Chiefs for Change
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit national peer network that supports sitting superintendents and state education chiefs across 26 states plus DC with leadership development, policy advocacy, and systems support, 100% funded by philanthropic partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chiefs for Change does
Chiefs for Change is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit national peer network founded in 2015 that supports a bipartisan membership of sitting school district superintendents and state education chiefs across 26 states plus the District of Columbia, collectively serving more than 5 million students. The organization's portfolio spans four core service lines: the Future Chiefs 18-month leadership development program for aspiring superintendents (with a focus on diversifying the K-12 leadership pipeline), a peer network offering executive coaching and cross-state collaboration, policy and advocacy services that translate practitioner expertise into federal and state-level policy positions, and systems support that delivers research, case studies, and technical assistance on topics such as literacy, acceleration, and teacher apprenticeship.
The organization is 100% philanthropically funded and does not charge membership dues; funding flows from foundations and mission-aligned partners in support of leadership, policy, and cross-sector education innovation. Its technology footprint is intentionally limited — there is no proprietary platform product — with the principal AI-related initiative being a 2024-2025 Community of Practice partnership with CourseMojo exploring generative AI for secondary literacy instruction. Distribution is membership-based and direct: prospective members apply through the website, and engagement runs through executive coaching, annual meetings (most recently Orlando 2025), research reports, and federal advocacy channels. Member outcomes are evidenced by named results such as Aldine ISD's 5-11% reading proficiency gains under member superintendent LaTonya M. Goffney, and the placement of Future Chiefs alumni into major district roles including Montgomery County (160,000 students) and Portland Public Schools.
Chiefs for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chiefs for Change
- Legal name
- Chiefs for Change
- Website
- https://chiefsforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit national peer network that supports sitting superintendents and state education chiefs across 26 states plus DC with leadership development, policy advocacy, and systems support, 100% funded by philanthropic partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chiefs for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Leadership Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organizational Change & Transformation Coaching (EDABANAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)
Keywords
Where Chiefs for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chiefs for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Funding: Chiefs for Change is 100% philanthropically funded, supported by foundations and mission-aligned organizations committed to transforming public education. The organization does not charge membership fees and partners with funders to strengthen state and district leadership, accelerate evidence-based policy, and support cross-sector innovations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chiefs for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit national peer network that provides leadership development, executive coaching, policy and advocacy support, and systems-level technical assistance to K-12 superintendents and state education chiefs. Its core offerings comprise the Future Chiefs leadership development program, the Peer Network connecting sitting education leaders across states, Policy and Advocacy services translating practitioner expertise into federal and state policy, and Systems Support via case studies, research reports, and technical assistance engagements.
Product overview
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit national peer network offering a portfolio of leadership development and support services for education leaders. The core offering consists of the Future Chiefs leadership development program (an 18-month training and mentorship initiative), a peer network connecting superintendents and state chiefs for collaboration, policy and advocacy services translating practitioner expertise into policy solutions, and systems support through technical assistance and research resources. Additional programs include an AI Literacy Community of Practice that explores AI integration with curriculum tools. The organization does not offer a traditional software product but rather provides services centered on leadership coaching, peer learning, policy expertise, and research-based resources for public education transformation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Future Chiefs: A leadership development program for aspiring superintendents that trains, equips and supports leaders preparing to step into superintendent roles.
Products and services
- Future Chiefs Program An 18-month leadership development program for aspiring superintendents that provides systems management training, expert-led sessions, shadowing opportunities, and individualized coaching to prepare education leaders for top district and state roles. Participants include leaders of color who are underrepresented nationwide.
- Policy and Advocacy Services Translates on-the-ground expertise of K-12 superintendents and state education chiefs into federal and state education policy solutions through White House and Congressional briefings, national coalition leadership, and state-level engagement to advance equitable opportunities for students.
- Systems Support Partnering with state chiefs, district leaders, and researchers to solve K-12 system challenges through focused technical assistance engagements, producing case studies, tools, and actionable resources on topics including literacy leadership, teacher apprenticeship, career pathways, and COVID recovery.
- Peer Network A national peer network connecting sitting K-12 superintendents and state education chiefs through regular collaboration, sharing of best practices, and accelerated cross-state learning. Members receive executive coaching and access to more than 100 peers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Aldine ISD saw third-grade reading proficiency increased by 5%, fourth grade by 7%, fifth grade by 11% under member leadership
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Chiefs for Change
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chiefs for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Chiefs for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- CourseMojosupportingCourseMojo partnered with Chiefs for Change for a Community of Practice initiative exploring how artificial intelligence can elevate high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in public education, specifically for improving secondary literacy in sixth-grade classrooms. CourseMojo's platform integrates generative AI with curriculum-aligned tools to support educators.
- Johns Hopkins Institute for Education PolicycoreChiefs for Change collaborated with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy on a pioneering research study on implementing acceleration strategies in public school districts. The study, led by Dr. David Steiner, was the first comprehensive examination of acceleration practices in middle school mathematics and ELA instruction. The collaboration also included a report on the mental, emotional, and social impact of COVID-19 on students.
- Louis Calder FoundationcoreThe Louis Calder Foundation partnered with Chiefs for Change and Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy to fund the groundbreaking research study on acceleration strategies in public school districts, focusing on implementing acceleration models to address learning disparities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chiefs for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- New Leaders: New Leaders trains and develops school principals and aspiring district leaders, with a leadership pipeline focus similar to CFC's Future Chiefs program. It overlaps with CFC in building the K-12 leadership bench, though more weighted toward principal-level preparation.
- Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): CCSSO is the national, nonpartisan membership association for state education chiefs and commissioners - directly comparable to Chiefs for Change's state-chief membership strand. Both organizations advocate for state education leaders in federal policy and provide peer learning, though CCSSO serves all state chiefs while CFC curates a smaller subset.
- National Superintendents Roundtable: Roundtable is a small, curated network of large-district superintendents focused on system transformation, peer support, and policy influence. It is directly comparable to CFC's peer network in audience (sitting superintendents of major districts), format (invitation-only peer learning), and policy orientation.
- Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC): EdLoC is a national network advancing leaders of color in education and convening superintendents, CMOs, and state leaders. It is closely comparable to CFC's Future Chiefs program, which specifically targets underrepresented leaders of color moving into superintendent roles.
- The Broad Center: The Broad Center runs leadership development programs (Broad Academy, Broad Residency) for sitting and aspiring superintendents and state education leaders. It is directly comparable to Chiefs for Change's Future Chiefs program in mission, cohort model, and target population.
Emerging players
- TNTP: TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project) focuses on teacher quality, leadership, and district systems change. It intersects with CFC's work in district systems support and acceleration research, though its primary focus is teaching force rather than executive leadership.
- Relay Graduate School of Education: Relay prepares school leaders and educators through graduate programs and leadership residencies. It is comparable as an emerging player in the leadership-development pipeline feeding into superintendent roles, though it sits earlier in the career arc than Future Chiefs.
Others
- Wallace Foundation: Wallace is a major education funder historically focused on principal and superintendent leadership development. It is comparable as a strategic ecosystem player whose grant priorities shape the leadership-development space in which CFC operates.
Broad incumbents
- AASA (The School Superintendents Association): AASA is the national professional association for school superintendents and district leaders, offering professional development, policy advocacy, and awards. It overlaps with CFC's superintendent development and advocacy work but serves a much broader, open membership rather than a curated peer network.
- National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): NASBE represents state boards of education and works with state chiefs on policy, governance, and equity. It is comparable as a state-level education policy and leadership organization, though its primary constituents are board members rather than the chiefs/commissioners CFC serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chiefs for Change social profiles
Digital presenceChiefs for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chiefs for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Chiefs for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chiefs for Change 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 Chiefs for Change
What does Chiefs for Change do?
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit national peer network that provides leadership development, executive coaching, policy and advocacy support, and systems-level technical assistance to K-12 superintendents and state education chiefs. Its core offerings comprise the Future Chiefs leadership development program, the Peer Network connecting sitting education leaders across states, Policy and Advocacy services translating practitioner expertise into federal and state policy, and Systems Support via case studies, research reports, and technical assistance engagements.
Is Chiefs for Change a public or private company?
Chiefs for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chiefs for Change founded?
Chiefs for Change was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chiefs for Change based?
Chiefs for Change is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chiefs for Change make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Funding.
Who are Chiefs for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are New Leaders, Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), National Superintendents Roundtable, Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC) and The Broad Center. Emerging players are TNTP and Relay Graduate School of Education. Wallace Foundation is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are AASA (The School Superintendents Association) and National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).
Does Chiefs for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chiefs for Change.
What industry is Chiefs for Change in?
Chiefs for Change's product category is Education Leadership Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABANAG, Organizational Change & Transformation Coaching, with a secondary code of EDABAAAD, Change Management & Transformation Leadership.