The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent

What The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent does

The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that delivers culture-centered literacy, tutoring, and family education programs to children and families of African descent in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Its core portfolio includes the Sankofa Reading Program (K-8 after-school and summer tutoring), the Parent Power Training Program, the Uhuru Youth Scholars Program, the Imhotep Science Academy, and the NdCAD Book Give-A-Way Program. All programs are unified by the proprietary "Think Different – Do Different" critical literacy model, built on seven operating principles (literacy/identity connections, root issues, action research, value-driven approach, parent and community engagement, cultural learning space, and self-determination), and supported by the African Child Development Resource Library — a curated collection of African and African American literature built since 1998. Independent evaluations have documented measurable outcomes, including 2–5 Guided Reading Level gains over nine weeks and 64.3% increases in parent work-related activity hours.

NdCAD's revenue model is multi-stream: individual and organizational donations (processed via Mighty Cause and direct mail), modest fee-based professional development training (e.g., the 2025 Summer Training Institute at $500 for a two-day session with CEU credits), and product sales through its shopndcad.com online store for family engagement activity kits and books. Distribution occurs through in-person programming at the Family Education Center headquarters (3255 Spring Street NE, Minneapolis), on-site training to school districts and county agencies, the Thinkific-hosted online course platform, and the e-commerce storefront. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, institutional partnerships with organizations such as Saint Paul Public Schools, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, Minnesota Department of Education, Northside Achievement Zone, and Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood, plus digital channels (website, eNewsletter, Facebook, Twitter).

Name

The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent

Legal name

Network for the Development of Children of African Descent

Website

https://ndcad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NdCAD is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides culture-centered literacy tutoring, parent education, and professional development training for children, families, and educators of African descent in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Literacy Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJALAD

Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Educational Support Services (Tutoring & Counseling)

SECONDARYEDAAAAAA

Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Adult Basic Education (ABE) & Literacy

SECONDARYBPADAKAF

Adult Literacy, Numeracy & Second-Chance Education

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Education & Skills Development Programs

SECONDARYMPACALAD

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Digital Media & Content Platforms (Online Video, Podcasts, Creators)/Online Learning Content Platforms (Creator-Led Courses)

Keywords

• Culturally responsive literacy
• Family education programs
• Youth reading tutoring
• Educator professional development
• Community education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: NdCAD accepts financial donations from individuals and organizations to support their programs, including the Book Give-A-Way Program. Donations can be made online through Mighty Cause or by mailing a donation directly to the organization.
2. Professional Development Training: Fee-based professional development training services for educators, youth workers, and early childhood providers. The 2025 Summer Training Institute costs $500 for a two-day session including all courses, lunch, and CEU certificates.
3. Book and Resource Sales: Revenue generated from the NdCAD Online Store (shopndcad.com) which sells family engagement and cultural learning activity kits, books, and learning materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NdCAD delivers a two-generation, culturally-centered suite of educational services for children and families of African descent, anchored on its proprietary "Think Different – Do Different" literacy model. Offerings include K-8 reading tutoring (Sankofa Reading Program), parent literacy and advocacy training (Parent Power), youth action-research programming (Uhuru Youth Scholars), cultural enrichment (Imhotep Science Academy), a lending library of African and African American literature, and fee-based professional development workshops for educators.

Product overview

The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (NdCAD) operates as a family education center offering a suite of interconnected literacy and cultural enrichment programs. The core portfolio includes the Sankofa Reading Program (K-8 tutoring), Parent Power Training (parent workshops), and Training for Educators (professional development), complemented by the African Resource Library (lending library) and NdCAD Book Give-A-Way Program (free book distribution). Additional offerings include the Uhuru Youth Scholars Program and Imhotep Science Academy. Programs are unified by the Think Different-Do Different culture-centered literacy model based on 7 key operating principles. The organization also provides online courses via Thinkific and runs an annual Summer Training Institute. The approach is holistic and two-generation, working simultaneously with children, parents, and educators to strengthen cultural identity, family stability, and academic outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NdCAD Book Give-A-Way Program Free children's book distribution program providing books to children ages 0-21 weekly on Saturdays at the NdCAD Family Education Center in Minneapolis, with both indoor and drive-up pickup options. Designed to connect parents and children through literacy and build home libraries for families of African descent.
• African Resource Library Lending library of African and African American literature for children, youth, parents, and educators, including the McDonald Family Reference Library. Supports healthy cultural identity development and provides rare access to African-centered educational content.
• Sankofa Reading Program After-school and summer tutoring program for K-8 scholars that builds reading confidence through culturally-based instruction connecting literacy with cultural identity. Independently evaluated outcomes show students increased 2-5 Guided Reading Levels in 9 weeks, with 65% meeting or exceeding grade-level reading.
• Parent Power Training Program Literacy and advocacy workshops for parents that help them support their children's reading skills and cultural identity development while building advocacy skills for school partnership. Independent evaluation by Ramsey County Workforce Solutions showed 64.3% of graduates increased engagement in work-related activity hours and 44.2% increased employment hours.
• Training for Educators (Think Different – Do Different) Professional development training service called "Think Different – Do Different," designed to help educators integrate culturally-responsive approaches through culture-centered and experiential learning. Delivered as site-based consulting, workshops, and CEU-eligible courses to teachers, school administrators, early childhood providers, and youth workers.
• Uhuru Youth Scholars Program Youth development program using African knowledge systems and Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) to help young people analyze their communities and develop research-based action projects. Builds intellectual ability, leadership, and community engagement for middle and high school youth.
• Imhotep Science Academy (ISA) Cultural enrichment program that shapes African identities in youth through study of African historical figures and skill-building in public speaking, confidence, and relationship-building.
• 2025 Summer Training Institute Two-day intensive professional development institute held August 18-19, 2025 featuring four courses focused on reading achievement, culturally-responsive instruction, and learning strategies for educators, parents, and service providers. $500 fee includes all courses, lunch both days, and in-service/CEU certificates.
• NdCAD Online Courses Online learning platform hosted on Thinkific (ndcadu.thinkific.com) offering NdCAD's educational courses and training programs for remote access by educators, parents, and service providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students increased 2-5 Guided Reading Levels in 9 weeks; 65% meet or exceed grade level reading
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Annie E. CaseyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization focused on building better futures for disadvantaged children and families. NdCAD has worked with Annie E. Casey Foundation on programs serving African American families in Minnesota.
• Aspen InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit forum that fosters leadership and forwards ideas to help shape the future. NdCAD has collaborated with Aspen Institute on community development and education initiatives.
• Ramsey County Workforce SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty-level workforce development agency. Ramsey County conducted evaluations of NdCAD's Parent Power program showing significant improvements in employment and education outcomes for participants.
• Minnesota Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState education agency overseeing K-12 education in Minnesota. NdCAD works with MDE on professional development and culturally-responsive education initiatives.
• Minnesota Department of Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing human services including family support programs. NdCAD has collaborated on initiatives serving families in Minnesota.
• Saint Paul Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor urban school district in Minnesota's capital city. NdCAD provides professional development training and reading programs in partnership with SPPS.
• University of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research university in Minneapolis. NdCAD has collaborated with U of M on education research and professional development initiatives.
• University of Northern IowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university in Iowa. NdCAD has worked with UNI on professional development and education programs.
• Northside Achievement ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinneapolis-based community organization focused on closing the achievement gap. NdCAD partners with NAZ on literacy and family engagement programs serving North Minneapolis.
• Saint Paul Promise NeighborhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity initiative working to ensure all children in Saint Paul succeed from cradle to career. Prepared the Social Innovation Fund Summary Report (2018) evaluating Sankofa Reading Program outcomes.
• Fresh TracksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing consulting and support services. NdCAD has worked with Fresh Tracks on various initiatives.
• Northwest Suburban Integration School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuburban school district consortium in Minnesota. NdCAD has provided professional development training to educators in this district.
• Simpson HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and supportive services organization in Minneapolis. NdCAD has partnered on programs serving families experiencing housing challenges.
• Living Word Church & World Outreach MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based organization in the community. NdCAD has collaborated with Living Word Church on community programs and services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Children's Defense Fund: Large national child advocacy organization serving African American and low-income children across education, health, and welfare. Broader scope than NdCAD but overlapping target population.
• KIPP Foundation: National charter school network serving students in under-resourced communities. Comparable literacy and college-readiness outcomes focus, but at much larger scale and broader demographic scope than NdCAD.
• United Negro College Fund: National organization supporting educational attainment for African Americans. Touches a higher education stage than NdCAD but shares the African-descent education mission.
• Schott Foundation for Public Education: National foundation advocating for equitable, culturally-responsive public education for Black and Brown students. Adjacent to NdCAD's mission and professional development advocacy work.

Direct peers

• First Book: Nonprofit that provides free and low-cost books to children in need, with a focus on diverse and culturally-relevant titles. Directly comparable to NdCAD's Book Give-A-Way Program and African Resource Library.
• Reading Partners: National nonprofit providing one-on-one literacy tutoring for K-8 students in under-resourced communities. Direct peer on the literacy-tutoring side, though less culturally-specialized than NdCAD.
• National CARES Mentoring Movement: National nonprofit providing culturally-grounded mentoring and education support for African American youth. Shares NdCAD's target demographic and community-empowerment approach.
• National Black Child Development Institute: National nonprofit focused on improving the lives of African American children through culturally-responsive early childhood education, literacy, and family support. Closest direct peer to NdCAD given shared mission, target population, and literacy/child-development focus.
• Reach Incorporated: Washington DC-based nonprofit combining literacy tutoring with youth development for underserved students. Comparable operating model to NdCAD's Sankofa Reading Program and Uhuru Youth Scholars.

Regional players

• Minnesota Humanities Center: Minnesota-based nonprofit offering cultural programs, educator training, and community dialogue. Comparable state-level cultural education mission and PD services, though broader than NdCAD's child-development focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ndcad_1997
• Facebookfacebook.com/NdCAD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/network-for-the-development-of-children-of-african-descent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Network for the Development of Children of African Descent