EduDream

What EduDream does

EduDream is a Chicago-based, Latina-founded and women-owned research consulting firm established in May 2016 by co-founders Michelle Oliva and Monica Martinez. The firm partners with foundations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to deliver culturally responsive, equity-centered research and evaluation services that aim to surface the voices of racially and economically diverse students, families, and communities. As of May 2024, EduDream operates with 9 employees out of Chicago and a Texas office, having completed more than 55 projects across more than 75 communities since founding.

The firm's core technology is the proprietary CREE (Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation) framework, an equity-centered methodology combining participatory and culturally appropriate research methods with flexible context-specific research designs. This is operationalized through a four-phase engagement process (Discovery and Planning, Research Design, Research Preparation and Implementation, Reporting and Communicating Research Findings) and packaged into four core services — Actionable Research, Data Strategy, Program Evaluation, and Needs Assessment — along with two 2025-launched productized offerings (Learning and Evaluation Solutions for Nonprofits, Data Strategy Solutions) and supporting toolkits including the EduDream Equity Toolkit (EET) and District/School Readiness Assessment (DSRA). EduDream also operates the K12 Research for Equity Hub (The Hub), a multi-year research initiative funded by the Gates and Walton Family Foundations that convenes a consortium of research partners.

EduDream's business model is project-based professional services revenue, primarily sourced from foundations and nonprofit clients on multi-year engagements, with quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales — discovery calls, contact form submissions, and structured onboarding — targeting foundation program officers, nonprofit executive teams, and education institution leadership. The firm holds M/WBE and Women's Business Enterprise certifications that enhance procurement access on diversity-mandated RFPs. Notable clients and partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Big Shoulders Fund, Thornburg Foundation, Partnership for College Completion, Illinois Action for Children, Aspen Institute, Teach For America, and William + Flora Hewlett Foundation. EduDream has no disclosed outside equity funding, is privately held by its co-founders, and reports no revenue figures publicly.

Name

EduDream

Legal name

EduDream

Website

https://edudream.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EduDream is a Latina-founded, women-owned research consulting firm that provides equity-centered research, program evaluation, and data strategy services to foundations, nonprofits, and educational institutions using its proprietary CREE framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Research Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

Keywords

• Education research consulting
• Equity evaluation services
• Program evaluation services
• Data strategy consulting
• Needs assessment research

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Evaluation Services: EduDream generates revenue through professional services including actionable research, program evaluation, data strategy consulting, and needs assessments for nonprofits, foundations, and educational institutions. Services are project-based with multi-year partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EduDream is an equity-centered research consulting firm that delivers actionable mixed-methods research, program evaluation, data strategy consulting, and needs assessments to nonprofits, foundations, and educational institutions. All services embed the proprietary Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation (CREE) framework to elevate voices of racially and economically diverse students, families, and communities and inform strategic, programmatic, and policy decisions. The firm also operates the K12 Research for Equity Hub, a multi-year research initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Walton Family Foundation.

Product overview

EduDream is a Latina-founded, women-owned research consulting firm offering a portfolio of culturally responsive, equity-centered research and strategy services. The core offerings include Actionable Research, Data Strategy, Program Evaluation, and Needs Assessment. The company also provides specialized solutions including Learning and Evaluation Solutions for Nonprofits (with offerings like Insights for Organizational Learning, Inclusive Evaluation Planning, and co-creation of evaluation plans), and manages the K12 Research for Equity Hub (The Hub), a multi-year research initiative on K12 accountability and assessment systems. Supporting tools include the EduDream Equity Toolkit (EET) and District/School Readiness Assessment (DSRA). All services embed CREE (Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation) principles across a four-phase process: Discovery and Planning, Research Design, Research Preparation and Implementation, and Reporting and Communicating Research Findings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Actionable Research

Quantifiable outcome

• Conducted research with 75 communities since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Illinois Action for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Five-year partnership launched in 2023 to provide research and analysis support free of charge to early childhood collaboratives across the state of Illinois. EduDream supports data strategy, needs assessment, and actionable research for early childhood programs.
• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor foundation partner funding student motivation research (synthesis of 100+ studies) and the K12 Research for Equity Hub. Partnership involves actionable research to direct strategy and investments in education equity.
• Thornburg FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned EduDream to partner with Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) in New Mexico for early childhood funding research that led to creation of New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department.
• Partnership for College CompletionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership examining college access and completion for students of color in Illinois. Research led to policy action and legislation positively impacting student success.
• Big Shoulders FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership to understand expansion into Northwest Indiana. EduDream conducted needs assessment contributing to $166 million investment for school improvements.
• Teach For AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership created in 2018 for education research collaboration.
• Aspen InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Education & Society Program at Aspen Institute to conduct research and provide guidance on using school climate data.
• Fox Valley United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompleted two-year evaluation for Fox Valley United Way in Aurora, IL in 2019.
• Bellwether Education PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in K12 Research for Equity Hub examining through-year assessment implementations in Delaware, Florida, Nebraska, and Texas.
• Migration Policy InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner studying state accountability system implications for English language learners.
• Choice-filled Lives NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner focusing on human-flourishing design principles in accountability considerations.
• Education AnalyticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner studying early warning systems in school accountability systems.
• Lyons Assessment ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner evaluating compatibility of performance-based assessment systems with federal requirements, studying the Portfolios of Performance Pilot.
• Houston Education Research ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner analyzing changes to Texas K-12 accountability system focusing on college, career, and military readiness measures.
• Center for Innovation in EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner examining Kentucky's Allen County Schools co-design processes for performance assessment systems.
• Harvard Center for Education Policy ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Data Project fellowship affiliation for professional development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WestEd: A large nonprofit education research and development agency serving federal, state, and foundation clients on a wide range of K-12 and equity topics. Overlaps with EduDream on equity-focused evaluation and district research but operates at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Mathematica Policy Research: Major social policy research firm conducting program evaluations and policy research for federal agencies and major foundations. Overlaps with EduDream on education equity evaluation but operates as a much broader incumbent with deeper institutional relationships.
• MDRC: Nonprofit education and social policy research organization known for rigorous program evaluations. Direct overlap with EduDream on education program evaluation; EduDream is also an MDRC STEP grantee, indicating an existing ecosystem relationship.
• American Institutes for Research (AIR): One of the largest U.S. behavioral and social science research organizations, with deep K-12 evaluation and equity practices. Comparable in evaluation methodology; co-founder Michelle Oliva's prior employer. Competes on similar foundation contracts at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• HCM Strategists: An education policy consulting and advocacy firm that works with foundations, nonprofits, and state agencies on equity-oriented education reform. Comparable in mission, client segments, and policy translation focus.
• Cross & Joftus: A small education research and consulting firm focused on equity, deeper learning, and college/career readiness. Comparable to EduDream in scale, equity-centered positioning, and foundation/donor client base.
• Bellwether Education Partners: A nonprofit education research and consulting firm that partners with foundations, districts, and states on equity-focused education issues. Highly comparable to EduDream in mission and client base, and is already an active research partner of EduDream on the K12 Research for Equity Hub.
• Education Trust: A national nonprofit that conducts equity-centered research and advocacy on educational opportunity for low-income students and students of color. Directly comparable in mission, methodology emphasis, and foundation/nonprofit buyer base.
• Learning Policy Institute: A research and policy organization focused on equitable education systems, working with foundations and states on evidence-based research. Comparable in equity research methodology and foundation client base.

Emerging players

• Aspen Institute Education & Society Program: Policy program focused on practice, policy, and research translation for education leaders. Active partner of EduDream on school climate research; comparable in equity-and-policy focus though operating primarily through convenings rather than consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/edudreamorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edudream-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 EduDream