Annual Report – Surge Institute

Ambitious and unrelenting.

FUELED FORWARD FOR OUR PEOPLE

The Surge mission is ambitious and unrelenting. We will tear down oppressive systems and build a better future for our kids and communities. This is not in question. The work of 2022 has been the continued manifestation of many of the ideas visualized in our Surge Ahead Strategic Plan, and we’re excited to share our progress.

Welcome to the Surge Report.

Surge-Annual-Report-2022-Section3-Background

SURGING AHEAD… IN THREE NOT-SO-EASY STEPS

We are developing, elevating, and uniting more than 5,000 leaders of color by 2030, catalyzing their growth, and providing the tools and connection necessary for us to wreck the nonsense we see and create the space we need.

IGNITE

We are fueling the expanding vision and efforts of those leaders, binding them tighter as a collective of visionaries, growing their knowledge of what it takes to influence change, and providing the ongoing support it takes to move mountains.

FUEL

Finally, we are influencing systemic change, connecting with forward-thinking leaders and allies to build collective efforts that shift policies and practices in institutions and organizations to create equitable spaces for all.

TRANSFORM

A quick refresher on what we mean when we talk about our multi-year strategy.

READING SUCCESS IN THE NUMBERS

Surge Alumni work with and lead organizations that collectively serve more than 3 million students across the United States.

In early 2022 we surveyed our growing network of Surge Alumni across the nation to see how their Surge experience has shaped their service as leaders. The overwhelming majority of respondents continue to say Surge is ‘Far Exceeding’ expectations.

visionary.

HEARING THE VOICES OF CHANGE AGENTS

D. Nigel

“Because of Surge, I now see a bigger vision. Find a greater purpose. Exert a stronger will. Share a truer story. Create a needed change.”

- D. Nigel Green
2017 Alum

In early 2022 we surveyed our growing network of Surge Alumni across the nation to see how their Surge experience has shaped their service as leaders. These are some of the things they said.

authentic.

Cheryl

“I expected Surge to be more of a professional endeavor. I never expected it to be a space where I reflected on my past professional and personal experiences and understand how that has shaped me as a leader. For the first time, I saw kind, confident, authentic female leaders, and that is what I aspire to be.”

- Cheryl Flores
2019 Alum

leader.

Zakir

“Community and relationships with other like-minded leaders is wildly important for my mental wellness as a leader.”

- Zakir McKenzie-Parpia
2019 Alum

“We live in a time, now more than ever, where living and being our purpose can save generations of lives. It is with this understanding of the Surge experience and the context of our world that I am deeply grateful for our Surge community.”

- Ana Martinez Shropshire
Partner, Charter School Growth Fund
Surge Board Member & 2015 Alum

purpose.

Surge continues to reach boldly for the goal of 5,000 Leaders of Color by 2030 as we expand to new cities and continue our commitment to serving our current ones.

Igniting National Growth

2022 saw Surge in more markets than ever before:

• Chicago
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City
• Las Vegas

• Oakland
• Philadelphia
• Washington D.C.

In 2023 we will see more new cities and exciting new programming that will allow us to serve leaders at a national level.

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

HEARING THE VOICES OF CHANGE AGENTS

We are grateful to all of our institutional and individual donors who have supported us financially, making all we accomplished in 2022 possible. This work does not happen without the choice you’ve made to invest in systemic change.

Michael Simonton & Natania Crane
Renaat & Susanna Ver Eecke
Doyoung Yong & Jason Strahan
Steven & Elizabeth Young Family

Innovare Social Innovation Partners
Douglas Jaffe
Miranda Family Fund
The Mitchell Family Charitable Fund
Mark & Rebecca Oline

Anonymous
Michelle Bess
Darryl & Angela Cobb
Margarita Florez Vasconcelos
Matthew Harms

Sara Pedersen
The Pritzker Traubert Foundation
Sandra Rush
Carmita & George Semaan
Kim Vinh

$1-$999 GIVERS

Anonymous

Erica Bauer
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Becca Bracy
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Thomas Burnette
Connie Casson

Tiffany & Karibu Nyaggah
William Collins
The Dan & Merrie Boone Foundation
Susan Ellis
Fitch Ratings, Inc
Ada Gomero
Kevin & Susan Hall

Akeshia & Jeff Howell
Marene Jennings
Bianca Lorenz
Anonymous
Nicole Montiel Carey
Natalie Neris
Michele Rogers

Paula A. Sneed & Lawrence P. Bass

Donor List

25,000 - 100,000

3,000 - 24,999

1,000 - 2,999

Deborah Minor Harvey
Frances Homans
Akeshia & Jeff Howell
Charlotte Jenkins
Shenita Johnson
April Knox
Khadeejah Lasuc-Lewis
Grisel Maldonado
Kyra Marcano
Ana Martinez Shropshire
Lydia Mercer
Arthur Mills IV
Beth Napleton
Natalie Neris
Jordan Owens
Chris Paicely
Edgar Palacios
Kali Patrice
Amanda Paz
Jawann Pollard
Crystal Reed
Ashley Richardson Leonard
Jahna Riley

Heather Anichini & Brennan Young
Ben Arendt
Stephanie Arias
Andres Avila
Cecilia-Ananya Belser-Patton
Bradley Bernatek
Michelle Bess
Anonymous
Thomas Burnette
Dirrick Butler
Jonathan Chaparro
William Collins
Laura & Todd Cooper
Suzanne Ehlers
Alejandro Espinoza Olazaba
Sylvia Flowers
Maura Gray
D. Nigel Green
Vernee Green
Matthew Harms
Erica Harris
Vincent Harris
Lee Hart & Lisa Dush

Sandra Rush
Nina Sanchez
Miles Sandler
Carmita Semaan
Marcy Shugert
Aijeron Simmons
Michael Simonton & Natania Crane
Tyfahra Singleton
Rodney Thomas
Carlos A. Trejo
Ashlie Tyler
Lisa Vahey
Willow Walker
Anthony Watson
Tiara Wheatley
Lakecia Whimper
Eric Wilkinson
Myra Winding
Sam Wong
Susan Wong
Steven & Elizabeth Young Family

IMPACT COMMUNITY

Amanda Aiken
Doctoral Resident

Susan Garcia Jones
Program Director,
Surge Academy

Autumn Bryant
Alumni Program
Manager

Angia Kincey
Program Manager,
Black Principals Network

Ameenah Muhammad
National Operations
Coordinator

Chase LeBrun
Executive Assistant

Janaia Nash
Chief Program Officer

Kevin Oneale
National Operations
Coordinator

Kelsey Scott
National Operations
Coordinator

Milka Ramirez
Director of National
Programs

Alicia Spurlark
National Operations
Manager

In the past year, the Surge movement has grown not just in who we serve, but in who does the serving. We’ve added several new team members, all elevating the impact and reach of this mission. With the growth of our team, we are equipped to lead the Surge Ahead.

SUSTAINING AMIDST AN EVOLUTION

NEW WAYS TO SERVE THE MOVEMENT

“I believe the Black Principals Network is a community where you can obtain knowledge, resources, healing, and empowerment,” TaraShaun said. “There, you experience a transformative space that helps bolster you to transform the educational experience of the community you serve. I am excited for the work ahead.”

In 2022 Surge relaunched the Black Principals Network, whose mission is to co-create a restorative community for Black principals through collective and individual programming focused on self-care, sustainability, and liberation through collective problem-solving, self-discovery and access to high-quality resources. TaraShaun Cain, who is both a member of the Black Principals Network and a 2020 alum of the Surge Institute’s Fellowship program, has joined the Surge team as Executive Director of the Black Principals Network.

TaraShaun Cain

ELEVATING ALUMNI IMPACT

“I chose Surge to continue my lifelong mission of making an impact in my community and beyond,” Tiara said. “I want my experience with the Surge Institute to be a story I can tell students that no one can do it alone— sometimes you’re the teacher, sometimes you’re the student.”

Serving our Surge Alumni elevated to a new level in 2022.
As Vice President of Alumni Impact, 2020 Surge Alum Tiara Wheatley will be responsible for developing the strategy and ensuring the successful execution and measurement of Surge Alumni programming.

Tiara Wheatley

STAFF

BOARD

The Surge Institute is committed to continued financial transparency and accuracy. We value and appreciate all funds received and strive to be excellent stewards of those funds in every way.

FUNDING AN EQUITABLE FUTURE

here’s to the future

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“Revolutions and movements don’t happen alone, and they don’t come without sacrifice. What are you willing to sacrifice for the revolution you seek?”

— Carmita Semaan
Founder & CEO
Surge Institute

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