About The Academy Group
The Academy Group is an opportunity program. We are committed to closing the opportunity gap — based on the premise that with equal access to resources, students from the most challenging backgrounds will outperform those from the most privileged communities.
The Academy Group works with students starting in fourth grade and supports them throughout their academic careers and beyond. The Academy provides its members with all of the tools they need to succeed in spite of their circumstances. Members of the Academy receive individualized tutoring, mentoring, counseling, internships and full scholarships for college, trade school or technical school so that our members enter their professional lives with no educational debt. Anyone who completes the program and demonstrates relentless pertinacity is guaranteed a job.
Our Stories
Our Corporate Partners
We’re pleased to partner with a range of companies and institutions to provide internship opportunities for our exceptional young people. Our current partners include:
The Model
The Academy Group built a unique business model. Stakes in a number of successful and thriving portfolio companies were contributed to Academy Group Capital Holdings (AGCH) principally by the Walter Family. The revenue from the AGCH portfolio companies support the Academy Group by providing a significant portion of the Academy’s operating funds. But more than that, principals within many of the portfolio companies serve as mentors and advisors to the Academy Group members and the ACGH companies provide internships and jobs to Academy Group members during college and upon graduation. This innovative structure ensures opportunities for Academy Group members while leading to a model that will eventually be self-sustaining without the continuous need for philanthropic capital.
The Outcome
Since initiating the model in 2017, the Academy Group’s investment is generating significant returns. When compared to their Chicago Public School peers, Academy Group students see a 23% higher graduation rate, 46% higher college enrollment rate, 28% higher college persistence rate and a 28% higher grade point average.
The Academy Group is an opportunity program.