Axis Impact Report 2025-2026

IMPACT

REPORT

C re

2025-2026

g n i at

ed

t

y

ys to a hw t pa

uca

ti o n al e

i u q

TABLE OF

CONTENTS Message From Our Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Our Mission + Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hear From Our Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Decision Day Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Your Impact by the Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Student Success Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Graduating Senior Spotlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5 Year Celebration Glow Up Gala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Financial Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 How to Get Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Thank You to Our Donors + Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Our Partner Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Team, Board + Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

MESSAGE FROM OUR

FOUNDER Dear Axis Community: In our sixth year of operation, Axis is celebrating a historic first: a 100% acceptance rate this admissions season. Every Cohort 5 student has found a school home where they can learn, grow, and thrive.

That achievement is more than just a number—it reflects students who showed up with courage, families who trusted the process, Partner Schools committed to equity, volunteers who gave generously, donors who invested in this mission, and a community that continues to believe in the transformative power of education.

This report is proof of what is possible when our community invests in our youth. In these pages, you’ll see students stepping into new opportunities, families creating generational change, and a movement for educational equity continuing to grow.

When I founded Axis in 2020, the vision was never simply about helping students gain admission to independent schools. It was about ensuring students and families of color have the ongoing support and advocacy they need to truly thrive.

That vision feels even more urgent today. As we raise young people in a rapidly changing world—shaped by artificial intelligence, shifting educational landscapes, and ongoing challenges to equity—our responsibility is not only to help students access opportunity, but to prepare them to navigate, shape, and lead the future ahead.

To our Partner Schools, volunteers, donors, community partners, and all who have walked alongside us: thank you. Your belief in our students expands what they can imagine for themselves and what becomes possible for generations to come.

In community,

Collette Bowers Zinn Founder + Executive Director

OUR

MISSION Private School Axis partners with Los Angeles area independent schools to create pathways for underrepresented students and families of color to access, navigate, and thrive in private education.

OUR

SERVICES Deep, Individualized Assessment + Planning Axis conducts in-depth one-on-one sessions with each family to understand their child’s learning style, social-emotional needs, and family priorities.

Strategic School Matching Axis guides families through the school exploration process across our Partner School network, helping to identify best-fit schools.

Hands-On Admissions + Interview Support Axis provides comprehensive, step-by-step support for applications, interviews, and school communication.

Financial Aid Education + Advocacy Axis delivers individualized financial aid guidance and advocacy, helping families navigate complex applications and secure significant financial assistance.

Decision-Making + Ongoing Support Axis supports families through final school decisions and provides ongoing guidance from enrollment through graduation to ensure long-term success in their new school communities.

HEAR FROM OUR

FAMILIES

Private School Axis’ advocacy breaks down systemic walls to give access to spaces that are normally difficult to navigate for minority families. We felt uplifted every time we attended an event because they reminded us that we are the gift and to keep claiming our space at these schools. They are about helping you build your family’s legacy.

—Cohort 5 Parents

DECISION DAY

HIGHLIGHTS

Click play to watch the lifechanging moments you made possible this Decision Day—as Axis Cohort 5 students and families opened their admissions decisions from our Partner Schools.

YOUR IMPACT

BY THE NUMBERS ADMISSION SUCCESS

COMMUNITY REACH

202 100% of Cohort 5 Students Were Admitted to an Independent School

Students + Families Served to Date Across 5 Cohorts

PERSONALIZED SUPPORT

57+ HOURS of Counseling and Support Per Family

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT + FINANCIAL AID

$8K 57 Axis Investment Per Student + Family

$34K Average Financial Aid Received by Cohort 5 Families

STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES KAIRÖS’ STORY “Kairös is loving first grade and all the new things he is learning. He really loves his teachers and is enjoying science and math a lot.

He’s been very excited about having homework! He enjoys reading and he did a Star of the Week presentation that went really well. He loved sharing about himself, all the things he loves, and more about his life.

He also participated in his first science fair project with two other boys and they had a blast. He just mentioned today that he wants to join Junior Shark Tank after school to get into engineering.

He absolutely loves school.”

—Keena F., Axis Parent

NIA’S STORY ”Nia has shown tremendous academic and personal growth at her new school, particularly in her ability to advocate for herself and take responsibility for her learning. When she finds herself struggling, she has the confidence to address it immediately with her teachers to get the guidance she needs to be able to adjust and rise to the occasion.

I am so grateful that she has the opportunity to learn in an environment that fosters academic excellence in non-traditional ways that encourage curiosity, inquisitiveness, and a lifelong love of learning, while also emphasizing the importance of being a thoughtful and compassionate human being.

She loves particpating in school events, the annual camping trip at El Capitan, and playing on the volleyball team. It has been a joy watching her develop friendships with children from other cultures and backgrounds.”

—Naimah H., Axis Parent

GRADUATING SENIOR

SPOTLIGHTS We are proud to celebrate our graduating Axis seniors in the Class of 2026.

Their journeys are a testament to what is possible when talented young students are met with opportunity, support, and a community that believes in them. As scholars, mentors, and leaders, they are already shaping our collective future— and we can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Miles, Crossroads School ‘26 A member of Axis’ Founding Cohort, Miles is the first Axis student to matriculate to college—a milestone moment for our entire community. He earned admission to Crossroads School through the Axis Student Placement Program in 2021, and will be heading to the University of Tennessee this fall. Miles is also a member of the USA Swimming National Junior Team.

Maniya, Marlborough School ‘26 Maniya has been a member of the Axis Student Leadership Program since 2023. She is the President of the Marlborough Black Student Union and a board member of Violets’ Giving Circle, a student-run charitable giving fund at Marlborough.

She will be attending University of Southern California (USC) in the fall.

Sarai, Wildwood School ‘26 Axis Student Leader Sarai will be attending California Lutheran University, where she plans to double major in Psychology and Spanish. In her time at Wildwood School, she served as a student ambassador, played indoor and beach volleyball, and was a member of the BIPOC Affinity Group.

Charlotte, Sequoyah School ‘26 Axis Student Leader Charlotte will be attending Mount Holyoke College, where she plans to major in Critical Race and Political Economy with a concentration in Journalism, Media, and Public Discourse.

Dashiell, Harvard-Westlake School ‘26 A member of the Axis Student Leadership Program since 2023 and recipient of the prestigious Posse Scholarship, Dashiell will be attending Middlebury College in the fall. He plans to major in Sociology with a double minor in Education/Film and Cinema Studies.

While at Harvard-Westlake, Dashiell was a varsity athlete on the track & field team and served as a Black Student Union Leader.

5 YEAR CELEBRATION

GLOW UP GALA The Axis 5 Year Celebration Glow Up Gala was held on October 11, 2025 at Gravitas in Beverly Hills. Over 200 guests came together for a vibrant evening of art, music, food, and community to celebrate the transformational impact of equity in education.

The evening was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Kevin Frazier and featured Founder’s Remarks by Axis Founder + Executive Director Collette Bowers Zinn. The 2025 Reveta Bowers Legacy Award was presented to Dr. Jon Carroll, Founder + Head of School of Jabali Academy.

Guests also heard from Axis Cohort 4 parents Jovian and George Peters; Axis Student Leader alum Zoha Pattanaik; and Axis Board Member and Managing Director of Apheta, Lalat Pattanaik. The event raised critical funds to support the mission of Axis—to create pathways to educational equity for underrepresented students and families of color.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY The 2025 fiscal year was one of both resilience and responsibility for Axis. Across the nonprofit sector, equity-focused organizations faced an increasingly challenging fundraising landscape shaped by political shifts, economic uncertainty, and changing philanthropic priorities. Despite these challenges, our community continued to show up, reaffirming a shared belief that talented students and families deserve access to educational opportunities.

Through the generosity of individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, and school sponsors, Axis raised $523,523 during the 2025 fiscal year. Strong support surrounding our gala served as both a critical source of funding and a powerful reminder of the community invested in our mission.

As fundraising conditions grew more unpredictable, Axis remained committed to careful stewardship while continuing to provide the individualized guidance, advocacy, and support our families rely on.

To every donor, volunteer, Partner School, and supporter: thank you for helping make opportunity possible for families across Los Angeles.

WHERE EACH DOLLAR GOES 51¢ Programs

34¢

Admin

15¢

Fundraising

HOW TO

GET INVOLVED 1 DONATE Your investment provides high-touch, personalized counseling, unlocks significant financial aid for our families, and creates generational change by opening doors to high quality education.

Make a Donation

2 VOLUNTEER We offer many meaningful volunteer opportunities throughout the year that provide a chance to engage with our students and families and make a significant contribution to our mission.

Sign Up to Volunteer

3 MAKE AN INTRODUCTION Know an organization, company, or individual who would be interested in partnering with us or sponsoring our work? We’d love to meet them! Please feel free to contact us and make an introduction.

Get in Touch

THANK YOU TO OUR

DONORS + SPONSORS We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible community whose generosity powered our mission throughout the 2025-2026 year.

Individual donors are not listed to honor donor privacy.

HEAR FROM OUR

PARTNER SCHOOLS

OUR PARTNER

SCHOOLS

TEAM AXIS

Collette Bowers Zinn

Kiki Bryant

Annika Ihnat

Chisa Iwuagwu Lehane

Founder + Executive Director

Director of Operations

Director of Communications

Admissions Associate

BOARD

OF DIRECTORS

Christina Jacke

Cherie Matthews

Huey Merchant

Talent Acquisition Consultant, Capital Group

Board Chair Global HR Leader

Psychiatrist, Penny Lane Centers

Lalat Pattanaik

Andrew Smith Lewis

Clarke Weatherspoon

Managing Partner, Apheta

Board Vice Chair Founder, ASL Industries

Head of School, The Waverly School

EMERITUS

BOARD MEMBERS Mai Lassiter

Kawanna Brown

Board Member, Clara Lionel Foundation

Chief Operating Officer, Magic Johnson Foundation

ADVISORY BOARD

Herran Bekele

Rasheda Carroll

News Producer & Communications Consultant

Assistant Head of School for Equity, Inclusion & Counseling, Westland School

Geraldine B. Laybourne

Jason Lukose

Gray Lusk

John McMichael

Co-Founder, Day One Early Learning Community

Professional Development Consultant, Curriculum Associates

Founding Partner, SoLa Impact

Vice President & Banker, JP Morgan Private Bank Los Angeles

Emmanuel Midy

Aaron Mieszczanski

Deann Spell

Briana Thompson

Manager, Media & Entertainment Performance, Roku

Consultant, Education & Social Impact Practice, Spencer Stuart

Legal Strategist

Influencer & Digital Marketing Agent, CSE

Jeremiah Erby Strategic Partner Lead, Google

Andrew Garcia Associate Director of Programs, Catholic Education Foundation of Los Angeles

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST privateschoolaxis.org info@privateschoolaxis.org

C

4238 Sawtelle Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90066

ed

t

y

s to y a w h t a p g in t a re

uca

ti o n al e

i u q