BUILD

BUILD.org is a national non-profit organization that uses entrepreneurship to empower high school students in under-resourced communities. Founded in 1999 by Suzanne McKechnie Klahr in East Palo Alto, California, the organization was inspired by a chance encounter with four high school students who wanted to start a business but were at risk of dropping out. Klahr, a Stanford Law School graduate, offered to mentor them on the condition they remained in school, a partnership that led to their graduation and successful careers, and formed the foundation of BUILD.

The organization's core model involves students launching and running their own real businesses, providing them with hands-on experience in business planning, pitching to funders, and marketing. This project-based learning is designed to develop key "Spark Skills" such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and grit. BUILD partners with schools to integrate its curriculum, which includes ready-to-go lesson plans and educator guidebooks, into the school day, often as part of Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways. The program serves high school students, primarily in grades 9-12, and offers various models, including a multi-year comprehensive program, standalone classes, and digital challenges. The organization operates through a non-profit business model, relying on funding from foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, corporate partnerships, and individual donations to provide its programs for free to students and schools.

Since its inception, BUILD has expanded its reach significantly. After establishing its flagship program in the Bay Area, it launched in Boston in 2011, New York in 2016, and now operates in several major cities including Los Angeles, Metro DC, and Pittsburgh. The organization has served tens of thousands of students through both in-school and digital programming. In 2020, BUILD launched the "BUILDing Gen E" (Generation Entrepreneur) campaign to further scale its impact through digital acceleration and geographic expansion, with a vision to make entrepreneurship education a staple in every American high school.

Keywords: youth entrepreneurship, high school education, non-profit, under-resourced communities, skills development, project-based learning, career readiness, mentorship, educational equity, student businesses, social impact, college preparation, workforce development, financial literacy, 21st-century skills, community programs, youth empowerment, educational non-profit, hands-on learning, CEO of your own life.