Freedom School Partners
Freedom School Partners is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for under-resourced K–8 students across 11+ neighborhood sites, using the Children's Defense Fund curriculum and college-student Servant Leader Interns.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Freedom School Partners does
Freedom School Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 1999 (originally as Seigle Avenue Partners) and operating since 2004 as a local sponsor of the national Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools model. Its core program is the Freedom School Experience, a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program serving under-resourced students in grades K–8 across 11+ neighborhood sites in Charlotte, with priority enrollment from designated focus schools and served neighborhoods such as Hidden Valley, Sugar Creek, Renaissance West, and Thomasboro/Enderly Park. The program uses the CDF Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), a culturally responsive literacy framework, alongside a daily Harambee! community gathering, social-emotional skill building, and STEAM enrichment, reporting that 81% of scholars maintained or gained reading ability in 2024 and 97% of parents reported increased reading confidence.
The organization runs a Servant Leader Intern program that recruits college students from all majors through a competitive process, provides 90 hours of training, and deploys them as classroom leaders at a 1:10 ratio, with documented alumni pathways back into the organization. Supporting products include the FSP Academy (a year-round program for high school alumni), a Family and Scholar Portal at scholar.fspconnect.org, structured volunteer programs managed through Bloomerang, and a multi-tier donor program anchored by a $2,000 minimum Scholar Society contribution. FSP does not disclose financials publicly; its revenue mix is built from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (including legacy support from Foundation For The Carolinas), legacy and planned giving (Harambee! Society, Burch S. Mixon Endowment), and one disclosed Mecklenburg County grant of $260,000 in January 2023.
Leadership was refreshed in 2024–2025 with Nikki Keith appointed CEO (Spring 2024), Allen Davis as COO (December 2025), and Raechelle Petteway as CDO (June 2025), succeeding founding Executive Director Mary Nell McPherson, who led the organization from January 2000 to December 2019 and scaled it from one site serving 100 children to seventeen sites serving 1,200 children.
Freedom School Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Freedom School Partners
- Legal name
- Freedom School Partners
- Website
- https://freedomschoolpartners.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Freedom School Partners is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for under-resourced K–8 students across 11+ neighborhood sites, using the Children's Defense Fund curriculum and college-student Servant Leader Interns.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Freedom School Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)
Keywords
Where Freedom School Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Freedom School Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Freedom School Partners operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying primarily on individual donations. The Scholar Society requires a minimum annual contribution of $2,000, which covers the cost of sending one scholar to Freedom School for the summer. The organization also receives annual and multi-year pledged gifts from donors.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate giving program where companies sponsor Freedom School sites and programs, providing financial support in exchange for association with the organization's mission and community engagement opportunities.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including Foundation For The Carolinas, which provided significant start-up funding from 2000-2003, and other community funders supporting Freedom Schools across Charlotte.
- Legacy Giving Programs: The Harambee! Society recognizes supporters who provide legacy gifts including bequests, endowments, retirement plan gifts, charitable annuities, life insurance, and trusts. The Burch S. Mixon Endowment Fund supports unfunded or underfunded needs for scholar experiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Scholar Society - $2,000 minimum annual contribution |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Mary Nell McPherson Society - Three consecutive years of giving |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Harambee! Society - Legacy giving recognition |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Freedom School Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Freedom School Partners operates a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for under-resourced K-8 students using the Children's Defense Fund Integrated Reading Curriculum. The organization partners with faith communities and community organizations to host 11+ program sites across Charlotte, NC, where college-aged Servant Leader Interns deliver culturally relevant literacy instruction, social-emotional learning, and family engagement activities. Supporting programs include the year-round FSP Academy for high school scholars and the Servant Leader Intern workforce development pipeline for college students.
Product overview
Freedom School Partners operates as a single integrated nonprofit focused on combating summer learning loss for under-resourced students in Charlotte. The core offering is the Freedom School Experience, a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for grades K-8, supported by the Servant Leader Intern Program that trains college students as classroom mentors. The organization complements its direct programming with the FSP Academy for high school alumni, a Family and Scholar Portal for participant engagement, and Volunteer Programs that enable community involvement. Donation Programs including annual giving, corporate sponsorships, and legacy contributions fund operations. The Children's Defense Fund Integrated Reading Curriculum serves as the pedagogical foundation across all programming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Freedom School Experience A six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for K-8 students that uses the Children's Defense Fund Integrated Reading Curriculum. The program is delivered free of charge to under-resourced scholars at 11+ partner sites across Charlotte, NC, integrating culturally relevant books, social-emotional learning, social action, parent/family engagement, and near-peer mentoring by college-aged Servant Leader Interns.
- Servant Leader Intern Program A paid summer internship program for college students and recent graduates aged 18-24 who serve as near-peer mentors and literacy instructors to K-8 scholars during the six-week summer session. Interns live in community, lead instruction, and complete leadership development. Applications are accepted annually.
- Family and Scholar Portal A web-based portal that allows families and scholars to register, log in, and access program information related to the summer literacy experience. The portal supports the core program delivery by centralizing scholar records and family engagement touchpoints.
- FSP Academy A year-round college-access and leadership development program for Freedom School Partners alumni in high school. FSP Academy supports the long-term progression of scholars beyond the summer literacy experience, providing mentoring, college preparation, and continued engagement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 81% of children maintained or gained reading ability during Freedom School in 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Freedom School Partners
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Freedom School Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
Freedom School Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Children's Defense Fund (CDF)coreIn 2004, Freedom School Partners was selected by CDF to join community organizations around the country and serve as a local sponsor for CDF's six-week, literacy-rich summer programs called Freedom Schools. FSP utilizes CDF's Integrated Reading Curriculum and follows the CDF Freedom Schools model.
- Seigle Avenue Presbyterian ChurchcoreOriginal founding partner that co-founded Seigle Avenue Partners in 1999 and provided support from 2000 to 2003. The organization was originally located at and supported by this church.
- Promising PagesminorPartnership with Promising Pages to provide books to scholars, helping them build personal libraries at home. Books donated through Promising Pages are distributed to scholars.
- United WaycorePartner supporting Hidden Valley Neighborhood and Renaissance West/West Boulevard Neighborhood Freedom School sites. Provides resources and community support for program delivery.
- Christ Lutheran Church and McClintock Partners in EducationcoreSite partnership hosting Freedom School for scholars K-8 from McPIE program, North Sharon Amity/Idlewild Neighborhoods and schools.
- CN Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian ChurchcoreSite partnership hosting Freedom School for scholars K-8 from Druid Hills neighborhood and schools. A key advocate (Doris Boyd) was instrumental in bringing Freedom School to this location.
- Covenant Presbyterian ChurchcoreHistorical partnership hosting Freedom School site (formerly at Highland Renaissance Academy) for scholars K-5 from Sugar Creek neighborhood and schools. Also home to FSP headquarters.
- Christ Episcopal ChurchcoreSite partnership serving scholars K-5 from Rama Road Neighborhood and schools.
- Myers Park Baptist ChurchcoreSite partnership (formerly at Pinewood Elementary) welcoming scholars K-8 from Ashbrook/Starmount neighborhoods and schools.
- Providence Day SchoolcoreSite partnership welcoming scholars K-5 from Oakhurst/Rama Rd neighborhoods and schools. Hosts Field Day events.
- Renaissance West Community InitiativecoreSite partnership hosting scholars K-8 from Renaissance West and West Boulevard community in partnership with United Way.
- The Grove Presbyterian ChurchcoreSite partnership welcoming scholars K-8 from the Grove Firefly program, Hickory Grove neighborhood and schools.
- University City United Methodist ChurchcoreSite partnership welcoming scholars K-8 from Davis Lake/University City Neighborhoods and schools.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Freedom School Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools: National parent network of Freedom Schools that FSP implements via the CDF Integrated Reading Curriculum. Operates the broader coalition of summer literacy programs that FSP is part of and a direct counterparty in program design.
- BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life): National nonprofit running summer and after-school learning programs for under-resourced scholars, with similar scholar outcomes, tutoring-led model, and emphasis on closing the achievement gap. Comparable in target population and metrics.
- Horizons National: Affiliated network of out-of-school summer learning programs for under-resourced students, often hosted at private schools and faith partners. Direct parallel on site-based delivery, donor-funded model, and K-8 literacy outcomes.
- 826 National: Network of writing and tutoring centers serving under-resourced students with focus on literacy, creative writing, and after-school programming. Comparable on supplemental literacy support and use of trained volunteers and interns.
Broad incumbents
- Reading Is Foundation: Large national literacy nonprofit distributing books and literacy resources to children, including FSP's book partner Promising Pages. Overlaps on literacy mission and book distribution to under-resourced children.
- Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that partners with pediatricians to promote early literacy among under-resourced families. Shared focus on literacy access and parent engagement, though delivered through healthcare settings.
- City Year: National service nonprofit deploying near-peer AmeriCorps members as tutors and mentors in under-resourced schools. Comparable on Servant Leader Intern model, literacy outcomes, and corporate partnership-driven funding.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit providing after-school and summer programming including literacy. Overlaps on serving K-8 youth from under-resourced communities with site-based delivery.
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Global book-gifting program delivering free books to children from birth to age five. Comparable on improving early literacy for under-resourced children and similar reliance on local affiliate networks and corporate funders.
Others
- National Summer Learning Association: National nonprofit advocating for and supporting summer learning programs. FSP programs align directly with NSLA's mission to close the summer learning gap and benefit from NSLA's research, advocacy, and network.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Freedom School Partners social profiles
Digital presenceFreedom School Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Freedom School Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Freedom School Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Freedom School Partners 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 Freedom School Partners
What does Freedom School Partners do?
Freedom School Partners operates a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program for under-resourced K-8 students using the Children's Defense Fund Integrated Reading Curriculum. The organization partners with faith communities and community organizations to host 11+ program sites across Charlotte, NC, where college-aged Servant Leader Interns deliver culturally relevant literacy instruction, social-emotional learning, and family engagement activities. Supporting programs include the year-round FSP Academy for high school scholars and the Servant Leader Intern workforce development pipeline for college students.
Is Freedom School Partners a public or private company?
Freedom School Partners is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Freedom School Partners founded?
Freedom School Partners was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Freedom School Partners based?
Freedom School Partners is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Freedom School Partners make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, foundation Grants and legacy Giving Programs.
Who are Freedom School Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools, BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life), Horizons National and 826 National. Broad incumbents are Reading Is Foundation, Reach Out and Read, City Year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. National Summer Learning Association is listed as an others.
Does Freedom School Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Freedom School Partners.
What industry is Freedom School Partners in?
Freedom School Partners's product category is Youth Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJALAM, After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs), with a secondary code of EDAMAJAG, Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.