small-group, and large-group mentoring outside of school where they put to work the character qualities and life skills learned in our classes.
Teacher-mentors engage students in Grades 9 to 12 during the academic day with our character qualities and life skills curriculum. In Little Elevate, Grades 3 to 5 students participate in cross-age mentoring focused on literacy with high school students in our leadership-level class.
State-Accredited In-School Classes
College & Career Preparation
Through our Pathways to Purpose College & Career Program [P2P], each student receives comprehensive career coaching and navigation services where all design individualized high school and post-secondary plans and then take practical steps to fulfill them.
Sports-based youth development reinforces our curriculum's character qualities and life skills and integrates social-emotional learning while developing resilience, confidence, and agency through first-time experiences and team-oriented activities.
Sports & Adventure Experiences
Family & Alumni Support
We value relationships with our students' families and pursue their insights and feedback for program improvement through home visits and special events that foster connection and promote communication.
With ongoing support, we bolster asset development and career pathway progress after high school graduation for our 500+ alumni and connect them with Central Indiana companies searching for talent to employ in living-wage careers.
Alumni Investment
2035 – our NEXT CHApTEr
what's your part?
Discover your fit in our work that enables students to reach their full potential and to thrive for a lifetime.
Stories of Success
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Want to hear more stories like these?
“We witness firsthand Elevate teacher-mentors’ long-term, life-changing impact on the lives of its students. ... On a recent visit, I was impressed with the outstanding students and palpable, positive relationship with the adults in the room.”
Heather R. Pease
President Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center
“Watching Elevate up-close has underscored for me that, for youth programs to succeed, there is no substitute for caring relationships with adults who truly want students to flourish. The teacher-mentors in Elevate are the engines that drive the success of the program and enable youth to navigate a challenging world."
Dr. Kraig Kinchen
Elevate Board Member, Executive Director of 100 Black Men
"This is my 16th year of involvement and support of Elevate--first in Orlando and then in Indianapolis starting with the founding in 2015. It is simply the most effective urban youth support organization I have seen--the results speak for themselves. Elevate is making a critical and powerful impact in Indianapolis--increased support from our community would exponentially change the future of our city."
Steve Cosler
Founding Board Chair Elevate Indianapolis & Elevate Orlando
“As committed partners with Elevate, … Forvis Mazars, LLP will help expand access to high-quality work-based learning opportunities, address systemic barriers to student success, and support successful transition to post-secondary education and employment through collaborative delivery of WIOA-aligned data-driven programming. “
Kevin Pahud
Managing Partner Forvis Mazars, LLP
The Latest: Thriving Youth Updates
In this space, we give you a glimpse of our day-to-day world, celebrate our wins, share our needs, and dive more deeply into topics relative to our life-changing work.
Newsletter
Events
Mentoring
Supporting Elevate
Elevate Indy June Newsletter
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Press
Partnerships
Elevate Indianapolis selected to receive grant from Lilly Foundation to expand its youth workforce development and transformational mentoring
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From the CEO
Mentoring
From the CEO of Elevate Indianapolis
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Newsletter
Education
College & Career
Mentoring
Supporting Elevate
Elevate Indy May Newsletter
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