Civics Learning Project
Civics Learning Project is an Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides K-12 civics education programs—including Mock Trial, We the People, and Courthouse Tours—to students and teachers statewide through direct school engagement and legal-community partnerships, funded entirely by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Civics Learning Project does
Civics Learning Project (CLP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1983, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with regional offices in Medford and Eugene. The organization delivers comprehensive K-12 civics education across Oregon through a portfolio of student-facing programs—including the Oregon High School Mock Trial (coordinated nationally since 1987), We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (in partnership with the Center for Civic Education), Community Action Projects (Project Citizen), Courthouse Experience Tours in six Oregon counties, Law Day events, and the $10,000 Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Scholarship—and teacher professional development offerings including the Oregon Civics Conference, Summer Institute, and workshops that provide PDU hours. Supporting infrastructure includes the Educator Resource Community (ERC) online platform and a comprehensive resources archive for curriculum distribution.
CLP's technology stack is deliberately minimal and human-centric: a WordPress website, an online resource-sharing platform for educators, and standard social media channels—no proprietary software products, AI/ML capabilities, or technology-based revenue streams are present. The organization employs 8 staff members led by Executive Director Sam Kang (appointed 2023) and operates through a community-led go-to-market model where Regional Program Managers directly engage Oregon school districts, while legal professionals (lawyers, judges) serve as volunteer competition judges and coaches.
CLP's revenue model is entirely philanthropic: all programs are delivered free of charge to participants, with funding sourced from individual donations (monthly, one-time, major gifts), corporate Circle Memberships (President Circle at $15,000+, Senate Circle at $5,000+), foundation grants (M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Oregon Community Foundation, ABOTA Foundation), government contracts, event revenue (annual 'Future in Common' gala), and planned giving through the More Perfect Union Society. In the 2023-24 school year, CLP reached approximately 173,000 students and 2,134 teachers statewide, up from 147,000 students and 1,312 teachers in 2022-23. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors and maintains BBB Charity Seal accreditation.
Civics Learning Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Civics Learning Project
- Legal name
- Civics Learning Project
- Website
- https://civicslearning.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Civics Learning Project is an Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides K-12 civics education programs—including Mock Trial, We the People, and Courthouse Tours—to students and teachers statewide through direct school engagement and legal-community partnerships, funded entirely by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Civics Learning Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civics Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Studies & Civics Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Civics Learning Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Civics Learning Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals, with various giving levels including monthly recurring donations, one-time gifts, and major gifts. Donors are recognized on website and annual report with graduated recognition at $5,000+ levels.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Major support from legal, education, and business communities along with foundations and trusts. Circle Membership program offers corporate partnership tiers (President Circle $15,000+, Senate Circle $5,000+).
- Event Revenue: Annual gala 'Future in Common' generates sponsorship and ticket revenue. Additional events include Law Day and various program-related activities.
- Government Contracts and Participation Fees: Some revenue from government contracts and student participation fees for programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free programs for K-12 students and teachers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Civics Learning Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Civics Learning Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides K-12 civics education programs and teacher professional development across Oregon. Its offerings include Mock Trial competitions, We the People constitutional curriculum, Community Action Projects (Project Citizen), Courthouse Experience Tours, Law Day events, and the Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Scholarship, all delivered free of charge to participants and funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.
Product overview
Civics Learning Project is Oregon's leader in civics education, offering a comprehensive portfolio of student programs and professional development services. The core student programs include We the People (constitutional curriculum with simulated congressional hearings), Mock Trial (competitive courtroom program), Community Action Projects/Project Citizen (inquiry-based policy development), Courthouse Experience Tours (field trips), Law Day events, and the Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Scholarship. The professional development offerings include the Oregon Civics Conference, Summer Institute, and Workshops & Trainings for K-12 educators. Supporting infrastructure includes the Educator Resource Community (ERC) platform for resource sharing and collaboration, a comprehensive Resources Archive, and the Peter & Leslie Richter Civic Educator of the Year Award program. The organization also operates fundraising initiatives including the Future in Common annual gala and planned giving through the More Perfect Union Society. The product architecture functions as a unified educational service portfolio rather than a software platform, with programs designed to work together to provide end-to-end civics education from K-12 through teacher professional development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Oregon High School Mock Trial A classroom strategy and extracurricular competition where students play the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and court officers using a mock court case to gain public speaking, teamwork, research, collaboration, legal concepts, and civic engagement skills. Oregon has participated in the National High School Mock Trial Competition since 1987.
- We the People: The Citizen & The Constitution An active learning curriculum designed by the Center for Civic Education to foster deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and government institutions, with culminating simulated congressional hearings.
- Community Action Projects (Project Citizen) An inquiry-based student action program where students research, collaborate, and develop new policies around community issues through a structured portfolio submission process.
- Courthouse Experience Tours Field trips to courthouses where students observe real-life interactions between judges, attorneys, and clients, available in Jackson, Multnomah, and Lane counties.
- Law Day Annual event featuring collaborative conversations and educational activities about law and civic engagement, held in South Willamette Valley.
- Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Scholarship Scholarship of $2,500 per year for four years ($10,000 total) awarded annually to Oregon high school students, established by Civics Learning Project co-founders.
- Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers Annual professional development conference for educators providing insider perspectives on Oregon government branches, teaching strategies, and applicable classroom materials.
- Summer Institute Multi-day professional development institute for teachers offering training in civics education strategies and curriculum.
- Workshops & Trainings Content and strategy workshops for K-12 teachers providing PDU hours and actionable training for immediate classroom application.
Companies that use Civics Learning Project
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Civics Learning Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Civics Learning Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered key partner, core partner, regional partner and minor.
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)key partnerOPB President & CEO Rachel Smolkin served as emcee for the 2026 Future in Common gala. OPB provides media coverage and broadcast of Legal Citizen of the Year interview, including the 2024 interview with Gov. Barbara Roberts on 'Think Out Loud'.
- Center for Civic Educationcore partnerThe Center for Civic Education founded and designed the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. CLP serves as Oregon's state coordinator for this national program and coordinates the national competition.
- National High School Mock Trial Competition (NHSMTC)core partnerCLP coordinates Oregon's participation in the National High School Mock Trial Competition since 1987. Oregon teams compete regionally, then at state level, with winner advancing to national competition.
- Oregon Courts (Circuit Courts)core partnerCourthouse Experience Tours operate in partnership with Multnomah County, Lane County, Jackson County, Clackamas County, Deschutes County, and Washington County Circuit Courts. Oregon Supreme Court holds live hearings accessible to students.
- Oregon State Barcore partnerThe Oregon State Bar created an Ad Hoc Committee on Law Related Education in 1976 that partnered with CLP. OSB continues as a Circle Member and supporter of civics education programs.
- Lewis & Clark Law Schoolregional partnerCLP provides Street Law program through Lewis & Clark Law School. Professor Steve Johansen serves on CLP board and teaches at the law school.
- Oregon League of Conservation VotersminorFormer employer of Programs and Events Specialist Morgan Bechtold. No active partnership indicated.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Civics Learning Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Close Up Foundation: National civic education nonprofit that runs youth civic programs, teacher professional development, and Washington D.C. experiential learning. Comparable in mission to engage students and teachers in democratic participation.
- Generation Citizen: Nonprofit that brings civics education and action-based projects into middle and high schools nationwide. Comparable in delivering project-based civic engagement programs to K-12 students.
- iCivics: Founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics is the largest provider of civics curriculum and games to U.S. K-12 classrooms. Comparable as a national civics education nonprofit competing for the same teacher and student audience.
- National Constitution Center: Nonprofit chartered by Congress to increase civic education and awareness of the U.S. Constitution. Comparable as a constitutional and civics education provider for K-12 audiences, with a similar funder and partner base.
- Street Law, Inc. National nonprofit providing law-related education programs for high school students, including classroom and mock trial-style programs. Lewis & Clark Law School delivers a Street Law program in partnership with CLP, indicating close programmatic overlap.
- Bill of Rights Institute: Nonprofit developing educational resources on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights for high school students and teachers. Directly comparable constitutional literacy mission.
- Center for Civic Education: National nonprofit that designs the We the People curriculum that Civics Learning Project implements in Oregon. Directly comparable as a civics education nonprofit serving K-12 students and teachers with constitutional and democratic-participation curriculum.
- Constitutional Rights Foundation: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing civics and law-related education programs, mock trial, and curriculum resources for K-12 schools. Comparable as a regional/state-affiliated civics education nonprofit with similar program mix.
Others
- Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Oregon statewide public media partner that amplifies Civics Learning Project events, broadcasts Legal Citizen of the Year interviews, and provides media reach. Not a direct competitor but a key ecosystem partner for civic education in Oregon.
Emerging players
- Mikva Challenge: Chicago-based nonprofit engaging youth in civic participation, action civics, and youth voice in policymaking. Comparable mission of youth civic engagement but with more focus on action civics than mock trial or constitutional curriculum.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Civics Learning Project social profiles
Digital presenceCivics Learning Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Civics Learning Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Civics Learning Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Civics Learning Project 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 Civics Learning Project
What does Civics Learning Project do?
Civics Learning Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides K-12 civics education programs and teacher professional development across Oregon. Its offerings include Mock Trial competitions, We the People constitutional curriculum, Community Action Projects (Project Citizen), Courthouse Experience Tours, Law Day events, and the Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Scholarship, all delivered free of charge to participants and funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.
Is Civics Learning Project a public or private company?
Civics Learning Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Civics Learning Project founded?
Civics Learning Project was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Civics Learning Project based?
Civics Learning Project is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Civics Learning Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants, event Revenue and government Contracts and Participation Fees.
Who are Civics Learning Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Close Up Foundation, Generation Citizen, iCivics, National Constitution Center, Street Law, Inc., Bill of Rights Institute, Center for Civic Education and Constitutional Rights Foundation. Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) is listed as an others. Mikva Challenge is listed as an emerging player.
Does Civics Learning Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Civics Learning Project.
What industry is Civics Learning Project in?
Civics Learning Project's product category is Civics Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAFAI, Social Studies & Civics Instruction (School-Delivered), with a secondary code of BPAGADAI, Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.