Equity Institute

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.

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

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 industry

PRIMARYEDAAABAJ

Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Secondary Education (ASE) / High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

Keywords

• Teacher certification pathways
• Educator diversity programs
• Paraprofessional support services
• School district partnerships
• Equity professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Central Falls School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-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 DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-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 UnboundsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner where EPP alumni like Karla Castillo studied. Provides undergraduate degree pathways for paraprofessionals pursuing teacher certification.
• Brown UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram 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 FellowssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgram 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 ProcessessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganization 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

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/equityinst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eduleaders-of-color-rhode-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Equity Institute