What The Children's Guild does

The Children's Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1953 by Dr. Leo Kanner, Dr. Matthew Debuskey, and Sadie Dashew Ginsberg, headquartered in Baltimore, MD with a secondary office in Washington, DC. The organization operates a portfolio of schools and programs in Maryland and Washington, DC, including three public charter schools (Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Global Academy Laurel), one DC public charter school (TCGDC), a preschool (Monarch Preschool College Park), three non-public special education schools serving students with emotional/behavioral disabilities and autism (Baltimore, Prince George's County, Transformation Academy), an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic operating in 60+ school-based centers across five Maryland counties, and a Treatment Foster Care program.

The organization's intellectual foundation is its proprietary Transformation Education (TranZed) philosophy, developed by Dr. Andrew Ross and Gary Grenier in 1995, which uses culture as an elemental force to transform behavior in emotionally troubled children. Specialized facility assets include sensory rooms, the 25-element Orokawa Foundation inclusive playground, and the Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center. Programs are accredited under NCASES (four-year, 2024), CARF, FFTA standards, and International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-pupil funding from Maryland and DC public school systems for charter and contract schools, placement-based funding from local school systems for non-public special education schools, Medicaid and TRICARE reimbursement for mental health services, monthly stipends funded through Maryland child welfare contracts for Treatment Foster Care, and supplementary donations and event fundraising (e.g., 17th Annual Golf Classic raised over $73,000 in 2024). The organization is led by President and CEO Jenny Livelli, who succeeded Dr. Andrew Ross in 2021 as the first female president in the organization's history.

Name

The Children's Guild

Legal name

The Children's Guild, Inc.

Website

https://childrensguild.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Children's Guild is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating public charter schools, special education schools, an outpatient mental health clinic, and treatment foster care across Maryland and Washington DC, serving children with emotional, behavioral, and autism spectrum needs through its proprietary Transformation Education (TranZed) philosophy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education & Children's Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) / Therapeutic Day Schools (EDAKAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI), Charter Special Education & Inclusive Programs (EDAJACAF), School-Based Mental Health Therapy (Licensed Clinicians) (EDAKAMAD), Therapeutic & Developmental Preschools (Specialized Support) (EDACABAO), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Charter school education
• Behavioral health services
• Treatment foster care
• Autism education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Charter and Contract School Funding: Per-pupil funding from public school systems for charter and contract school operations. Monarch Academy public charter schools and contract schools receive government funding based on enrollment.
2. Mental Health Services Reimbursement: Medicaid and TRICARE reimbursement for outpatient mental health services including clinic-based and school-based counseling, and psychiatric services.
3. Special Education School Tuition: Funding from local school systems for non-public special education schools serving students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, Venmo contributions, stock donations, legacy giving, and event fundraising such as the Annual Golf Classic which raised over $73,000 in 2024.
5. Treatment Foster Care Stipends: Foster parents receive monthly stipends to cover the needs of children placed in treatment foster care, funded through government child welfare contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Children's Guild operates a portfolio of schools and programs serving children and families across Maryland and Washington, D.C. Its offerings include public charter schools, public contract schools, non-public special education schools for students with emotional/behavioral disabilities and autism, a project-based preschool, an outpatient mental health clinic (clinic-based counseling, school-based mental health, and psychiatry), and a treatment foster care program. All schools and clinical services are anchored by the proprietary Transformation Education (TranZed) philosophy, which uses culture as a force to transform the behavior of emotionally troubled children.

Product overview

The Children's Guild is a multi-service educational organization operating a portfolio of distinct schools and programs across Maryland and Washington, DC. The organization offers public charter schools (Monarch Academy Glen Burnie, The Children's Guild DC Public Charter School), public contract schools (Monarch Academy Annapolis, Monarch Global Academy Laurel), special education schools (The Children's Guild School of Baltimore, The Children's Guild School of Prince George's County, The Children's Guild – Transformation Academy), preschools (Monarch Preschool College Park), and community programs including an Outpatient Mental Health Clinic and Treatment Foster Care. The organization is unified by its Transformation Education (TranZed) philosophy and offers workforce development through TranZed Apprenticeships. Services span early childhood education through age 21, serving general education students as well as those with emotional, behavioral, and autism spectrum needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transformation Education (TranZed): An educational philosophy developed by The Children's Guild that uses culture as an elemental force to promote change and growth in emotionally troubled children, teaching them values and life skills.
• Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center
• Orokawa Foundation Playground

Products and services

• Monarch Academy Glen Burnie Public charter school in Anne Arundel County providing real-life learning experiences, character development, and preparation for a global 21st century world. Tuition-free with no testing or screening requirements.
• Monarch Academy Annapolis Public contract school (K-5) in Annapolis, Maryland, located in a renovated former Capital Gazette building and offering the IB Primary Years Program.
• Monarch Global Academy Laurel K-5 public contract school in Laurel, Maryland that expanded into middle school grades, providing students with real-life learning experiences.
• Monarch Preschool College Park High-quality, project-based learning pre-kindergarten for children aged 3-5, with active spaces, curriculum, and teachers helping children apply learning to real-world issues.
• The Children's Guild DC Public Charter School Tuition-free, publicly funded K-8 public charter school in Washington, D.C. offering a personalized learning environment and a Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, accessible via the MySchools DC lottery.
• The Children's Guild School of Baltimore Non-public special education day school serving K-12 students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder, providing learning and vocational opportunities including work and career readiness programs. Funded through local school system placements.
• The Children's Guild School of Prince George's County Non-public special education day school serving K-12 students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and/or autism, including the Janet and Frank Kelly Autism Center for students with autism and co-existing diagnoses.
• The Children's Guild – Transformation Academy 12-month, non-public separate day school for students ages 5-21 whose primary diagnosis is autism, with co-existing diagnoses including sensory processing disorder, specific learning disability, health impairment, or multiple disabilities.
• Outpatient Mental Health Clinic (OMHC) Clinic-based mental health evaluations, individual/family/group counseling; school-based mental health services in 80+ partner schools; and psychiatry services including medication evaluation, management, and telepsychiatry. Accepts Medicaid and TRICARE reimbursement.
• Treatment Foster Care Program Treatment foster care program for children with complex emotional problems and challenging behaviors due to adverse childhood experiences and trauma. Includes specialized training in Transformation Education and support from licensed social workers with small LMSW caseloads, operating under FFTA Program Standards.
• TranZed Apprenticeships Non-traditional apprenticeship program offering industry-recognized certifications in IT, digital and social media, cybersecurity, data science, analytics, coding, medical assistance, and behavioral teaching aide fields.
• TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS) Alternative education program for working high school seniors in Montgomery County whose academic schedule is created to fit around their work obligations, ensuring students stay on track for graduation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving thousands of children and families across Maryland and Washington D.C.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Five Ways ForwardminorOthers · 1 September 2024Coaching, consulting, and wellness company served as the 2024 Annual Golf Classic tournament sponsor. 'The Children's Guild's mission is inspiring to see in action,' said Colin McLettie, President.
• Renditions Golf CourseminorOthers · 1 September 2024Hosted the 17th Annual Golf Classic and 18th Annual Golf Classic (2025), and 19th Annual Golf Classic (2026). The course features replicas of legendary holes from golf courses worldwide.
• Orokawa FoundationcoreOthers · 1 October 2023The Orokawa Foundation provided grant funding to support the construction of the Orokawa Foundation Playground at The Children's Guild Transformation Academy. The playground features 25 inclusive elements designed for students with sensory, autism, hearing, and learning disabilities.
• Sparks at PlayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Designed the Orokawa Foundation Playground, creating a custom outdoor sensory playground with inclusive play elements for students with disabilities.
• League of DreamsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Partnership to provide all children regardless of physical or mental ability the opportunity to experience baseball and softball through the League of Dreams program.
• Autism SpeaksminorOthers · 1 October 2023The Children's Guild School of Prince George's County participates in the Autism Speaks Walk, promoting acceptance and understanding while supporting autism awareness fundraising.
• U.S. Department of LaborcoreOthers · 1 May 2023TranZed Apprenticeships was named an Apprenticeship Ambassador by the U.S. Department of Labor, joining 205 organizations to promote Registered Apprenticeship opportunities nationwide.
• Montgomery CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018TranZed Academy for Working Students (TAWS) opened in Montgomery County, designed for working seniors whose academic schedule fits around work obligations.
• University of MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012University of Maryland selected The Children's Guild to manage College Park Academy, a 650-student grades 6-12 charter school in Prince George's County.
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewed public contract school status for Monarch Academy Annapolis for seven years. AACPS conducts comprehensive on-site reviews of contract schools.
• Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)coreOthersThe Children's Guild adheres to MSDE requirements including House Bill 486 for Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Prevention. MSDE forms processed through Human Resources Department.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Sheppard Pratt: Maryland-based behavioral health system with school-based and outpatient mental health services overlapping with TCG's OMHC and Treatment Foster Care offerings in the same Mid-Atlantic geography.
• Friendship Public Charter School: Tuition-free DC public charter school network—directly comparable to TCGDC PCS as another DC charter operator drawing lottery-based enrollment in the same Washington geography.
• KIPP DC: Largest DC public charter network serving K-12 students—comparable to TCGDC PCS and Monarch Academy as a charter operating in the same Mid-Atlantic markets with lottery-based enrollment.
• Phillips Programs: Virginia-based provider of special education schools for students with emotional, behavioral, and autism needs—an immediately adjacent regional peer serving the same EBD student population just south of TCG's footprint.

Direct peers

• May Institute: Nonprofit provider of special education schools, day programs, and behavioral health services for children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities across multiple states—comparable in EBD/autism day-school model.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Baltimore-based pediatric specialty hospital and research organization serving children with developmental disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs—directly comparable in special needs pediatric mission and Maryland operating geography.
• Elwyn: Nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities through special education schools, day programs, and behavioral health—comparable in special-ed day school and clinical services model.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit operating special education schools and behavioral health services across multiple states—directly comparable in serving EBD/autism populations with an integrated treatment foster care and school model.

Peers

• Y.A.L.E. Schools: New Jersey-based special education schools serving students with autism and developmental disabilities—comparable in operating non-public day schools for EBD/autism populations with district-funded tuition.

Emerging players

• The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): National autism services provider delivering applied behavior analysis, mental health, and school consultation—adjacent to TCG's Transformation Academy and OMHC autism services in therapy model and clinical specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/childrensguild
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheChildrensGuild
• Facebookfacebook.com/thechildrensguild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-childrens-guild
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechildrensguild
• TikToktiktok.com/@the.childrens.gui

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries14 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 The Children's Guild