Get Lit - Words Ignite
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses spoken word poetry, film, and music curricula to improve literacy and creative skills for teens and young adults, primarily through LAUSD school partnerships, the Uni(verse) digital platform, and performance programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Get Lit - Words Ignite does
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles that fuses classic and spoken word poetry to increase teen literacy through in-school curricula, performance programs, and digital platforms. Its core products include Uni(verse), an interactive EdTech poetry platform enabling students to write, revise, score, and publish digital portfolios; Voices in Verse, one of only 11 LAUSD-approved Ethnic Studies curricula that is UC-approved and Common Core aligned; and the Get Lit Players, an award-winning youth performance troupe that has performed at the United Nations, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, the White House, and Sundance, and accumulated over 300 million video views. Supporting programs include Film Lab, Summer Intensives (Poetry & Performance and Film & Content), the Creative Career Lab (a year-long workforce development program for young adults 18–28 funded by California GO-Biz), Classic Slam (an annual youth spoken word competition entering its 15th year), Poetic Convergence, and the 'If I Awaken in Los Angeles' multi-media production, contest, and spoken word album.
The organization generates revenue primarily through foundation grants and corporate donations from a diversified base including NBA Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, California Community Foundation, VF Foundation/Vans, Hearst Foundation, NEA, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, supplemented by tiered individual donations and limited program fees from tuition-based Summer Intensives priced at $4,500 per session with scholarships available. Go-to-market combines community-led distribution (school partnerships in LAUSD, teacher networks, the annual Classic Slam competition) with a product-led motion through Uni(verse), which is free for schools and students, available as an LMS cartridge, and positioned for national and global scaling. Since 2006, the organization reports that over 100,000 youth have graduated from its in-school program, with documented outcomes including a 27% average reading-level increase in a 2016 cohort and a 60%+ improvement in credit completion rates for 142 students during the 2018–19 school year. Get Lit is governed by a Board of Directors and a young-professionals board ('Free Verse'), with founder Diane Luby Lane serving as Executive Director; it holds a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and has earned a Library of Congress Literacy Award (2023), Charity Navigator 4-star, Guidestar Seal of Transparency, and Great Nonprofits 5-star rating.
Get Lit - Words Ignite firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Get Lit - Words Ignite
- Legal name
- Get Lit - Words Ignite Inc.
- Website
- https://getlit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Get Lit - Words Ignite is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses spoken word poetry, film, and music curricula to improve literacy and creative skills for teens and young adults, primarily through LAUSD school partnerships, the Uni(verse) digital platform, and performance programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Get Lit - Words Ignite industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Literacy & Arts Education Programs
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spoken Word & Performance Poetry Workshops (EDAMAMAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Poetry Workshops (EDAMAMAB), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), OER Authoring, Remixing & Publishing Tools/Platforms (EDAGAJAM)
Keywords
Where Get Lit - Words Ignite is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Get Lit - Words Ignite business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Get Lit operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Primary revenue comes from individual donations, corporate donations (through Amazon Smile, Ralph's Community Rewards, Target Circle), and major donor support (Luminaries program with tiered giving levels).
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Major funding from foundations including NBA Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, California Community Foundation, VF Foundation, Hearst Foundation, and government grants from California GO-Biz and LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
- Program Fees (Summer Intensives): Summer Intensive programs charge tuition ($4,500 per session for Poetry & Performance) with scholarships available for need-based participants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Poetry & Performance Summer Intensive: $4,500 per session with scholarships available |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Film & Content Summer Intensive: tuition-based with scholarships available |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Programs: Film Lab, Poetry Lab, Performance, Screenwriting, Mixtape Masterclass, Drop-In Classes |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Uni(verse) Platform: Free for schools and students |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Creative Career Lab: FREE for eligible young adults 18-28 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels13 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth literacy and spoken word poetry education through the LAUSD-approved Voices in Verse curriculum and the Uni(verse) interactive poetry platform, complemented by the Get Lit Players performance troupe, free Drop-In workshops, Film Lab, Summer Intensives, the Creative Career Lab workforce program, and the annual Classic Slam competition and If I Awaken in Los Angeles multi-media production and contest.
Product overview
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization offering a multi-product portfolio centered on youth spoken word poetry education and creative workforce development. The core offerings include: Uni(verse), an interactive poetry platform for global learning and digital portfolio creation; the Voices in Verse curriculum, an LAUSD-approved ethnic studies program; and the Get Lit Players youth performance troupe. Supporting programs include Film Lab, Summer Intensives (Filmmaking, Poetry & Performance, Film & Content), the Creative Career Lab workforce training program, Classic Slam annual competition, Poetic Convergence event, Mixtape Masterclass, and Drop-In workshops. The If I Awaken in Los Angeles initiative encompasses a multi-media production, spoken word album, and citywide poetry contest. Products are distributed through schools, online platforms, and live events across Los Angeles County.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Uni(verse) Platform The world's first educational interactive poetry platform for global learning and virtual feedback. Enables students to write, revise, score, and publish their writing, creating online digital poetry portfolios. Includes over 50 video lessons per course, a library of over 250 classic and contemporary poems, and hundreds of Get Lit Minute podcasts; available as an LMS cartridge for school integration and free for schools and students.
- Voices in Verse Curriculum LAUSD-approved, standards-aligned ethnic studies curriculum and one of only 11 ethnic studies curricula approved by LAUSD. Spoken word poetry-based lessons that are UC-approved and Common Core aligned, featuring hundreds of peer-led video lessons by BIPOC artists, designed for middle and high school classrooms.
- Get Lit Players Performance Troupe Award-winning youth performance troupe of poets ages 13-19 who have performed at the United Nations, Hollywood Bowl, The Ford, Lincoln Center, and the White House. Available for booking at corporate events, schools, and public events; over 300 million video views online.
- If I Awaken in Los Angeles Multi-media production blending Spoken Word, music, dance, and video telling the story of Los Angeles communities, paired with a citywide poetry contest for students and teachers offering over $40,000 in cash prizes, including People's Choice, Judges', and Teacher awards.
- Film Lab Free 12-week program for young creatives ages 12-20 teaching filmmaking for film and television, beginning with poetry as inspiration. Offers courses in screenwriting and production with 1:1 mentoring from industry professionals, access to equipment during office hours, and invites to special events and workshops.
- Summer Intensives Professional-level in-person training programs for students ages 13-18 in Filmmaking and Poetry & Performance. Programs include Poetry Lab (4-week), Film & Content (4-week), and Performance (12-week) courses hosted at Los Angeles Center Studios and the Granada Building, with scholarships available.
- Creative Career Lab Year-long professional development program for young adults ages 18-28 preparing for careers in creative and nonprofit sectors, providing workshops, mentoring, certifications, and job placement support. Free for eligible participants meeting criteria including being first-generation college students, from foster care, from formerly incarcerated families, or qualifying income levels.
- Poetic Convergence One-day convening of teachers, student leaders, arts champions, and poets for creating and sustaining poetic communities inside Los Angeles county schools and their neighborhoods, featuring interactive workshops, keynotes, and youth-led town halls.
- Get Lit Anthology Collection of poetry works published by Get Lit participants and alumni.
Quantifiable outcome
- 27% average increase in reading level during a single academic year (2016 cohort)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Get Lit - Words Ignite
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability1 record
Feature2 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UCLA Nimoy Theater / CAP UCLAcorePartnership with UCLA Nimoy Theater and CAP UCLA for 'A Certain Kind of Fire' showcase event featuring Get Lit's emerging artists alongside acclaimed performers.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 826 National: 826 National is a network of youth writing and tutoring centers offering in-school and after-school creative writing programs for K-12 students. It is the closest direct peer to Get Lit's literacy-through-creative-writing model, with comparable in-school curricula, teacher resources, and a national chapter structure.
- Youth Speaks: Youth Speaks is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that pioneered the spoken word poetry education model and created the Brave New Voices international youth poetry slam. It is the foundational direct peer to Get Lit's spoken word / performance poetry focus, with overlapping pedagogy and slam competition formats.
- Brave New Voices: Brave New Voices is the international youth poetry slam festival and network created by Youth Speaks. It is a direct peer event ecosystem that competes for the same spoken word poetry audience and high school participants as Get Lit's Classic Slam.
- Urban Word NYC: Urban Word NYC is a New York-based nonprofit running youth spoken word poetry workshops, slams, and literary programs in schools. It is a direct peer in the spoken word pedagogy and school-partnership model.
- 826LA: 826LA is the Los Angeles chapter of the 826 National network, running writing workshops and tutoring for youth. It is a direct regional peer that competes with Get Lit for LAUSD partners, volunteers, and donor attention.
Regional players
- WriteGirl: WriteGirl is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit mentoring teen girls in creative writing and literary arts. It is a regional peer with a highly similar LA geography, youth writing focus, and mentor-driven workshop model.
- Young Storytellers: Young Storytellers is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that uses mentorship and storytelling/screenwriting to develop youth voice. It overlaps with Get Lit's Creative Career Lab and Film Lab on the LA-based screenwriting/creative production pathway.
- Community Literature Initiative: Community Literature Initiative (CLI) is a Los Angeles nonprofit that brings published authors into classrooms for literary arts residencies. It is a regional peer on LAUSD cultural-literacy programming and author-in-residence delivery.
Broad incumbents
- First Book: First Book is a large national nonprofit providing books and educational resources to programs serving children in need. It is a broad incumbent peer in the youth literacy space, with overlapping funder universe but a much larger and more book-distribution-focused model.
Emerging players
- NoRedInk: NoRedInk is an EdTech writing instruction platform used widely in K-12 schools. It is an emerging player in adjacent territory — a digital writing curriculum at scale — and represents the kind of general EdTech competitor that could pressure Uni(verse)'s differentiated positioning over time.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Get Lit - Words Ignite social profiles
Digital presenceGet Lit - Words Ignite compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Get Lit - Words Ignite leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Get Lit - Words Ignite funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Get Lit - Words Ignite M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Get Lit - Words Ignite
What does Get Lit - Words Ignite do?
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers youth literacy and spoken word poetry education through the LAUSD-approved Voices in Verse curriculum and the Uni(verse) interactive poetry platform, complemented by the Get Lit Players performance troupe, free Drop-In workshops, Film Lab, Summer Intensives, the Creative Career Lab workforce program, and the annual Classic Slam competition and If I Awaken in Los Angeles multi-media production and contest.
Is Get Lit - Words Ignite a public or private company?
Get Lit - Words Ignite is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Get Lit - Words Ignite founded?
Get Lit - Words Ignite was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Get Lit - Words Ignite based?
Get Lit - Words Ignite is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Get Lit - Words Ignite make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants and program Fees (Summer Intensives).
Who are Get Lit - Words Ignite's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 826 National, Youth Speaks, Brave New Voices, Urban Word NYC and 826LA. Regional players are WriteGirl, Young Storytellers and Community Literature Initiative. First Book is listed as a broad incumbent. NoRedInk is listed as an emerging player.
Does Get Lit - Words Ignite have an API?
No public API is recorded for Get Lit - Words Ignite.
What industry is Get Lit - Words Ignite in?
Get Lit - Words Ignite's product category is Literacy & Arts Education Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAMAM, Spoken Word & Performance Poetry Workshops, with a secondary code of EDAMAMAB, Poetry Workshops. Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 2731.