EduCare Foundation

What EduCare Foundation does

EduCare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered in Van Nuys, California, that delivers social-emotional learning (SEL) and youth development programs to under-resourced K-12 students. Its core methodology, Heartset Education, is a proprietary, trademarked framework built around eight interconnected skills (Honoring, Praising, Heart-Centered Listening, Personal Responsibility, Conflict Resolution, Forgiveness, Growth Mindset Application, and Reciprocity) and is delivered through the ACE Program, ACE Initiative (school-wide implementation), and Afterschool Programs that together serve more than 30,000 students annually. Programs are implemented directly in schools by trained EduCare staff, with complementary Specialized Student Support Services covering case management, ELL support, and substance-abuse prevention via the formal LAUSD Beyond the Bell partnership. Supporting products include Professional Development workshops for educators, Parent and Family Skills Development workshops, two published books (Heartset Education: A Way of Living and Learning, a #1 Amazon New Release Bestseller, and Making the Best of Me handbook), the Heartset Leaders Podcast, and the Virtual Annex online platform offering 600+ virtual classes.

Name

EduCare Foundation

Legal name

EduCare Foundation

Website

https://educarefoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

EduCare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers proprietary Heartset Education social-emotional learning programs, including ACE and afterschool services, to over 30,000 underserved K-12 students annually across California and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Social-Emotional Learning Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK), Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)

Keywords

• Social-emotional learning
• Youth development programs
• After-school enrichment
• Character education
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Van Nuys

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: EduCare operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization receiving donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Multiple giving vehicles: monthly giving (EduCare Ambassadors), annual gifts at $1,000+ (Heartset Giving Circle), legacy/planned gifts, and one-time donations.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Significant funding from institutional funders including The Ahmanson Foundation, Amgen Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, California Endowment, Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, W.M. Keck Foundation, and many others supporting youth development and education programs.
3. Book Sales: Sales of Heartset Education book (Amazon bestseller) and Making the Best of Me handbook. Bulk purchases available for schools and organizations. Proceeds support EduCare programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EduCare Foundation delivers social-emotional learning (SEL) and youth development programs to under-resourced middle and high school students through its proprietary Heartset Education methodology built on Eight Heartset Skills. Core offerings include the ACE Program, ACE Initiative, Afterschool Programs, Specialized Student Support Services (case management, ELL support, substance abuse prevention), Professional Development for educators, and Parent and Family Skills Development Workshops. All programs are delivered free to students and schools through direct partnerships with school districts and individual schools, funded by donations, grants, and book sales.

Product overview

EduCare Foundation is a nonprofit organization delivering social-emotional learning programs through multiple interconnected offerings. The core programs include the ACE Program (Achievement and Commitment to Excellence) and ACE Initiative, which provide youth development services along with Afterschool and Summer Programs. Supporting these are Specialized Student Support Services covering case management, language support, and substance abuse prevention. The organization's methodology is grounded in Heartset Education, a proprietary SEL framework delivered through Professional Development Programs for educators and Parent and Family Skills Development Workshops for families. Additional products include two published books (Heartset Education: A Way of Living and Learning and Making the Best of Me), the Heartset Leaders Podcast, and the Virtual Annex online learning platform. EduConnect serves as an additional resource platform. The organization serves over 30,000 students annually across California and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACE Program (Achievement and Commitment to Excellence): Flagship youth development program promoting social-emotional learning and academic excellence for middle and high school students.
• ACE Initiative
• Afterschool Programs
• Heartset Leaders Podcast

Products and services

• ACE Program (Achievement and Commitment to Excellence) Nationally recognized flagship youth development program that empowers disadvantaged middle and high school students to achieve excellence in personal, social, and academic pursuits through social-emotional learning focused on character development, personal management, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills.
• ACE Initiative Comprehensive year-round school-wide implementation program that creates a supportive learning environment with integrated student services, professional development, and parent engagement, incorporating social-emotional learning keys to build schools infused with kindness, empathy, and human connection.
• Afterschool Programs After-school and summer programs that actively engage students in life-changing opportunities for learning, leadership, and growth, including academic, enrichment, and recreation activities such as homework assistance, tutoring, STEM, fitness classes, and performing arts. Served more than 30,000 students annually.
• Specialized Student Support Services Comprehensive initiatives including Case Management, Teens Advocating for Civic Action (TACA), Language in Action Program (LAP), Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program (TUPE), and Advocates for Healthy Choices Program (AFHC) to support at-risk student populations through the LAUSD Beyond the Bell partnership.
• Professional Development Programs Professional development programs for educators, school leaders, and afterschool practitioners covering communication, conflict resolution, and whole-child education, providing skills, tools, and practical activities to support students and improve classroom environments.
• Parent and Family Skills Development Workshops Workshops for parents and guardians teaching strategies for parenting with greater confidence, effectiveness, and personal fulfillment, building a nurturing home environment to support children's academic and personal growth.
• Heartset Education EduCare's proprietary platform for social-emotional learning that promotes self-awareness, personal responsibility, empathy, and compassion to create a learning environment in which youth can flourish, structured around Eight Heartset Skills.
• Heartset Education: A Way of Living and Learning Book by Stu Semigran, a #1 Amazon New Release Bestseller, covering the Heartset Education methodology and how to listen from the heart, resolve conflict, build connections, and embrace the power of choice.
• Making the Best of Me: A Handbook for Student Excellence and Self Esteem Comprehensive collection of practical Social-Emotional Learning activities designed to assist youth in developing self-esteem and life skills, written for use by teachers, counselors, and youth group leaders.
• Heartset Leaders Podcast Podcast powered by EduCare Foundation featuring authentic stories from educators and community changemakers who lead with compassion, courage, and connection, hosted by Co-Founder Stu Semigran, with featured guests including Jeff Austin, José Navarro, David Allen, and Pedro Noguera.
• Virtual Annex Online learning platform created during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 600 virtual classes for middle and high school students covering Academics, Enrichment, Fitness, Mindfulness, Nutrition, Language Arts Programs, and Tobacco Use and Prevention Education.
• EduConnect Educational resource platform hosted on Google Sites providing curated content for students, educators, and parents.
• ACE Heartbeats Virtual Heartset Social-Emotional Learning Workshops derived from the flagship ACE Program, providing highly interactive workshops for middle and high school students focusing on success, positive school climate, connection, and character-building skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23% higher graduation rate for 4-year afterschool program participants vs non-participants
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, implementation partner, thought leadership partner, partner, research partner, school partner, district partner, government partner, academic partner and international expansion.

• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary district partner for program delivery through Beyond the Bell Division and Linked Learning. EduCare provides afterschool programs, ACE Programs, and Specialized Student Support Services across LAUSD schools.
• Los Angeles Education Partnershipimplementation partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in educational initiatives and community schools coaching.
• Thrive Globalthought leadership partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Arianna Huffington's Thrive Global for promoting well-being and leadership development. Board member Joey Hubbard serves as Chief Training Officer at Thrive Global.
• Beyond the Bell (LAUSD)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership for Specialized Student Support Services including case management, leadership programs, ELL support, and substance abuse prevention (TUPE).
• Boys & Girls ClubspartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in serving youth development and afterschool programming.
• Claremont Graduate Universityresearch partnerOthersConducted independent evaluation studies of ACE Initiative (2017-2018), providing research validation for program outcomes.
• UCLAresearch partnerOthersConducted multiple evaluations of ACE Program at Los Angeles High School (2004-2006), providing academic validation of program effectiveness.
• Learning Policy Instituteresearch partnerOthersPublished case study on EduCare's social-emotional learning approach (2021), providing policy-level recognition.
• Green Dot Public Schoolsschool partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharter school network implementing EduCare programs.
• Delano Unified School Districtdistrict partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner for program implementation.
• Lennox Unified School Districtdistrict partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner for program implementation.
• Lynwood Unified School Districtdistrict partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner for program implementation.
• Centinela Valley Union High School Districtdistrict partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHigh school district partner for program implementation.
• Colton Unified School Districtdistrict partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district partner for program implementation in Southern California.
• Think TogetherpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfterschool and expanded learning partner organization.
• Harmony ProjectpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education and youth development partner.
• California Department of Education, Expanded Learning Divisiongovernment partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education department partnership for expanded learning programs and professional development.
• University of Southern California (USC) Rossier School of Educationacademic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDean Pedro Noguera featured on Heartset Leaders Podcast. Academic collaboration in education research and thought leadership.
• International Partnerships (Aruba, Israel, Tanzania, Jordan, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Colorado)international expansionStrategic or Co-development PartnerEduCare programs and methodologies shared internationally with Aruba Department of Education, Israeli Ministry of Education, Mrupanga School in Tanzania, Kyan Foundation in Jordan. US partnerships with schools in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, and Colorado.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• CharacterStrong: SEL and character education curriculum provider for K-12 schools, offering whole-school implementation packages that compete with EduCare's ACE Initiative model.
• Committee for Children: Nonprofit publisher of Second Step, one of the most widely adopted SEL curricula in U.S. K-12 schools; competes for district SEL contracts with EduCare's Heartset Education framework.
• 7 Mindsets: SEL curriculum provider serving schools with a packaged social-emotional learning program, competing directly with Heartset Education for district adoption and PD budgets.

Direct peers

• Think Together: California-based nonprofit providing expanded learning, afterschool, and SEL programs across K-12, with overlapping district partnerships and similar mission to serve under-resourced students. Listed as EduCare partner.
• LA's Best (Beyond the Bell): Los Angeles-based afterschool program operator under LAUSD's Beyond the Bell Division, directly serving the same student population and sharing district-level procurement relationships as EduCare.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National network providing afterschool youth development programs to under-resourced communities, serving a similar K-12 population with comparable SEL, academic enrichment, and case management services. Listed as an EduCare strategic partner as well.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth development nonprofit providing mentoring and SEL-related programming to under-resourced youth, with comparable donor-supported model and outcome-driven mission.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit delivering free afterschool programs to under-resourced middle and high school students, with strong LA presence and similar focus on academic enrichment, SEL, and youth development.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: Broad youth services provider offering afterschool programs, youth development, and family services across the same LA geography; overlaps with EduCare on afterschool and SEL segments.

Others

• California Statewide Afterschool Network (CSAN): State-level advocacy and capacity-building organization for the expanded learning sector in California, setting policy frameworks that influence EduCare's district-level procurement environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/educare_fdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/educarefoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 EduCare Foundation