MentorWorks ISA Funding Economic Impact & Economic Mobility Analysis
Measuring the Impact of MentorWorks’ “Fund and Support†ISA Model
Overview of MentorWorks and Our Impact Report
ABOUT MENTORWORKS
MentorWorks Education Capital, Inc. (MentorWorks) was founded with the mission of developing innovative, student-centric financial products that increase student access to education. These products tie our success to that of our students and support them with social capital which may not otherwise be available to them. This report provides a description of our early investments through income contingent payment contracts or Income Share Agreements (ISAs). MentorWorks is a U.S. Department of the Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that focuses on increasing affordable access to education.
OUR MISSION + SUPPORT PLATFORM
MentorWorks’ mission is demonstrated by our Talent Accelerator Platform (TAP), which provides more than forty hours of foundational career search content through a proprietary digital platform. The platform is supplemented by career events featuring hiring partners and recruiters. The TAP program also uses one-on-one career support, where students engage with our career coaches, as well as a free Financial Literacy course open to anyone.
IN THIS REPORT
This report provides data and analyses on the above initiatives and outcomes. This data bears on how our approach supports traditionally underserved students with student financing, educational access, economic mobility, and career support. We also address questions of whether our ISA pricing and financing costs provide fair treatment and opportunity to individuals from different protected classes, in particular, those of different racial and ethnic groups. The data also analyzes the fair treatment of students on the basis of their sex. Though the TAP is a stand-alone support program, we also provide data on how our TAP is utilized by ISA-recipients to obtain career advice and networking opportunities, thereby accelerating their careers and long-term economic success.
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What Income Share Agreements Are & How It Works at MentorWorksÂ
WHAT IS AN ISA?
ISAs are a flexible alternative to loans. Basically, students pay a percentage of their future income for a set period of time, up to a maximum cap, without accruing interest.
HOW PAYMENT WORKS
- Students do not pay until they find a job and reach the minimum income threshold
- The payments adjust according to levels of the student’s income
- Monthly payments are calculated by applying the income share rate to the total monthly earned income
- ISA obligations can be ended earlier by making early payments as listed in the early payment schedule
Income Share Agreements may be issued by Blue Ridge Bank, N.A.
ISA vs. STUDENT LOAN COMPARISON
| Income Share Agreements   VS.     PLUS/Private Loans | |
| Interest does not accrue or capitalize. | Interest accrues and capitalizes. |
| Your credit score does not affect the terms of your ISA. | Your credit score may affect the terms of your loan and could impact your eligibility. |
| Monthly payments are based on a percentage of your income. | You pay a fixed amount each month, regardless of your income. |
| Payments don’t start until you make above the minimum salary level in your ISA contract. | You make payments, even if you are not making an income. |
| You only make ISA payments within a specific timeframe, usually 5-7 years. After that your obligation is over. | Loan payment term can extend indefinitely until you pay off the principal and interest. |
| You know the maximum amount you’ll pay, no matter what. | Interest is capitalized, so the final payoff amount can increase over the life of the loan if you do not make minimum monthly payments. |
What Makes MentorWorks Different & Why Our Students Succeed
THE MENTORWORKS MISSION
Our mission is to open pathways to education and careers for students and candidates who may not have had the financial or social capital to do it on their own.
MENTORWORKS FUND & SUPPORT MODEL
Which Students We Fund
- College juniors & seniors and Master’s degree / post-graduate students
- Trainees in boot-camp, professional or trade certificate programs
- Aspiring career-changers & experienced professionals facing unemployment
How We Support Job Candidates
- Talent Accelerator Platform (TAP) – comprehensive, personalized job search & career coaching program
- MW Labs Experience – experiential learning opportunities to propose solutions to hiring employers
- Employer Engagement – live virtual events with employers, mentoring sessions and practice interviews
What People Are Saying About MentorWorks and ISAs
ISA + TAP STUDENTS
“Stack Education is an incredible asset in advancing your skillset for the modern economy. And MentorWorks’ Talent Accelerator Platform has provided me with tangible, relevant technical and soft skills that I can use throughout my career as a technology professional.”
– Dawdu Mahama Amantanah
“Through the incredible teaching of the Stack Education team and MentorWorks’ TAP, I was able to not only develop new skills, but I found a career that I can be passionate about.”
– Andrea Walsh
“The Talent Accelerator Platform helped me focus on enhancing my soft skills as well as shifted my views to help me focus on highlighting my personal brand message I wanted to bring to others when building my professional network.”
– Ian Fields
FEATURED EMPLOYERS + GRADUATES
