What The Mind Trust does

The Mind Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization founded in 2006 in Indianapolis by David Harris and former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson after Harris won Harvard University's Innovations in American Government Award and raised $73 million to launch innovative schools. The organization invests in public education by supporting the launch of public charter schools and IPS Innovation Network Schools, training school leaders through multi-year fellowships (Emerging Leaders, Indiana Charter School, North Star, School Launch, and Education Entrepreneur Fellowships), operating summer enrichment programs (Indy Summer Learning Labs expanded statewide to 117 sites in 36 cities), and managing statewide tutoring (Indiana Learns, a partnership with the Indiana Department of Education serving 25,000+ students).

Its core service offering is a portfolio of interconnected programs spanning the full lifecycle of education innovation: leader development and school creation, ongoing student academic support, and family/community engagement. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its platform capabilities are limited to the Enroll Indy OneMatch unified enrollment system and program-management infrastructure for statewide initiatives. Revenue derives from philanthropic donations (cumulative $134M+ since 2006 from national and local donors including Lilly Endowment and Glick Philanthropies) and government grants/partnerships, primarily through the Indiana Department of Education.

The Mind Trust serves four primary stakeholder groups: K-12 families and students in Indianapolis and Indiana, educators and school leaders, community organizations and civic leaders, and state policymakers. Since 2006, the organization has supported the launch of more than 50 schools serving 22,000+ students at full scale, placed over 1,800 teachers across 100+ schools, trained 65+ school leaders through fellowships, and expanded its fellowship model to Connecticut, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Cumulative impact metrics documented by Stanford CREDO and Brown University include 64 additional days of reading learning and 116 additional days of math learning for Indianapolis charter students relative to traditional district peers.

Name

The Mind Trust

Legal name

The Mind Trust

Website

https://themindtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mind Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that supports the launch of public charter and innovation schools in Indianapolis, trains school leaders through fellowships, and manages statewide tutoring and summer learning programs serving Indiana students, educators, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Education nonprofit services
• Charter school incubation
• Teacher fellowships
• Summer learning programs
• School-community grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Mind Trust raises funds from national and local donors to support public education initiatives. Since 2006, the organization has raised more than $134 million from various donors including foundations, corporations, and individual philanthropists. Donor support enables the launch of schools, community investments, and fellowship programs.
2. Government Grants and Partnerships: The organization partners with government entities including the Indiana Department of Education to manage statewide programs like Indiana Learns and Summer Learning Labs. These partnerships involve grant funding to administer educational programs across Indiana.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Mind Trust is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that invests in public education by funding, training, and supporting the launch of high-quality charter and Innovation Network Schools in Indianapolis. It operates fellowship programs for educators and school leaders, runs summer academic enrichment programs, manages a statewide tutoring initiative (Indiana Learns), and administers community partnership grants (SCPIs) and literacy awards. Core offerings are delivered as services, fellowships, and grant programs rather than as commercial products.

Product overview

The Mind Trust operates as a nonprofit education organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on expanding access to high-quality public education in Indianapolis, across Indiana, and nationally. Core offerings include school launch fellowships (Emerging Leaders Fellowship, Indiana Charter School Fellowship, North Star Fellowship, School Launch Fellowship, Education Entrepreneur Fellowship) that train education leaders to develop schools and education nonprofits; summer academic enrichment programs (Indy Summer Learning Labs now expanded statewide as Summer Learning Labs); tutoring programs (Indiana Learns); and community partnership investments (SCPIs). The organization also supports Enroll Indy, a unified school enrollment platform. These programs work together to support the full lifecycle of education innovation—from leader development and school creation to ongoing student academic support and family engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enroll Indy: Indianapolis unified enrollment system that helps families connect to high-quality school options
• Indiana Learns
• Summer Learning Labs
• Indy Summer Learning Labs
• Go Farther Literacy Fund

Products and services

• Indy Summer Learning Labs Five-week, free or low-cost summer academic enrichment program for incoming 1st through 9th grade students at numerous community-based sites across Marion County, Indiana. Includes daily math and reading instruction from licensed teachers plus enrichment activities.
• Indiana Learns Statewide tutoring program in math and reading for eligible Hoosier students, managed in partnership with the Indiana Department of Education since summer 2022. Has provided over 25,000 students with 280,000+ hours of tutoring.
• Emerging Leaders Fellowship Three-year fellowship for educators eager to expand their impact on Indianapolis students. Includes $30,000 stipend, national cohort trips, coaching, and development. Designed for roles like Director of Special Education, Assistant Principal, or Dean of Culture.
• Indiana Charter School Fellowship Fellowship for high-performing charter and innovation school network leaders to grow or replicate existing charter school networks. Fellows receive personalized coaching, resources, and training with ongoing support after school launch.
• North Star Fellowship One or two-year fellowship for exceptional school leaders to develop and launch new public charter schools in Connecticut. Managed in partnership with Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD).
• School Launch Fellowship Fellowship providing established charter school networks with time and resources to grow their school network. Supported growth of Global Preparatory Academy, Purdue Polytechnic High School, Girls IN STEM Academy, and others.
• Education Entrepreneur Fellowship Fellowship providing one to two years of training, support, and resources to leaders to found education nonprofit organizations. Fellows have founded Enroll Indy, EmpowerED Families, and Teach Plus.
• Enroll Indy Streamlined public school enrollment platform for Indianapolis families providing one-stop enrollment process, easy-to-understand information about every school, and data on school improvement initiatives.
• Go Farther Literacy Fund Program that funds solutions to build critical literacy skills for students in Center Township. Awards range from $150 to $5,000 and can be awarded to individual families or nonprofit organizations.
• School-Community Partnership Investments (SCPIs) Awards that empower community organizations to partner with schools in creating programs that expand educational opportunities for Indianapolis students and families. Over $2.2 million awarded since 2019.
• Charter and Innovation Network Schools Support Support for the launch of high-quality public charter schools and IPS Innovation Network Schools in Indianapolis. Has supported launch of more than 50 schools serving over 22,000 students when at full scale.
• Ready for CSP New Mexico One-year fellowship and support program for charter leaders expanding or replicating high-quality public charter schools in New Mexico, in partnership with Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.
• South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship One-year program supporting leaders committed to expanding access to high-quality public education in South Carolina, in partnership with South Carolina Children's Fund and University of South Carolina College of Education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students in Indianapolis charter schools make 64 more days of learning in reading and 116 more days in math compared to traditional district peers (Stanford CREDO 2022)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Creating Avenues for Student Transformation (CAST)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Anchor partner for Southeast SLL, serving nearly 200 students across 6 sites in 4 cities (Campbellsburg, Hanover, Salem, New Pekin).
• Wabash County YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Anchor partner for Wabash SLL, serving approximately 40 students in North Manchester at 1 site.
• Brown University Annenberg InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Research partner for study on Indiana charter school performance during pandemic recovery. Study found Indiana charter students achieved greater learning gains than traditional district peers.
• Leaders for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to manage the North Star Fellowship in Connecticut, supporting the growth of high-quality charter schools. The Mind Trust provides program design, training, and support expertise.
• Public Charter Schools of New MexicominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for Ready for CSP New Mexico fellowship program, supporting charter leaders applying for or building on federal Charter Schools Program funding.
• South Carolina Children's FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to launch South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship, supporting leaders expanding access to high-quality public education in South Carolina.
• University of South Carolina College of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic partner for South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship program, providing educational expertise and institutional support.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana CorridorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Anchor partner for Summer Learning Labs statewide, operating BGC SLL at 50 sites across 29 cities, serving nearly 6,000 students statewide with academic and enrichment programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of IndianapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in The Expanded Classroom report on out-of-school time learning. Supports Summer Learning Labs and community engagement initiatives.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in The Expanded Classroom report and Summer Learning Labs expansion to northern Indiana.
• Indiana Afterschool NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner in The Expanded Classroom report on integrating out-of-school time programs with traditional school day.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of IndianapolisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SCPI award recipient ($30,000 in 2023) to support Power Hour after school tutoring at all Boys & Girls Clubs sites in Indianapolis.
• La Plaza, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SCPI award recipient ($30,000 in 2023) to support Tu Futuro program and Summer Discovery for Latino youth and families.
• Indiana Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership to manage Indiana Learns, a statewide math and reading tutoring grant program, and to expand Summer Learning Labs statewide to multiple regions. By 2026, Indiana Learns has provided over 25,000 students with 280,000+ hours of tutoring.
• Stanford University Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partner conducting studies on Indianapolis charter and innovation school performance. Published 2018 and 2022 studies showing significant learning gains for students in autonomous schools.
• United Way of Central IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership to launch Indy Summer Learning Labs in 2021, providing five weeks of free or low-cost academic and enrichment programming during summer months for students in Marion County.
• UNCF (United Negro College Fund)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Community partner organization working to build college access and success for students.
• Edna Martin Christian CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019SCPI award recipient ($20,000 in 2019) to build internal capacity and enhance after-school programming in Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood in partnership with KIPP Indy Public Schools.
• Stand for ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Education advocacy organization. The Mind Trust connects families with opportunities to take action on education issues.
• EmpowerED FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Founded through The Mind Trust's Education Entrepreneur Fellowship. Builds family power through relationships to advocate for equitable education. Partners on family engagement initiatives.
• Enroll IndycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Founded through Education Entrepreneur Fellowship in 2015. Operates OneMatch unified enrollment system for IPS and charter schools. Majority of schools within IPS boundaries participate.
• Indianapolis Mayor's Office of Education InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Long-standing partner for school authorization and innovation. The Mayor's Office oversees more than 40 schools serving about 18,000 students. Partners on Innovation Network Schools and school launches.
• Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to develop and launch Innovation Network Schools within IPS. 42% of IPS students attend an Innovation Network School as of 2024-2025. Joint work on the Educator Empowerment Awards program.
• Teach For AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Recruited to Indianapolis to grow the pool of talented educators available for Indianapolis schools. Part of broader talent pipeline strategy that has placed over 1,800 teachers.
• TNTP (The New Teacher Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Indianapolis Teaching Fellows program recruited to prepare exceptional talent for Indianapolis schools. Creates teacher pipeline alongside Teach For America.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Robin Hood Foundation: A large, established poverty-fighting philanthropy with a significant education portfolio in NYC. Comparable as a similarly structured education-focused funder and ecosystem builder that uses evidence-based philanthropy to improve schools for low-income students.
• KIPP Foundation: A national nonprofit network operating a large portfolio of public charter schools. Comparable as a charter operator that Mind Trust has incubated locally (KIPP Indy), and as a broader-incumbent counterparty in Mind Trust's portfolio strategy—KIPP is an operator, Mind Trust is a school-launch funder and policy advocate.

Others

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: A national youth-development nonprofit that operates out-of-school-time programming and serves as Mind Trust's anchor partner for statewide Summer Learning Labs. Comparable as a youth-serving nonprofit that delivers programming through local affiliates in the communities Mind Trust targets.

Direct peers

• TNTP (The New Teacher Project): A national nonprofit focused on developing teachers and school leaders, particularly in high-need schools. Comparable to Mind Trust as a peer/partner in the educator pipeline (Indianapolis Teaching Fellows) and in school-turnaround and talent work.
• 50CAN: A national education advocacy nonprofit that trains and supports local leaders to push for policy change in their states. Comparable to The Mind Trust on the policy/advocacy axis and on building state-level education reform capacity.
• Teach For America: A national teacher-recruitment and leadership-development nonprofit. Comparable as a partner/peer in building the educator talent pipeline; Teach For America's Indianapolis presence was recruited by Mind Trust starting in 2008, and both organizations pursue parallel talent and alumni-leadership strategies.
• CityBridge: A philanthropy-focused nonprofit that supports innovative schools and education entrepreneurs in select cities. Directly comparable as a city-focused education philanthropy with fellowship and incubation programming similar in structure to The Mind Trust.
• NewSchools Venture Fund: A venture philanthropy fund focused on funding and supporting education entrepreneurs and innovative public schools. Directly comparable in mission—incubating and scaling high-impact schools and education ventures—and in the mix of grant-making, fellowships, and ecosystem building that mirrors The Mind Trust.
• Charter School Growth Fund: A nonprofit that identifies, supports, and scales the highest-performing charter school networks. Directly comparable to The Mind Trust because both provide growth capital, operating support, and capacity-building to charter and innovation networks.
• National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: The leading national nonprofit advocating for public charter schools through research, policy, and communications. Comparable in mission, policy advocacy role, and research-driven charter school performance benchmarking that underpins Mind Trust's outcome narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheMindTrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCS8Na7eJNjmBOkgGf3wdQ0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMindTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mind-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/themindtrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments22 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Mind Trust