Painting Pandas

What Painting Pandas does

Painting Pandas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 in Austin, Texas, that provides free art education and supplies to K-5 students, primarily in under-resourced elementary schools. The organization is built around an exclusively developed contemporary art curriculum of approximately 288 lessons aligned with National Arts Standards, integrating storytelling, contemporary artists, cultural history, and social-emotional learning. Curriculum and programming are delivered through multiple channels: in-person instruction at partner schools (University of Chicago NKO Charter School, CRETE Academy in Los Angeles), community events (Art in the Park, Movies in the Park with Austin Parks Foundation), Mobile Studio pop-ups at healthcare and nonprofit sites (Ronald McDonald House, Lirios Pediatrics, Austin Humane Society), and the Painting Pandas Academy e-learning platform, which launched in Spring 2026 with live K-5 instructor-led virtual classes and a digital library of 72 on-demand video lessons.

The organization's core technology is the Painting Pandas Academy e-learning platform hosted at paintingpandasacademy.org, which provides live virtual classes and on-demand content for families nationwide. Supporting features include 100 sketchbook prompts (50 creative + 50 SEL), the Passport Program (stamps at events redeemable for free gifts after 2+ stamps), and a collaborative guitar painting project inspired by Jim Dine. The organization integrates with Facebook Connect for authentication.

Painting Pandas is funded entirely through donations, grants, and community support — including a Walmart Giving grant, corporate partnerships with Kendra Scott, Buff City Soap, and Benchmark Bank, and donations routed through paintingpandas.org. All programs are free for participants. The organization is led by Founder and President Jill Turner, with a Board of Directors including Norah Rudyk (Secretary), Julia Curry, Leslie Wingo, and Donna Wilkins, and a Director of Development. Operating geographies span Texas, Illinois, and California through school partnerships, with nationwide reach via the Academy platform.

Name

Painting Pandas

Legal name

Painting Pandas

Website

https://paintingpandas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Painting Pandas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in Austin in 2020 that delivers free contemporary art education and supplies to K-5 students, primarily in under-resourced elementary schools, through school partnerships, community events, and the Painting Pandas Academy e-learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Art Education (Nonprofit)

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Children's art education
• Nonprofit art programs
• After-school enrichment
• Social-emotional learning
• Arts curriculum K-5

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Painting Pandas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on donations, grants, and community support to provide free art education and supplies. They receive grants from organizations like Walmart and accept donations through their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Painting Pandas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free art education programs and supplies to K-5 students, primarily at under-resourced elementary schools. Its core offering is a standards-aligned contemporary art curriculum (approximately 288 lessons) delivered through in-person instruction at partner schools, community events, and the Painting Pandas Academy e-learning platform featuring live virtual classes and 72 on-demand video lessons.

Product overview

Painting Pandas is a nonprofit organization offering a multi-channel art education platform. The core offering is its exclusively developed contemporary art curriculum (approximately 288 lessons for K-5), which integrates contemporary art with storytelling, cultural history, and social-emotional learning. This curriculum is delivered through three primary channels: (1) in-person instruction at partner elementary schools and community events, (2) Painting Pandas Academy, an e-learning platform providing live virtual classes and 72 on-demand video lessons, and (3) community programs including Mobile Studio pop-ups and art supply distribution to Title I schools. Supporting offerings include the Passport Program with Sketchbook Prompts (100 creative and SEL-focused activities), Art in the Park events, and Movies in the Park outdoor screenings. The organization primarily serves under-resourced elementary schools and families nationwide, with established partnerships in Austin, TX, Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Painting Pandas Academy: E-learning platform offering live virtual art classes for K-5 students and digital library of on-demand video lessons

Products and services

• Contemporary Art Curriculum for K-5 Standards-aligned contemporary art curriculum for K-5 students integrating storytelling, contemporary artists, cultural history, and social-emotional learning with hands-on art projects. The curriculum includes approximately 288 lessons tailored by grade group and is designed for under-resourced elementary schools.
• Painting Pandas Academy (E-Learning Platform) E-learning platform hosting live virtual art classes for K-5 students with instructor-led real-time sessions and a digital library of 72 on-demand video lessons. Expands program reach to families nationwide, including homeschooling parents and families seeking enrichment.
• Passport Program with Sketchbook Prompts Creative sketchbook prompt collection featuring 50 art prompts and 50 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) prompts designed for K-5 students. Includes a participation incentive where children collect passport stamps at events and earn free gifts after collecting 2+ stamps.
• Art in the Park Free community art lessons and supplies provided in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation at Austin parks for all ages. Includes nature-inspired art projects, contemporary artist lessons, and a collaborative guitar painting project inspired by Jim Dine.
• Movies in the Park Free outdoor movie screenings hosted alongside Austin Parks Foundation, featuring family-friendly films with art activities and community engagement opportunities at Austin parks.
• Mobile Studio Pop-ups In-person art education outreach providing mobile art supply distribution and instruction at various community locations including Title I schools, Ronald McDonald House, Austin Humane Society, pediatric clinics, and community events.
• Art Supply Distribution Free art education and quality art supplies distributed to underserved schools and communities, particularly Title I schools. Began with drive-thru distribution events in May 2020 and continues as a core program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ students served through school partnerships
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CRETE Academy (Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024New school partnership beginning March 2024, expanding Painting Pandas' reach to Los Angeles. Part of the organization's focus on serving under-resourced elementary schools.
• University of Chicago - NKO Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023Comprehensive school partnership where Painting Pandas provides curriculum and supplies for in-school art instruction integrated with Health and Fitness curriculum. Currently serving 350 students in grades K-5 with weekly classes taught by the school's health and fitness teacher.
• Northwest Austin YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023Partnership for two weeks of summer camps combining Painting Pandas curriculum with YMCA's space and students. Included 'Foodie Art' and 'Passport to Planets' themed week-long classes.
• Austin Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2023Summer Kids Series partnership where children painted sea turtles and participated in under the sea activities. Painting Pandas brings art education to Austin Humane Society events.
• Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 May 2023Founder Jill Turner and Board Member Leslie Wingo spoke at an ACRC meeting to discuss Painting Pandas' work and impact in communities.
• Buff City SoapminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2023Collaboration where Buff City Soap donated 15% of sales of exclusive Painting Pandas 'Purple Passion' soap and 1% of all February sales to support free art education efforts.
• Austin Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Austin Parks Foundation to provide Art in the Park and Movies in the Park community events. Includes the collaborative guitar painting project inspired by Jim Dine, traveling to all Austin Parks Foundation events to encourage artistic collaboration and community connection.
• Kendra ScottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHoliday event partnership at Kendra Scott Flagship Store on South Congress. A portion of proceeds from the event go toward funding free art programs for kids and families.
• Austin Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Art Making events at various Austin Public Library branches with bilingual Spanish and English instruction. Free, drop-in artmaking for the whole family with all materials provided.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KidzArt: Art education franchise focused on children K-8, with school and community programming comparable in format to Painting Pandas' in-school curriculum delivery.
• Abrakadoodle: Art education program franchised to schools and community organizations, delivering in-classroom art curricula to children similar to Painting Pandas' school-partnership model.
• Young Rembrandts: National art education franchise offering after-school and in-school drawing programs for elementary-aged children, the closest direct competitor in mission, audience, and channel.
• Art To Grow On: Nonprofit delivering visual art residencies and curriculum to K-8 schools — closely aligned mission-driven art education with in-school delivery to under-resourced schools.

Others

• DonorsChoose: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform for classroom supplies and projects; overlaps on the Title I / under-resourced school funding thesis and competes for similar donor dollars.
• AdoptAClassroom: Nonprofit funding teacher-supply needs directly; competes for foundation and corporate grant dollars targeting K-12 classroom materials.
• The Contemporary Austin:

Emerging players

• TakeLessons: Online marketplace connecting learners with instructors across many subjects including art; adjacent competitor in the broader kids' virtual enrichment space.
• Outschool: Online marketplace for live small-group classes for kids; competes with the Painting Pandas Academy virtual classes in the same parent/homeschool segment with a broader subject range.

Broad incumbents

• Crayola: Major consumer arts/crafts brand with extensive school and educator programs; broader portfolio across products and lessons rather than a focused nonprofit curriculum specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Painting-Pandas-269642611573455
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/painting-pandas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Painting Pandas