From Private Tutoring to Public Impact: Why We’re Closing Boosted Learning to Fully Embrace Boosted Diplomas

Boosted Diplomas
Jun 10
4 min read

Ten years ago, we never could have predicted where this journey would take us.

In 2015, my business partner, Taylor Gurnea, and I ran and operated Boosted Learning with a simple but powerful goal: help students in northern Nevada thrive through high-quality, personalized, in-home tutoring. We started small – one family, one student, one moment of academic success at a time. And thanks to the extraordinary support of our clients, we grew entirely through word-of-mouth. Not a single ad was ever run. Our clients believed in us and passed us along, and in return, we made it our mission to deliver meaningful, one-on-one support that created real change.

That commitment to personal, high-impact support became the foundation for something even bigger.

A Spark Becomes a Mission

Over time, we saw something remarkable unfold. Several of our client families began sponsoring tutoring for students who couldn’t afford our services – often knowing exactly who they were helping and staying closely connected to those students’ journeys. These acts of generosity and relationship became the spark for something greater and had Taylor and myself asking:

What if we built something dedicated solely to serving the youth in our community who are often overlooked – and who need us the most?

That question led to the creation of Boosted Diplomas in 2019, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to provide tutoring, mentorship, and educational advocacy for foster and at-risk youth in northern Nevada. With a focus on continuity and care, Boosted Diplomas was built to go beyond academics. We step into students’ lives wherever they are – in foster homes, group homes, libraries, or treatment centers – and walk alongside them as consistent, compassionate supporters.

This program didn’t just appear overnight. It was nurtured by the roots and resources of Boosted Learning, which remained a powerful force behind the scenes.

Two Paths, One Purpose

From the beginning, Boosted Learning has been a proud financial and operational supporter of Boosted Diplomas. Over 10 percent of all Boosted Learning proceeds directly funded our nonprofit work. Our tutors, platforms, and leadership were shared – united by a common purpose: helping young people thrive.

Thanks to that support, and countless funders, donors, and other stakeholders in our area, Boosted Diplomas has grown steadily and impactfully. Since 2019 we’ve supported over 250 youth. We’ve built strong, trusting partnerships with Washoe County Human Services Agency, Communities in Schools, The Eddy House, Awaken, The RennerVation Foundation, and more. We’ve collaborated with case workers, educators, principals, guardians, and even judges (huge shoutout and thanks to Judge Dollinger for her wonderful support and advocacy of Boosted Diplomas) to remove barriers and ensure continuity of care for some of our community’s most vulnerable youth.

But as our nonprofit grew, so did the need. Today while actively supporting over 90 youth, we still have a waitlist of over 30 students who are ready for support. We have new partnership opportunities we’re eager to deepen. And we have a team that’s ready to give even more – if given the space and focus to do so.

Closing Boosted Learning to Focus on What Comes Next

With all this growth, we’ve reached a pivotal moment.

To meet the needs in front of us and honor the momentum we’ve built, we have made the heartfelt decision to close Boosted Learning and focus entirely on Boosted Diplomas.

This choice is not a departure from our mission – it is a deeper alignment with it. Boosted Learning was the foundation. Boosted Diplomas is the next chapter and it is one we’re stepping into with full clarity and commitment.

This change allows us to:

Fully focus our hiring, systems, and operations on youth in crisis
Expand quickly and remove our current student waitlist
Build out new programming and services for at-risk students
Promote from within, growing a team deeply rooted in our values
Strengthen and streamline the way we deliver impact to our community

Our past support – from clients, donors, partners, and friends – has made all of this possible. Every dollar you’ve contributed to Boosted Diplomas has directly supported our mission, and every hour you’ve given has helped build something truly meaningful. This next step simply lets us do more of what’s already working, and do it even better.

For Our Clients, Students, and Community

To our Boosted Learning families: we’re working closely with other thoughtful and trusted tutoring providers to ensure a smooth transition for your students. We will continue to advocate for your child’s success, even as we shift our work to serve a more targeted population.

To our former students: we’ve seen your growth, your perseverance, and your brilliance. If you’ve graduated and are looking for a way to give back, we’d love to talk. We’re currently hiring new tutors and would be honored to bring you onto our team to provide you with opportunities to give back in the same way that you benefitted from years of support.

To our supporters, funders, and volunteers: you’ve helped bring Boosted Diplomas to life. This next chapter doesn’t replace the work you’ve invested in – it strengthens it. Your contributions have helped us build a platform of care, trust, and success. Now, with our full focus on Boosted Diplomas, we’ll be able to accelerate that impact, deepen our relationships, and serve more youth than ever before.

A Grateful Goodbye and a Bold Future

Closing Boosted Learning after 10 years of growth is bittersweet. It represents the end of a beautiful era – one filled with partnerships, friendships, success stories, and community. But more than anything, it marks the beginning of something even more powerful.

We are now fully dedicated to ensuring every foster and at-risk youth in our community has the academic and emotional support they need from a trusted adult to graduate with confidence and a diploma in hand.

Thank you for walking alongside us. Thank you for believing in our students. And thank you for helping us turn a decade of tutoring into a movement for educational equity and lasting change.

With deep gratitude,