Tilly's Life Center

What Tilly's Life Center does

Tilly's Life Center (TLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Tilly Levine, co-founder of the Tillys retail chain. Headquartered in Irvine, California, TLC addresses the adolescent mental health crisis through a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program portfolio delivered primarily to middle and high school students in Southern California. The organization's core product is the 'I Am Me' curriculum—a CASEL-aligned, 48-lesson modular curriculum organized into four 12-lesson phases covering topics such as stress reduction, communication, positive mindset, motivation, self-esteem, and responsible decision-making. Each lesson is approximately 60 minutes long and incorporates journaling, mindfulness, art, role-play, and guided discussion.

TLC distributes the curriculum through three delivery channels: onsite facilitation by trained TLC Facilitators in partner schools, virtual live delivery through the TLC Educator Institute Platform, and workshop series for schoolwide initiatives. Complementary offerings include the Educator Certification program (which trains teachers to deliver the curriculum independently), SEL Educator Drop-In Coaching, Implementation Planning sessions, and an annual One-Day SEL Summer Institute. Specialized extensions include the 'I Am Healthy' hospital-based program co-facilitated at CHOC Children's Hospital and a Mental Health Awareness Grant Program that funds school mental health initiatives. As of reporting, TLC's programs have reached 28,832 students across 102 schools and 24 districts, with 539 educators certified.

TLC operates as a free-to-recipient nonprofit with all programs provided at no cost to schools, students, or families. The organization funds operations through a diversified revenue stack of individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Tillys, Vans, Wells Fargo, Mazda, Trader Joe's), foundation grants (Taco Bell Foundation, Louise Merage Foundation, Angels Baseball Foundation), and recurring fundraising events including the annual Charity Golf Tournament (17th-19th annual) and the I Am Giving Gala (11th-12th annual, raised $457,000 in 2025). Annual operating budget is approximately $2.7 million. Customer-facing operations are supported by ~12-20 staff members including Lead Facilitators, a Training Manager, Program Manager, Director of Development, VP of Academics, and President/CEO. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors that includes the founder, clinical psychologists, and executives from Tillys, BioLargo, OUTFRONT Media, and other corporate partners.

Name

Tilly's Life Center

Legal name

Tilly's Life Center

Website

https://tillyslifecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tilly's Life Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that delivers the CASEL-aligned 'I Am Me' Social-Emotional Learning curriculum to middle and high school students across 102 schools in Southern California, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social-Emotional Learning Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports (EDAKAMAE), Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL), Student Health Services (School Nursing, Health Office) (EDAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Social emotional learning
• Youth empowerment programs
• Nonprofit education services
• Teacher training programs
• Adolescent life skills

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: TLC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization offers online donation options with various giving levels ($25-$1000) and recurring giving options.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including the Tillys Charity Golf Tournament (17th-19th annual), Stars and Stripes Experience, I Am Giving Gala (11th-12th annual), and Hops With Heart fundraiser. These events generate significant revenue and community awareness.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships from companies like Tillys, Vans, Mazda, Wells Fargo, Trader Joe's, and others. Includes financial support and in-kind donations.
4. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Angels Baseball Foundation, Devto Support Foundation, Louise Merage Foundation, and Taco Bell Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tilly's Life Center (TLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers the 'I Am Me' Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum to middle and high school students through onsite facilitator-led programs, live virtual sessions, and a train-the-trainer educator certification model. The 48-lesson CASEL-aligned program is provided at no cost to schools and youth organizations, primarily in Southern California, with national expansion via educator certification.

Product overview

Tilly's Life Center is a nonprofit organization offering a unified SEL (Social Emotional Learning) program portfolio centered on the 'I Am Me' curriculum. The core product is the I Am Me Curriculum comprising 48 interactive lessons aligned with CASEL standards, delivered through multiple channels: Onsite (in-person by TLC Facilitators in Southern California), Virtual (live online through the TLC Educator Institute Platform), and Workshop Series (customizable schoolwide initiatives). Supporting offerings include Educator Certification (training educators to deliver the curriculum independently), Drop-In Coaching (ongoing support), Implementation Planning sessions, and the annual SEL Summer Institute. Additional programs include the I Am Healthy hospital-based program and Mental Health Awareness Grants for schools. The organization also provides free adult workshops and PSA videos as community resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• I Am Me Curriculum Core Social Emotional Learning curriculum consisting of 48 interactive lessons divided into 4 phases of 12 lessons, each approximately 60 minutes long, covering stress reduction, communication, mindset, motivation, self-esteem, and decision-making for middle and high school students.
• TLC I Am Me Onsite Program In-person delivery of the I Am Me SEL curriculum by trained TLC Facilitators at partner schools in Southern California, offering up to 48 lessons with student-facing materials.
• TLC I Am Me Virtual Program Live online delivery of 25 interactive lessons from the I Am Me catalogue by TLC Facilitators through the TLC Educator Institute Platform.
• TLC SEL I Am Me Educator Certification Certification program that trains educators to deliver the I Am Me curriculum themselves; includes access to 48 lessons, branded classroom supplies, ongoing coaching, and membership in TLC's SEL Community of Practice, requiring one 8-hour or two 4-hour live interactive trainings.
• TLC Workshop Series Customizable workshop series for schoolwide SEL initiatives available in virtual or onsite formats; includes themed series on Positive Mindset, Exploring Purpose, Good Decision Making, Community-Philanthropy, and Stress Management.
• I Am Healthy Program Hospital-based program co-facilitated at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange, providing life skills support for teens dealing with chronic or life-threatening illness during and after treatment.
• TLC Mental Health Awareness Grant Program Grant program providing funding to schools for mental health initiatives; recipients include Portola High School, Tustin Connect High School, Hare High School, REACH Academy, and various FACES programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pilot study revealed positive impact on drive (extent to which students hold beliefs that motivate them to set goals) and increase in independence for older students (ages 15-18)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CHOC Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLC co-facilitates the 'I Am Healthy' program at CHOC Children's Hospital in Orange, providing life skills support for teens transitioning from hospital care. Dr. Leonard Sender, former Director of AYA Cancer Programs at CHOC, serves on TLC's Board.
• UCI (University of California, Irvine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner with Dr. Mandy Mount establishing a multidisciplinary center at UCI for violence prevention. UCI Cove provides entrepreneurial mentorship. UCI Institute Training partnership for educator training waitlist.
• Samueli Academy at Orangewood Children's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter school for foster youth receiving TLC's 'I Am Me' SEL curriculum as part of their educational programming.
• Big Brothers Big SistersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth mentoring organization implementing TLC programming to support mentee development.
• Boys & Girls ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development organization implementing TLC programming across their club locations.
• Orange County Department of Education - ACCESSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty education department partnership for school-based SEL programming.
• Stand Up for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit serving homeless youth implementing TLC programming.
• Think TogethermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school and summer learning organization partnering with TLC.
• Huntington Beach Union High School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner with multiple schools implementing TLC's 'I Am Me' curriculum.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Committee for Children (Second Step): Largest nonprofit SEL curriculum provider for K-8, offering the Second Step program aligned to CASEL. Directly comparable to TLC's 'I Am Me' curriculum in target audience (school-based SEL) and CASEL alignment, though Committee for Children is far larger and better resourced.
• Move This World: SEL curriculum provider serving PreK-12 students with video-based lessons and educator support. Closely comparable delivery model (lessons + facilitator/educator enablement) and school-district customer base as TLC.
• Inner Explorer: Nonprofit providing daily mindfulness and SEL practices for PreK-12 students. Comparable as a school-distributed SEL program with educator-led delivery model and mission-driven nonprofit structure.
• EVERFI: Digital education company offering SEL and mental wellness curricula (e.g., Mental Wellness Basics) to K-12 at no cost to schools, funded by corporate sponsors—nearly identical revenue and delivery model to TLC.
• Born This Way Foundation: Nonprofit co-founded by Lady Gaga focused on teen mental health and kindness through school programs (Channel Kindness, Be Kind 365). Comparable mission, teen focus, and school-distribution model.
• The Jed Foundation: Nonprofit protecting teen and young adult emotional health through school and college programs. Comparable as a teen mental health mission-driven nonprofit with school-based program distribution.
• Sandy Hook Promise: National nonprofit delivering school-based violence prevention and mental wellness programs (Say Something, Start With Hello). Comparable in K-12 SEL/safety program distribution and nonprofit fundraising structure.
• Purpose Prep: SEL curriculum provider targeting K-12 with character education and life-skills content. Comparable SEL focus, school-distribution model, and CASEL-aligned curriculum approach.

Broad incumbents

• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): The dominant SEL standards body whose CASEL framework TLC's curriculum aligns to. Not a direct competitor but the umbrella organization shaping district SEL procurement decisions and competing for the same grant dollars.

Emerging players

• Greater Good in Education (UC Berkeley): Free research-based SEL resources and practices for educators from UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Comparable in audience (educators) and free distribution model, though not a curriculum vendor per se.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TillysLC
• Facebookfacebook.com/tillyslifecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 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 Tilly's Life Center