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NAVIGATE THE MAZE TO ACHIEVEMENT INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 811566527 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Small ($100K-$1M) · navigatethemaze.org
revenue
$290K
expenses
$294K
net assets
$15K
employees
0
program ratio
11%
mission · from form 990

NAVIGATE THE MAZE TO ACHIEVEMENT PREPARES HIGH-ACHIEVING MINORITY STUDENTS IN NEW YORK CITY TO GAIN EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AND GRADUATE FROM THE CITY S BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Navigate the Maze to Achievement prepares high-achieving Black and Latino students in New York City for admission to and success in the city's most competitive public high schools and colleges. Through rigorous academic preparation, mentorship, and holistic support, the organization addresses systemic inequities in access to specialized schools. Programs span from seventh grade through college, focusing on SHSAT and SAT preparation, high school admissions counseling, and career readiness.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Accelerated Learning Program
Year-round academic preparation program for 7th and 8th graders focused on SHSAT readiness through spring, summer, and fall instruction in math, ELA, and essay writing.
College Access Program
Guides students through college admissions with SAT preparation, individualized counseling, financial aid navigation, and HBCU exposure tours.
College Success Program
Supports college students with academic tutoring, transfer counseling, post-graduate preparation, career workshops, and paid tutoring opportunities.
High School Admissions Counseling
One-on-one counseling to help students explore, match with, and apply to selective high schools aligned with their academic and personal goals.
High School Success Program
Ongoing academic, mentorship, and leadership support for students in high-performing high schools, including tutoring, AP course guidance, and peer mentorship.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • College Access and Success Support 3 activities
    • Graduate and professional school preparation
      Supports college students and alumni with test preparation and application guidance for graduate-level exams including the LSAT, MCAT, and GRE, as well as transfer applications and academic planning.
    • High school and college transition support
      Provides structured counseling and workshops to guide students through high school admissions, college applications, financial aid, and transfer processes. Includes SAT preparation starting in ninth grade, essay guidance, FAFSA workshops, and organized visits to HBCUs with tailored application support.
    • Long-term student support from middle school through college
      Offers comprehensive academic, social-emotional, and mentorship support to students from seventh grade through college completion, serving over 270 students annually. Includes one-on-one tutoring, academic advising, leadership development, and peer support networks to promote persistence and success.
  • High School Placement Support 1 activity
    • Academic preparation and mentorship for specialized high school admissions
      Provides accelerated academic instruction, tutoring, and mentorship to Black and Latino middle school students preparing for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), including weekly Saturday sessions, a five-week summer program, and full-length practice exams. The program recruits seventh graders through a nomination process and supports them with individualized assessments and high school exploration workshops.
  • Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
    • Career and leadership development programming
      Hosts workshops, speaker series, and project-based learning opportunities focused on career exploration, leadership development, and professional skills. Includes internships, enrichment programs, and group initiatives that build problem-solving and teamwork abilities.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Community-building and student independence initiatives
      Organizes weekly “Fun Fridays” involving public transportation trips to recreational sites to build students’ confidence and independence in navigating New York City, alongside mindfulness classes and volunteer projects.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Paid student employment and peer mentorship programs
      Offers paid tutoring and classroom assistant roles to high school students, fostering leadership and responsibility. Operates a Big Brother/Big Sister program pairing incoming high school students with older peers and encourages volunteer teaching projects to strengthen community ties.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement for program support
      Recruits and engages volunteers to provide mentorship, academic assistance, and operational support to students in the program.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$290K
Contributions & grants$290K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$294K
Program expenses11%
Admin / overhead89%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$192K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$18K
Cash$18K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$15K
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +301.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ALLISON SHILLINGFORD DIRECTOR 40 $55K
board members · 4
  • LOUIS BROWN — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARLIN REYES — BOARD MEMBER
  • TERRIANN KUSTER — BOARD MEMBER
  • TREVOR MWINDSOR — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 30

Who they work with

  • AIB Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • AMS Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Arbor-Rising Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • BCM Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • BK Links Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • BNY Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • BPL Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Black and Latino alumni of specialized high schools Partner — Recruited to serve as mentors for academically gifted students in the program.
  • Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Hosted Navigate the Maze to Achievement's initial program at the Macon Branch.
  • Con Ed Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • DBNA Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • EGF Accelerator Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Heckscher Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Ichigo Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Introducing IF Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Kenny Tan - The Tan Family Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • M.S 935 Brooklyn Partner — Partner school where Navigate the Maze to Achievement supported students in gaining admission to selective high schools.
  • NSVF Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • NYC Connect Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Nanar And Anthony Yoseloff Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Navigate college students Partner — College students participate as tutors and in leadership roles such as social media coordination.
  • New York City Department of Design and Construction Partner — Hosts site visits for Navigate students to support career and academic exposure.
  • RLF Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Ronald S. Lauder Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • SYNYC Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • The Jordan Family Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Timothy and Michele Barakett Foundation Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • Wellmet Funder — Donor supporting Navigate's educational program
  • trusted college counseling organizations Partner — Collaborates with external college counseling organizations to deliver college access services including essay guidance and application support.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Culturally Relevant Mentorship and Community Engagement
    methodology: culturally_relevant_mentorship
    By engaging Black and Latino alumni as mentors and requiring family participation, we strengthen student identity and accountability because culturally resonant role models and family partnerships reinforce commitment and belonging.
  • Equity-Focused Academic Preparation
    methodology: accelerated learning for equity
    By delivering accelerated academic instruction and test preparation to high-achieving Black and Latino students who lack access in their schools, we close achievement gaps because equitable access to rigorous curriculum enables competitive success in elite educational pathways.
  • Holistic Student Development Model
    methodology: holistic_student_support
    By integrating academic preparation with mentorship, social-emotional learning, and career exposure, we produce greater student resilience and long-term success because addressing multiple dimensions of development removes systemic barriers and fosters identity-affirming growth.
  • Identity-Affirming College and Career Pathways
    methodology: identity-affirming college exposure
    By combining experiential college exposure with partnerships for internships and employment, we help students envision and achieve futures aligned with their identities because seeing oneself in a possible future drives motivation and long-term planning.
  • Long-Term, Cohort-Based Student Accompaniment
    methodology: long-term_student_accompaniment
    By providing continuous, long-term support from middle school through college within a cohort model, we produce sustained academic and personal development because consistent relationships and structured progression build resilience and accountability.