Celebrate EDU

What Celebrate EDU does

Celebrate EDU is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (legally Celebrate Autism, Inc., dba Celebrate EDU) founded in 2013 by Jenny Anderson after she completed SEED SPOT Phoenix. The organization delivers business and entrepreneurship education to individuals with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities, and to the schools and disability-service organizations that serve them. Its programmatic portfolio includes the Kindling Workshop (1-day in-person intro), Spark 101 (2-week online intro course at $150), Spark a Business (6-week advanced online course at $750 with the proprietary Spark Canvas one-page business plan), the Ignite Business Experience (a partner-delivered curriculum for schools and transition programs), and the Microgrant Program ($100–$500 grants to qualifying entrepreneurs).

The technology stack is intentionally lightweight and accessibility-first: a WordPress-based online learning portal with Wistia-hosted video, Zoom for live instructor check-ins, Calendly for self-serve scheduling, the Userway accessibility plugin (screen reader, text size, contrast controls), and MailerLite for email — all supporting self-paced delivery to a nationwide audience. Revenue is generated through a mix of course tuition, individual donations (including the Trailblazer monthly giving program averaging ~$10/month), and foundation grants (notably the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Inclusion Open grant, the $100,000 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award in 2018, and the $75,000 Arc Tank 3.0 prize in 2019), with microgrants serving as outbound capital rather than revenue.

Celebrate EDU has scaled modestly over 12 years of operation: 406 students served and 36 partner organizations across 7+ states as of September 2017, with the Trailblazer donor footprint reaching 12 states plus Washington D.C. by April 2021. The organization remains a small, grant-dependent team (1–10 employees), with strategic direction concentrated in the founder and an advisory board of self-advocates, and no public revenue or audited financials disclosed.

Name

Celebrate EDU

Legal name

Celebrate Autism, Inc., dba Celebrate EDU

Website

https://celebrateedu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Celebrate EDU is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers online and partner-led entrepreneurship education to individuals with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities, supported by course tuition, foundation grants, and small-dollar donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Disability Entrepreneurship Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Life Skills & Transition-to-Adulthood Curriculum (ADL, Vocational, Community) (EDAGAMAJ), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education
• Disability employment programs
• Online business courses
• Special education services
• Microgrant funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition: Students pay tuition for online courses: Spark 101 costs $150 (2-week intro course); Spark a Business costs $750 (6-week program). Scholarships available for those unable to pay full fees.
2. Grants & Foundation Funding: Major grants from foundations including $100,000 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award (2018), $75,000 Arc Tank 3.0 prize (2019), Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Inclusion Open grant (2-year grant, 2017), and Global Good Fund Fellowship (2020).
3. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals including monthly giving program 'Trailblazer' ($5-$100/month, avg $10), one-time donations, and check donations. Donations made to PO Box 270742, Louisville, CO 80027. Tax-deductible as 501(c)(3).
4. Microgrant Program (Outbound): Celebrate EDU awards microgrants of $100-$500 to entrepreneurs with disabilities. Recipients must participate in finance/budgeting course and have access to self-advocacy courses. Funded through donations and grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Celebrate EDU delivers online and in-person entrepreneurship education courses, workshops, microgrants, and partner-delivered curricula for self-advocates with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Its core portfolio spans a 2-week online intro course (Spark 101, $150), a 6-week advanced business course (Spark a Business, $750), a 1-day in-person Kindling Workshop, the partner-administered Ignite Business Experience for schools, and direct microgrant capital of $100-$500 to help graduates launch or grow businesses.

Product overview

Celebrate EDU is a nonprofit educational organization that provides a suite of online and in-person entrepreneurship education programs for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core portfolio includes Spark 101 (an introductory 2-week online course at $150), Spark a Business (an advanced 6-week online course at $750), the Kindling Workshop (a 1-day in-person entrepreneurship workshop), and the Ignite Business Experience (a partner-delivered program for schools). The Microgrant Program provides direct financial support of $100–$500 to qualifying entrepreneurs. All programs are accessible online, emphasize self-advocacy, and are designed to help participants discover their strengths and launch or grow their own businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spark 101: A 2-week online class that helps self-advocates turn their strengths and talents into opportunities for success. Includes 11 videos, 4 assessments, 18 activities, and 3 instructor check-ins via Zoom. Costs $150.
• Spark a Business
• Kindling Workshop
• Microgrants
• Ignite Business Experience

Products and services

• Spark 101 A 2-week self-paced online introductory entrepreneurship course priced at $150 per student. Designed for self-advocates with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities, it uses 11 instructional videos, 4 personal assessments, and 18 activities to help participants identify strengths, interests, and entrepreneurial traits, with three live Zoom check-ins from a Celebrate EDU instructor.
• Spark a Business A 6-week advanced online business development course priced at $750 per student. Targeted at self-advocates who already have a business idea, the course walks students through identifying customers, defining competitive advantage, setting pricing, and producing a one-page Spark Canvas business plan, plus a digital portfolio and course certificate. Acceptance-based, requires a support network and roughly 3-4 hours per week.
• Microgrant Program A direct-capital program that awards $100-$500 microgrants to qualifying entrepreneurs with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Funds can be used for supplies, training, equipment, or business growth, and recipients also receive access to Celebrate EDU self-advocacy courses and a required finance/budgeting course.
• Kindling Workshop A 1-day in-person (and adapted virtual) introductory entrepreneurship workshop in which small groups design a popcorn business, develop a name and logo, identify target customers and competitive advantage, and practice professional etiquette. Includes an entrepreneurial traits assessment and interest-based-employment exploration. Currently paused because of COVID-19.
• Ignite Business Experience A partnership program that licenses Celebrate EDU's proprietary entrepreneurship and career-development curricula to schools and disability organizations. Partners access professional development, instructor training, and exclusive resources, then deliver self-employment, job skills, self-advocacy, and professional-etiquette programming to their students or clients under the Assess-Collaborate-Empower-Impact framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of students are more confident in their future after taking Celebrate EDU classes (ESU-13 Nebraska partnership, 2021)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• ESU-13 Nebraska (Educational Service Unit 13)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021ESU-13 partnered with Celebrate EDU to provide entrepreneurship education to Nebraska youth with developmental disabilities. Received a 2021 sub-award from the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCDD). 75 youth participated in Celebrate EDU online classes (Feb-May 2021) with 90% reporting increased confidence and 92% learning about career interests. Additional 75 students enrolled for fall 2021.
• The Arc of Ventura CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner making a significant push to enroll more students in Celebrate EDU programs. Jenny Anderson conducted refresher training for staff and strategic planning sessions. Ran Spark Program with participants including Luis Uriel (2019 Spark Create).
• Temple Grandin SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst partner organization (Spring 2015), located in Boulder, CO. Students participated in The Spark Program culminating in a Spring Entrepreneur Fair where students showcased business ideas to the community. This was the first time another organization ran Celebrate EDU's program without founder present.
• Wood County DD (Developmental Disabilities)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization serving people with developmental disabilities in Wood County. Listed as a partner organization on the Celebrate EDU partner page.
• NE ArcsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNortheast Arc partner organization. Hosts Arc Tank 3.0 competition in which Celebrate EDU won $75,000. Listed as partner organization on Celebrate EDU partner page.
• RIDDC (Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization listed on the Celebrate EDU partner page. Serves individuals with developmental disabilities in Rhode Island.
• Ken Anderson AlliancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization listed on the Celebrate EDU partner page. Serves the disability community.
• Positive Behavior Supports (PBS)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization listed on the Celebrate EDU partner page.
• Broomfield Workforce CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the first-ever Kindling Workshop in June 2016 in Broomfield, CO. Workforce center partnership to introduce entrepreneurship to young adults with disabilities.
• SEED SPOTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator program that Jenny Anderson joined in 2013 (second cohort). Provided 12-week entrepreneurship program, mentorship, and $25,000 seed grant. Founded by Amy Nece. This was the catalyst for Celebrate EDU's founding.
• Justin's (Boulder-based snack company)minorOthersBoulder-based snack company providing in-kind donations of nut butter and snack packs to students attending Celebrate EDU entrepreneurship programs. Justin's founder is also an entrepreneur.
• BonuslyminorOthersBoulder-based company that sublet office space to Celebrate EDU for 2.5 years until Celebrate EDU outgrew the space in 2018.
• Cincinnati Entrepreneur CoalitionsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization listed on the Celebrate EDU partner page serving the disability and entrepreneurship community in the Cincinnati area.
• Rocky Mountain Human Services (RMHS)secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization featured in Case Foundation's Faces of Founders coverage of Celebrate EDU. Serves people with developmental disabilities in Colorado.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: SourceAmerica is a national disability-employment nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment opportunities. As an established federal-contracting-focused disability employment organization, it represents a comparable scaled operator in the same broader mission space.
• Easterseals: Easterseals provides disability services including employment programs and transition support. As a large national disability-services network, it competes for the same partner organizations and donor dollars that Celebrate EDU depends on.
• The Arc: The Arc is a national disability advocacy and services network with which Celebrate EDU already partners (multiple state/local chapters). It is a comparable broad incumbent operating in the same disability-services ecosystem and overlapping with Celebrate EDU's audience and partner channels.
• Best Buddies International: Best Buddies runs employment, leadership, and inclusion programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its mission overlaps significantly with Celebrate EDU's focus on employment outcomes for the same population.
• Junior Achievement: JA provides K-12 entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy education, with a deep national school-partner network. It is a broad incumbent whose curriculum mission closely mirrors Celebrate EDU's self-employment/skill-building scope, making it the most comparable scaled incumbent.

Emerging players

• SEED SPOT: SEED SPOT is the social-impact accelerator where founder Jenny Anderson completed the second cohort and received her seed grant. It is comparable as an entrepreneurship-support organization with overlapping founder DNA and curriculum/mentorship delivery model.

Regional players

• Melwood: Melwood provides employment, training, and recreation programs for people with disabilities, primarily in the DC/Mid-Atlantic region. It is comparable as a regional disability employment operator and indirect competitor for partner organizations and program funding.

Direct peers

• Lemonade Day: Lemonade Day teaches youth entrepreneurship through a community-supported, partner-delivered program model. Its funnel-style, partner-channel architecture parallels Celebrate EDU's Kindling-to-Spark progression, serving as a direct peer in national youth entrepreneurship programming.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE): NFTE teaches entrepreneurship to young people from underserved communities, with curricula delivered through schools and partners. Celebrates overlaps with NFTE on youth-focused entrepreneurship education curricula and school-channel delivery, the closest analogous mission and program model outside the disability specialization.

Others

• Global Good Fund: Global Good Fund is the fellowship program that selected Celebrate EDU's CEO Jenny Anderson in 2020. As an adjacent ecosystem player, it is comparable in mission alignment and as the convener of disability-entrepreneurship leaders across the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/celebrateedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/CelebrateEDU
• Instagraminstagram.com/celebrateEDU

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Celebrate EDU