EmpowerED Families

What EmpowerED Families does

EmpowerED Families is a private nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, that builds parent and community advocacy capacity for K-12 public education. The organization's core proposition is equipping Indianapolis families, youth, and teachers with the relationships, training, and platforms needed to influence school quality and education policy, particularly within Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries where charter and innovation schools serve 58.3% of public school students.

The organization's product surface is a portfolio of free community programs rather than a technology platform. Core offerings include a six-week Parent Leadership Training program (three cohorts completed to date), the Neighborhood Education Advocates (NEA) program that links residents and business owners with high-performing schools, a monthly Youth Advocacy Group for ages 13-21 co-hosted with Stand for Children Indiana, a Teacher Advocacy Group for peer support and self-care, and recurring community education formats including Parent Connecting Meetings, Education Learning Hubs, Community Table Talks, and the Beyond the Bell conversation series. Research output includes the October 2023 'Parent Perspectives' report co-published with The Mind Trust, based on 2,000+ survey responses and interviews with Marion County residents and public school parents. The organization has no proprietary software, mobile app, or API; its technical footprint is a Squarespace website, a Mailchimp newsletter, and Google Forms for event registration.

EmpowerED Families operates on a non-revenue business model, distributing all services free of charge to Indianapolis families and relying on grants, donations, and partner contributions. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on grassroots engagement through events hosted at community venues across Indianapolis (Industrious at the Stutz, The AMP, Frederick Douglas Park, Rock Community Center, Shepherd Community Center, and others), word-of-mouth within parent/teacher/youth networks, Instagram organic social, email newsletters, and an ecosystem of 20+ resource partners that include The Mind Trust, CAFE, Stand for Children Indiana, NexGeneration Learning, Indy Summer Learning Labs, and several family-support and youth-empowerment organizations. Leadership includes Carolina Figueroa as Director of Parent and Family Engagement, with an Advisory Committee drawn from The Mind Trust, Family Concepts Services, Edna Martin Christian Center, Strada Education Network, and Emboss Partners, LLC.

Name

EmpowerED Families

Legal name

EmpowerED Families

Website

https://empoweredfamiliesindy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EmpowerED Families is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit founded in 2020 that equips parents, youth, and teachers with advocacy training, community programming, and coalition partnerships to influence K-12 public education policy and school quality in Indianapolis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Education advocacy
• Parent engagement
• Community organizing
• K-12 education
• Family empowerment

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-profit funding: EmpowerED Families operates as a non-profit organization focused on parent and community advocacy in Indianapolis K-12 education. The organization likely relies on grants, donations, and potentially government or foundation funding to support its programs. Revenue is not generated through traditional product or service sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EmpowerED Families is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit community advocacy organization that equips parents, youth, teachers, and community members with the tools, training, and relationships needed to advocate for high-quality K-12 education. The organization runs a portfolio of free programs including leadership training, advocacy groups, community learning events, and publishes research on parent perspectives to amplify family voices in education policy and school improvement.

Product overview

EmpowerED Families is a community advocacy organization that offers a portfolio of programs and initiatives designed to empower Indianapolis families in K-12 education. The core offerings include the Neighborhood Education Advocates (NEA) program for community outreach, Teacher Advocacy Group and Youth Advocacy Group for specific stakeholder engagement, and Parent Leadership Training for building advocacy skills. Additional programs such as Education Learning Hub, Parent Connecting Meetings, Community Table Talks, and Beyond the Bell Conversations provide ongoing educational content and community dialogue opportunities. The organization also publishes the Parent Perspectives Report in partnership with The Mind Trust, and hosts community events like the Summer Celebration. These programs work together to connect families with resources, amplify parent voices, and drive positive change in Indianapolis public schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Neighborhood Education Advocates (NEA) A community outreach program that links Indianapolis residents and business owners with high-performing schools to strengthen families' and community members' understanding of K-12 education issues and build connections between stakeholders.
• Teacher Advocacy Group Monthly gatherings for Indianapolis teachers to connect, decompress, share experiences, and discuss strategies for self-care and education advocacy.
• Youth Advocacy Group Monthly meetups for Indianapolis youth ages 13-21 focused on civic engagement, advocacy learning, and developing campaigns for local issues, co-hosted with Stand for Children Indiana.
• Parent Leadership Training A 6-week training program designed to equip Indianapolis parents and community members with knowledge and skills to advocate effectively for better schools and policies.
• Education Learning Hub Sessions that equip Indianapolis parents, educators, and community members with awareness, support, and tools on K-12 topics including IREAD readiness, new high school diplomas, and family-school partnerships.
• Parent Connecting Meeting Monthly meetings for Indianapolis parents to connect, share experiences, and discuss important education topics impacting their community and schools.
• Community Table Talk Community discussions held in partnership with organizations like NexGeneration Learning, focusing on practical uses of AI for parents and important education topics.
• Beyond the Bell Conversation A series of community conversations covering key K-12 education topics including chronic absenteeism, Indiana's new IREAD Literacy legislation, high school graduation pathways, and school options, co-hosted with CAFE and The Mind Trust.
• Parent Perspectives Report A research report published in partnership with The Mind Trust revealing Indianapolis charter and innovation school parents' perspectives on the city's education system, based on over 2,000 surveys and interviews.
• Summer Celebration An annual community event featuring food, games, prizes, and school supply giveaways for Indianapolis families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 58.3% of public school students in IPS boundaries attend charter or innovation schools (informing advocacy focus)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• The Mind TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023The Mind Trust is an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit and key strategic partner. Together they published the 'Parent Perspectives' report (October 2023) examining what Indianapolis parents and residents want from their public schools, based on 2,000+ surveys and interviews. The Mind Trust also hosts the Parent Leadership Training program at their office location.
• Stand for Children IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStand for Children Indiana partners with EmpowerED Families to co-host the Youth Advocacy Group, which meets monthly at engaging locations where youth explore advocacy, leadership, and community change. The partnership brings youth together to develop campaigns for local issues.
• CAFE (Community Alliance of the Far Eastside)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFE (Community Alliance of the Far Eastside) co-hosts the Beyond the Bell: A Community Conversation About Education series with EmpowerED Families and The Mind Trust. This four-part conversation series covers important K-12 education topics in Indiana including high school diplomas, 3rd grade retention law, chronic absenteeism, and school options.
• NexGeneration LearningsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNexGeneration Learning partners with EmpowerED Families for Community Table Talk events focused on AI applications for parents and guardians, including test prep for ILEARN and SAT preparation. The partnership provides practical AI education resources for Indianapolis families.
• Indy Summer Learning LabssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerIndy Summer Learning Labs partners with EmpowerED Families to help families enroll students in the free five-week summer academic and enrichment program. EmpowerED Families hosts Education Learning Hub sessions to promote the program and assist with enrollment.
• Indiana LearnsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndiana Learns provides math and reading tutoring grants for eligible Hoosier students. Listed as a resource partner on the EmpowerED Families Resources page.
• Exponentia PrimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExponentia Prime provides enriching, high-level math learning experiences. Listed as an academic resource partner on the Resources page.
• IndianaGPSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndianaGPS provides academic and enrollment data for any school in Indiana. Listed as a resource partner helping families make informed education decisions.
• UNCFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUNCF (United Negro College Fund) provides college scholarships and degree attainment resources. Listed as a resource partner supporting higher education access.
• MCCOYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMCCOY (Marion County Commission on Youth) helps youth realize their value and power. Listed as a youth empowerment resource partner.
• Free WheelinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree Wheelin provides bicycles and teaches youth life and leadership skills. Listed as a youth empowerment resource partner.
• The Next IT GirlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Next IT Girl educates, mentors, and advances young women of color in technology careers. Listed as a youth empowerment resource partner.
• VOICESminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVOICES enhances the lives of youth and families to empower them to change their lives. Listed as a youth empowerment resource partner.
• Martindale BrightwoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMartindale Brightwood provides a safe haven for educational, spiritual, and physical growth in the community. Listed as a family support resource partner.
• Southeast Community ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoutheast Community Services provides bundled services to help support neighbors in multiple areas. Listed as a family support resource partner.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Parents Union: National coalition of parent-advocacy organizations operating across multiple states. Represents the broader, more resourced incumbent that could partner with or compete against community-level groups like EmpowerED Families.

Direct peers

• The Mind Trust: Indianapolis-based education nonprofit that co-published the Parent Perspectives report with EmpowerED Families and hosts the Parent Leadership Training program. Both organizations pursue K-12 education improvement in the same city via complementary parent-voice and school-quality strategies.
• CAFE (Community Alliance of the Far Eastside): Indianapolis community alliance co-hosting the Beyond the Bell education conversation series. Both organizations engage Far Eastside families around K-12 education topics and broader community self-determination.
• Stand for Children Indiana: Parent advocacy organization that co-hosts EmpowerED Families' Youth Advocacy Group and shares organizational DNA through former staff. Both focus on mobilizing Indianapolis parents to advocate for K-12 policy and equity outcomes.
• Padres Unidos: Community-based parent organizing group focused on education equity and parent-led advocacy for school improvement. Closely matches EmpowerED Families' community-organizing approach to education change.
• Parent Revolution: Parent organizing nonprofit that trains families to advocate for school quality and policy change. Operates the same parent-collective-action playbook as EmpowerED Families at a different geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• EdNavigator: Family-education support nonprofit providing personalized school navigation and parent guidance. Overlaps with EmpowerED Families' school-options and parent-engagement mission through a more individualized service-delivery model.
• Learning Heroes: Nonprofit focused on parent engagement and equipping families with information to support student success. Overlaps with EmpowerED Families' parent-information and school-choice support work but at a national research/awareness level rather than community-organizing level.

Regional players

• Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting Indianapolis Public Schools through fundraising and community engagement. Functions as a potential partner, funder, or counterparty for EmpowerED Families' parent-advocacy work in the IPS boundaries.
• NexGeneration Learning: Indianapolis-area education partner that co-hosts EmpowerED Families' Community Table Talk events on AI applications for parents. A regional peer operating community-education programming in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/empoweredfamiliesindy
• Xx.com/EmpowerEDFamIN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empowered-families

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 EmpowerED Families