North Bay Business Journal

SAN RAFAEL — 10,000 Degrees, a San Rafael-based nonprofit that helps low-income students through college, today said it won up to $100,000 in financial and consulting awards in the Social Impact Exchange’s 2012 National Business Plan Competition in New York City.

The organization, which provides financial, technical and personal support to those students seeking a college degree, won the final round out of three finalists in the “early-stage growth” category. The company plans to expand services from 2,500 students a year now to 10,000 by the end of 2015 and 20,000 by 2020.

Formerly known as the Marin Education Fund, 10,000 Degrees (415-459-4240, www.10000degrees.org) has operated for 30 years in Marin and recently expanded to Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties. The organization has helped more than 17,000 students earn a college degree since  starting 1981 via an approach that begins with early-age college exposure.

The Social Impact Exchange includes the Growth Philanthropy Network and Duke University’s Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society.