SelfDesign Learning Foundation
SelfDesign Learning Foundation is a BC-based charitable organization operating an online K-12 school (SelfDesign Learning Community) serving approximately 2,000 learners annually, plus a homeschool registration program and HomeLearners Network activity platform, partially funded by the BC Ministry of Education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SelfDesign Learning Foundation does
SelfDesign Learning Foundation is a British Columbia-based charitable organization founded in 1984 that delivers personalized K-12 education through three distinct program lines. SelfDesign Learning Community, the core offering, is an online kindergarten-to-grade-12 school serving approximately 2,000 learners annually under partial funding from the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care as a Group 1 Independent Online Learning School (63% of the flat public online per-student rate, plus 100% for inclusive-designation learners). SelfDesign Home Learning provides a no-cost homeschool registration alternative for roughly 200-225 families, and HomeLearners Network offers fee-based live, guided hands-on activities such as camps, workshops, and clubs for ages 5-18.
The Foundation's technology stack centers on an ePortfolio platform for documentation and communication, web-conferencing for real-time educator-family connections, and the SelfDesign Learning Experiences Library containing over 150 curated resource offerings and 1,700 content pages linked to BC curriculum. Proprietary components include the "Observing for Learning" competency-based assessment process (weekly one-on-one conversations between B.C. certified educators and families) and Individualized Learning Plans co-created for each learner. The organization maintains 175 B.C. certified educators as learning consultants and holds Cognia accreditation.
Revenue derives primarily from BC Ministry per-student funding, supplemented by grants, donations, and charitable gifts (the Foundation is a registered charity). Pricing to families is essentially free at the point of use, with only a $50 per-learner late-registration processing fee for SelfDesign Home Learning enrollees registering after September 30. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through selfdesign.org and the homelearnersnetwork.ca sub-brand, with growth driven by community word-of-mouth, parent testimonials, content marketing, and events including seasonal camps and a new Collaboratory in-person event piloted in Kelowna in June 2025. Operations are geographically restricted to British Columbia.
SelfDesign Learning Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SelfDesign Learning Foundation
- Legal name
- SelfDesign Learning Foundation
- Website
- https://selfdesign.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SelfDesign Learning Foundation is a BC-based charitable organization operating an online K-12 school (SelfDesign Learning Community) serving approximately 2,000 learners annually, plus a homeschool registration program and HomeLearners Network activity platform, partially funded by the BC Ministry of Education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SelfDesign Learning Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Online Education
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual Homeschool Programs & Online Curriculum Schools (EDAJADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI), Integrated Tutoring + Learning Content Platforms (Curriculum + Tutors) (EDANAGAL)
Keywords
Where SelfDesign Learning Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SelfDesign Learning Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- BC Ministry of Education Funding: SelfDesign Learning Community is partially funded by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care as a Group 1 Independent Online Learning School at 63% of the flat public school online learning per-student rate. Additional partial funding is provided for learners with inclusive education designation equivalent to 100% of the public per-student operating cost.
- Grants and Charitable Gifts: SelfDesign Learning Foundation is funded through various streams including grants, donations and charitable gifts as a charitable organization.
- Late Registration Fees: SelfDesign Home Learning charges a $50 per learner processing fee for families registering after September 30. This is the only direct fee mentioned in the provided materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | SelfDesign Learning Community (K-12 Online School) |
| Freemium | Annual | SelfDesign Home Learning (Homeschooling Alternative) |
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | SelfDesign Path Course (Parent Resource) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SelfDesign Learning Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SelfDesign Learning Foundation operates a personalized K-12 online school (SelfDesign Learning Community) where B.C. certified educators called learning consultants guide approximately 2,000 learners annually through individualized learning plans. The foundation also offers SelfDesign Home Learning, a homeschool registration alternative serving 200-225 learners per year, and HomeLearners Network, a live hands-on activity platform. All programs follow B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum with competency-based assessment through the proprietary 'Observing for Learning' process.
Product overview
SelfDesign Learning Foundation operates three distinct educational programs: SelfDesign Learning Community (the core K-12 online school), SelfDesign Home Learning (a homeschool registration alternative), and HomeLearners Network (a live activity platform). Additional offerings include the SelfDesign Path parenting course and Inclusive Education Services. The organization follows a personalized, self-directed learning philosophy where learners are positioned at the centre of their individualized learning paths.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SelfDesign Path Course: A self-paced, online parenting resource exploring the SelfDesign philosophy and how it applies to family relationships and the home learning environment.
- SelfDesign Learning Experiences Library
Products and services
- SelfDesign Learning Community Online kindergarten to grade 12 school offering personalized and flexible education, guided by B.C. certified educators called learning consultants. Partially funded by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care as a Group 1 Independent Online Learning School. Approximately 2,000 learners enrolled annually.
- SelfDesign Home Learning A flexible homeschooling option for families who wish to take on the responsibility for their child's education without BC Ministry of Education requirements. Parents/guardians take responsibility for the learning program and learners' work is not assessed. Approximately 200-225 learners enrolled annually.
- HomeLearners Network A learning activity platform offering live, guided, hands-on activities for children pursuing their passions and exploring their interests. Includes online and in-person camps, workshops, and special interest clubs covering ages 5-18 with diverse offerings from French lessons to Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
- Inclusive Education Services Specialized support for learners with disabilities or diverse abilities, including Individual Education Plans, support providers, and adapted or modified educational programs. Funded at 100% of the public per-student operating cost for learners with inclusive education designation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 2,000 learners served annually in SelfDesign Learning Community
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SelfDesign Learning Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SelfDesign Learning Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SelfDesign Learning Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Transformative DynamicsminorListed as a partner organization on SelfDesign's website, appearing in the partners and affiliates section alongside Ministry of Education and other organizations.
- Gord DownieminorPartner organization, likely related to the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund for Indigenous education initiatives.
- SOGI EducationminorPartner providing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity education resources. SelfDesign aligns with SOGI 123 created by the ARC Foundation in collaboration with BC Ministry of Education.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SelfDesign Learning Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Connections Academy: Operates tuition-free online public schools across multiple US states accredited by Cognia (the same accreditor used by SelfDesign). Comparable in serving K-12 learners online with strong teacher support, though operating at much larger scale and in US markets.
- K12 / Stride: Largest US online K-12 operator serving hundreds of thousands of students through tuition-free public online schools. Comparable as a broad incumbent in online K-12 education at significantly larger scale than SelfDesign, though operating in US public school markets.
Emerging players
- Prenda: Operates microschools and offers guided home-learning programs with certified teachers. Comparable in providing personalized, teacher-supported home-learning experiences for families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling.
- Classical Conversations: Homeschool community program offering structured classical curriculum, tutor-led communities, and parent-led learning. Comparable as an established homeschool support model combining community, structured resources, and parent-empowerment philosophy, though operating outside Canada.
- AltSchool: Personalized online and hybrid K-12 learning platform founded on individualized learning plans and student-led pacing. Comparable in philosophical alignment with SelfDesign's learner-centered, individualized approach, though operating as a paid US-based platform.
- Synthesis: Online learning community focused on advanced, problem-based education for gifted and curious learners. Comparable in offering small-group, interest-driven online learning experiences for self-directed learners, but operating as a paid subscription outside BC's regulated school system.
- Outschool: Online marketplace of small-group classes and clubs for learners ages 3-18. Comparable in offering flexible, interest-driven online learning experiences (overlapping with SelfDesign's HomeLearners Network live activity platform) but operating as a paid marketplace rather than a Ministry-funded school.
Others
- Khan Academy: Free, large-scale online learning platform used widely as supplemental resource by homeschool and alternative-learning families. Comparable as a complementary free learning content provider (SelfDesign itself subscribes to Discovery Education and BrainPop); overlaps with but does not directly compete against SelfDesign's full school offering.
Regional players
- Vancouver Island Virtual School: BC public online K-12 school operated as a district virtual program. Comparable in offering online BC-curriculum education to BC-resident families but is district-run rather than independent and does not replicate SelfDesign's personalized/home-learning philosophy.
Direct peers
- Heritage Christian Online School: BC-based independent online K-12 school offering personalized, faith-informed education to BC families. Closely comparable to SelfDesign Learning Community in operating jurisdiction, funding model (BC Ministry online learning school), and K-12 online learner focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SelfDesign Learning Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSelfDesign Learning Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SelfDesign Learning Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
SelfDesign Learning Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SelfDesign Learning Foundation 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 SelfDesign Learning Foundation
What does SelfDesign Learning Foundation do?
SelfDesign Learning Foundation operates a personalized K-12 online school (SelfDesign Learning Community) where B.C. certified educators called learning consultants guide approximately 2,000 learners annually through individualized learning plans. The foundation also offers SelfDesign Home Learning, a homeschool registration alternative serving 200-225 learners per year, and HomeLearners Network, a live hands-on activity platform. All programs follow B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum with competency-based assessment through the proprietary 'Observing for Learning' process.
Is SelfDesign Learning Foundation a public or private company?
SelfDesign Learning Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SelfDesign Learning Foundation founded?
SelfDesign Learning Foundation was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SelfDesign Learning Foundation based?
SelfDesign Learning Foundation is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does SelfDesign Learning Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. BC Ministry of Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are grants and Charitable Gifts and late Registration Fees.
Who are SelfDesign Learning Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Connections Academy and K12 / Stride. Emerging players are Prenda, Classical Conversations, AltSchool, Synthesis and Outschool. Khan Academy is listed as an others. Vancouver Island Virtual School is listed as a regional player. Heritage Christian Online School is listed as a direct peer.
Does SelfDesign Learning Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for SelfDesign Learning Foundation.
What industry is SelfDesign Learning Foundation in?
SelfDesign Learning Foundation's product category is K-12 Online Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJADAJ, Virtual Homeschool Programs & Online Curriculum Schools, with a secondary code of EDAKANAI, Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.