Empowering the next generation of leaders

Alesha Alli
Spring 2020 Fellow

Highlights

We’re on a mission

Braven’s mission is to empower promising, underrepresented young people—first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and/or students of color—with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs, which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact.

What is Braven?

Braven is a career-accelerating experience that prepares promising young people—many of whom are people of color, from low income backgrounds, and the first in their families to attend college—to secure a strong first opportunity after college graduation. 

We work with higher education and employer partners to offer a life-changing experience that begins with a semester-long course for college students followed by support that lasts through graduation.  

Together, we are helping to open up access to the American Promise, empowering a generation of leaders who mirror the demographics of our country.

 

More students on track to the American Promise

As a nation, we promise our young people that if they go to college and graduate, they’ll be able to land a strong first job and life of opportunity. While the bachelor’s degree is still the surest path to economic mobility, systemic racial and economic barriers mean that promise isn’t coming true for far too many students, especially students from humble beginnings.

Braven and our innovative partners are helping to change that. Together, we empower Fellows with the skills, networks, experiences, and confidence they need for economic mobility. And our Fellows are proving what’s possible.

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UPLIFT IN STRONG JOB ATTAINMENT FOR BRAVEN GRADS COMPARED WITH PEERS NATIONALLY 1

7K+

Fellows on the path to American Promise

+$15K

UPLIFT IN EARNINGS FOR BRAVEN GRADS COMPARED WITH PEERS NATIONALLY

1 Within six months of graduation, Braven Fellows are anywhere between 14-22 percentage points above their peers in securing strong full-time jobs worthy of their bachelor’s degree or enrolled in graduate school.

HOW BRAVEN DEFINES

The strength of economic opportunities Braven 2022 graduates secured

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Terms & Associated Stats

Strong Job

A full-time role that requires a bachelor’s degree and includes some combination of promotion pathways, employee benefits, and a market-competitive starting salary, or enrollment in graduate school.

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Terms & Associated Stats

Pathway role

A role that does not require a bachelor’s degree but helps a student’s financial sustainability, is aligned with their career interests, and will likely lead to more career-accelerating possibilities through skill development

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Terms & Associated Stats

Non-quality role

A role that does not require a bachelor’s degree, offers limited runway to additional career-accelerating opportunities, and is not aligned with a student’s career interests

Strong Opportunity Attainment for 2022 Braven Graduates

Over 7,400 Fellows strong

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1,382 Fellows

LAUNCHED FALL 2015

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1,143 Fellows

LAUNCHED SPRING 2020

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257 Fellows

LAUNCHED SPRING 2023

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894 Fellows

LAUNCHED SPRING 2020

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567 Fellows

LAUNCHED SPRING 2018

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316 Fellows

LAUNCHED FALL 2022

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1,961 Fellows

LAUNCHED SPRING 2014

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879 Fellows

LAUNCHED FALL 2019

Go together, go further: Our partners

Our dedicated volunteers and innovative partners are at the core of our work and impact. Together, we’re empowering the diverse leaders our future demands.

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Braven's annual impact report.

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact

Braven began in 2013 as a pilot with 17 students at San José State University. In the decade since, we have grown to serve 7,400+ Fellows at seven schools across five regions nationwide. Our annual impact and jobs reports highlight Braven’s influence through the stories of our inspiring Fellows.

Stay connected

Want to keep in touch? Get the latest news, stories, and wins from our Fellows and partners.