Million Dollar Teacher Project

What Million Dollar Teacher Project does

Million Dollar Teacher Project (MDTP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2016 and headquartered at Heritage Square, 113 N 6th St, Phoenix, Arizona. Its mission is to elevate the teaching profession through three program pillars: increased compensation, increased recognition, and increased support for K-12 educators. The organization serves certified K-12 teachers in Arizona, with particular focus on Title I schools across Maricopa County. As of the most recent disclosures, MDTP reports cumulative impact of 2,900+ teachers and 61,000+ students since inception, with active engagement across 14 school districts and 25 schools.

MDTP operates a portfolio of nine core programs rather than a unified technology platform. The Classroom Support Team (CST) deploys multi-role intern teams (technology specialist, student teacher, teaching assistant, parent engagement specialist) inside partner classrooms, contributing 700 documented hours and a claimed $99,124 average annual cost savings per school. Take a Teacher to Lunch brings catered restaurant-partner meals to schools, with 45 events hosted across program history. One In A Million (OIAM) is a teacher recognition series culminating in the Feel Like a Million Dollars grand prize event ($2,000 cash plus $12,000 in prizes for the 2023/24 winner). The In Teachers We Trust Endowment Fund was established in 2023 with a stated $10 million capital goal. Additional programs include Million Dollar Teacher Tree (tiered classroom supply sponsorship), Teacher Fan Club (monthly recurring donations), Teacher Appreciation Package (business discount network built with Local First Arizona), The Teachers' Lounge Podcast (Season 4: A Decade of Impact), and Benjamin's Pass the Apple scavenger hunt campaign. The organization also sells branded merchandise through a dedicated store. There is no proprietary technology stack; operations rely on standard web infrastructure, a third-party donation portal (qgiv), and mainstream social media channels.

MDTP's revenue model is exclusively charitable: tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations; Arizona Qualifying Charitable Organization state tax credit contributions (QCO #21040); corporate sponsorship of specific programs; recurring monthly donations via the Teacher Fan Club; and merchandise sales. Distribution occurs through direct school and district partnerships, event-based engagement, and self-serve online donation flows. The organization does not sell products or services for profit and is funded entirely through philanthropic contributions and program sponsorships rather than equity investment.

Name

Million Dollar Teacher Project

Legal name

Million Dollar Teacher Project

Website

https://mdtproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Million Dollar Teacher Project is an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that operates nine community-centered programs to increase K-12 teacher compensation, recognition, and support, serving educators across 14 school districts and 25 schools in Maricopa County through donations, sponsorships, and a planned $10 million endowment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Teacher support services
• Educator recognition programs
• Classroom supply funding
• Teacher compensation endowment
• School community partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: MDTP operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Revenue is generated through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization accepts Arizona state tax credit donations through their Qualifying Charitable Organization status (QCO #21040).
2. Teacher Fan Club Monthly Giving: Monthly recurring donation program allowing supporters to give consistent amounts to support teacher compensation and programs. Cancelable with 30-day notice.
3. In Teachers We Trust Endowment Fund: Long-term endowment fund established in 2023 with a goal to raise $10 million. Fund will provide scholarships, emergency financial assistance, teacher debt relief, grants to schools, and support MDTP operations.
4. Sponsorship Programs: Corporate sponsorship revenue from businesses sponsoring specific programs such as Take a Teacher to Lunch events, One In A Million teacher recognition, Classroom Support Team, and Million Dollar Teacher Tree.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Teacher Fan t-shirts, personalized shirts, and embroidered caps through the MDTP store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Million Dollar Teacher Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers community-centered programs to elevate the K-12 teaching profession in Arizona through three pillars: increased teacher compensation (In Teachers We Trust Endowment Fund; Teacher Fan Club recurring giving), increased teacher recognition (Take a Teacher to Lunch events; One In A Million recognition series; Teachers' Lounge Podcast; Benjamin's Pass the Apple campaign), and increased teacher support (Classroom Support Team placing support staff in classrooms; Million Dollar Teacher Tree classroom supply sponsorship; Teacher Appreciation Package discounts). It partners with Title I schools, local businesses, restaurants, and community donors to address teacher pay gaps, recognition deficits, and the $1,000+ teachers spend out-of-pocket annually on classroom supplies.

Product overview

Million Dollar Teacher Project operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community-centered, grassroots programs organized around three pillars: Recognition, Compensation, and Support. The core programs include: Classroom Support Team (CST) placing support staff in classrooms; Take a Teacher to Lunch (TTL) providing catered recognition events; One In A Million (OIAM) teacher recognition series; The Teachers' Lounge Podcast featuring student-teacher interviews; Benjamin's Pass the Apple scavenger hunt campaign; In Teachers We Trust Endowment Fund for financial assistance; Teacher Appreciation Package (T.A.P.) connecting teachers with business discounts; Million Dollar Teacher Tree (MDTT) for classroom supply sponsorship; and Teacher Fan Club for monthly donations. The organization also maintains a merchandise store selling branded apparel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classroom Support Team (CST) A support-pillar program that places a technology specialist, student teacher, teaching assistant, and parent engagement specialist in classrooms to lighten teacher workload and improve teacher morale and student performance; partner schools report $99,124 average annual savings and 700 hours of intern-staffed support.
• Take a Teacher to Lunch (TTL) A recognition-pillar event program that brings fully catered lunches from restaurant partners to schools so teachers receive community appreciation; since 2016 has hosted 45 events at 25 schools across 14 districts, reaching 1,000+ Title I teachers and 35,000+ students.
• One In A Million (OIAM) Teacher Recognition Series A premier teacher-recognition program that honors, celebrates, and elevates outstanding educators through a community-driven nomination process; honorees receive customized classroom enhancements, school celebrations, and public recognition features. Includes the end-of-year grand prize "Feel Like a Million Dollars" culminating event.
• The Teachers' Lounge Podcast A video and audio podcast where students interview teachers about teaching stories, classroom bloopers, meaningful gifts and moments, exploring what being a teacher means; Season 4 is themed "A Decade of Impact" with 12 episodes.
• Benjamin's Pass the Apple Scavenger Hunt A scavenger-hunt community campaign celebrating teachers who make impact at their schools, in classrooms, and in students' lives; features the Benjamin the owl mascot and invites the community to create videos recognizing special teachers.
• In Teachers We Trust Endowment Fund A compensation-pillar endowment fund established in 2023 to directly provide financial aid to teachers via scholarships for aspiring/current teachers, emergency financial assistance, teacher debt relief, financial awards for excellence, and grants to schools/districts. Goal: $10 million.
• Teacher Appreciation Package (T.A.P.) A discount program delivered in partnership with Local First Arizona and Phoenix Community Alliance that connects certified K-12 Arizona teachers with local businesses offering year-round discounts and special events during Teacher Appreciation Week (May) and National Education Month (November).
• Million Dollar Teacher Tree (MDTT) A supply and support program where community members sponsor classroom supplies for teachers: Red Apples fund everyday supplies (pencils, notebooks, crayons, hand sanitizer); Green Apples fund big-ticket classroom items ($500+); Golden Apples fund professional development ($10-$100). Addresses the $1,000+ teachers spend out-of-pocket annually.
• Teacher Fan Club Monthly Giving A monthly recurring donation program allowing supporters to give consistent amounts to directly support teacher compensation and programs; donor-determined amounts with suggested tiers, cancelable with 30-day notice; qualifies for Arizona state tax credits under QCO #21040.
• MDTP Branded Merchandise Sale of branded merchandise including Teacher Fan t-shirts, personalized shirts, and embroidered caps through the MDTP store, generating supplemental revenue to support programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,900+ teachers impacted since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Local First ArizonacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Partnership with Local First Arizona for the Teacher Appreciation Package (T.A.P.) program, connecting teachers with local business discounts.
• Phoenix Community AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerT.A.P. program partner supporting local business engagement with teacher discount initiatives.
• CoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor providing classroom supplies and support.
• StaplesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor and One In A Million program sponsor providing office supplies.
• OCC FF (Orange Country Fair)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor supporting teacher supply programs.
• WestFramingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor.
• AscotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor.
• Pioneer TitleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor and supporting partner.
• LyftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMillion Dollar Teacher Tree sponsor providing transportation support.
• Treasures 4 TeachersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne In A Million program sponsor providing classroom resources.
• Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus PineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeachers' Lounge Podcast sponsor and #PassTheApple campaign sponsor.
• Salt River Projects (SRP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTeachers' Lounge Podcast sponsor.
• The Spaghetti ShackminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant partner providing catered lunches for Take a Teacher to Lunch events at Wilson Elementary School.
• Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner#PasstheApple campaign sponsor supporting teacher celebration videos.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorOthersNonprofit transparency platform displaying MDTP profile and credentials.
• Ray MadaghieleminorOthersAdvisory Board Member; Chief Inspiration Officer for Business Energizers. Brings 35 years of leadership training and strategic planning experience.
• Ivan HannelminorOthersAdvisory Committee Member; General Counsel for ZOE HOLDING COMPANY. Has led 1,500+ APOQ workshops for K-12 schools.
• Breauna WallminorOthersAdvisory Board Member with background in education and community engagement.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DonorsChoose: National nonprofit that lets individual teachers post classroom supply and project requests that donors can fund directly. Operates in the same teacher-support funding niche as MDTP, with similar donation-based revenue model, though at much greater scale and digital-first.
• AdoptAClassroom.org: National 501(c)(3) that directs donations to teachers for classroom supplies and resources, mirroring MDTP's Million Dollar Teacher Tree program. Directly comparable mission: addressing out-of-pocket teacher spending via donor funding.
• Fund for Teachers: National nonprofit awarding fellowships and grants directly to K-12 teachers for professional development and self-designed learning experiences. Comparable in providing direct financial support to individual teachers for classroom impact.
• NEA Foundation: Nonprofit arm of the National Education Association awarding grants to educators and supporting public school innovation. Overlaps with MDTP on teacher recognition, grants, and support programs serving K-12 educators.
• Kids In Need Foundation: National nonprofit supplying free school supplies to under-resourced K-12 teachers and students, directly overlapping MDTP's Million Dollar Teacher Tree mission and focus on Title I/underfunded schools.
• Schoolhouse Supplies: Portland-based nonprofit operating a free school supply store for teachers in need. Comparable model to MDTP's supply pillar, providing material resources to classroom teachers facing out-of-pocket costs.
• Learning Ally: National nonprofit providing audiobooks and literacy resources to support teachers and students with reading differences. Overlaps with MDTP's teacher-support mission and educator resource provision model.

Broad incumbents

• Teach For America: Large national nonprofit placing teacher corps members in underserved schools and advocating for educational equity. Operates broadly in K-12 teacher support and recognition, sharing MDTP's teacher-elevation mission though at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Mdtproject
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@milliondollarteacherproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/mdtproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/million-dollar-teacher-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/mdtproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Million Dollar Teacher Project