Breadwinners Academy
Breadwinners Academy is a Cleveland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 that delivers financial literacy education to youth and adults in low- and moderate-income communities through a multi-module curriculum, university-hosted summer programs, and adult homeownership and wealth-building cohorts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Breadwinners Academy does
Breadwinners Academy is a Cleveland, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 by Jason B. Lockett Sr. that delivers financial literacy education to youth and adults from low- to moderate-income communities in Greater Cleveland. Its core offering is a structured ten-module curriculum spanning Dream Chasers (entrepreneurship), Saving & Budgeting, Banking, Credit, Auto Purchasing & Insurance, Investing, Taxes, Financial Flex (competitive challenge), Adult Financial Literacy, and Keys to Your Home (homeownership), supplemented by student engagement formats such as the Books 2 Bread Summer FinLit Program, Slice of Pie masterclass, and Rap Cypher. The underlying "technology" is the curriculum itself, delivered through instructor-led cohorts rather than a software platform; no consumer application, API, or proprietary AI model is offered.
The operating model is event-driven and program-based. Programs are delivered through three distribution channels: university-hosted summer intensives (Notre Dame College in 2023, John Carroll University in 2024), in-school partnerships with Cleveland-area districts (CMSD, Bedford, Cleveland Heights, Maple Heights), and community-based 12-month adult cohorts. A 2024 summer cohort comprised 20 students who received a $2,500 stipend each through a Y.O.U. partnership, totaling $50,000 in compensation and scholarships, alongside a $1,000 college scholarship per completer.
Revenue is generated through donations and grants as a 501(c)(3) — no participant fees are charged. Funders include the Cleveland Foundation, Y.O.U., and bank partners (Bank of America, Chase, PNC, Erie Bank) that provide in-kind curriculum support, field-trip venues, and cash sponsorships. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or executive compensation disclosures are publicly available. Headcount stands at 12 employees, and the founder also operates an adjacent financial planning firm (The Breadwinners) and personal-finance masterclass (Slice of Pie), which are separate from the nonprofit.
Breadwinners Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Breadwinners Academy
- Legal name
- Breadwinners Academy
- Website
- https://breadwinnersacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Breadwinners Academy is a Cleveland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 that delivers financial literacy education to youth and adults in low- and moderate-income communities through a multi-module curriculum, university-hosted summer programs, and adult homeownership and wealth-building cohorts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Breadwinners Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Financial Literacy Education
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial & Consumer Literacy (Banking, Credit, Contracts) (EDAAAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Budgeting & Cash-Flow Management (EDAAAJAA), Family & Life-Stage Financial Planning (Marriage, Kids, Caregiving) (EDAAAJAM)
Keywords
Where Breadwinners Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Breadwinners Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Non-profit donations and grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Breadwinners Academy operates primarily through donations and grants. The organization accepts donations via Donorbox and likely relies on foundation grants from partners like the Cleveland Foundation and others.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Breadwinners Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Breadwinners Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers financial literacy education to youth and families from low-to-moderate income communities in Cleveland, Ohio. The Academy runs curriculum-based programs covering saving, banking, credit, investing, and homeownership, delivered through school and university partnerships, summer intensives, and adult cohort classes.
Product overview
Breadwinners Academy is a nonprofit financial literacy organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs designed for youth and adults from low-to-moderate income communities. The core curriculum includes eight foundational modules (Dream Chasers, Saving & Budgeting, Banking, Credit, Auto Purchasing & Insurance, Investing, Taxes, and Entrepreneurship) that can be delivered standalone or through structured programs. The Books 2 Bread Summer FinLit Program provides intensive summer workshop experiences at university campuses. Additional programs include The Financial Flex competition-based learning, Adult Financial Literacy and Keys to Your Home 12-month cohort programs for adults, and student engagement initiatives like Rap Cypher and Car Buying For Students. The organization operates primarily in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area through partnerships with schools, banks, and community organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Books 2 Bread Summer Program A summer financial literacy program that teaches children and teens foundational money management skills, including saving, banking, credit, and investing, with hands-on activities. Designed for youth from low-to-moderate income families.
- Dream Chasers Entrepreneurship Program An entrepreneurship curriculum that guides students through developing a business idea, building a business plan, and pitching their concept. Targeted at youth from underserved communities.
- Keys to Your Home A homeownership preparation program that walks adult participants through budgeting, credit repair, mortgage qualification, and the home-buying process to help low-to-moderate income families become homeowners.
- Adult Financial Literacy Program A cohort-based personal finance program for adults covering saving, banking, credit, investing, and wealth building, with culturally relevant instruction tailored to low-to-moderate income participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20 students served per summer cohort with $2,500 stipends
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Breadwinners Academy
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Breadwinners Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Breadwinners Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Bank of AmericacoreMajor banking partner providing financial education support and resources for youth financial literacy programs.
- JCU (John Carroll University)coreHost campus for Books 2 Bread Summer FinLit Program 2024, providing facilities and campus resources for 6-week financial literacy internship.
- PNCcoreBanking partner providing financial education content and potentially tour facilities for student programs.
- Chase BankcoreBanking partner providing tour of Chase Bank Innovation Center as part of career exploration week in summer program.
- Erie BankcoreBanking partner for Keys to Your Home homeownership program providing home loan programs and down payment assistance. Also provides banking field trips and President meet-and-greet for student programs.
- Notre Dame CollegecoreHost campus for Books 2 Bread Summer FinLit Program 2023, providing campus facilities for 5-week financial literacy workshops.
- CMSD (Cleveland Metropolitan School District)corePrimary school district partner providing student access to financial literacy curriculum and programs.
- State FarmsupportingInsurance partner providing auto accident experience and insurance instruction as part of the car buying curriculum.
- Bedford City School DistrictsupportingSchool district partner for delivering financial literacy education to students.
- Cleveland Heights School DistrictsupportingSchool district partner for delivering financial literacy education to students.
- Maple Hts SchoolssupportingSchool district partner for delivering financial literacy education to students.
- Giant EaglesupportingGrocery retailer partner for field trip learning how to budget and purchase groceries as part of financial literacy curriculum.
- CarMaxsupportingAuto dealer partner for mock car-buying experience field trip as part of auto purchasing curriculum.
- Huntington Green ApartmentssupportingHousing partner providing rental education and apartment living insights for financial literacy programs.
- Fidelity YouthsupportingInvestment platform partner offering Fidelity Youth brokerage accounts with $50 signup bonus for student investors in the program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Breadwinners Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EverFi: Digital financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills platform used by K-12 schools, colleges, and employers. Competes for the same district contracts and student curriculum hours that Breadwinners delivers via in-person instruction.
- Take Charge Today: University of Arizona-housed personal finance curriculum for middle and high school students with free teacher resources. Same audience, similar module structure, free distribution model.
- Operation HOPE: National nonprofit providing financial literacy coaching, credit counseling, and homeownership pathways for underserved communities. Highly comparable LMI-focused mission and adult/homebuyer programming (Keys to Your Home).
- Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF): Provides free personal finance curriculum, lesson plans, and professional development to high school educators nationwide. Same target audience (K-12 students) and curriculum topics (budgeting, credit, investing), but delivered digitally at much greater scale.
- Junior Achievement USA: The largest US nonprofit delivering financial literacy, work-readiness, and entrepreneurship education to K-12 students. Directly comparable mission, audience, and curriculum overlap, with substantially greater scale and a national footprint.
- InCharge Debt Solutions: Nonprofit offering financial education, credit counseling, and debt management programs to individuals and families, with significant K-12 outreach. Comparable adult financial literacy and homeownership-adjacent programming.
- Dave Ramsey Solutions — Foundations in Personal Finance: Curriculum used by thousands of US high schools covering budgeting, saving, debt, and investing. Targets the same K-12 financial literacy buyer (school districts) with a comparable module-based curriculum.
- FoolProof Foundation: Nonprofit offering financial literacy curriculum specifically designed for K-12 students and 'at-risk' learners. Overlaps with Breadwinners' LMI focus and module-based curriculum architecture.
Others
- Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund: National nonprofit supporting municipal financial empowerment programs including financial counseling and homeownership prep. Operates upstream of Breadwinners as a potential funder/partner for Keys to Your Home-type programs.
- Money Smart for Young People (FDIC): Free FDIC-published financial education curriculum for grades K-12. Not a competitor for student seats, but the de facto baseline against which Breadwinners' curriculum must differentiate for district adoption.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Breadwinners Academy social profiles
Digital presenceBreadwinners Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Breadwinners Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Breadwinners Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Breadwinners Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Breadwinners Academy
What does Breadwinners Academy do?
Breadwinners Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers financial literacy education to youth and families from low-to-moderate income communities in Cleveland, Ohio. The Academy runs curriculum-based programs covering saving, banking, credit, investing, and homeownership, delivered through school and university partnerships, summer intensives, and adult cohort classes.
Is Breadwinners Academy a public or private company?
Breadwinners Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Breadwinners Academy founded?
Breadwinners Academy was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Breadwinners Academy based?
Breadwinners Academy is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Breadwinners Academy make money?
One revenue line is on record: non-profit donations and grants.
Who are Breadwinners Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EverFi, Take Charge Today, Operation HOPE, Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), Junior Achievement USA, InCharge Debt Solutions, Dave Ramsey Solutions — Foundations in Personal Finance and FoolProof Foundation. Others are Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Money Smart for Young People (FDIC).
Does Breadwinners Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Breadwinners Academy.
What industry is Breadwinners Academy in?
Breadwinners Academy's product category is Financial Literacy Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAAAG, Financial & Consumer Literacy (Banking, Credit, Contracts), with a secondary code of EDAAAJAA, Budgeting & Cash-Flow Management. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.