What Educando does

Educando (formerly World Education and Development Fund / Worldfund) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) and Mexican Civil Association founded in 2002 by Luanne Zurlo. The organization operates three programs in Mexico targeting the public education system: LISTO (Diplomado en Liderazgo y Acompañamiento Educativo) is a USICAMM-endorsed 125-hour diploma training principals, pedagogical advisors, and supervisors in transformational school leadership; siSTEMa Educando is a USICAMM-endorsed STEM teacher diploma using Project-Based Learning and Inquiry-Based Learning, currently deployed across 32 DGETI technical high schools in 5 states via Caterpillar Foundation funding; and ecosiSTEMa, a 2026-launched ecosystem initiative connecting students, schools, companies, and academia through a four-stage detection-training-connection-evaluation model, with a stated focus on closing the gender gap in STEM career trajectories. The organization's underlying methodology blends constructivist, humanist, and connectivist pedagogical frameworks, delivered via virtual sessions, learning communities, and personalized coaching.

Educando generates no commercial revenue; it is funded entirely by donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with named institutional supporters including Caterpillar Foundation, Schneider Electric Foundation, ALFA, Coppel, Tenaris, HSBC, Santander, Citi, BBVA, JPMorgan, Lenovo, Cinépolis, Compartamos Banco, and Oaktree Capital. Programs are delivered free of charge to participating educators and schools. The organization has accumulated an LISTO NPS of 97, reached 4M+ students and 107K+ teachers cumulatively via LISTO (2009-2023), and 103K+ beneficiaries via siSTEMa (2017-2023). Historical programs include IAPE (English teaching via the Rassias Method with Dartmouth's Rassias Center, 2007) and STEM Brasil (2009-2017, transferred to Instituto de Corresponsabilidad por la Educación).

The go-to-market motion is community-led: Educando partners directly with Mexican state education authorities and government bodies (DGETI, USICAMM) for program deployment, and with universities (UDEM, via 2024 collaboration agreement) for content reinforcement. The headquarters are in Mexico City (Av. Insurgentes Sur 1458) with a US contact office in New York; the Mexico team comprises roughly 12 program, academic, operations, and communications staff. Educando holds no patents, has no app or API product, and has no institutional investors, operating as an independent non-profit under a Board of Directors with corporate representation from JPMorgan, Cinépolis, and Oaktree.

Name

Educando

Legal name

Educando

Website

https://educando.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Educando is a US-registered non-profit (founded 2002) that delivers USICAMM-endorsed teacher diploma programs in Mexico — LISTO for educational leadership and siSTEMa for STEM pedagogy — plus the ecosiSTEMa workforce-linkage initiative, funded by corporate and foundation donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Training Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Curriculum Design & Scope/Sequence (School-Led) (EDAJAFAA)

Keywords

• Teacher professional development
• STEM education programs
• Educational leadership training
• Nonprofit education services
• Public school partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a non-profit organization registered as 501(c)(3) in the US and Civil Association in Mexico, Educando operates primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts tax-deductible donations via PayPal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Educando delivers USICAMM-endorsed diploma programs (LISTO for educational leadership and siSTEMa for STEM pedagogy) to public school educators and leaders across Mexico, supported by coaching, mentoring, and learning communities. Programs are provided free of charge to participants and funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and foundation grants. The ecosiSTEMa initiative operates as a multi-stakeholder ecosystem connecting students, schools, companies, and academia to translate STEM interest into career pathways.

Product overview

Educando operates two core educational programs in Mexico: LISTO (Leadership and Educational Support Diploma) focuses on educational leadership development for principals, supervisors, and pedagogical advisors, providing 125 hours of training with coaching and technical mentoring endorsed by USICAMM; and siSTEMa Educando is a STEM education diploma for science, mathematics, and technology teachers using Project-Based Learning and Inquiry-Based Teaching. The ecosiSTEMa initiative acts as an ecosystem connecting students, schools, companies, and academia to expand STEM opportunities. Educando's history includes legacy programs IAPE (English teaching) and STEM Brasil (Brazil operations) that inspired current offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LISTO (Diplomado en Liderazgo y Acompañamiento Educativo) Comprehensive educational leadership diploma program for principals, technical-pedagogical advisors, supervisors, and sector heads in Mexican public schools (preschool, elementary, and middle school). Provides 125 hours of training in transformational leadership, school management, and pedagogical accompaniment, combining constructivist, humanist, and connectivist approaches with virtual sessions, learning communities, and personalized coaching. Endorsed by USICAMM for professional development credit.
• siSTEMa Educando (Diplomado) STEM education diploma program for science, mathematics, and technology teachers in Mexican secondary and high schools (DGETI technical high schools and others). Provides tools to implement Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Inquiry-Based Teaching methodologies focused on sustainability and preparing students as agents of change. Endorsed by USICAMM for middle school teachers. Implemented across multiple Mexican states including Baja California, Veracruz, Estado de México, CDMX, and Nuevo León.
• ecosiSTEMa Educando Ecosystem initiative connecting students, schools, companies, and academia to expand STEM educational and career opportunities for Mexican youth. Implements a four-stage model: Detection/Orientation, Training/Support, Industry/Academia Connection, and Evaluation. Focuses on transforming STEM interest into sustainable career paths and addressing the gender gap in STEM careers (79% female STEM interest but only 16% plan STEM careers).

Quantifiable outcome

• LISTO 2009-2023: 9,052 institutions, 107,306 teachers, 8,835 school leaders, 4,060,610 students reached
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 strategic, core and historical.

• XSTEMstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026STEM education organization alliance integrating technical and socio-emotional skills development. Collaboration with IBM Skills and Chicas en IA program. 90 students completed professional practices through this partnership at CETIS 66 Nuevo León.
• Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration agreement signed in 2024 to strengthen public education in Mexico, involving participation of UDEM students, faculty, and staff in enhancing educational leadership and STEM programs. UDEM also recognized at Gala 2024.
• Centro Rassias, Dartmouth CollegehistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated IAPE program in 2007 using Rassias Method, which trained over 2,600 teachers in 5,162 public schools benefiting 3 million students
• USICAMM (Sistema Público de Carrera Docente)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment endorsement body for LISTO and siSTEMa diploma programs, providing professional development certification for participating educators
• DGETI (Dirección General de Educación Tecnológica Industrial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment education system partner hosting siSTEMa program in 16-32 technical high schools across multiple Mexican states
• Instituto de Corresponsabilidad por la Educación (ICE)historicalStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization now hosting the STEM Brasil program legacy, which inspired siSTEMa Educando

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enseña por México: Mexican non-profit focused on identifying and developing leadership in public school teachers and leaders to drive system-level educational transformation. Directly comparable mission (teacher/leader development in Mexican public schools) and similar non-profit, government-partnered delivery model.
• Mexicanos Primero: Mexican civil society organization advocating for and working to improve public education quality through policy, evidence, and stakeholder engagement. Comparable as a Mexico-focused education non-profit working to improve learning outcomes in the public system.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka Mexico: Global non-profit network identifying and supporting leading social entrepreneurs, including those focused on education transformation. Comparable as a large, established education-adjacent non-profit operating in Mexico and Latin America with corporate and foundation funding.
• Teach For All: Global network of independent partner organizations (including Enseña por México) developing leaders to expand educational opportunity. Comparable mission around developing teacher-leaders in low-income education systems with multi-country, corporate-funded model.
• The New Teacher Project (TNTP): US-based non-profit focused on teacher training, professional development, and school leadership to improve student outcomes in underserved public schools. Comparable teacher development and school leadership mission, though operating primarily in the US.
• Room to Read: International non-profit focused on literacy and gender equality in education across Asia and Africa, funded by corporate and foundation donors. Comparable as a multi-decade, internationally-funded education non-profit with multiple programmatic pillars and a similar non-profit operating model.
• Varkey Foundation: Global non-profit focused on improving education standards, teacher training, and school leadership, including Latin American operations. Comparable mission around teacher training and education leadership with corporate and government partnerships.
• Fundación Roberto Slim: One of Mexico's largest private foundations, with significant investment in education, digital literacy, and STEM programs for Mexican youth. Comparable as a Mexico-focused education non-profit with major corporate funding and STEM programming for underserved students.

Emerging players

• New Teacher Center: US-based non-profit dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of new teachers and school leaders. Comparable teacher development and instructional coaching methodology, though primarily US-focused.
• Fundación C&A: Latin American foundation working to improve education quality and conditions in the apparel supply chain communities, with programs in Mexico. Comparable as a Latin American education-focused non-profit with corporate foundation backing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/educando_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/worldfund
• Facebookfacebook.com/EducandobyWorldfundMX
• Instagraminstagram.com/educando_mx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Educando