IFERS

What IFERS does

IFERS (Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity established in 2004 by Prof. Newton Lee, operating from a single headquarters at 811 West 7th St, Los Angeles, with 11-50 employees. The organization functions as a multi-vertical humanitarian and educational platform, serving as fiscal sponsor for 150+ nonprofit projects, distributing research publications to 6,000+ libraries worldwide through a partnership with the world's largest academic publisher, and reaching 2+ million people across 160+ countries. Its core activities span tax-deductible donation administration (PayPal, credit cards, Google Pay, Venmo, bank wire, and cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and USD Coin), book publishing across scientific, self-help, and children's categories, music publishing via IFERS Music, NFT-based fundraising through CharityNFT, refugee and humanitarian aid (notably a 2024 Ukraine corridor program), scholarship administration, and educational programming including a free Cybersecurity Masterclass and an Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying ChatGPT.

The underlying technology stack is a federated website ecosystem (ifers.org plus themed microsites for autism, environment, refugees, music, books, cybersecurity, and CharityNFT) rather than a unified SaaS platform. Proprietary technology components include CharityNFT, an NFT marketplace with automated donation disbursements to crypto wallets, and the Anti-Bullying ChatGPT, a text-based conversational AI tool. There is no public API, no SDK, and no developer-facing integration surface. Revenue is donation-driven with ancillary earned income from book sales (Amazon and library channels), music streaming royalties, NFT marketplace fees, and fiscal sponsorship administrative fees under Model A, B, and C structures. Donor and beneficiary segments include children, families, students, refugee populations, researchers in fields including AI, cybersecurity, autism, and longevity, and over 150 sub-grantee nonprofit projects.

The business model is community-led, with acquisition and engagement driven by content marketing, influencer partnerships (B-Nonstop, Indiana Mehta, Michael Jackton, Samy Hawk, Santi Storm), social media, conference sponsorships, earned media, and high-profile music collaborations (six-time Grammy winner James 'Bonzai' Caruso, Eric Kupper, Roger Hodgson). Notable institutional partnerships include Tel Aviv University, Vincennes University, NASA/JPL scientists for co-authored children's books, and the New Media Film Festival. The organization holds the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency and has earned awards including a 2024 OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Year. No external funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors are disclosed; the organization is privately held under its founder's leadership.

Name

IFERS

Legal name

Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships

Website

https://ifers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFERS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity founded in 2004 that fiscally sponsors 150+ humanitarian projects, publishes books and music, operates the CharityNFT marketplace, and serves 2+ million people across 160+ countries through education, research, scholarships, and refugee aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Charitable Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAE

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGADAH

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

SECONDARYBPAGACAA

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

Keywords

• Nonprofit fiscal sponsorship
• Humanitarian charitable programs
• Scientific research publishing
• Educational scholarships funding
• Charity cryptocurrency donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting education, research, and scholarships. Accepts PayPal, credit cards, Google Pay, Venmo, bank wire transfers, and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, USD Coin).
2. Fiscal Sponsorship Fees: Administrative fees from fiscal sponsorship of 150+ nonprofit projects. Supports Model A (Direct Project), Model B (Independent Contractor Project), and Model C (Preapproved Grant) structures.
3. Music Publishing Revenue: Revenue from music releases including 'Keep the Love Online', 'Love Gun', and 'Coffee Face' with up to 100% of proceeds donated to humanitarian projects.
4. Book Publishing: Scientific and social research book publishing including 'The Transhumanism Handbook', 'Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity', and 'Facebook Nation'. Books available on Amazon and through 6,000+ libraries worldwide.
5. NFT Sales and Auctions: NFT marketplace fees and percentage donations from NFT sales supporting 32 charitable causes. Automates real-time donation disbursements to crypto wallets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IFERS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that serves as a fiscal sponsor for 150+ humanitarian projects, conducts scientific and social research, publishes books across multiple disciplines, administers scholarships for students and researchers, and provides humanitarian assistance to refugees, women, and children across 160+ countries. The organization additionally operates a free Cybersecurity Masterclass, an AI-powered Anti-Bullying ChatGPT, a music publishing arm (IFERS Music), and the CharityNFT marketplace for nonprofit charitable giving.

Product overview

IFERS (Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2004, not a traditional technology company with commercial products. Its offerings consist primarily of educational programs, publications, and humanitarian initiatives. The core portfolio includes: book publishing (scientific research, self-help, children's books distributed to 6,000+ libraries); the free Cybersecurity Masterclass (1-hour course with 8 topics covering cloud, AI, and social media security); the Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying ChatGPT (a text-based conversational AI); CharityNFT (an NFT marketplace for nonprofits supporting 32 causes); IFERS Music (music publishing with chart-topping artists); the Wellness Center (preventive medicine and longevity research); and various humanitarian programs (refugee aid, scholarships, schools, environmental sustainability). Fiscal sponsorship services for 150+ nonprofit projects round out the offerings. No public API or traditional SaaS product architecture exists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IFERS Music: Music publishing arm of IFERS that supports musicians and DJs for humanity, with revenues supporting education, research, and scholarships worldwide.
• CharityNFT

Products and services

• IFERS 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Programs The umbrella organization offering scientific and social research, fiscal sponsorship for 150+ humanitarian projects, scholarships, and books across 160+ countries.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Services Provides 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for nonprofit projects, enabling tax-deductible donations. Supports Model A (Direct Project), Model B (Independent Contractor), and Model C (Preapproved Grant) fiscal sponsorships for 150+ humanitarian projects.
• Free Cybersecurity Masterclass A free 1-hour comprehensive course covering cloud security, edge computing, 5G/6G networks, AI in cybersecurity, advanced persistent threats, social media security, biometric data protection, and robotics/drones security. Earns participants a Cybersecurity Certificate upon completion.
• Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying ChatGPT An AI-powered conversational chatbot providing a safe space for users to discuss bullying and cyberbullying. No personal data is collected; conversations are strictly confidential. The tool offers guidance on responding to cyberbullies and what to do if being bullied.
• Counterterrorism and Cybersecurity Book Series Academic research books by Prof. Newton Lee covering counterterrorism history, strategies, cybersecurity technologies, intelligence community roles, war and peace, cyber warfare, and quantum computing security. The 3rd edition (2024) won Book of the Year from OnlineBookClub.org.
• Book Publishing (Scientific and Social Research) IFERS publishes scientific and social research books across categories including Social Media & Society, Computers & Security, Art & Music, Fun & Games, Philosophy & Medicine, and Children's Books. Books are distributed to 6,000+ libraries worldwide through academic publishers.
• CharityNFT Marketplace The premier marketplace for NFTs and crypto collectibles for nonprofit charities. Allows users to browse, create, buy, sell, auction, and donate NFTs for charitable causes. Supports 32 different causes including education, environment, children's welfare, and peace.
• IFERS Music Publishing Music publishing arm supporting musicians and DJs for humanity. Artists publish with IFERS Music, donating up to 100% of music revenues to support education, research, and scholarships worldwide. Features chart-topping artists including Roger Hodgson and 6-time Grammy winner James 'Bonzai' Caruso.
• Refugees, Women, and Children Program Humanitarian aid program providing housing, food, medicine, and education to refugees worldwide. Active in Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Romania, France, Japan, Portugal, and the United States. Partners with organizations including Tel Aviv University and Vincennes University for scholarships.
• Schools and Scholarships Program Educational support including Adopt a School program supporting New Mercy Care Schools in Nairobi, Kenya; Sun Cinematography Awards at USC; Angeles Workshop School; and scholarships for refugees through Tel Aviv University and Vincennes University.
• Career Services Cultural exchange and visa services including J-1 hospitality, internship, teaching programs, CPT and OPT support, H-1B and O-1 assistance, and U.S. Green Card employment-based job placement support for international candidates.
• Environmental Sustainability and Protection Program Global environmental awareness initiative focusing on climate crisis education, critical climate indicators (CO2 concentration, temperature increase, sea level rise), climate tipping points, and technological breakthroughs including underwater cities, OTEC energy, and deep-ocean water desalination.
• Conferences and Events Sponsorship Sponsors conferences including ECET2 Southwest Conference for K-12 teachers, Wellness & Longevity Seminar, Earth Day Peace Conference, Computer Graphics & Animation Conference, and Scholarships Conference featuring $15,000 awards at American Film Institute.
• Claudia's Class Goes to Mars (Children's Book) Children's book written by Z. Nagin Cox (NASA/JPL Spacecraft Systems Engineer) and Rosaly Lopes (NASA/JPL Senior Research Scientist). Inspired by Dr. Claudia Alexander. Features VR trip to Mars for characters aged 4-12. Priced under $10 on Amazon.
• Autism, Family & You Book (2025 Edition) New 2025 edition of 'Autism, Family & You' book by Dr. Ian Hale, a timely must-read for families with autistic children, teachers, and autism researchers.
• The Transhumanism Handbook (Preventive Medicine) The Transhumanism Handbook published by Springer Nature was the #1 New Release in Preventive Medicine on Amazon.com for more than 4 months. Covers immune system rejuvenation, age reversal, and super longevity in 882 pages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2+ million people served including children, families, students, and teachers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

AI capability5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New Media Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to launch first-ever NFT Collection for the 2025 Audience Choice Awards, featured in LA Weekly.
• Brighter Future For Ukrainian Children & WomencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024California-based organization created to save lives and create a better future for Ukrainian children and women using trusted network of volunteers and friends in Ukraine, Spain, and Poland.
• Tel Aviv UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Largest public research university in Israel (30,000+ students) offering emergency scholarships to host up to 20 research students from Ukrainian universities.
• Vincennes UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Public college founded in 1801 by William Henry Harrison offering 25 full scholarships to college students from Ukraine.
• Catherine Rhodes / Working NurseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Editor and publisher of Working Nurse magazine who traveled from California to Ukraine to assist with medical equipment delivery to civilian hospitals.
• Dr. Antoine ChevalierminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024White House Functional Medicine Practitioner since 2001 partnering to support Ukrainian refugees.
• Music MovesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nonprofit receiving fiscal sponsorship from IFERS to raise awareness for music education in public schools through CSR initiatives and annual concerts.
• Roger Hodgson (The Logical Song)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Musician supporting peace, love, and freedom through Newton's book 'Google It: Total Information Awareness' and soundtrack 'Newton Lee - Google It'.
• James 'Bonzai' CarusominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Six-time Grammy-winning producer and remix artist who co-produced 'Keep the Love Online' with Prof. Newton Lee.
• Eric KupperminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Renowned keyboardist, arranger, songwriter, remix artist, DJ with 100+ #1 Billboard records who created Eric Kupper Remix of 'Keep the Love Online'.
• World's Largest Academic PublishercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Partnership with the world's largest academic publisher to disseminate IFERS scientific and social research results to more than 6,000 libraries worldwide.
• Z. Nagin Cox (NASA/JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpacecraft Systems Engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who co-authored children's book 'Claudia's Class Goes to Mars'.
• Rosaly Lopes (NASA/JPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Research Scientist in Planetary Science at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who co-authored 'Claudia's Class Goes to Mars'.
• Sherry-Ann Brown / Dr. Brown Cares StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysician scientist and founder of Dr. Brown Cares Studio who illustrated 'Claudia's Class Goes to Mars'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Benevity: Benevity is a software platform powering corporate giving, volunteering, and grantmaking to nonprofits — comparable to IFERS's fiscal-sponsorship infrastructure and donor/grantee matching role, though Benevity is a for-profit SaaS business.
• Network for Good: Network for Good provides donation software, fundraising infrastructure, and fiscal-sponsorship-adjacent services to small nonprofits — overlapping with IFERS's role as a fiscal intermediary and donation-platform operator.
• GlobalGiving: GlobalGiving is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a crowdfunding and fiscal-sponsorship platform for humanitarian and community projects worldwide — directly comparable to IFERS's 150+ project fiscal sponsorship model and 160-country footprint.
• National Philanthropic Trust: NPT is a 501(c)(3) that administers donor-advised funds and grantmaking on behalf of individuals and institutions — comparable to IFERS's Model A/B/C fiscal sponsorship structure and donor fund management.

Broad incumbents

• Internet Archive: Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) digital library that publishes and disseminates knowledge to libraries and the public — directly comparable to IFERS's 6,000+ library distribution and book-publishing arm.
• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid nonprofit providing medical and emergency assistance globally — comparable to IFERS's refugee, women-and-children, and humanitarian programs across 160+ countries.
• charity: water: charity: water is a 501(c)(3) that funds humanitarian projects with strong digital fundraising and donor-experience branding — comparable in donation-driven model and project-sponsorship structure to IFERS.
• Candid (GuideStar): Candid operates GuideStar and the Platinum Seal of Transparency, the same seal IFERS holds — making it an adjacent ecosystem incumbent that IFERS relies on for nonprofit credibility signals.
• Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) that produces free educational content (including cybersecurity-adjacent curricula) and distributes globally — a comparable nonprofit education-and-scholarship operator, though at significantly larger scale.
• Wikimedia Foundation: Wikimedia is a 501(c)(3) that funds, disseminates, and publishes free knowledge globally — sharing IFERS's nonprofit publishing-and-distribution model, donor-funded research, and education mission at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/newtonlee
• Xx.com/ifersorg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 IFERS