The Education Foundation of Collier County

What The Education Foundation of Collier County does

The Education Foundation of Collier County, operating as Champions For Learning, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education foundation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Naples, Florida. The organization is the designated education foundation for Collier County under the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and delivers an integrated portfolio of student and educator programs in partnership with Collier County Public Schools. Approximately 15 staff execute a program suite that includes Take Stock in Children (mentoring and scholarships), Pathways to Success (grades 8-12 college and career prep with Foundations and Accelerate tiers), Technical Pathways (dual enrollment aligned with Lorenzo Walker Technical College), the Entrepreneurship Program (via INCubatoredu), College Students support for first-generation college students, and College and Career Access (FAFSA and financial aid). Educator-side programs include Classroom Grants (up to $2,000 per teacher) and the Golden Apple recognition program. Reported impact metrics for the student cohort include a 100% high school graduation rate, a weighted 3.45 average GPA, and a 76% college completion rate versus a 26% national benchmark for first-generation students.

The business model is contribution-based philanthropy rather than fee-for-service: all student and educator programs are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries. Revenue is raised across multiple streams — individual donations (one-time, recurring, appreciated securities, QCDs from IRAs), the signature Night for Champions Gala at The Ritz-Carlton Naples (over $935,000 raised in February 2026), planned giving through the Laurel Society, corporate and employer matching gifts (e.g., Publix Super Markets), donor-advised fund grants, and institutional appropriations including the Florida School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. Underlying technology is limited to off-the-shelf nonprofit software (Galaxy Digital GetConnected volunteer portal, FindIt FundIt Florida classroom grant portal); no proprietary technology product is sold or licensed.

Customer (beneficiary) segments are highly localized: low-income students in grades 8-12 and college (89% of participants live at or below the poverty level; 73% are first-generation postsecondary candidates), educators across Collier County public, charter, and private schools, plus volunteer changemakers (428 active volunteers contributing 7,838+ hours annually) and individual, corporate, and institutional donors. Distribution is entirely in-person and school-based within Collier County, with no geographic expansion strategy disclosed; the go-to-market motion is community-led, anchored in CCPS referrals, volunteer word-of-mouth, and signature events.

Name

The Education Foundation of Collier County

Legal name

The Education Foundation of Collier County Inc.

Website

https://championsforlearning.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Education Foundation of Collier County, operating as Champions For Learning, is a 35-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit education foundation in Naples, Florida that delivers free mentoring, college and career preparation, scholarships, and classroom grants to low-income students (grades 8-12 and college) and educators across Collier County, funded through donations, signature events, and state matching grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation and Nonprofit Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDALAOAB

Fundraising & Annual Giving

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Alumni Relations, Development & Campus Community Engagement

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• Student mentoring programs
• College readiness support
• Classroom grants funding
• Educator recognition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Naples

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Gifts: Champions For Learning raises funds from individual donors through one-time and monthly recurring online gifts, checks, appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs, ACH or wire transfers, and gifts in honor or memory of individuals.
2. Special Events Fundraising: The organization's signature annual fundraising event is the Night for Champions Gala, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. The 2026 gala raised over $935,000. Additional events include donor events, volunteer recognition events, and program celebration events.
3. Planned Giving & Legacy Gifts: The Laurel Society recognizes supporters who include the Education Foundation of Collier County in their estate plan, will, trust, or who establish income-generating gifts such as charitable gift annuities or charitable remainder trusts. Donors can name the foundation as beneficiary of retirement plans or life insurance.
4. Corporate & Employer Giving: Corporate giving includes employer matching gift programs (e.g., Publix Super Markets matches employee charitable contributions), direct corporate gifts, and grants from foundations such as the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program (funded by Florida Governor and Legislature).
5. Classroom Grant Fund Donations: Donors can support the Classroom Grants program by making gifts to Champions For Learning's Classroom Grant Fund, or by using the online Classroom Grant portal to hand-select specific grant requests to fund directly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels17 records

Core offering

Champions For Learning delivers free, in-person student mentoring and college/career preparation programs to low-income students in grades 8 through college in Collier County, Florida, and provides direct funding (Classroom Grants up to $2,000/teacher) and recognition (Golden Apple) support to teachers. Programs are delivered directly inside Collier County Public Schools in partnership with school district staff and a 428-member volunteer ecosystem. The organization's operating funds come from individual donations, corporate and employer matching gifts, planned giving, signature fundraising events, and grants.

Product overview

Champions For Learning (The Education Foundation of Collier County) operates as a nonprofit education foundation offering a portfolio of student and educator support programs. The student programs include Take Stock in Children (mentoring, coaching, and scholarships for low-income students), Pathways to Success (college and career prep for grades 8-12 with Foundations and Accelerate tiers), Technical Pathways (career exploration aligned with Lorenzo Walker Technical College), the Entrepreneurship Program (INCubatoredu partnership for business startup development), College and Career Access (FAFSA/financial aid training), and College Students support services. The educator programs include Classroom Grants (up to $2,000 per teacher for supplies and enrichment) and Golden Apple (teacher recognition and professional development). The organization also hosts signature events including Night for Champions Gala, Countdown to Cap and Gown graduation celebration, Induction Ceremony for new students, and the Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Take Stock in Children A statewide, academically focused mentoring program delivered locally by Champions For Learning in Collier County. It guides low-income students toward successful completion of high school and college enrollment through mentorship, college and career workshops, one-on-one coaching, and scholarships.
• Pathways to Success A College and Career Prep Program for students in grades 8-12 with two tiers — Foundations (entry in 8th grade) and Accelerate (entry in 10th grade). The program offers mentorship, workshops, career exploration, and scholarship awards to support high school graduation and post-secondary readiness.
• Technical Pathways A technical career exploration program for 9th and 10th grade students in Collier County that is fully aligned with Lorenzo Walker Technical College's dual-enrollment strategy. It guides students into CTE pathways in healthcare, culinary arts, and transportation, and supports industry-credential preparation alongside high school graduation credit.
• Entrepreneurship Program A project-based entrepreneurship learning program delivered in collaboration with CCPS' INCubatoredu curriculum. Students build, test, and develop their own product or service with support from volunteer mentors, coaches, and business professionals.
• College Students Program Continued support services for college-enrolled former Champions For Learning high school students. Includes virtual workshops, funding opportunities, and resources to help first-generation college students earn their degree or credential.
• College and Career Access FAFSA, scholarships, and financial aid training sessions delivered in partnership with the school district and local nonprofit partners to help students and families afford the costs of post-secondary education.
• Classroom Grants A direct funding program for classroom teachers providing up to $2,000 per teacher per year for supplies, classroom items, and enrichment activities not included in school budgets. Available to teachers at all Florida Department of Education-approved schools in Collier County, including public, charter, and private schools.
• Golden Apple An educator recognition program that unites the Collier County community in honoring outstanding teachers through a community nomination process (Thank-A-Teacher cards), Teacher of Distinction evaluation, and classroom observation by a volunteer selection committee. Six outstanding educators are honored as Golden Apple recipients each year.
• Night for Champions Gala The signature annual fundraising event held at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, featuring cocktails, dinner, live music, and dancing. The gala includes student/beneficiary speakers, a donor appeal program, table sponsorships, auction items, and live giving to support the foundation's educational mission.
• Golden Apple Celebration of Teachers Dinner An annual community event recognizing Teachers of Distinction, Collier County Teachers of the Year, and Golden Apple recipients with an elegant sit-down dinner celebrating the teaching profession.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate among Champions For Learning Student Programs participants
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and significant.

• Collier County Public Schools (CCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampions For Learning serves as the education foundation for Collier County Public Schools, delivering student and educator programs across all district schools — traditional public, charter, and private schools. CCPS provides school access, student referrals, counselor partnerships, and the CCPS Volunteer Application process for Champions For Learning volunteers. The partnership is fundamental to all of Champions For Learning's programming.
• Take Stock in Children (Statewide Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampions For Learning has been an official affiliate of the Take Stock in Children program since 2000. Take Stock in Children is a statewide, academically focused mentoring program that guides students toward high school completion and college enrollment. Champions For Learning operates the local Collier County affiliate, providing mentorship, coaching, workshops, and scholarships under the statewide program framework.
• Lorenzo Walker Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampions For Learning's Technical Pathways program is fully aligned with Lorenzo Walker Technical College's enrollment strategy. Technical Pathways guides 9th and 10th grade students toward dual enrollment at Lorenzo Walker Technical College, where they can earn credit toward both high school graduation and a career and technical program certificate. The program focuses on CTE areas including healthcare, culinary arts, and transportation.
• Publix Super MarketssignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerPublix Super Markets supports Champions For Learning through corporate giving and an employee matching gift program. Publix recognizes that investing in Champions For Learning is an investment in children's futures and in community betterment. Community Relations Manager Brian West has provided public endorsements of Champions For Learning's mission.
• The Ritz-Carlton, NaplessignificantGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Ritz-Carlton, Naples hosts the annual Night for Champions Gala, Champions For Learning's signature fundraising event. The venue provides the Vanderbilt Ballroom for the gala, which includes cocktails, dinner, live music, dancing, and a donor appeal program.
• Consortium of Florida Education FoundationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampions For Learning is the recognized education foundation serving Collier County as designated by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, the statewide coordinating body for local education foundations in Florida. This designation confers legitimacy and network access within the Florida education foundation ecosystem.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National College Attainment Network (NCAN): A national membership organization supporting college access and FAFSA-completion programs similar to Champions For Learning's College and Career Access programming; not a direct delivery competitor but operates in the same programmatic domain.

Regional players

• United Way of Collier and the Keys: A regional United Way in the same Southwest Florida geography that funds education, financial stability, and youth programs — competes for overlapping corporate and individual donor dollars in Collier County.
• Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida: A Southwest Florida–focused youth education nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship and work-readiness curricula in schools — overlaps with Champions For Learning's INCubatoredu Entrepreneurship Program in target geography and audience.

Direct peers

• Broward Education Foundation: County-level Florida education foundation serving public, charter, and private school students and educators with scholarships, grants, and recognition programs — same Consortium of Florida Education Foundations affiliation.
• Hillsborough Education Foundation: A larger Florida county education foundation providing student scholarships, teacher supply grants, and Take Stock in Children programming — comparable model at larger scale within the same statewide consortium.
• Education Foundation of Alachua County: Florida county-designated education foundation delivering Take Stock in Children mentoring, classroom grants, and Golden Apple-style teacher recognition — overlapping program mix with Champions For Learning in a different Florida market.
• Pinellas Education Foundation: A Florida county education foundation providing teacher classroom grants, student scholarships, and career/college readiness programs across all Pinellas County schools — directly comparable mission and program portfolio.
• Education Foundation of Palm Beach County: Another Florida county-designated education foundation offering student scholarships, teacher grants, and educator recognition programs, serving as the closest operational analogue within the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Emerging players

• Take Stock in Children: The statewide Florida mentoring and scholarship program of which Champions For Learning is a local affiliate — comparable in the mentoring-and-scholarship niche but operates as the umbrella network rather than a single county delivery layer.

Others

• Consortium of Florida Education Foundations: The statewide coordinating body for local Florida education foundations — Champions For Learning is a designated member, making it the principal institutional partner and funder conduit for state-level matching grants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Champs4Learning
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EducationFndnCollier
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChampionsForLearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/champions-for-learning
• Instagraminstagram.com/championsforlearning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Education Foundation of Collier County