Urban Ed Academy

What Urban Ed Academy does

Urban Ed Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Francisco, focused on increasing the representation of Black male educators in Bay Area public schools. Its flagship program, the Man the Bay Educator Fellowship, launched in 2018 as a four-year fellowship for Black male college graduates pursuing teaching credentials, providing credentialing tuition coverage up to $15,000 and a tiered housing subsidy (100% in year one, 75% in year two, subsidized in years three and four). The organization previously operated SMART+ Saturdays (2010–2016), a STEM enrichment program for young men in San Francisco, and claims to have reached more than 2,000 students annually across 14 school sites.

The fellowship model relies on a partnership network that includes district employers (SFUSD, OUSD, Education for Change, Envision Education) and university credentialing pathways (Stanford, SF State, Alder Graduate School, Cal State Teach-Fresno). Aligned nonprofit partners include Stem to the Future, BlackFemaleProject, and Black Teacher Project. Urban Ed Academy claims an economic return of approximately $250,000 per fellow, implying $25 million in total economic benefits at a scale of 100 fellows.

The organization is funded through donations and grants, with no disclosed technology platform, productized offering, or earned-revenue model. Leadership comprises Dr. Kai Mathews (Executive Director), Dr. John Edwards (VP of Programs), Darius Fequiere (Sr. Director of Impact & Learning), and Jacqueline Smith (Sr. Director of Development). In 2025, the organization earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency. Urban Ed Academy has announced it will sunset operations effective July 1, 2025, ending its programs and partnerships.

Name

Urban Ed Academy

Legal name

Urban Ed Academy

Website

https://urbanedacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Ed Academy is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit running the Man the Bay Educator Fellowship, a four-year program placing Black male college graduates into Bay Area teaching roles, and is sunsetting operations effective July 1, 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educator Development Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Educator fellowship programs
• Teacher diversity initiatives
• Culturally responsive education
• Nonprofit educator recruitment
• Workforce housing support

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Urban Ed Academy's primary revenue comes from charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization hosts an annual gala and accepts direct donations through its website.
2. Housing Support Services: Fellows receive housing support throughout the 4-year fellowship with graduated coverage: 100% in year one, 75% in year two, and subsidized housing in years three and four through housing partner arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Ed Academy operates the Man the Bay Educator Fellowship, a 4-year program that recruits Black male college graduates, covers up to $15,000 in teaching credentialing tuition, places fellows in Bay Area K-12 classrooms through school district partnerships, and provides graduated housing support (100% year one, 75% year two, subsidized years three and four), bi-weekly coaching, professional development, and mental health services. The fellowship combines recruitment, credentialing, placement, housing, and ongoing mentorship as a single wraparound service for aspiring Black male educators.

Product overview

Urban Ed Academy is a nonprofit educational organization operating a single core program, the Man the Bay Educator Fellowship, supplemented by support services including workforce housing, credentialing support, and professional development. The organization also previously operated the SMART+ Saturday program (2010-2016). The Man the Bay fellowship is a 4-year program that recruits Black male college graduates, provides them with teacher credentialing support, places them in Bay Area classrooms, and provides housing and ongoing mentorship throughout their fellowship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Man the Bay Educator Fellowship Program A 4-year educator fellowship that recruits, prepares, houses, and supports Black male college graduates through the teacher credentialing process and into teaching careers in the Bay Area. Fellows are placed in classrooms at partner schools while receiving professional development, mentorship, housing support, credentialing tuition coverage, and mental health services.
• Campus Ambassador Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ students reached annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• BlackFemaleProject (Teacher Truth initiative)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Co-hosting partner for Black Educators Night Out events. This partnership unites three nonprofits serving Black educators in the Bay Area for joy-centered gatherings celebrating and honoring Black teachers.
• Black Teacher ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Co-hosting partner for Black Educators Night Out events. Three nonprofit organizations united to support Black educator mental health and wellness through curated appreciation events.
• Alder Graduate School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Credentialing partner providing teacher credentialing programs for Urban Ed Academy fellows. Urban Ed covers up to $15,000 in tuition for fellows enrolled in their programs.
• Cal State Teach-FresnocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Credentialing partner for teacher preparation programs. Fellows receive support with placement and tuition coverage for credentialing.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018University partner for educator credentialing programs, providing academic pathway for Urban Ed Academy fellows.
• San Francisco State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Credentialing partner providing teacher preparation programs for Urban Ed fellows, supporting the educator pipeline into Bay Area schools.
• Stem to the Future (STTF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Professional development partner providing quarterly professional developments on Liberatory Design and supporting fellows in student leadership initiatives and community projects.
• San Francisco Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner where Urban Ed Academy fellows are placed as classroom teachers. District employs fellows and pays their salaries.
• Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner for fellow placement. Fellows work as teachers while receiving ongoing support from Urban Ed Academy.
• Education for Change Public SchoolssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter school network partner providing placement opportunities for Urban Ed Academy fellows as classroom educators.
• Envision EducationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter school network partner for fellow placement, expanding the ecosystem of schools where Black male educators are placed.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Broad incumbents

• Teach For America: National nonprofit that recruits and places teachers (including a dedicated Black educator initiative) into high-need schools; comparable to Urban Ed Academy as a teacher-pipeline nonprofit, though far larger in scale and scope.
• KIPP Foundation: National charter school network that recruits and trains diverse educators. Comparable to Urban Ed Academy in operating a teacher pipeline to high-need communities and developing school leadership talent.
• TNTP (The New Teacher Project): National nonprofit focused on teacher preparation, recruitment, and policy advocacy. Comparable to Urban Ed Academy's mission of expanding and diversifying the educator workforce, with broader programmatic reach.
• 100 Black Men of America: National mentoring organization focused on African American youth through education and career development. Comparable in its emphasis on Black male representation in education and youth mentorship, though broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Black Teacher Project: Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to retaining and developing Black educators; co-hosts Black Educators Night Out with Urban Ed Academy. Direct peer in mission, geography, and target educator population.
• Relay Graduate School of Education: Graduate school offering teacher credentialing programs with a focus on equity and diversity; comparable to Urban Ed Academy as a credentialing pathway partner serving career-changers and diverse candidates entering teaching.
• Center for Black Educator Development: National nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, training, and retaining Black educators; directly comparable to Urban Ed Academy's Man the Bay fellowship in addressing the Black male teacher pipeline at a national scale.
• Alder Graduate School of Education: Bay Area-based teacher credentialing program that is an active partner of Urban Ed Academy. Highly comparable as a regional teacher-preparation institution serving aspiring educators of color.

Others

• iMentor: National nonprofit pairing students with mentors to support college and career success. Comparable in its emphasis on youth mentorship and educational equity, though focused on college access rather than educator pipeline.

Emerging players

• New Leaders: National nonprofit developing school leaders and educators for high-need schools. Comparable to Urban Ed Academy in preparing educators of color for high-impact roles in under-resourced communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UrbanEdAcademy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UrbanEdAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanedacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-ed-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbaned.sf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Urban Ed Academy