Greetings,

Our young people are our greatest natural resource. With the support of Summer Search, they reach their full potential and become our next generation of leaders. We are eager to serve more young people, and I’m honored to be leading Summer Search’s next phase of growth and impact.

We’re looking forward to a dynamic year ahead with a full senior leadership team, a new financial structure, and the development of an exciting strategic plan. Most importantly, we will welcome more than 500 new sophomores to our program and serve 3,700 high school and college students and 3,400 alumni across the network this year.

Thank you for your warm welcome and your support of Summer Search and the young people we serve. We couldn’t do this incredibly necessary work without you.

Marc Spencer

Dr. Marc Spencer, CEO

We have helped 6,616 young people soar!

Our 2017 high school graduates received 1,882 College Acceptances and earned more than $7M in financial aid and scholarships.

91% of Summer Searchers are first-generation college students.

69% earn a bachelor’s degree.

Our students spent their summers on life-changing wilderness, community service, academic, and internship experiences all over the world. On their journeys, Summer Searchers:

Hiked 28,300 miles | Paddled 14,990 miles | Climbed 29,215 feet | Completed 24,753 hours of service and 10,610 hours of study

We are delighted to have alumni leadership on each of our boards, on our staff, on committees, and as volunteers throughout our program.

FACES OF SUMMER SEARCH

“Anyone who’s willing to invest in themselves can succeed in this world, and taking part in a program like Summer Search is a one way ticket to self-improvement. I feel transformed, as if one better human was made in the state of Wyoming over the summer. But growth never ends. Now the tools have been given to me.”
—Kevin, Summer Search student

High school students Elsy Sanchez (pictured), Manuel Quesada Nylen, and alumna Judith Garcia were featured in The Boston Globe.

College student Chentese Stewart is traveling the world and making an impact wherever she goes.

Alumna Ebonee Davis gave a passionate TED Talk on “Black Girl Magic” in the fashion industry.

Alumnus Saúl Guzman rode 545 miles for a cause close to his heart.

Alumna Jessie Holtz had a full-circle experience leading an all-Summer-Search wilderness trip with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

STAFF

In 2017, our program staff mentored and engaged with students for more than 25,000 hours.

We welcomed three new Executive Directors: Melanie Lyons in Seattle, Sylvia Watts McKinney in Philadelphia, and alumna Hermese Velasquez in Boston.

Joni Bissell, our Bay Area College Support Specialist, shared her expertise with US News & World Report about the competitive college landscape in California.

We’re thankful for our Summer Search staff who are dedicated to supporting our students.

SUPPORTERS

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we raised nearly $19M in 2017.

Alumni giving reached record-level highs, both in dollars and participation, with nearly 400 alumni contributing $167,500.

BlackRock invests in Summer Search leaders by hosting career readiness workshops.

Young professionals are stepping up for Summer Search as volunteers, supporters, and more.

YMI & YWI support college access services for the young men and women in our NYC high school program.

LIST OF DONORS

We rely on our generous individual donors and institutional partners to support our mission and help us scale our efforts to reach more students.

This list recognizes each donor's generous financial and in-kind support during/for fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017), which made all these Summer Search highlights possible. Click the levels below to expand the list.

KEY: Alumni or Student * | Board ~ | Deceased ^ | Staff +

▼ Undisclosed Amount ▲ LESS

Undisclosed Amount

Dana and Robert Emery~

▼ $100,000+▲ LESS

$100,000+

▼ $50,000-99,999 ▲ LESS

$50,000-99,999

▼ $25,000-49,999 ▲ LESS

$25,000-49,999

▼ $10,000-24,999 ▲ LESS

$10,000-24,999

▼ $5,000-9,999 ▲ LESS

$5,000-9,999

▼ $2,500-4,999 ▲ LESS

$2,500-4,999

▼ $1,000-2,499 ▲ LESS

$1,000-2,499

▼ Up to $999 ▲ LESS

Up to $999

▼ In-Kind Donors ▲ LESS

In-Kind Donors

BOARDS

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We are fortunate to have the collective expertise, wisdom and guidance of the exceptional people who serve on our national and five regional Boards of Directors and Alumni Boards of Directors.

NATIONAL

2017 REGIONAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

BAY AREA BOSTON NEW YORK CITY PHILADELPHIA SEATTLE

2017 ALUMNI BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

BAY AREA BOSTON NEW YORK CITY SEATTLE

FINANCES

Revenue, Gains (Losses), & Other Support	2017
Individuals	11,367,698
Foundations	4,618,752
Corporations	2,833,566
Total Contributions	18,820,016
Contributed Goods & Services	1,725,375
Investment Income	626,274
Other income (Losses)	(439,992)
Total Revenue, Gains (Losses), & Other Support	20,731,673

Operating Expenses

PROGRAM SERVICES
Summer Program	4,778,135
Mentoring	5,751,524
Staff Training and Development	2,170,546
College Program and Alumni	1,506,709
Total Program Services	14,206,914

SUPPORTING SERVICES
Fundraising	5,061,567
Management & General	2,283,953
Total Supporting Services	7,345,520

Total Expenses	21,552,434

ASSETS
Change in UNR assets	343,004
Change in TR assets	(1,163,765)
Change in PR assets	—
Beginning UNR net assets	6,533,500
Beginning TR net assets	5,668,232
Beginning PR net assets	187,703
Net Assets at Year End	11,568,674

summer search financials

Greetings,

Dr. Marc Spencer, CEO

We have helped 6,616 young people soar!

Our 2017 high school graduates received 1,882 College Acceptances and earned more than $7M in financial aid and scholarships.

Read more

91% of Summer Searchers are first-generation college students.

69% earn a bachelor’s degree.

Our students spent their summers on life-changing wilderness, community service, academic, and internship experiences all over the world. On their journeys, Summer Searchers:Hiked 28,300 miles | Paddled 14,990 miles | Climbed 29,215 feet | Completed 24,753 hours of service and 10,610 hours of study

We are delighted to have alumni leadership on each of our boards, on our staff, on committees, and as volunteers throughout our program.

High school students Elsy Sanchez (pictured), Manuel Quesada Nylen, and alumna Judith Garcia were featured in The Boston Globe.

Read more

College student Chentese Stewart is traveling the world and making an impact wherever she goes.

Read more

Alumna Ebonee Davis gave a passionate TED Talk on “Black Girl Magic” in the fashion industry.

Read more

Alumnus Saúl Guzman rode 545 miles for a cause close to his heart.

Read more

Alumna Jessie Holtz had a full-circle experience leading an all-Summer-Search wilderness trip with Sierra Nevada Journeys.

Read more

In 2017, our program staff mentored and engaged with students for more than 25,000 hours.

Read more

We welcomed three new Executive Directors: Melanie Lyons in Seattle, Sylvia Watts McKinney in Philadelphia, and alumna Hermese Velasquez in Boston.

Joni Bissell, our Bay Area College Support Specialist, shared her expertise with US News & World Report about the competitive college landscape in California.

Read more

We’re thankful for our Summer Search staff who are dedicated to supporting our students.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we raised nearly $19M in 2017.

Alumni giving reached record-level highs, both in dollars and participation, with nearly 400 alumni contributing $167,500.

BlackRock invests in Summer Search leaders by hosting career readiness workshops.

Read more

Young professionals are stepping up for Summer Search as volunteers, supporters, and more.

Read more

YMI & YWI support college access services for the young men and women in our NYC high school program.

Read more

LIST OF DONORS

KEY: Alumni or Student * | Board ~ | Deceased ^ | Staff +

Undisclosed Amount

$100,000+

$50,000-99,999

$25,000-49,999

$10,000-24,999

$5,000-9,999

$2,500-4,999

$1,000-2,499

Up to $999

In-Kind Donors

2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2017 REGIONAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

2017 ALUMNI BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

helping young people soar.

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