Basta

Year Founded: 2016

Basta’s program model works to enhance the social capital of young people, with an emphasis on first-generation college students of color. The organization’s programs, products, and services achieves this by enhancing students’ networks, preparing young people for the particularities of the contemporary job market, and confronting inequitable hiring practices. By addressing not only student preparedness but also employer behaviors, Basta takes a systems-level approach on both the supply and demand sides while also partnering with intermediaries such as higher-ed and nonprofit organizations working with young people.

As a first-mover, Basta is one of a handful of organizations with demonstrable results in the field. Thanks to their scaling engine “Powered By Basta”, 5000+ job seekers have experienced Basta career readiness programming. Through their direct service program, the “Basta Fellowship”, nearly 80 percent of participants are securing career pathway employment upon college graduation with over 90 percent being retained or promoted after one year and alumni rising through the ranks at the companies like Bloomberg, Accenture, AlphaSights and BNY Mellon.