Character.org
Character.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that developed the 11 Principles Framework and runs Schools of Character, Promising Practices, and essay contest recognition programs for K-12 schools, educators, parents, and now workplaces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSterling, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Character.org does
Character.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 (originally as the Character Education Partnership) and headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, that develops and disseminates character education frameworks, recognition programs, and resources primarily for K-12 schools, educators, and parents in the United States and internationally. Its core intellectual property is the 11 Principles Framework for Schools, a research-based guide developed in 1999 for cultivating a culture of character across school life, supported by free eBooks, a weekly 'Inspiring Character' newsletter, and downloadable publications on early childhood character, service-learning, and student leadership. The organization's program portfolio centers on three annual recognition streams: National and State Schools of Character designations (103 schools/districts recognized in 2026), Promising Practices certifications (290 practices certified in 2026, up from 230 in 2025), and the Laws of Life Essay Contest for grades 4-12, alongside named awards (Sandy Award, Ethics In Action Award, and the new Character Excellence in the Workplace Recognition launched in 2025).
Revenue is generated through a combination of charitable donations and institutional grants (the Laws of Life Essay Contest is funded by a grant from The School for Ethical Education), modest product sales from an online store (the 11 Principles Framework book at $28-$35 and School of Character recognition banners at $75-$100), and applications for recognition programs. The organization employs 1-10 staff and operates with no disclosed proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure consists of the character.org website, the Member Compass application portal (hub.character.org), and a Mailchimp newsletter system. In late June 2025, the Character.org board voted to transfer its intellectual property and program-related assets to CharacterPlus, a 35+ year-old St. Louis-based nonprofit that now operates the Schools of Character and Promising Practices programs, marking a structural consolidation of the character education movement under a single operating entity while Character.org continues as a brand and content vehicle.
Character.org firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Character.org
- Legal name
- Character.org
- Website
- https://character.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Character.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that developed the 11 Principles Framework and runs Schools of Character, Promising Practices, and essay contest recognition programs for K-12 schools, educators, parents, and now workplaces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Character.org industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Character Education / K-12 Educational Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping (State/National) (EDAJAFAD), National/State Curriculum & Standards Authorities (EDADAEAA)
Keywords
Where Character.org is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sterling
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Character.org business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Books and Banners): Character.org generates revenue through its online store selling physical goods including the '11 Principles Framework' book ($28-$35 per unit depending on quantity) and School of Character recognition banners ($75-$100 per unit). All items include U.S. shipping.
- Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 54-1657505), Character.org relies on charitable donations and institutional grants. The Laws of Life Essay Contest is made possible by a grant from The School for Ethical Education.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 11 Principles Book – Standard Quantity (1-9 books) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 11 Principles Book – Bulk (10-29 books) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 11 Principles Book – Large Bulk (30+ books) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School of Character Banner – Horizontal |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | School of Character Banner – Vertical |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Character.org product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Character.org develops and disseminates the 11 Principles Framework for character education in K-12 schools and operates recognition programs (Schools of Character, Promising Practices) that certify schools, districts, and organizations implementing comprehensive character development initiatives. The organization also runs the Laws of Life Essay Contest for grades 4-12, multiple annual awards (Sandy Award, Ethics In Action Award, Character Excellence in the Workplace Recognition), free downloadable eBooks, a weekly newsletter, and sells physical merchandise (11 Principles Book and School of Character banners) through an online store.
Product overview
Character.org offers a portfolio of character development programs and resources for schools, educators, families, and organizations. The core offering is the 11 Principles Framework, a comprehensive guide for cultivating character culture. Supporting programs include the Schools of Character recognition program, Promising Practices certification, Laws of Life Essay Contest, and awards (Sandy Award, Ethics In Action Award, Character Excellence in Workplace Recognition). Publications include eBooks on early childhood character education and service-learning, plus the Raising Good Kids national parent survey. Physical products include the 11 Principles Framework book and School of Character banners. The organization also publishes a weekly Inspiring Character newsletter. In 2025, operations transitioned to CharacterPlus, which continues operating these programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 11 Principles Framework Book Physical book providing the complete 11 Principles Framework for cultivating a culture of character in schools, families, sports teams, and organizations. Sold via the Character.org online store at $28-$35 per unit depending on quantity, with U.S. shipping included.
- School of Character Banners Physical recognition banners available in National, State, Honorable Mention, Emerging, and Promising Practice variants for recognized schools. Horizontal 3'x6' banner priced at $100; vertical 2'x3' banner priced at $75. U.S. shipping included.
- Schools of Character Recognition Program Recognition program for K-12 schools and districts that demonstrates strong implementation of the 11 Principles Framework and builds school culture where students develop integrity, responsibility, and respect. Schools apply for State or National designation through the Member Compass portal. 103 schools and districts recognized in 2026 (94 U.S., 9 international).
- Promising Practices Certification Annual certification program recognizing innovative and effective character-centered practices implemented in schools and organizations. Each certified practice aligns with at least one of the 11 Principles. 290 Promising Practices were certified in 2026 and 230 in 2025.
- Laws of Life Essay Contest International essay competition for students in grades 4-12 that encourages reflection and writing about a core value that means the most to them and why. Open to students worldwide, including submissions from the U.S., South Korea, Romania, Philippines, Ghana, Lebanon, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dubai.
- Character Excellence in the Workplace Recognition Recognition program honoring organizations that intentionally foster workplace cultures of integrity, respect, and shared values. Open to companies and organizations beyond K-12 education. The inaugural 2025 recipient was TiliT, a Brazilian co-working company coached by Perky Ibarra of Instituto Champrett.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3 million students, staff, parents, and community members positively impacted by the Schools of Character program since inception.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Character.org
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Character.org technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Character.org partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- TiliTminorTiliT, a Brazilian company providing shared executive co-working spaces, was named the inaugural recipient of the Character Excellence in the Workplace Recognition in September 2025. TiliT was coached by Perky Ibarra, founder of Instituto Champrett, who guided the company in aligning its organizational practices with core principles of character.
- CharacterPluscoreIn late June 2025, the Character.org board voted to transfer the organization's intellectual property and program-related assets to CharacterPlus. CharacterPlus, based in St. Louis and operating for more than 35 years, now operates the Schools of Character and Promising Practices programs. Mike Park serves as CEO of CharacterPlus. This historic transition united two legacy organizations with a shared mission to help schools, educators, and communities cultivate excellence in character, culture, and leadership.
- The School for Ethical Education (SEE)minorThe School for Ethical Education (SEE), founded by the late John Winthrop Wright, co-sponsors the Laws of Life Essay Contest with Character.org. SEE provides grant funding that makes the contest possible. SEE's motto is 'ethics in action creates character.'
- National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)minorCharacter.org co-wrote the 'Empower Tomorrow's Leaders Today' Student Leaders eBook with the National Youth Leadership Council. The publication provides K-12 educators and counselors with practical strategies for designing and implementing service-learning across all grade levels.
- IpsosminorCharacter.org partnered with Ipsos to conduct a nationally representative survey of parents with children aged 6-18, including parents who are native Spanish speakers. The online survey was conducted August 31 – September 16, 2022, and produced the 'Raising Good Kids' national report on parental commitment and struggles to nurture character in the Digital Age.
- Greater Good Science Center, UC BerkeleyminorDr. Maryam Abdullah, Parenting Program Director at the Greater Good Science Center, University of California, Berkeley, serves on Character.org's Advisory Board and provided invaluable assistance in designing and analyzing the 'Raising Good Kids' national parent survey.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Character.org competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- EL Education: K-12 school network and curriculum provider emphasizing character, crew, and student achievement. Overlaps with Character.org's 11 Principles on culture-building and student leadership in schools, with comparable school recognition/distinction programs.
- Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley): Research and practitioner organization producing evidence-based resources on well-being, character, and parenting. Advisory board member of Character.org and partner on the Raising Good Kids parent survey; comparable in parenting-content and educator-resources offerings.
- Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: Nonprofit providing free K-12 kindness and character lesson plans, educator toolkits, and school recognition programs. Comparable target audience and free resource model, though narrower thematic focus on kindness.
- Character Lab: Research-based nonprofit that helps educators apply character science in classrooms, partnering with schools and producing actionable playbooks. Direct peer in bridging character research to K-12 classroom practice with similar audience and nonprofit funding model.
- Institute for Habits of Mind: Nonprofit promoting Habits of Mind as a framework for teaching thinking dispositions in K-12 schools. Comparable niche as a research-anchored, framework-based character/cognitive skills nonprofit targeting schools and educators.
Broad incumbents
- CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): The leading U.S. SEL framework organization, serving K-12 districts with systemic SEL frameworks and district resources. Overlaps with Character.org in school culture and student development, though CASEL focuses specifically on social-emotional learning competencies.
- Aspen Institute (Education & Society Program): National Forum for Family Wealth and broader civic education initiatives targeting character, citizenship, and ethics. Larger, broader portfolio but overlapping focus on character development in education and society.
Direct peers
- CharacterPlus: St. Louis-based nonprofit that assumed Character.org's operations and IP in June 2025. Directly comparable mission, audience (K-12 schools), and product portfolio (Schools of Character, Promising Practices), with 35+ years of operating experience.
- National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC): Service-learning nonprofit that co-authored Character.org's Student Leaders eBook. Operates in K-12 schools with service-learning frameworks and educator training, directly overlapping Character.org's Promising Practices and student leadership programming.
- Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues: University of Birmingham (UK)-based research center co-developing the Character Education Framework with Character.org. Operates in 175+ countries with 350+ academic publications; the most internationally comparable character education peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Character.org social profiles
Digital presenceCharacter.org compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Character.org financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Character.org leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Character.org funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Character.org M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Character.org
What does Character.org do?
Character.org develops and disseminates the 11 Principles Framework for character education in K-12 schools and operates recognition programs (Schools of Character, Promising Practices) that certify schools, districts, and organizations implementing comprehensive character development initiatives. The organization also runs the Laws of Life Essay Contest for grades 4-12, multiple annual awards (Sandy Award, Ethics In Action Award, Character Excellence in the Workplace Recognition), free downloadable eBooks, a weekly newsletter, and sells physical merchandise (11 Principles Book and School of Character banners) through an online store.
Is Character.org a public or private company?
Character.org is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Character.org founded?
Character.org was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Character.org based?
Character.org is headquartered in Sterling, United States, in the North America region.
How does Character.org make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Books and Banners) is the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants.
Who are Character.org's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are EL Education, Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley), Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Character Lab and Institute for Habits of Mind. Broad incumbents are CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and Aspen Institute (Education & Society Program). Direct peers are CharacterPlus, National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) and Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues.
Does Character.org have an API?
No public API is recorded for Character.org.
What industry is Character.org in?
Character.org's product category is Character Education / K-12 Educational Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAIAG, Leadership, Character Education & Values Development, with a secondary code of EDADACAJ, Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.