2023-2024 Axis Impact Report

2023-2024 IMPACT REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Letter From the Founder

3

Student Placement Roadmap

5

Educator Placement Program

6

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability (DEIA) Accreditation Program

7

Our Metrics

8

Our Impact

9

Events

11

Financials

13

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

17

Team Axis

18

Partner Schools

19

Board of Directors

21

Advisory Board 1

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER Dear Friends and Supporters, As a Los Angeles native, private school alum, and mother of two children of color attending Los Angeles private schools, I feel a deep soul tie to the mission of Axis: to create pathways for underrepresented students and families of color to access, navigate, and thrive in independent schools.

I am deeply moved that you have joined us in this work at a time when the very principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack. Your steadfast commitment to our mission helps ensure that we do not lose the hard-won progress we’ve made over decades toward equitable opportunity for students of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

It is your dedication to educational equity that enables us to offer our services to our families and Partner Schools at no cost.

Your generosity unlocks new opportunities for students, families, educators, and school communities as a whole.

Over the past year alone, we have: Guided 49 students and their families through the private school admissions process, resulting in a 98% acceptance rate for our Cohort 3 students; Onboarded a founding cohort of 12 outstanding educators of color whom we are connecting with career opportunities at our Partner Schools; Launched a first-of-its-kind Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability (DEIA) Accreditation Program for our Partner Schools.

COLLETTE BOWERS ZINN

Founder + Executive Director In this critical year for our democracy and for DEIA in education, we will be forgoing our annual gala to focus on strengthening our programming and partnerships. We invite you to join us and deepen your engagement with Axis. In solidarity and in community, we will create generational, systemic change that will shape a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Sincerely,

Collette Bowers Zinn, J.D., M.Ed. Founder & Executive Director

In solidarity and in community, we will create generational, systemic change that will shape a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

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STUDENT PLACE

Follow Axis student Calvin* and his family Program. From their initial introduction to Financial Aid Workshops, Decision Day, an and advocate on their behalf.

Axis Application + Interview

Axis Decision

Partner School Research

Calvin’s family submits an application to join the Axis cohort and takes part in a virtual interview.

Calvin’s family receives the exciting news that they’ve been accepted to the Axis Student Placement Program!

Calvin’s family begins a guided process of researching Axis Partner Schools.

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Information Session Calvin’s family attends an Axis Information Session, where Team Axis shares an overview of the Student Placement Program and answers their questions about private education.

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Kindergarten Assessment

Axis Orientation + Partner School Fair

Calvin joins Axis for a playdate with his fellow kindergarten applicants, where Team Axis assesses his kindergarten readiness.

Calvin and his family get to know their fellow cohort families at Axis Orientation and meet representatives from Axis Partner Schools.

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Collabo Sessi

Axis Executive Collette Bowe with Calvin’s fa deep dive into education nee they generate schools to exp

MENT ROADMAP

on their journey through the Axis Student Placement Axis at an Information Session, to their Collaboration Sessions, nd beyond... Axis is there every step of the way to guide, represent,

Financial Aid Workshops

Common Application

Decision Day!

Calvin’s family completes the Axis Common Application, which Axis submits on their behalf to up to five Partner Schools of their choice.

Calvin’s family attends a Financial Aid Workshop to learn how to navigate their financial aid applications, and Axis provides individualized feedback and support.

Calvin’s family receives the news of their final admissions decisions, and Axis provides support in making their final school decisions.

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ration ons

e Director rs Zinn meets amily to do a o their unique ds. Together, a list of plore.

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Partner School Interviews

Advocacy

Ongoing Support

Axis meets with each Partner School to answer any questions that they may have about Axis candidates.

Axis continues to provide Calvin’s family with ongoing support, from enrollment through graduation.

After participating in the Axis Interview Exposure Event, Calvin’s family participates in admissions interviews at the schools where they’ve applied.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

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EDUCATOR PLACEMENT AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP COHORT The purpose of the Educator Placement and Transformative Leadership Cohort is to assist quality educators of color on their journey exploring, applying to, and transitioning into an independent school community that aligns with their educational philosophy and professional goals. We provide ongoing support and professional development opportunities for our annual cohort of educators of color.

Axis recently hosted a 2024 Cohort Meet and Greet, with special guests from our partners at the Black Educator Advocates Network, with a focus on fostering longevity in independent schools.

50 Educators of Color in the Pipeline

12 Educators of Color Onboarded into the 2024 Educator Cohort

10 Goal Number of Educators of Color Placed in Axis Partner Schools in 2024 65

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & ACCOUNTABILITY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM Private School Axis is committed to supporting schools in their system-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion practices through comprehensive accountability.

We are currently piloting the Axis Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability (DEIA) Accreditation Program at The Waverly School through summer 2024. The program will officially launch in fall 2024.

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

INSTITUTIONAL SELF-EVALUATION

SITE VISIT

FUTURE PLANNING COLLABORATIVE

The accreditation process begins with a self-evaluation helping schools assess their past, current, and future DEIA efforts and providing ample opportunity for self-reflection.

Next, a team of educators, administrators, and practitioners conducts an on-site visit to provide a 360-degree assessment of the self-evaluation findings.

Together, the Axis team and school accreditation committee develop an actionable plan with defined DEIA goals, charting a transformative course forward.

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OUR METRICS

139 Students + Families Served to Date

$1M+ Total Financial Aid Offered to Cohort 3 by Partner Schools

16+ Hours of Counseling + Support Per Family Per Admissions Cycle

94%

of Axis Students Across 3 Cohorts Admitted to an Independent School

98%

of Cohort 3 Students Admitted to an Independent School in 2024

$36,249 Average Cohort 3 Financial Aid Applicant Award

320+ Families Signed Up for Axis Information Sessions in 2024

50 Families Accepted to Cohort 4

OUR IMPACT

Click to watch

THE YEPEZ DIAZ FAMILY “Private School Axis opened a door that I never knew was there.

Throughout the process, there was a lot of selfdoubt—does my family belong in private school?

Axis provided the support I needed. Just like a family, when you’re down or you doubt yourself, Private School Axis gave me that reassurance.

My daughters’ knowledge of what they can do and what is possible for them has been expanded.

When we started the process with Axis, my daughters were just aspiring to the local Cal State universities. Working with Private School Axis has opened their eyes to other universities that they never even thought of, like the Ivy League schools.

Their knowledge of what they can do and what is possible for them has been expanded.”

—Axis Cohort 3 Parent

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EVENTS Welcome to Private Schools 101 Axis held an informative summer workshop for Cohort 2 families newly admitted to Axis Partner Schools, equipping them with key information as they prepared to enter their new school communities.

Kindergarten Assessment Skills Training Axis provided Cohort 3 families with in-depth information about developmental milestones and the kindergarten readiness skills their children will need for kindergarten.

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Student Mental Health Event Max Gray Fellows from the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior joined Axis Student Interns for an impactful panel discussion on the mental health needs of BIPOC students at independent schools.

Click to watch Click to watch

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Interview Exposure Event Cohort 3 families engaged with trained volunteers to gain exposure to the admissions interview process, and received interview feedback, tips, and resources.

Click to watch

Click to watch

Glow Up Gala 2023 More than 280 guests gathered at SoLa Beehive to celebrate honorees Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, Jennifer Burnham-Grubbs, and AdaPia d’Errico, while bolstering Axis’ mission to create pathways for people of color to access and thrive in independent schools.

Axis Information Sessions Axis held five Information Sessions to accommodate over 300 families of color who signed up to learn more about the Axis Student Placement Program.

Team Axis answered their pressing questions and concerns about applying to private schools.

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FINANCIALS Axis is committed to fiscal prudence and responsible stewardship of your financial support. Our third year of operation was a growth year dedicated to building programming, teams, operations, and infrastructure. In 2023, 67% of our expenditures were program expenses, 19.4% general operating expenses, and 13.5% fundraising expenses.

Thanks to our generous supporters, we raised $581,885 in 2023 from diversified funding sources, meeting a major goal in our fundraising strategy. We built out our major gift program and donor program, raised funding at our gala, and secured new institutional partners with gifts from the California Community Foundation and Capital Group. Individual donations comprised 49% of revenue, gala fundraising 38%, and institutional giving 13%.

As we look ahead to 2024-2025, we have a goal of doubling revenue to create additional stability for our programming. We have already received two gifts this year from family foundations and widespread community support from our Spring Campaign. We look forward to a strong year of fundraising growth.

FY 2023 Expenses

Revenue

Fundraising Expenses 13.5%

Individual Donations 49%

Institutional Giving 13%

General Operating 19.4%

Program Expenses 67%

Gala 38% 12

THANK YOU TO OUR G FOUNDATION + CORPORATE DONORS

FRIENDS OF AXIS The Friends of Axis Donor Circle includes generous individual donors who have given $1,000 or more to Axis in 2023 or 2024.

Alex Amin

Amber Hankey

Amanda Murray

Anonymous (5)

Kerri Harper-Howie

Mia Novack

Art Becerra

Ethan Kraft-Hawkins

Doreen and Don Oleson

Rey and Gabby Banatao

Yangchen Lama

Latat Pattanaik

Bob and Reveta Bowers

Maria Lawrence

Grace and Tarlin Ray

Cindy and Bob Broder

Chisa and Dennis Lehane

Ilene Resnik

CFA Insurance Services

Natalie and Gray Lusk

Erin Riley

Natalie and Steven Clunis

Anita and Corey Martin

Eve Rodsky

Cherie Matthews

Kara Sax

Ife and John McMichael

James and Evis Shaffer

Ronald Merchant

Suchada Shu

Huey Merchant and

Andrew Smith Lewis

Steve Artiga

Ben and Ella Stewart

Aaron Mieszczanski

Kate Taylor Clewell

Walter Mosley

Ekong Udoekwere

Jenna Murdock

Zoe Zeigler and Jeremiah Erby

Marina and Adam Cohn Eileen and Don Coskey Fracchia Malik Ducard Georgia Eisner Iman and James Farrior Dionne and Noah Francis Artha Gillis Joanie Gunning

GENEROUS DONORS 2023 GLOW UP GALA SPONSORS SHINE Don and Doreen Oleson

SPARKLE

GLOW Cindy and Bob Broder

Dionne and Noah Francis

Huey Merchant and Steve Artiga

Evis and James Shaffer

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AXIS SUPP LaVonne Anderson Anonymous (12) Tanya Arora Amanda Barkey Adrien Beard Jonathan Beckmann Herran Bekele Amanda Bennette Mary Beth Barry Bria Biggs Black Parent Alliance Cameron Broumand Brittany Brown Laurin Brown Kevin Bryant Rasheda Carroll Stan and Susan Cho Kellie Clark Maggie Coleman Nielle Cook Apryl Correa Philip Covitz Ryan Cunning Tina Curry Lorraine Dalessio Sean Daniels Christian Davis Courtney Ebo Los Encinos School A-List Event Staff Alexis Fish Raina Gardiner Jessica Geoffray Joyce George Sharon Greene Rasheea Hall Ashley Harding

Brandon Harrell Charyn Harris Daniel Harvey Kellie Hawkins Davis Derrick Haynes Amy Hayutin Contreras Hamani Henderson Cherie Hines Ibrahim Idakoji Ute Ihnat Tyecha Jackson Sarah Jallo Tempest Johnson Ramon Jones Elizabeth Joseph Helene Julius Jacquelynn Jumpp Sharon Kashfian Peter Kobak Jason Kulathilkarote Rocky Lang Geraldine Laybourne Susanna Lovell Kay Madati Christine Mathew David Mawer Andrea Meigs Evelyn Melendez-Payne Rachel Mieszczanski Joelle Montier Priya Nambiar Marissa Nance Marie Neddermeyer Elise Neugebauer Donielle Nichols Dayna North Tanya Parrish

PORTERS Kaci Patterson Julia Poirier Kimberly Prepetit Betsy Redelman Diaz Mateo Reyes Andre Riley Shaun Robinson Heidi Rojas Robyn Roth Mia Sanders Kristina Sawyer Kara Sax Elizabeth Shahbazi Ben Shprits Johnathan Skabowski Chase Skye Realty Group Kathryn Smith Ball Gil Smith II Melanie Spring

Lodie Spurlock Martinique Starnes Louis Sterling Chris Teran Ermias Tessema Shalyn Tharayil Tina Torni Cassie Tran Maggie Turner Ashley Varakalayil Karen Walker Jeremy Weinstein Tracy Wells Malinda Williams Stella Wilson Joel Zadak Jennifer Zhao

Click to hear from an Axis Student Intern

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TEAM AXIS COLLETTE BOWERS ZINN, J.D., M.Ed. Founder, Executive Director

PATRICIA GILLES Chief of Staff

ANNIKA IHNAT Director of Communications

CHUCK NEDDERMEYER Director of Programs and Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accountability

KIKI WALKER Director of Operations

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PARTNER SCHOOLS

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BOARD OF DI KAWANNA BROWN Chief Operating Officer Magic Johnson Enterprises

RASHEDA CARROLL Assistant Head of School Westland School

NOAH FRANCIS Executive Director & Banker J.P. Morgan Los Angeles Private Bank

YC (YANGCHEN) LAMA Executive Director of Wealth Management Morgan Stanley

MAI LASSITER Board Member Clara Lionel Foundation

CHERIE MATTHEWS - BOARD CHAIR Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Capital Group

IRECTORS 91%

JOHN MCMICHAEL Vice President & Banker

of the Axis Board of Directors identify as people of color

J.P. Morgan Los Angeles Private Bank

HUEY MERCHANT Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist Penny Lane Centers, Child and Family Guidance Center

AARON MIESZCZANSKI Consultant, Education and Social Impact Practice Spencer Stuart

ANDREW SMITH LEWIS - BOARD VICE CHAIR Founder & CEO ASL Industries

SAMANTHA VINCENT President One Race Films 20

ADVISORY B ART BECERRA-FRAIJO

LAURA KONIGSBER

Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Head of School

Toledo Development, LLC

Turning Point School

HERRAN BEKELE

GERALDINE B. LAYB

News Producer &

Co-Founder

Communications Consultant

DAY ONE Early Learnin

JEREMIAH ERBY

JASON LUKOSE

Strategic Partner Lead

Professional Developme

Google

Curriculum Associates

KELLIE HAWKINS DAVIS

GRAY LUSK

Partner

Founding Partner

EKA

SoLa Impact

JANINE JONES Assistant Head of School for Community and Belonging Harvard-Westlake School

EMMANUEL MIDY Manager, Media & Ente Roku

BOARD

RG

LALAT PATTANAIK Co-Founder & Managing Partner PH Robb Legacy Alliance

BOURNE

ng Community

ent Consultant

DEANN SPELL Legal Strategist

EKONG UDOEKWERE Partner TroyGould PC

FARAH VELASQUEZ Capital Strategy Associate Mission Driven Finance

rtainment Performance

79% of Axis Advisory Board Members identify as people of color

Bridging the gap between people of color and independent schools Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this report.

Please report any errors or omissions to info@privateschoolaxis.org.

Private School Axis 4238 Sawtelle Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90066 (310) 729-9139 privateschoolaxis.org info@privateschoolaxis.org