Breathe for Change
Breathe for Change is an online education company that delivers an accredited M.S.Ed. degree and a Human Intelligence Certification to K-12 educators, using its proprietary five-layer Human Intelligence Framework to address educator burnout and student SEL outcomes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Breathe for Change does
Breathe for Change is a private education technology company founded in 2015 by Dr. Ilana Nankin and Michael Fenchel, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company designs and delivers online professional development programs for K-12 educators built around its proprietary five-layer Human Intelligence Framework (covering cognitive, emotional, somatic, relational, and universal dimensions). Its core offerings are a fully accredited Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Transformative Teaching and Learning, delivered in partnership with William Jewell College (HLC-accredited), priced at $14,790–$20,520 across 12- to 22-month tracks; and a 13-week standalone Human Intelligence Certification priced at $999, with optional graduate-level professional development credits available through the University of the Pacific at $75/credit.
The company's platform combines asynchronous online coursework with live cohort-based sessions delivered via Zoom and a community layer hosted on Mighty Networks (the Educator Collective). Technology is not the company's core differentiator—rather, the trademarked Human Intelligence Framework, an integrated curriculum spanning 200+ strategies, a 20,000+ alumni community in all 50 U.S. states, and ESSA Level II & III evidence validation constitute its primary value drivers. The product portfolio is reinforced by a free resource library, the "A Work of Heart" podcast, and TeacherCon, an annual free three-day online conference serving as the primary top-of-funnel acquisition event.
Breathe for Change operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model with two primary revenue streams: tuition for the Master's degree (FAFSA-eligible, cohort-based with defined start dates) and the certification (one-time or installment). Distribution is exclusively online through breatheforchange.com with inside-sales support from Educator Development Counselors, supplemented by district-level partnerships where schools or districts fund educator participation through professional development stipends. The company has 11-50 employees, acquired Yoga Ed. in 2023 (bringing Julia Bond on as Chief Growth Officer), and is led by co-CEOs alongside a C-suite including a Chief AI Officer, Chief Product Officer, and Dean of Student Affairs.
Breathe for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Breathe for Change
- Legal name
- Breathe for Change, Inc.
- Website
- https://breatheforchange.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Breathe for Change is an online education company that delivers an accredited M.S.Ed. degree and a Human Intelligence Certification to K-12 educators, using its proprietary five-layer Human Intelligence Framework to address educator burnout and student SEL outcomes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Breathe for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educator Professional Development
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.) (EDAHALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)
Keywords
Where Breathe for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Breathe for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Master's Degree Tuition: The company's primary revenue stream is tuition for the William Jewell College M.S.Ed. in Transformative Teaching and Learning, offered in partnership with Breathe for Change. The program is priced at $14,790 for the 16-22 month track (cohort-based) and $20,520 for the 12-month accelerated track. FAFSA-eligible, with scholarships and payment plans available.
- Human Intelligence Certification Tuition: One-time payment or installment plan for the 13-week online Human Intelligence Certification. Base price is $999 (reduced from $1,100 with the Educator Scholarship). Optional graduate-level PD credits available through University of the Pacific at $75/credit for 15 credits ($1,125 additional).
- Graduate-Level PD Credits: Educators can add 15 Graduate-Level Professional Development Semester Credits through the University of the Pacific ($75/credit), which can be applied toward salary advancement. This is an optional upsell add-on to the core certification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 12-Month Master's Track — $20,520 |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 16-22 Month Master's Track — $14,790 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Human Intelligence Certification — $999 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Graduate-Level PD Credits (Optional Add-on) — $75/credit |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Breathe for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Breathe for Change sells two primary online programs for K-12 educators built on its proprietary Human Intelligence Framework: (1) an accredited Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Transformative Teaching and Learning, delivered in partnership with William Jewell College (30 credits, 12–22 months, tuition $14,790–$20,520), and (2) a standalone 13-week Human Intelligence Certification (HuQ) priced at $999 with an optional 15 graduate-level PD credits add-on through University of the Pacific. The company also generates community engagement through a free resource library, the A Work of Heart podcast, an annual TeacherCon conference, and the Educator Collective alumni community on Mighty Networks.
Product overview
Breathe for Change is an education technology and professional development company offering two primary programs built on its proprietary Human Intelligence Framework: a Master's of Education (M.S.Ed.) in partnership with William Jewell College that awards 30 graduate credits and includes the Human Intelligence Certification over 12–24 months; and a standalone 13-week Human Intelligence Certification with an optional 15 graduate-level credits add-on. Both programs are delivered entirely online and share the same five-layer Human Intelligence Framework (cognitive, emotional, somatic, relational, and universal) as their pedagogical backbone. Supporting the programs are a free Resource Library of articles, podcasts, and webinars, the A Work of Heart podcast series, TeacherCon (a free annual online conference), and the Educator Collective alumni community on Mighty Networks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Transformative Teaching and Learning A fully accredited online master's degree for K-12 educators seeking career advancement, salary scale increases, and transformation through the Human Intelligence Framework. Delivered in partnership with William Jewell College. Two cohort-based tracks (12-month accelerated and 16–22 month self-paced), 100% online, FAFSA-eligible, with scholarships and payment plans available.
- Human Intelligence Certification (HuQ) A 13-week online professional certification program that trains educators, counselors, leaders, and parents in the proprietary five-layer Human Intelligence Framework. Includes a bonus Edupreneurship 101 course and an optional add-on of 15 graduate-level PD credits through University of the Pacific that are eligible for salary advancement. Buyers receive lifetime access to the curriculum and Teacher's Lounge alumni community.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8% reduction in chronic student absenteeism among students taught by Breathe for Change-trained educators (meets ESSA Level II & III for Moderate and Promising Evidence)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Breathe for Change
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Breathe for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Breathe for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- William Jewell CollegeflagshipBreathe for Change partners with William Jewell College, a private college founded in 1849 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, to deliver the M.S.Ed. in Transformative Teaching and Learning. William Jewell College confers the degree; Breathe for Change designs and delivers the curriculum. This is the flagship academic partnership enabling the accredited master's degree offering. The college is nationally ranked for academic rigor, overall value, low student debt, and alumni outcomes.
- University of the PacificcoreUniversity of the Pacific provides 15 Graduate-Level Professional Development Semester Credits that Breathe for Change certification graduates can purchase ($75/credit) for salary advancement. This partnership enables educators to convert their Human Intelligence Certification into accredited graduate credits recognized for pay-scale progression.
- Yoga Ed.coreYoga Ed. was acquired by Breathe for Change in 2023. Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Julia Bond previously served as CEO of Yoga Ed. before the acquisition. The combined entity broadened Breathe for Change's reach in wellness and yoga-based professional development for educators.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Breathe for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BetterLesson: Online professional development and coaching platform for K-12 educators. Comparable in delivering cohort-based teacher PD with district partnership channels, though broader in topic than Breathe for Change.
- Edthena: Video-based coaching and PD platform for teachers with district adoption. Comparable as a teacher-facing PD tool sold through school and district channels, complementary rather than overlapping in modality.
- Move This World: A K-12 SEL curriculum and professional development provider offering video-based SEL tools and PD for educators. Highly comparable to Breathe for Change in targeting teacher SEL training with district deployment.
- Aperture Education: Provides SEL assessments and educator professional development for K-12 schools. Directly comparable as a PD-and-assessment vendor competing for district SEL budgets alongside Breathe for Change.
- Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): Academic-anchored SEL framework with educator training and school-wide implementation. Comparable to Breathe for Change as a research-backed SEL training provider for K-12 educators and districts.
Broad incumbents
- ClassDojo: Widely adopted classroom communication and SEL platform used in most U.S. K-12 schools. Comparable as a SEL/wellness-adjacent platform serving teachers and districts, though broader in scope and free for schools.
- 2U: Online program manager for university graduate degrees, including M.Ed. offerings. Comparable as a partner-of-record model for delivering accredited online graduate programs, similar to Breathe for Change's William Jewell arrangement.
- Western Governors University: Large-scale competency-based online university with M.Ed. programs serving working teachers. Comparable as an online, tuition-efficient M.Ed. provider for K-12 educators nationwide.
- National University: Online-focused nonprofit university offering accredited M.Ed. and teacher credentialing programs. Comparable as a provider of fully online graduate education for working educators at scale.
Emerging players
- Hone (now Continuum): Live online professional development platform for adult learners across corporate and education segments. Comparable as an emerging live-cohort PD platform; one Breathe for Change team member previously worked there.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Breathe for Change social profiles
Digital presenceBreathe for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Breathe for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Breathe for Change subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Breathe for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Breathe for Change 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 Breathe for Change
What does Breathe for Change do?
Breathe for Change sells two primary online programs for K-12 educators built on its proprietary Human Intelligence Framework: (1) an accredited Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Transformative Teaching and Learning, delivered in partnership with William Jewell College (30 credits, 12–22 months, tuition $14,790–$20,520), and (2) a standalone 13-week Human Intelligence Certification (HuQ) priced at $999 with an optional 15 graduate-level PD credits add-on through University of the Pacific. The company also generates community engagement through a free resource library, the A Work of Heart podcast, an annual TeacherCon conference, and the Educator Collective alumni community on Mighty Networks.
Is Breathe for Change a public or private company?
Breathe for Change is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Breathe for Change founded?
Breathe for Change was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Breathe for Change based?
Breathe for Change is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Breathe for Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Master's Degree Tuition is the primary driver. The others are human Intelligence Certification Tuition and graduate-Level PD Credits.
Who are Breathe for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BetterLesson, Edthena, Move This World, Aperture Education and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER). Broad incumbents are ClassDojo, 2U, Western Governors University and National University. Hone (now Continuum) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Breathe for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Breathe for Change.
What industry is Breathe for Change in?
Breathe for Change's product category is Educator Professional Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHALAG, Online Teacher Education Universities (Licensure & M.Ed.), with a secondary code of EDAAAEAL, Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.