ANNUAL
For more than 55 years, INROADS has worked to eliminate economic disparities and opportunity gaps by expanding access to high paying careers and wealth building opportunities for students nationwide.
Through immersive career-readiness programs and hands-on learning experiences, INROADS equips students with the skills, resources, and confidence to succeed in their careers and beyond. With the support of alumni, partners, and volunteers, we continue advancing economic mobility and building generational wealth for the students we serve.
OUR MISSION
The mission of INROADS is to deliver innovative leadership development programs and creative solutions that identify, accelerate and elevate talent throughout their careers.
As I joined INROADS in the final months of this fiscal year, I did so with deep respect for the organization’s legacy and strong momentum and with a clear focus on the future we are building together.
INROADS is entering a new chapter, grounded in its mission and energized by opportunity. Our priority remains clear: preparing students for long-term success through high quality development, training, and career exposure so they are positioned not only to enter the workforce, but to achieve economic mobility and build generational wealth over the course of their lives. We are grateful for the community that powers this mission, including staff, alumni, volunteers, philanthropic partners, corporate supporters, and our Board of Directors. Whether supporting student development, expanding access to programming, or investing in pathways from education to career, these partnerships are essential to our impact.
As we look ahead, my focus is on ensuring INROADS remains a powerful launchpad for students and a trusted, accountable partner for organizations investing in the future workforce. I am thankful for the commitment of those who believe in this work, and I am excited about what we will build together.
Ron Houston
President & CEO INROADS
DEVELOPING LEADERS THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
Developing future leaders is at the heart of the INROADS mission. Through our holistic approach, we prepare students to become impactful leaders in business and their communities. Our robust training model centers around four key areas of impact that build a foundation for upward mobility and long-term success.
KEY IMPACT AREAS
SUPPORT SYSTEM FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE
From
school through college and into their professional careers,
DOUBTING MY DOUBTS, OWNING MY FUTURE
Maya Angelou once said, ‘Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.’ Because of INROADS, that light in me has grown stronger, more focused, and ready to light up every room I walk into. I joined the INROADS College Links Program in 2021 as a high school freshman. That year, we had virtual four hour Zoom sessions on Saturday mornings because of the pandemic. I was surrounded by other ambitious young leaders across the country who, like me, dared to dream big. That first year, I created and presented my vision board on Zoom, and for the first time, I was in a space that encouraged me to plan and believe in my future.
At that point, I was still figuring out what leadership really meant. INROADS helped me see that it wasn’t just about grades or achievements it was about mindset, discipline, and how you carry yourself. Those Saturday sessions challenged me to think bigger and set goals that once felt out of reach. Little by little, I started to see myself not just as a student, but as someone who could make an impact.
My sophomore year, I attended the INROADS National Career Academy at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta with more than 400 scholars from across the country. It was the second flight of my life and my first trip without my parents. One of the most memorable parts of that experience was participating in the incubator competition, where I presented a parental control app that monitors social media usage for youth. Staying in a college dorm for the first time and walking around campus gave me a new kind of confidence. It was a glimpse of what was possible, and INROADS made that happen.
Over the years, the guidance I’ve received through INROADS has been incredible. My mentor, and College Links program manager, has had a lasting impact on me. His sayings “My response is my responsibility” and “Doubt your doubts” are embedded in my mind. They remind me to take ownership of my choices and believe in myself, even when things get hard.
He also tells us to look at our fingerprints because no one else in the world has the same ones—not in the past, present, or future. That reminder to embrace what makes me different has stayed with me. Wherever I go—into a classroom, a dorm room, or one day a boardroom; I walk in knowing my value.
As I prepare to study finance at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I carry the lessons and confidence that INROADS has instilled in me. I don’t just want to be the first, I want to make sure I’m not the last. That’s the legacy I hope to continue.
Daniel Purvis
INROADS College Links Scholar, Washington, DC Rising Freshman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Who We Serve
INROADS works at both the high school and college levels to prepare and empower students to excel in college, thrive in their careers, and lead fulfilling lives. Title I high schools serving a high percentage of low-income students nationwide IN ROADS partners with 31 2
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
COLLEGE STUDENTS
EQUIPPING THE THROUGH TRAINING
Our high school program equips students with the essential skills and support needed to excel in college and their careers.
KEY PROGRAM COMPONENTS
College Preparation Teamwork
Health & Wellness
Financial Literacy
Communication
Leadership Development
Career Exploration
Priority & Time Management
Impressions Management
Entrepreneurship
STEM Exploration
Servant
Leadership
NEXT GENERATION AND SKILL BUILDING
At the college level, INROADS is more than an internship program. It’s a comprehensive career development experience that prepares students with the training, tools, and resources to succeed in internships and full-time roles alike.
OUR TRAINING INCORPORATES PROVEN CAREER READINESS COMPETENCIES OUTLINED BY NACE
CULTIVATING SKILLS FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS
INROADS has helped me grow both personally and professionally by challenging me to show up as my best self in every space. Personally, I’ve learned how to advocate for myself, be more confident, and embrace the value I bring to the table. Professionally, INROADS prepared me to enter the corporate world with a strong foundation in networking, time management, and leadership.
Lorea Porter
TRAINING IS DELIVERED VIA MULTIPLE PLATFORMS FOR LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT
College Links Saturday Sessions College Links Virtual
Lunch and Learns
National Career Academy On Campus Workshops Learning Manangment System
Alumni Intern Engagement Series
Ready to Work Seminars Career Resource Hub INROADS National Conference
INROADS Intern Brooklyn College (CUNY)
OUR IMPACT
students participated in the INROADS National Conference & National Career Academy leadership development training event hosted July 17 - 18, 2025.
increase in the number of students trained (7,798 students in 2025 versus 4,871 students in 2024)
hours of leadership development and career preparation delivered to high school students in the College Links Program
College students gained professional experience through paid internships
additional hours of career readiness training delivered to each intern
of career coaching and mentorship received by each intern
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Your generosity helps open doors to opportunities that transform the lives of thousands of students across the nation. Together, we’re equipping the next generation with the skills, confidence, and access they need to thrive.
CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS
$500,000 +
L3Harris Foundation Inc.
$250,000 +
Constellation Nuclear NBA Foundation
Procter & Gamble MetLife, Inc.
Amazon Web Services arm
Assured Guaranty
The Brown Duckett Family Foundation ConocoPhillips
$100,000 + $50,000 +
HII Corporation Newport News
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
GlaxoSmithKline
Kaiser Permanente
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Scotiabank
Sanofi US Services Inc. TIAA Zoetis
The Executive Leadership Council
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
JACOBS
PENNYMAC Giving Fund
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Southern Company
$25,000 + $15,000 +
Coverys DIGI
Economic Development Corporation of NYC
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Fidelity Charitable Henkel
$10,000 +
Arch Insurance Group Inc.
Archer Daniels Midland Co.
EY
Husch Blackwell
Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School
The Leading Niche The Links, Incorporated
STACYWITBECK
Sycamore Capital
Synchrony
United Way
UnitedHealth Group Inc.
University of California
Monumental
Protiviti
reliancematrix
Roche
TENCATE protective fabrics
WSIA
Microsoft Rewards Physicians Insurance PwC
Princeton Area Community Foundation SYMETRA
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
TRINITY
A3 Consulting
AbbVie
ADP
American Endowment Foundation
AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE Dreams Foundation
Aon
AT&T
Ayco Charitable Foundation
BAE Systems
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
BASF
BAYER
BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company)
BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware
Boston Change Management Partners
CAF America
Canvas Credit Union
CAREER FACTORY 360
Carrier Global Corporation
Chevron Corporation
CHUBB
CHUBB Charitable Foundation
The Clorox Company
Comfort Systems USA
COMPEER
IN KIND DONORS
DAFgiving360
Elastic Elementum
FHLBank Pittsburgh
BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware
GiftHub
GLENMEDE
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Goldwyn Glenn Parker II Legacy Foundation
Guardian
The Hartford Honeywell
IBM
JE Group LLC
The J.M. Smucker Co
JPMorgan Chase
Link Logistocs Real Estate Lubrizol
Michelman
NAIC
Network for Good Nucor
PayPal
Collaborative Partners
PEP (Promotions)
PepsiCo Foundation
Pfizer
Raymond James
RTX
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Roberts QSR Management Inc.
SalesForce
Schnucks
Schwab Charitable
Shades of Greatness LLC
Shell Global
SiteOne Landscape Supply
Sony
Splunk
SS&C Technologies
SDCL LLP
Taylor Corporation
Textio, Inc.
ThoughtExchange
Toll Brothers Foundation
Vitae Cielo Luxury
Warner Brothers Discovery Wiliams Crew LLC
Messam MKTG, LLC
Teens and Youth in Leadership
U of Charter School Woodlawn
(VA) Chapter of the Links Uncle Nearest Inc.
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
$50,000+
John Hunter
$15,000+
Theodore Leonsis
$5,000 +
Deborah Brittain
Homer Hill
Roxanne Lagano *
Richard Simons *
$1,000+
Niki Allen *#
Lamar Anderson #
Isela Bahena #
Metoi Booker
George Cleveland #
Rahsaan Coefield *#
Robert & Kristine Decker #
Alexandra Dorman
Richard Fraser #
Claire Gregoire
David Hreha #
Cecily Jones #
Jeffrey Lamour #
Barrington Lopez #
Eric Lucha
Warren Marshall #
Tameka McBride
# = Alumni
* = Board Member
Yvette Smith *#
$10,000+
André Powell * #
Kate Geismar
Patrice Graves *
Wayne & Jane Thorpe
Kavita Tahilani
Brian Williams *#
Dantaya Williams
Darryl Willis *#
Jacquita McKinney #
Karl Minter *
Joe Montemayor #
Caryn Nightengale #
Victoria Pittman #
Rodney & Vicky Prezeau #
Michael Roberts #
Jerome Winfred Rose #
Jonathan Stanley #
Shellie Stockfish
Travis Swoope #
Wesley Thompson #
Marcos Vega #
Wanji Walcott
Martina Williams #
Darryl & Giselle Wilson
Laura and Darien Wright #
Magdala Adeleke #
Hiram Arnaud
Nina Barron
Candace Bates #
Gregory & Leah Brown #
Rayman Bovell #
Jaymi Brooks #
Tanea Brown #
James Butler
Alton Byrd #
Jerome Cheatham #
Michael & Mechelle Connors #
Charon Darris #
Christine Frazier #
Shamane Gardner
Albert Avancena #
Franklyn Baker
Scott Bartlett #
Cheryl Baxter #
Celandra Deane Bess #
Sheri Betts #
Lena Booth #
Larry Braithwaite
Kelly Brown-Morris
James Collins
Courtney Cook #
Ayanna Cooper #
Claudia Curtis #
Danica Dilligar
Kenneth Edwards #
Zuleemah Edwards #
Byron Fitch #
Daryl Graham
$500 + $250 + $100 +
Chianoo Adrian
Ameer Ali #
Stephanie Alvarado #
Luis Alvarez
Anita Anuyah
Gabrielle Arrington #
Mera Beckford
April Benetollo
Jennifer Bielak
Nieama Booker #
Jewel Bronaugh
Jacqueline Burgess-Bishop #
Wesley Butler #
Braddon Calloway #
Rohan Christie
Kia Coleman #
Loth Corea Chavero
Dinis Couto
John Daniels III
Sandra Dow
Damon Duke #
Keena Flood
Shelly-Anne Forrest
Freddie & Tasha Fuller
Marcus Garcia #
Julian Gastelum
Jhovanny Germosen #
Steven Goodison #
Sheena Gordon-Roberts #
Lyssa Hargrove
Forest Harper
Danita Harris #
Sahara Hamilton
Tomesah Harrison
John James
Paul Jennas #
Craig Jennings #
Lane Knight
Siju Koshy
Monique Marsh-Olenik #
Ashley Merritt #
Hazzen Munoz
Tai Neal
Cindy Pace
Jill Pemberton #
Renee Porter #
Justice Reid
Douglas Greene
Jeff Hernandez #
Rhonda Hopps #
Andrew Huggett #
Jasmine Johnson #
Necole Keitt
Shyam Kotecha
Kirk Lonbom
Warren Losey
Kristal Mason #
Preston McGowan #
Mark McGruder
Amanda Moore #
Lyssa Morris #
Sekou Murphy #
Christopher Nicholas #
Kelly Owens
John & Rina Harris
Alan Hayes #
Laronda Herrin
Allison Hughes #
Karlyn Hunter
Carline Jean-Gilles
Cassandra Johnson
Leah Johnson #
Walter Jones
Neeraj Joshi
Cheryl Kidd
Brian Krummen #
Nicol Lee
Zorayda Lopez-Marcus #
Victoria Martin
Sonya May
Andrea McCaskey #
Treasure McClain
Norva McGee #
Grover McKenzie #
Dale McLeod #
Makda Mebrahtu
Thomas Mehari #
Lila Miller
Bliss Mitchell
James Murphy Jr
Joicelyn Nelson #
Christopher Norman #
Ekene Ogwu #
Oluranti Okunoren
William Pearson
Kareem Rogers #
Willie Rose #
Curtis Ross #
LaJuanna Russell
Rachel Ryan #
Audra Ryen-Jones
Reba Simmons *
Nives Stanfelj
Latonya Tolliver
Miriam Vidal Meulmeester #
Dexter Warrior #
Timothy Wilkerson #
Hardmon Williams
Albert Willis #
Antonieta Ramos #
Jason Roberts #
Brittany Roland #
Amirah Salaam #
Kevin Simmonds *
Charisse Smith #
Carlin Swint
Arnett Thomas II #
Maurice Thomas #
Christian Tucker
Lee Valentine
Darren Walker #
William Washington #
Tia Wiggins
Vincent Williams #
Andrea Woods #
Zoe Zeiglar
Sandy Pharaon
Gail Pierce #
Beatrice Polk
Rashida Queen
Mauricio Quintero
Layla Ramirez #
Sydnee Rice #
Nettie Richards
Alexia Riddick #
Averi Roberts #
James Robinson
Tresa & Whit Robinson #
Nicole Rollins-Lamar
Hal Runkel
Marilyn Shelby
Rose Shelton
Jim Smith
Tamika Smith #
Terra Smithson #
Glenniece Stewart #
Nina Stewart
Rakeb Suraphel
Jessica Taggett
Darrell Thomas #
Jameson Thornton
Natalia Vernon #
Shani Washington #
Frederick & Dionne White
Clarence Williams
Joan Williams #
Khali Williams #
Fiscal Year 2025
Sept. 1, 2024 - Aug. 31, 2025
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
$7, 560,935 $7, 560,936 $92,644
EXPENSES REVENUE
LEADING WITH COURAGE AND HEART
INROADS has opened countless doors for me, from professional development to building a powerful network. What stands out most is their deep commitment to uplifting underrepresented communities. As someone passionate about creating equitable opportunities, I truly value being part of a program that invests in my growth while driving meaningful change.
Being a former foster care child, a Latina, and the first of my siblings to attend a four year university makes my INROADS journey even more meaningful. When I first entered the field of economics, I felt a little intimidated but also hopeful to bring my culture into a space where we are not often represented.
Through my INROADS internship with the University of California, Office of the President, I’ve been pushed outside of my comfort zone and have grown both personally and professionally. I’ve learned the importance of adaptability whether it’s picking up new marketing tools, navigating different platforms, or stepping into projects that challenge me to think differently. I’ve also gained a deeper appreciation for professionalism, especially when it comes to maintaining strong working relationships and building trust with colleagues. Most importantly, I’ve realized how powerful genuine connections can be, and how meaningful relationships can shape your career path and your confidence.
I aspire to build a career in marketing and eventually earn my MBA to deepen my business expertise. I’m incredibly passionate about the business world, especially the power of branding and community. My ultimate goal is to become the CEO of my own beauty company, where I can combine innovation, creativity, and strategy to build products that are inclusive, universal, and empowering. I want to create a brand that celebrates individuality and sets a new standard for representation in the beauty industry.
INROADS helped me find my very first internship and gave me the professional tools, mentorship, and community I needed to start building my future. It has shown me that courage, heart, and representation can go hand in hand—and that living without fear means creating your own path while helping others find theirs. Although I didn’t have a traditional childhood, I hope to use my story to inspire others—to show that no matter what challenges you face, if you work hard and stay true to yourself, you can reach your goals.
Stephanie
Leivas
INROADS Intern at the University of California, Office of the President
Senior, University of California, Berkeley
INROADS provided a supportive community that understood the challenges of being a first generation college student navigating both academic and corporate spaces, while equipping me with the tools and confidence needed to succeed professionally.
Bryan Balarezo
INROADS has equipped me with valuable leadership skills that will help me confidently navigate the professional world. Through this experience, I’ve also built meaningful connections and developed strong self-management skills, opportunities for which I am incredibly grateful.
Lauren Pugh
College Links scholar
INROADS Intern at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Rutgers University
