Braven DFW works at the intersection of higher education, workforce readiness, and economic mobility to help college students successfully transition from college into strong first jobs. Through partnerships with universities, employers, and community leaders, Braven DFW helps students build the skills, confidence, networks, and experiences needed to navigate professional spaces and launch long-term careers.
We focus on what we call the "last mile," the gap between earning a degree and successfully launching into a career. By closing that gap, Braven DFW is helping strengthen pathways to opportunity for students while supporting the future workforce and economic vitality of North Texas.
UNT is Braven's first university partner in Texas. Together, UNT and Braven are helping students build the skills and experiences needed to thrive after graduation, starting with a small pilot and already grown to 175 Fellows in our second semester, with plans to reach 1,000 Fellows a year by 2030.
Braven’s mission is to equip promising college students with the skills, networks, confidence, and experience necessary to transition from college to strong economic opportunities, which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact.
Dallas-Fort Worth is home to talented, ambitious students who are already doing the hard work of earning a college degree. Many of the students building their futures at UNT are the same students who grew up in Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County communities, students who want to build careers, leadership pathways, and long-term futures here in North Texas.
What's uneven isn't ability, it's access. North Texas has built strong systems to help students get into college, but the "last mile," the space between earning a degree and launching a strong first job, still depends on networks, exposure, and confidence that aren't explicitly taught in the classroom. At the same time, DFW is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the country, and local employers consistently talk about the need for strong local talent. That's the opportunity Braven DFW exists to meet.
Braven DFW started with a small pilot and has already grown to 175 Fellows in our second semester, on the way to reaching 1,000 Fellows a year by 2030. Every Fellow brings real talent and drive to the table; what Braven adds alongside UNT is the coaching, mentor network, and career preparation that turns that potential into a strong first job.
Your gift on North Texas Giving Day helps Braven DFW grow to meet this moment, so more capable, driven North Texas students get the skills, networks, confidence, and experience they need to launch strong first jobs, right here at home.
Organization name
Braven DFW
Causes
Education - Higher Ed
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Denton
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
2904 Floyd St