Be the Change Foundation

What Be the Change Foundation does

Be the Change Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization established in 2014 and headquartered in Cupertino, California (Tax ID: 47-1524419). The foundation operates a dual-track program portfolio targeting two distinct customer segments: K-12 students seeking executive coaching, leadership development, and college admissions preparation, and working professionals pursuing career acceleration toward C-level and board roles. Its operational footprint is concentrated in Silicon Valley, with events hosted at venues including Palo Alto High School, San Mateo County Event Center, Saratoga Country Club, and the California Science and Technology University campus in Milpitas. The community is supported by 100+ volunteers and a leadership team led by Chairman Dr. Elizabeth Xu (former Group CTO at CP Group and BMC Software) and President Amanda Chang (since 2024).

The foundation's core technology asset is Youthpedia.org, a kid-safe, ad-free digital multimedia encyclopedia platform launched in July 2020 that enables K-12 students to collaborate online as writers, illustrators, designers, translators, narrators, and video editors to produce VideoBooks distributed globally via YouTube. Beyond Youthpedia, the foundation runs a portfolio of paid and free programs including Fashion Forward Summer Camp 2026 ($1,099 per student, AI + Fashion Innovation for ages 12-18), the 2026 Robotics Fair at the San Mateo County Event Center (featuring the FTC Lobster Cup International competition), Winter Robotic Bootcamps, Leadership Training workshops, Professional Career Development (including free 12-month coaching and job referrals from top 150 companies), and Free AI Training in partnership with California EDD and local universities.

The revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a mid-sized nonprofit: primarily donations and fundraising (with active causes ranging from $50K to $500K goals), corporate matching through employee giving programs at Google, Apple, Adobe, VMWare, VISA, and Microsoft, ticket and sponsorship revenue from signature events and summer camps, and presidential-level volunteer recognition as a Certifying Organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The foundation holds no parent company, no institutional investors, and no disclosed subsidiaries.

Name

Be the Change Foundation

Legal name

Be the Change Foundation

Website

https://bethechange.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Be the Change Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 in Cupertino, California, that runs executive coaching, leadership programs, and career acceleration services for K-12 students and working professionals in Silicon Valley. Its offerings include Youthpedia, Fashion Forward Summer Camp, Robotics Fair, and Free AI Training, funded through donations, corporate giving, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education and Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organizational Change & Transformation Coaching (EDABANAG), Change Management & Transformation Consulting (BPAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Career development coaching
• Nonprofit volunteer services
• Leadership training workshops
• K-12 enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Cupertino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate matching programs, and fundraising events. Organizations like Google, Apple, Adobe, VMWare, and VISA have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit for employee giving programs.
2. Program Fees - Fashion Forward Summer Camp: $1,099 per student for Fashion Forward 2026 AI + Fashion Innovation Camp, includes all materials, instruction, AI tools, lunch, fashion show participation, and photography
3. Event Sponsorship and Exhibitor Fees: Revenue from Robotics Fair sponsorships and exhibitor booths, with corporate sponsors including Google and Microsoft

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Be the Change Foundation provides executive coaching for K-12 students and career acceleration programs for working professionals through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure. Its portfolio includes Youthpedia (a student-created multimedia VideoBook encyclopedia), Robotics Fairs and Bootcamps, Fashion Forward Summer Camp (AI + Fashion Innovation), Leadership Training workshops, Free AI Training, and Professional Career Development coaching. The foundation also serves as a Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Certifying Organization.

Product overview

Be the Change Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2014 that operates a portfolio of educational and career development programs for K-12 students and working professionals. The foundation's offerings include Youthpedia (a student-created multi-media VideoBook encyclopedia), Fashion Forward Summer Camp (AI + fashion innovation), Robotics Fairs and Bootcamps, Leadership Training workshops, Professional Career Development coaching, Free AI Training programs, and various volunteer programs including Define Your Path, Fundraising Champions, and America 250 Anniversary Celebration. The foundation also offers internship programs for college students and certification for Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. These programs focus on education, health, and intellectual development with an emphasis on empowering young people to reach their fullest potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youthpedia: A digitized multi-media encyclopedia project for K-12 students launched by Be the Change Foundation in July 2020, where students create VideoBooks through online collaboration.
• Robotics Fair
• Fashion Forward
• Define Your Path
• Fundraising Champions

Products and services

• Youthpedia Digitized multi-media encyclopedia for K-12 students launched in July 2020, with all content created by students through online collaboration as writers, illustrators, designers, translators, narrators, and video editors. Features VideoBooks covering various topics as supplemental reading to broaden knowledge and cultivate early-age interests.
• Fashion Forward Summer Camp 2026 AI + Fashion Innovation Camp for students ages 12-18 at Palo Alto High School, combining fashion design, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and leadership. Students create original fashion concepts with AI tools, learn sewing and modeling instruction, and participate in a professional fashion show with portfolio photography.
• 2026 Robotics Fair Two-day premier interactive robotics and AI experience at San Mateo County Event Center featuring FTC Lobster Cup International competition, AI & robotics expert talks, and family-friendly exhibits across 55,000 square feet. Sponsors include Google and Microsoft.
• 2025-2026 Winter Robotic Bootcamp 5-day intensive bootcamp for ages 8-18 teaching robot programming and operation with hands-on challenges and daily robot competitions. No coding experience required.
• Leadership Training Seasonal workshops teaching adaptive leadership skills including MBTI, strengths, values, visioning, group strategizing, and accountability. Required training for students seeking leadership positions in the foundation.
• Professional Career Development Career acceleration program for working professionals including free 12-month coaching, resume review, LinkedIn enhancement, interview skills, and job referrals from top 150 companies including Google, Amazon, Meta.
• Free AI Training Free AI and ChatGPT training program in partnership with local universities and California EDD office, teaching AI skills for job seekers including agent writing, coding, software design, and data management. Available to California residents with green card or citizenship.
• Define Your Path Volunteer program empowering K-12 students to channel passions into community projects with guidance from Stanford Professor Eesley and leadership training.
• Fundraising Champions Volunteer program for fundraising outreach supporting youth programs including America250, Leadership Training, TedxBeTheChange, Art Competition, and Youth Leadership Conferences.
• America 250 Anniversary Celebration K-12 volunteer program collecting 1,000 stories from American citizens in collaboration with America250.org, teaching videography, video editing, interviewing skills, and professional networking.
• Volunteer Program Online volunteer program for high school and middle school students with team participation, mentoring, and Presidential Volunteer Service Award certification.
• Fashion Forward Volunteer Program Volunteer program for K-12 students passionate about fashion and sustainability, teaching sustainable fashion practices and organizing community events and fashion shows.
• SUCCEED IN THE AGE OF AI Three-day free live class series on career advancement covering securing promotions, becoming influential leaders, and succeeding in AI age with industry experts.
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award Certification National volunteer service award certification program recognizing volunteers with Gold, Silver, or Bronze level awards based on hours served. The foundation is a Certifying Organization authorized by the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13 students received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards through dedicated volunteer coaching
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration8 records

AI capability12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tanoshi ComputerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to provide Tanoshi 2-in-1 computers to children in need. Raised over $12,000 providing approximately 60 laptops to underserved children during the pandemic. Tanoshi 2-in-1 computers include Android OS, 10.1 inch HD touchscreen, kid-size keyboard, parental controls, and pre-loaded educational apps.
• YouthPedia.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Digitized multi-media encyclopedia project launched by Be the Change Foundation in July 2020 for K-12 students to create VideoBooks through online collaboration. Goal is Youth Empower Youth.
• A2C AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA2C Academy provides free career and leadership training to Be the Change Foundation volunteers and members. Dr. Elizabeth Xu (CEO of A2C Academy) serves as Chairman of Be the Change Foundation. A2C donated ten classes including Innovation and Design Thinking, Art and Programming for Game Development, and Junior Leadership Bootcamps taught by Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University professors.
• California Science and Technology University (CSTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTC and CSTU collaborate to build TEDxCSTU, a community communication channel. CSTU hosts holiday party events at their Milpitas campus. Joint events between Be the Change Foundation and CSTU for career sharing and community building.
• GoogleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of hundreds of companies that have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit organization for employee giving programs. Google also a sponsor of Robotics Fair 2026.
• AppleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of hundreds of companies that have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit organization for employee giving programs.
• AdobeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of hundreds of companies that have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit organization for employee giving programs.
• VMWareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of hundreds of companies that have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit organization for employee giving programs.
• VISAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of hundreds of companies that have selected Be the Change Foundation as a trusted nonprofit organization for employee giving programs.
• MicrosoftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate sponsor of Robotics Fair 2026, supporting AI and robotics education for the next generation.
• California EDD (Employment Development Department)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with California EDD office to provide free AI and data science training for individuals facing unemployment or recent job loss, including F1 visa students needing CPT support.
• Local Universities (Silicon Valley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with local universities in Silicon Valley to provide free AI and ChatGPT training, including F1 Visa transfer and Day 1 CPT options for international students.
• CampWingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for promoting Fashion Forward Summer Camp and other Bay Area summer programs to families.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• iMentor: Nonprofit pairing low-income high school students with college-educated mentors for college and career preparation. Directly comparable to BTC's K-12 mentorship and university admissions coaching mission, with similar volunteer-pairing economics.
• Kode With Klossy: Nonprofit running free STEM and AI camps for young women ages 13-18, founded by Karlie Kloss. Highly comparable to BTC's Fashion Forward AI camp and Robotics Bootcamps in format (free/subsidized immersive STEM programs for teens).
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): National nonprofit running FTC, FRC, and FLL robotics competitions for K-12, the same competition category BTC hosts via the Lobster Cup International at the Robotics Fair. Both compete for corporate robotics sponsors (Google, Microsoft) and the same student robotics volunteer pool.
• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit running summer immersion programs, clubs, and college-loops for high school girls in tech. Closely comparable to BTC's AI training, robotics, and Fashion Forward AI initiatives targeting K-12 students, especially the free AI/ChatGPT training cohort.

Broad incumbents

• Junior Achievement: Established nonprofit delivering K-12 leadership, career readiness, and entrepreneurship programs through school and corporate partnerships. Comparable in mission to BTC's K-12 leadership training and professional career development tracks, with a much larger footprint and donor base.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National network of career-themed high school academies focused on finance, hospitality, IT, and other industries. Comparable to BTC's K-12 career acceleration and C-level preparation programming in serving the same student-to-career pipeline.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters: Long-standing youth mentorship nonprofit pairing adult volunteers with K-12 students, structurally similar to BTC's volunteer-driven coaching model with Presidential Volunteer Service Award recognition. Operates at national scale with established corporate and donor channels.
• Year Up: Workforce-development nonprofit providing career training and corporate internships to young adults from underserved backgrounds. Comparable to BTC's Professional Career Development and internship programs, particularly the F1/CPT support and corporate job referral components.

Emerging players

• MIND Research Institute: Nonprofit developing math and STEM educational programs for K-12, with corporate-sponsored programs. Comparable to BTC's STEM/robotics educational mission and corporate partnership model with companies like Google and Microsoft.

Regional players

• Dress for Success: Nonprofit providing professional development, career coaching, and workplace attire to underserved professionals, especially women re-entering the workforce. Comparable to BTC's Professional Career Development and leadership coaching for working professionals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/btc-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Be the Change Foundation