Partnerships & Philanthropy

The gap is real.
The solution exists.

Nkyinkyim Educational Pathways to Preparedness is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working at the intersection of cultural identity, educational equity, and Black student success at predominantly white institutions. We are looking for partners who are ready to do more than write a check — partners who want to be part of a lasting solution.

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Legal Status
Federally Recognized 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Nkyinkyim Educational Pathways to Preparedness is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Tax-Deductible Contributions · EIN Available Upon Request
4
Program arcs from enrollment to career
100+
Students guided through the college journey
15+
Years of front-line experience at OSU
J.D.
Legal and strategic leadership at the helm
🇬🇭
Fulbright Hays Scholar — Ghana, West Africa
The Case for Investment

The data demands
a different response.

Black students at predominantly white institutions face documented, measurable structural barriers that existing campus programs are not designed — or funded — to address. NEP exists to fill that gap with culturally grounded, evidence-informed programming.

32%
of Black students who entered college defaulted on loans within six years — vs. 13% of white students
Center for American Progress
40%
of Black students at PWIs report significant racial battle fatigue affecting their academic performance
Journal of Black Studies
64%
of Black bachelor's degrees are earned by women — Black men remain critically underrepresented in higher education
AAUW / NCES

"When DEI protections were stripped from Ohio institutions, I didn't wait to see what would happen. I already knew. I had lived those conditions — and I understood exactly what students would face without support. NEP opened its doors not as a reaction. As a fulfillment."

— Kris Y. Coleman, J.D., MBA, MA · Founder & Executive Director
Theory of Change

A clear pathway
from intervention to outcome

NEP's four-arc model provides a comprehensive, sequential intervention that addresses the full continuum of Black student success — from the moment of college acceptance through professional entry. Every arc builds on the last. Nothing is left to chance.

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Pre-Enrollment
Financial literacy, campus evaluation, cost analysis — before the decision is made
🌱
Transitioning
Lineage-based identity grounding, major alignment, PWI adaptability skills
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Retention & Persistence
Counseling, mentorship, real-world tools, and the BDEN professional network
🎯
Professional Entry
Advisor, mentor, sponsor, and trainer relationships — the arc of becoming
The outcome of every arc is the same: an African American student who graduates on time, enters their professional field with confidence, and carries their community's legacy forward. That is the return on your investment.
Who We Partner With

Every sector has
a role to play

NEP builds intentional partnerships across institutional, faith-based, corporate, and philanthropic sectors — each with a distinct entry point and a clear impact pathway.

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Universities & Colleges
Partner with NEP to strengthen Black student retention, reduce equity gaps, and build culturally grounded infrastructure your institution does not currently have. We bring the expertise, the curriculum, and the trust — you bring the institutional will.
What this partnership includes
  • Campus Climate Audits & Equity Scorecards
  • Culturally grounded curriculum co-development
  • Beyond the Degree institutional frameworks
  • Faculty and staff cultural competency consultation
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Foundations & Grantmakers
NEP offers foundations a direct, documented pathway to Black student outcomes. Our model is replicable, measurable, and grounded in research frameworks — Steele, William Smith, Shaun Harper, Vincent Tinto, and Du Bois. We are ready to report against your metrics.
Grant priorities we align with
  • Educational equity and access
  • Black community empowerment
  • First-generation college student success
  • Workforce development and professional pipeline
Black Churches & Community Leaders
The Black church has guided African American communities through every transformation this nation has demanded — from Reconstruction to the present day. The Sankofa Fellowship is built on that foundation. We invite churches to be the covenant partner that grounds our students before they walk into PWI spaces.
What church partnership looks like
  • Host the 6-week Sankofa Fellowship program
  • Connect college-bound youth in your congregation
  • 2026 inaugural cohort — Ohio, Connecticut, Georgia, California
  • Limited spots — first-confirmed partnerships accepted
🏢
Corporations & Law Firms
NEP's pre-law and pre-med pipelines are built on one foundational truth: Black students need Black professionals in the rooms they are trying to enter. Corporate and legal partners provide sponsorship relationships, internship placements, and the professional capital that opens doors. This is pipeline investment with a 4-year lead time.
What corporate partnership includes
  • Named sponsorship of pre-law or pre-med students
  • Internship and shadowing placement partnerships
  • Mentor and sponsor matching through NEP staff
  • Brand alignment with Black student success outcomes
Giving Opportunities

Invest in the work
at your level

Every gift directly funds culturally grounded programming, scholarship access, and the operational infrastructure that makes NEP's work possible. All contributions are tax-deductible under our 501(c)(3) status.

Community
Community Partner
Up to $4,999
  • Recognition on NEP's website and materials
  • Access to NEP impact reports
  • Invitation to NEP community events
  • Tax-deductible contribution letter
Scholar
Scholar Partner
$5,000 – $14,999
  • Named scholarship fund in your honor
  • Quarterly impact reports with student outcomes
  • Recognition in all NEP communications
  • Invitation to annual partner gathering
  • Co-branded partnership materials
Founder
Founding Partner
$50,000+
  • Named arc sponsorship (full program)
  • Co-design of programming within your focus area
  • Seat on NEP's Advisory Council
  • Monthly reporting and direct founder access
  • First rights to replication partnerships
  • Joint press and announcement opportunities

Custom partnership structures are available for institutional funders with specific grantmaking requirements. We welcome the conversation.

Ready to Give?
Your gift changes the trajectory of a life.
Every dollar directly funds scholarships, culturally grounded programming, and the one-on-one guidance that helps Black students navigate, persist, and lead. Contributions are tax-deductible under our 501(c)(3) status.
❤  Make a Gift via PayPal
Secure · Tax-deductible · 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Why NEP. Why Now.

The credentials behind
the work

NEP is not a startup concept. It is the culmination of over 15 years of front-line experience, rigorous scholarship, and lived understanding of what Black students at PWIs actually need.

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Juris Doctorate — Legal Acuity
Kris brings a legal mind to educational advocacy — understanding the policy landscape, institutional obligations, and the systemic structures that shape Black student experiences at PWIs.
📈
MBA — Organizational Strategy
NEP is built with financial discipline, strategic growth planning, and a dual-entity structure — nonprofit mission delivery and IP holding — designed for long-term sustainability and replication.
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M.A. African & African American Studies
The curriculum is not culturally sensitive — it is culturally grounded. Every framework, every module, every tool is rooted in the scholarly tradition of Black intellectual life and the historical context of African American education.
Fulbright Hays Scholar — Ghana
Kris's 2025 field research in Ghana on the Transatlantic Slave Trade deepened the philosophical foundation of NEP's lineage-based identity curriculum — connecting students to a legacy that predates colonization.
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15+ Years at The Ohio State University
Over 15 years on the front lines of Black student success at one of the nation's largest PWIs — building frameworks, guiding students, and learning what institutions can and cannot provide on their own.
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Military service built the discipline, leadership, and systems thinking that structures NEP's programming. Kris understands institutional cultures, navigates complex environments, and brings that skill to every partnership.
Start the Conversation

Let's talk about
what's possible.

Every partnership begins with a conversation. Tell us who you are, what you're working toward, and how you found us — and Kris or a member of the NEP team will respond personally within 3–5 business days.

We welcome foundations, universities, corporations, law firms, churches, community organizations, and individual major donors. No inquiry is too early in the process.

501(c)(3) Status
Nkyinkyim Educational Pathways to Preparedness is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN and documentation available upon request.
All inquiries are reviewed personally by Kris Coleman or a senior member of the NEP team. You will receive a response within 3–5 business days.
Inquiry Received
Thank you for reaching out. Kris and the NEP team will review your inquiry personally and respond within 3–5 business days. We look forward to the conversation.