the heart of our mission
Alongside students, our teacher-mentors counter disadvantages, close gaps, and remove obstacles that heighten vulnerability to the harmful consequences of starting life with significant deterrents and limited opportunities to achieve upward economic mobility and to develop into leaders.
Grounded in Elevate USA’s 40-year+ model that anchors all efforts in mentoring relationships, our education nonprofit focuses on teaching and mentoring our city’s most vulnerable youth by living out this mission:
Building long-term, life-changing relationships with Indianapolis urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community.
five distinct elements of the elevate model
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With our holistic approach to well-being, students build on strengths and abilities and integrate character qualities and life skills as they engage in life-on-life mentoring, state-accredited in-school classes, college and career readiness, sports and adventure experiences, and family engagement.
Not limited to the academic year, activities after school, on weekends, during breaks, and throughout the summer center on intensive experiences impossible to provide in classrooms during the school day that strengthen relational bonds, fortify student growth, and celebrate hard work and achieved goals.
working in tandem
Interwoven in our model, these distinct elements come together with our core beliefs to build a strong foundation for a broad range of targeted programming that meets students where they are and fosters self-discovery that leads to the best version of themselves, shifting their life trajectory toward a thriving future.
our core beliefs
Striving to fulfill our desire for all students to be seen, known, heard, and loved and believing wholeheartedly that life-on-life mentoring transforms lives and revitalizes communities, these core values shape our goals, inform our strategies, and frame our every move:
Core Belief 1
Every child is of great worth and has the desire and potential to succeed.
Core Belief 2
Long-term, 24/7 relationships with caring adults have proven positive outcomes in the lives of our urban youth.
Core Belief 3
A holistic approach is essential for a strong, healthy future for our youth.
Core Belief 4
Full-time, salaried teacher-mentors who come from similar backgrounds as the students can have a positive influence and make all the difference.
Core Belief 5
Servant leadership, creating a culture of selflessness and service, is the foundation for leadership.
Core Belief 6
Every person has intrinsic dignity, and we act accordingly.
Core Belief 7
Collaboration yields the best long-term results, acknowledging that the complex work in our urban centers cannot be done single-handedly.
what’s your part?
Discover your fit in our work that enables students to reach their full potential and to thrive for a lifetime.
founding partners
With the generous financial support of community partners – individuals, families, corporations, and foundations – from 2015 - 2017, we launched Elevate Indianapolis at our first partner high school, Arsenal Tech. We express gratitude to each of the partners listed below for this crucial investment in our organization that now serves 1,400+ students at nine partner schools.
Frequently asked questions
Elevate Indianapolis is entirely supported by state grants, individual, church and corporate donations and foundations.
You can make a donation to Elevate by either mailing a check directly to Elevate Indianapolis to our mailing address (P.O. Box 441456, Indianapolis, IN 46204), or by giving here online or identifying one of many other ways to support like through a Donor Advised Fund, Stock Donation or consider including Elevate as a future Planned Gift.
Your child is able to sign up for Elevate if they are a current student in our of our partner high schools, or, if a middle school student, by joining Dream Alive, our middle school partner.
We encourage you to sign up for a site visit at one of our partner schools or contact us directly at Info@elevateindy.org.
Elevate Indy serves student from 3rd-12th grade, plus our alumni, either through direct programming or through our collaborations in the community.
Elevate Indy proudly serves students with I.P.S. High Schools George Washington, Arsenal Tech and Shortridge, and our Purdue Poly High School-Englewood.
An in-kind donation is a non-cash gift of goods, services, time, or expertise to a nonprofit organization. In-kind donations can come from individuals, businesses, or other nonprofits.