826 Nationa

What 826 Nationa does

826 National is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 in San Francisco that operates the largest youth writing network in the United States. The organization supports nine in-person chapters (Boston, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.) that deliver free after-school tutoring, field trips, in-school support, and workshops to students ages 6-18 from under-resourced communities, with 86% of students identifying as students of color. Complementary to the chapter network, 826 Digital is a free online platform providing lesson plans, writing prompts, student writing samples, and author-led video content to 23,000+ educators and parents nationwide. The organization publishes over 16,000 students annually in 3,500+ books and products, with annual anthologies co-developed with authors including Amanda Gorman, Jason Reynolds, Dave Eggers, and Ada Limón.

826 National's core technology is the 826 Digital platform, which functions as both a free content library and a self-serve educator acquisition channel. The platform features content from named literary figures and is integrated into third-party ed-tech distribution partners (Newsela, Common Sense Education, Overdrive). The 826 Writers' Room is a research-backed physical product co-developed with Northeastern University, embedded in partner schools as a dedicated third space for writing instruction. The publishing program, including a bookstore at store.826digital.com, produces branded outputs that double as marketing assets.

826 National operates a donation-based revenue model with three principal streams: individual donations (one-time, recurring, planned, stock, DAF, employer matching, in-kind, and cryptocurrency), institutional foundation grants tied to strategic plan goals, and bookstore sales of student anthologies. All core programs are 100% free for students and educators. The strategic plan targets serving one million students and 35,000 educators while growing annual revenue to $4M. Go-to-market combines a community-led hub-and-spoke model (chapters + digital) with direct donor engagement via website, newsletters, and volunteer cultivation. The 2025 launch of the Write to Thrive Fund extends the model into youth mental health, positioning the organization at the intersection of writing education and preventative mental health intervention.

Name

826 Nationa

Legal name

826 National

Website

https://826national.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

826 National is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the largest U.S. youth writing network through nine in-person chapters and the free 826 Digital platform, serving 903k+ students and 23k+ educators annually with tutoring, publishing, and mental health programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Writing Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & YA Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Writing Skills & Composition Enrichment (EDAMAJAC), Essay, Research & Academic Writing (Middle/High School) (EDAMAJAL)

Keywords

• Youth writing education
• Nonprofit education services
• Creative writing programs
• Writing curriculum resources
• Student publishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time, recurring, and planned gifts from individual donors supporting free writing programs for students and resources for educators.
2. Institutional Grants: Foundation and institutional funding to support strategic plan goals including serving one million students, 35,000 educators, and growing annual revenue to $4M.
3. Student Publications Sales: Sales of student anthologies and books through the 826 Bookstore, with proceeds supporting free publishing opportunities and writing resources.
4. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Over 5,000 volunteers annually provide after-school tutoring, field trip facilitation, in-school support, and workshop leadership at no cost to students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

826 National operates the largest youth writing network in the United States, supporting nine in-person chapters that provide free after-school tutoring, field trips, in-school support, and workshops for students ages 6-18 from under-resourced communities. The organization also runs 826 Digital, a free online platform offering lesson plans, writing prompts, and educator resources, and publishes student writing in over 3,500 books and products annually.

Product overview

826 National operates a multi-component platform approach centered on the 826 Network (nine in-person chapters providing free writing programs), 826 Digital (free online teaching resources including lesson plans, writing prompts, and videos), and Student Publishing (publishing opportunities for young authors). The Write to Thrive Fund extends their model as a mental health initiative, while the 826 Writers' Room brings their approach into partner schools. Research Publications document impact and best practices. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive youth writing education ecosystem reaching over 903,000 students annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 826 Digital A free online platform providing hundreds of lesson plans, writing prompts, student writing samples, videos, and educator tools designed by educators and field-tested by the 826 Network.
• 826 Network Chapters The largest youth writing network in the country, consisting of nine in-person chapters across major U.S. cities (Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington DC) providing free writing and publishing programs in creative spaces.
• Student Publishing Program Program that publishes books by young writers, empowering students with platforms to share their voices and see their words in print. Publishes over 16,000 students annually in over 3,500 books and products.
• Write to Thrive Fund A first-of-its-kind literacy mental health fund providing grants, educator training, and curriculum to schools and youth organizations to integrate writing as a preventative mental health tool for students in grades 4-12.
• 826 Writers' Room Dedicated third spaces housed within partner schools where students immerse themselves in writing craft, build writing skills, and explore creativity in a supportive environment.
• 826 Bookstore Online bookstore offering printed publications, teaching resources, and student anthologies for educators and parents, with proceeds supporting free publishing opportunities.
• Research Publications Reports and studies on writing education, program impact, and best practices including 'The Truth About Writing Education in America' series, quick reports on student gains, and external evaluations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students report 826 helped their writing improve
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Tony Weaver, Jr.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWriter and educator partner who collaborated on the 2026 student anthology 'No Ordinary Dreamer' featuring science fiction and visions of the future. Contributed the foreword to the anthology and created the 'Write Your Power' 826 Digital lesson exploring world-building and speculative fiction.
• Jason ReynoldscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner#1 New York Times bestselling author of award-winning books who has created 826 Digital lessons including 'A Place Worth Being' with students writing personal narratives. Active advocate for youth writing education.
• Amanda GormancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner#1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet who partnered on student publications and shares poetry through 826 Digital lessons including 'Last Times.' Board member of 826 National.
• Dave EggerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder of McSweeney's Publishing and award-winning author who created 826 Digital lessons on golden details, character development, and setting. Long-time supporter and board member.
• Ada LimóncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner24th Poet Laureate of The United States who created the 826 Digital lesson 'The Beast' inviting students to consider personal connections to animals through poetry.
• John KrasinskiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWriter and Director collaborated on the 'Big Book of IFs' between 826 and Paramount Pictures, inspired by the 2024 film 'IF'. Described 826 as 'a beacon of creativity and exploration like no other.'
• Mychal ThreetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiteracy Ambassador who partnered on the 2025 student anthology 'UNBOUND: The Power and Possibility of Young Writers' Emotions' and collaborated on Poem in Your Pocket Day celebrations.
• Javier ZamoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalvadoran poet and activist who created the 'Hear Me Out' 826 Digital video lesson featuring writing activities.
• Academy of American PoetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual partner for Poem in Your Pocket Day celebrations, creating printable pocket poem zines featuring student work alongside 826 National.
• Cartoon NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner that has collaborated on youth writing initiatives including student lessons and educational content.
• PBS News HourcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner collaborating on student reporting and youth writing coverage.
• Paramount PicturesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm studio partner on the 'Big Book of IFs' collaboration inspired by the 2024 film 'IF', bringing 826 student writing to wider audiences.
• National Writing ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner supporting writing education initiatives and educator professional development.
• The Jed FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth mental health initiatives. Director of Community Programs Erlinda Delacruz quoted endorsing the Write to Thrive Fund as a preventative mental health intervention.
• We Need Diverse BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner advocating for diversity in publishing and supporting underrepresented youth voices.
• New York Public LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional partner supporting youth literacy and student writing programs.
• Teach For AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram partner supporting educator development and classroom writing instruction.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/826national
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@826national7
• Facebookfacebook.com/826National
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/826-national
• Instagraminstagram.com/826national

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 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 826 Nationa