Partners in Education

What Partners in Education does

Partners in Education (PIE) is a Toledo, Ohio-based nonprofit founded in 1994 by the Toledo Rotary with support from the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce and local corporations. The organization delivers two core evidence-based programs to K-12 students across 17 partner schools in the greater Toledo area: the Mentors in Toledo Schools Literacy (MiTS) Program, which applies Science of Reading-based instruction to support struggling readers (588 students served), and the College & Career Ready program, which develops workforce-relevant skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, and professionalism (806 students served). Programming is delivered through direct in-school engagement by 40+ part-time staff and 135+ trained community volunteers, supplemented by caregiver- and educator-facing literacy resources hosted on the organization's website.

Partners in Education operates as a community-led, donation-funded nonprofit with no proprietary technology platform and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. All programs and services are provided free of charge to students and schools; revenue is generated entirely through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, channeled primarily through the Next Chapter Fund annual campaign. The organization's go-to-market motion combines direct-to-school program delivery with community volunteer recruitment and a network of board-represented partners spanning healthcare (Promedica), financial services (KeyBank, Directions Credit Union, JP Latz Advisors, New York Life), education (Toledo Public Schools), and civic institutions (YMCA of Greater Toledo, Leadership Toledo, National Museum of the Great Lakes).

In the most recent reporting period, PIE engaged 148 active community volunteers, hosted 44 new career speakers from local organizations, and completed 6,833 mentoring sessions with struggling readers. The organization is governed by an Executive Director (Brooke Schlageter) and a board structure that includes a Chair (Sabrina Weaver, JP Latz Advisors), Vice Chair (Luke King, New York Life), Treasurer (Andy Fisher, Dominican Sisters of Mary), and additional board and advisory members representing corporate, civic, and educational stakeholders in the Toledo region.

Name

Partners in Education

Legal name

Partners in Education

Website

https://partnerstoledo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Partners in Education is a Toledo, Ohio-based nonprofit founded in 1994 that delivers evidence-based literacy tutoring and career readiness programming to K-12 students across 17 partner schools through 40+ part-time staff and 135+ trained community volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit K-12 Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

Keywords

• Literacy tutoring programs
• College and career readiness
• Student mentoring services
• Volunteer tutoring programs
• Nonprofit education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toledo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its programs. This includes direct donations, the Next Chapter Fund annual fund campaign, and support from community partners. All programs and services are provided free of charge to students and schools.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Partners in Education is a nonprofit that delivers the College & Career Ready program and the Mentors in Toledo Schools Literacy (MiTS) Program directly to K-12 students at 17 Toledo-area schools. Programs are evidence-based, free of charge to students and schools, and are delivered on-site by trained staff and a network of 135+ community volunteers. The organization also operates the Next Chapter Fund annual giving program and publishes free literacy resources for caregivers and educators.

Product overview

Partners in Education (PIE) is a non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of evidence-based educational programs focused on literacy and workforce readiness. The core offerings include the College & Career Ready program and the Mentors in Toledo Schools Literacy (MiTS) Program, which serve students at different educational levels. Supporting these programs are the Next Chapter Fund for donations, plus educational resources for caregivers, educators, and the community. The organization operates as a single unified non-profit entity rather than a platform with separate modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College & Career Ready An educational program designed to empower students with skills needed for higher education and future careers, focusing on collaboration, critical thinking, professionalism, and creative problem-solving. Delivered free of charge to students in partner Toledo-area schools.
• Mentors in Toledo Schools Literacy (MiTS) Program A literacy program that nurtures early literacy skills by providing Science of Reading-based instruction and mentorship support for struggling readers, incorporating social-emotional support through trusted adult relationships. Delivered free of charge to K-12 students at partner schools.
• Next Chapter Fund Partners in Education's annual fund program that accepts charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support Toledo students and fund the organization's readiness programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,833 mentoring sessions completed with struggling readers in the last year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and supporting.

• Toledo RotaryfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Founded Partners in Education in 1994 as the founding organization. Toledo Rotary provided initial leadership and support for establishing the nonprofit and its mission to support Toledo-area students.
• Toledo Area Chamber of CommercefoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Provided founding support for Partners in Education in 1994 alongside Toledo Rotary. Helped establish connections with local corporations for early organizational support.
• Toledo Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinda Meyers from Toledo Public Schools serves on the Board of Directors. The school district is a core partner in delivering PIE's literacy and career readiness programs to students.
• YMCA of Greater ToledocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhitney Keeler from YMCA of Greater Toledo serves on the Board of Directors. YMCA provides community connections and potential volunteer resources for PIE programs.
• KeyBanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerJenny Coy from KeyBank serves on the Board of Directors. Financial institution partner providing governance support and potential corporate giving or volunteer programs.
• Directions Credit UnionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMatt Gies from Directions Credit Union serves on the Board of Directors. Credit union partner providing community support and potential corporate involvement.
• Promedica Health SystemsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMargaret Lockhart from Promedica Health System serves on the Advisory Board. Major healthcare system providing community health connections and potential program support.
• National Museum of the Great LakessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshley Streichert from National Museum of the Great Lakes serves on the Board of Directors. Cultural institution partner providing potential career speaker connections and community engagement opportunities.
• Marshall MelhornsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerShawn Nelson from Marshall Melhorn (law firm) serves on the Board of Directors. Professional services firm providing governance expertise and legal guidance.
• PMBA ArchitectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBob Siebenaller from PMBA Architects serves on the Board of Directors. Architecture firm providing design expertise and community connections.
• Leadership ToledosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicole Susdorf from Leadership Toledo serves on the Advisory Board. Leadership development organization providing connections to emerging community leaders and potential volunteers.
• Principle Business Enterprises, Inc.supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharles Stocking from Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. serves on the Advisory Board. Local business providing community support and potential career speaker connections.
• JP Latz AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSabrina Weaver serves as Board Chair representing JP Latz Advisors. Provides strategic leadership and governance expertise to the organization.
• New York Life InsurancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuke King serves as Vice Chair representing New York Life Insurance. Insurance company providing governance support and potential corporate volunteer programs.
• Dominican Sisters of MarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndy Fisher serves as Treasurer representing Dominican Sisters of Mary. Religious organization providing financial oversight expertise and community connections.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• Toledo Lucas County Public Library: Local literacy provider referenced in PIE's resource directory; comparable community-based literacy programming in the same Toledo geography.
• United Way of Greater Toledo: Regional funder and convener for the Toledo area; comparable community-driven education funding model and overlapping school/corporate partner network.

Emerging players

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Book-distribution and early literacy program referenced as a resource by PIE. Comparable mission of building early literacy skills in young children through scalable community delivery.
• Literacy Inc (LINC): Nonprofit focused on early literacy and family engagement in under-resourced communities. Comparable literacy-focused mission with school and community-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth development nonprofit offering academic support, career readiness, and mentoring in club-based settings. Comparable youth outcomes mission and volunteer engagement model.
• Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership: National umbrella organization advancing youth mentoring through affiliate networks. Comparable volunteer-based youth mentoring infrastructure and school partnerships.

Direct peers

• Junior Achievement: Global nonprofit delivering K-12 workforce readiness, financial literacy, and career exploration programs often taught by community volunteers in schools. Directly comparable to PIE's College & Career Ready program.
• Reading Partners: National nonprofit providing volunteer-led, evidence-based literacy tutoring to K-12 students in under-resourced schools. Directly comparable to PIE's MiTS literacy program in mission, delivery model, and target population.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit that recruits community volunteers to mentor K-12 students, paralleling PIE's volunteer-driven mentoring model with structured school- and community-based delivery.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places coordinators inside K-12 schools to provide integrated student supports, dropout prevention, and career readiness programming. Highly comparable in school-embedded delivery and dual literacy/workforce focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Partners in Education