Equity Institute
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersProvidence, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Equity Institute does
Equity Institute is a Providence, Rhode Island–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by former classroom educators Karla Vigil and Carlon Howard and formally launched in 2019. The organization partners with school districts and communities to recruit, train, and retain a more racially, linguistically, and ethnically diverse teacher workforce, operating against the documented gap that 53% of U.S. students identify as Black, Latinx/a/o/e, Asian, Native, Pacific Islander, or multiracial while only 21% of teachers do. Its core product is the Educator Pathway Program (EPP), which supports paraprofessionals and teacher assistants in Rhode Island public and charter schools through personalized pathway coaching, financial stipends of up to $1,250 annually, Praxis test vouchers of up to $260, and cohort-based learning. The Educator Pathway Collective (EPC), launched in 2024, is the organization's online platform and mobile app that delivers test prep, study plans, peer discussion forums, live sessions, and direct coach access.
The business model is hybrid and nonprofit-native. Programmatic delivery is free to individual participants; revenue is sourced from foundation grants (Rhode Island Foundation, Barr Foundation, Papitto Foundation, Nellie Mae Foundation, Hewlett Foundation), individual donations, and customized district partnership services delivered under a structured three-step engagement (contact, needs assessment, co-designed pathway). A complementary monthly meetup program (212 attendees in 2024, 207 in 2025) and a Tools & Resources Hub (Educational Continuum self-assessment, Foundations workbook, Culturally Responsive Walkthrough Tool, Building Equity in Your Teaching Practice framework) support community building and equity capacity-building across partner districts. In 2025, the organization reported total expenditures of $1,296,702, with 64% directed to salaries and benefits, an 86% EPP retention rate, and reach across 5,406 educators and 158,652 students since inception.
Equity Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Equity Institute
- Legal name
- The Equity Institute
- Website
- https://theequityinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Equity Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Teacher Certification Pathway Programs
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ)
Keywords
Where Equity Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Equity Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Grant Funding: Primary revenue from foundation grants and philanthropic funding. Major funders include Rhode Island Foundation, Barr Foundation, Papitto Foundation, Nellie Mae Foundation, and Hewlett Foundation who support the organization's mission to diversify the teacher workforce.
- Donations: Individual donations from supporters who contribute to empower paraprofessionals and teacher assistants pursuing teacher certification. Donations are used to fund training, stipends, and program support.
- District Partnership Services: Custom educator pathway programs tailored to individual school district needs. Districts partner with EI to develop community-centered programs focused on teacher diversity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free program for eligible teacher assistants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Equity Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Equity Institute runs an Educator Pathway Program (EPP) that supports paraprofessionals and teacher assistants in Rhode Island public and charter schools to become certified classroom teachers. The program combines individualized pathway coaching, financial stipends (up to $1,250), Praxis exam vouchers (up to $260), test preparation courses, and cohort-based community learning. Programming is delivered via the Educator Pathway Collective (EPC) online platform and mobile app, with customized district portals and recurring monthly meetups.
Product overview
Equity Institute offers the Educator Pathway Program (EPP) as its core product—a comprehensive teacher certification pathway program designed to support paraprofessionals and teacher assistants in becoming certified classroom educators. This core offering is complemented by the Educator Pathway Collective (EPC), a digital platform accessible via web and mobile app that provides test prep courses, peer networking, and coach connectivity. Additional offerings include community meetups for networking and professional development, professional development and training services for partner school districts, and a suite of downloadable tools and resources (Educational Continuum, Foundations workbook, Culturally Responsive Walkthrough Tool, Building Equity In Your Teaching Practice).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Educator Pathway Program (EPP) A comprehensive program designed to support teacher assistants and paraprofessionals on their journey to become certified classroom teachers. The program provides personalized pathway coaching, financial stipends up to $1,250, licensure exam preparation with Praxis vouchers up to $260, and cohort-based learning experiences to mitigate barriers to teacher certification. Delivered at no cost to eligible participants in Rhode Island public or charter schools.
- Educator Pathway Collective (EPC) An online community platform and mobile app serving as a central hub for EPP participants navigating their journey to teacher certification. Provides access to test prep courses (Elementary Praxis subtests 7002-7005 and SPED Praxis 5355), study materials, learning plans, practice tests, live sessions, peer discussion forums, and direct connection to pathway coaches. Available via web and mobile app.
- Professional Development & Training Services Interactive learning experiences and workshops exploring identity, language, and culture and how they impact the academic and social development of learners. Services are offered to partner school districts to build more equitable schools and are delivered as part of multi-year district partnerships.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% retention rate among EPP participants in 2025
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Equity Institute
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Equity Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Equity Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Central Falls School DistrictcoreLong-term partnership where Equity Institute supports continuous improvement to best support students, families, staff, and community. EI provides equity, diversity, and inclusion programming and support.
- North Providence School DistrictcoreMulti-year partnership with positive, dynamic collaboration. EI empowers the school community in deepening focus and goals in equity, diversity, and inclusion with a relationship built on trust, acceptance, and collegiality.
- College UnboundsecondaryEducational partner where EPP alumni like Karla Castillo studied. Provides undergraduate degree pathways for paraprofessionals pursuing teacher certification.
- Brown UniversitysecondaryProgram Associate Faizaan Saddiqui is enrolled in Brown University's Urban Education Masters Program. EI team members have graduate degrees from Brown in Urban Education Policy.
- Indianapolis Teaching FellowssecondaryProgram where Program Associate Faizaan Saddiqui previously worked as a high school chemistry teacher while earning a Masters in Teaching at Marian University.
- Lindamood-Bell Learning ProcessessecondaryOrganization where Program Associate Faizaan Saddiqui began his education career in 2020 as a speech clinician and eventually a coach.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Equity Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Equity Institute social profiles
Digital presenceEquity Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Equity Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Equity Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Equity Institute 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 Equity Institute
What does Equity Institute do?
Equity Institute runs an Educator Pathway Program (EPP) that supports paraprofessionals and teacher assistants in Rhode Island public and charter schools to become certified classroom teachers. The program combines individualized pathway coaching, financial stipends (up to $1,250), Praxis exam vouchers (up to $260), test preparation courses, and cohort-based community learning. Programming is delivered via the Educator Pathway Collective (EPC) online platform and mobile app, with customized district portals and recurring monthly meetups.
Is Equity Institute a public or private company?
Equity Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Equity Institute founded?
Equity Institute was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Equity Institute based?
Equity Institute is headquartered in Providence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Equity Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and district Partnership Services.
Does Equity Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Equity Institute.
What industry is Equity Institute in?
Equity Institute's product category is Teacher Certification Pathway Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAABAJ, Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.