the heart of our mission
Alongside students, our teacher-mentors counter disadvantages, close gaps, and remove obstacles that heighten vulnerability to the harmful consequences of starting life with significant deterrents and limited opportunities to achieve upward economic mobility and to develop into leaders.
Grounded in Elevate USA’s 40-year+ model that anchors all efforts in mentoring relationships, our education nonprofit focuses on teaching and mentoring our city’s most vulnerable youth by living out this mission:
Building long-term, life-changing relationships with Indianapolis urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community.
five distinct elements of the elevate model
With our holistic approach to well-being, students build on strengths and abilities and integrate character qualities and life skills as they engage in life-on-life mentoring, state-accredited in-school classes, college and career readiness, sports and adventure experiences, family engagement, and alumni growth and persistence investment.
To develop the next generation into leaders who contribute to their community, high school students taking Elevater, our in-school leadership-level class serve, at our partner elementary schools during the academic day as mentors to Grade 3 to 5 students with a focus on literacy and character growth.
Not limited to the academic year, activities after school, on weekends, during breaks, and throughout the summer center on intensive experiences impossible to provide in classrooms during the school day that strengthen relational bonds, fortify student growth, and celebrate hard work and achieved goals.
working in tandem
Interwoven in our model, these distinct elements come together with our core beliefs to build a strong foundation for a broad range of targeted programming that meets students where they are and fosters self-discovery that leads to the best version of themselves, shifting their life trajectory toward a thriving future.
our core beliefs
Striving to fulfill our desire for all students to be seen, known, heard, and loved and believing wholeheartedly that life-on-life mentoring transforms lives and revitalizes communities, these core values shape our goals, inform our strategies, and frame our every move:
Core Belief 1
Every child is of great worth and has the desire and potential to succeed.
Core Belief 2
Long-term, 24/7 relationships with caring adults have proven positive outcomes in the lives of our urban youth.
Core Belief 3
A holistic approach is essential for a strong, healthy future for our youth.
Core Belief 4
Full-time, salaried teacher-mentors who come from similar backgrounds as the students can have a positive influence and make all the difference.
Core Belief 5
Servant leadership, creating a culture of selflessness and service, is the foundation for leadership.
Core Belief 6
Every person has intrinsic dignity, and we act accordingly.
Core Belief 7
Collaboration yields the best long-term results, acknowledging that the complex work in our urban centers cannot be done single-handedly.
FROM WORDS TO REALITY
Contribute to the fulfillment of our mission that transforms students’ lives, preparing them for viable-wage careers and for leadership in their communities.
founding partners
With the generous financial support of community partners – individuals, families, corporations, and foundations – from 2015 - 2017, we launched Elevate Indianapolis at our first partner high school, Arsenal Tech. We express gratitude to each of the partners listed below for this crucial investment in our organization that now serves 1,500+ students at eleven partner schools.
Frequently asked questions
Elevate relies solely on the generous support of individual donors along with corporate gifts, church contributions, and foundation and government grants. To learn more about specific opportunities to contribute financially to our mission, visit the links provided below:
Your child is able to sign up for Elevate if they are a current student in our of our partner high schools, or, if a middle school student, by joining Dream Alive, our middle school partner.
We encourage you to sign up for a site visit at one of our partner schools or contact us directly at Info@elevateindy.org.
Elevate Indy serves student from 3rd-12th grade, plus our alumni, either through direct programming or through our collaborations in the community.
Elevate Indy proudly serves students with I.P.S. High Schools George Washington, Arsenal Tech and Shortridge, and our Purdue Poly High School-Englewood.
An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift of goods, services, time, or expertise to a nonprofit organization. In-kind donations can come from individuals, businesses, or other nonprofits.