Bringing Theory to Practice
Bringing Theory to Practice is a non-profit national initiative hosted by Elon University and funded by The Endeavor Foundation that advances higher-education transformation through grants, convenings, publications, and networks serving nearly 600 U.S. colleges and universities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersElon, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Bringing Theory to Practice does
Bringing Theory to Practice (BT2P) is a non-profit national initiative founded in 2003 and hosted by Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, with primary financial support from The Endeavor Foundation. Its mission is to advance the core purposes of higher education — holistic learning, preparation for meaningful work and democratic citizenship, contribution to community wellbeing, and whole-person flourishing — by supporting campus transformation across nearly 600 U.S. colleges and universities. BT2P works through four primary mechanisms: grantmaking (Demonstration Site Grants, Program Development Grants, Multi-Institutional Innovation Grants, Campus Dialogue Grants, and Well-Being Research Grants), convening and network-building (Changemakers Network, Emerging Models Community of Practice, multi-institutional collaboratories), publications and media (seven books, special journal issues, the biweekly "Bringing It" newsletter, "The Way Forward" podcast, and "The Paradigm Conversations" video series), and narrative-change advocacy.
Its current strategic focus is the Paradigm Project, launched in 2022 as a multiyear initiative to develop new models of holistic, inclusive, engaged education, support institutional changemakers, and catalyze systemic change in higher education. The Paradigm Project rests on three pillars: transformative institutional change, integrative campus-wide collaboration, and networked movement building. BT2P also operates partnerships with organizations including AAC&U, Campus Compact, Project Pericles, American Democracy Project, Imagining America, Bonner Foundation, the Healthy Minds Network, The Jed Foundation, The Steve Fund, NYU's Network for Improvement and Innovation in College Health, and the 20x30 Learning and Action Network, and is a member of the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition.
BT2P is not a technology company and does not develop proprietary technology products; its offerings are programmatic, editorial, and convening-based. The organization employs 7 staff and is governed by an advisory board. Revenue mechanics consist entirely of foundation grants and institutional support rather than commercial sales, with The Endeavor Foundation as the primary funder. BT2P's customers are higher-education institutions receiving grants, publications, and network participation rather than paying buyers, which means traditional customer-concentration analysis applies more to funder dependency than to recipient concentration.
Bringing Theory to Practice firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bringing Theory to Practice
- Legal name
- Bringing Theory to Practice
- Website
- https://bttop.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Bringing Theory to Practice is a non-profit national initiative hosted by Elon University and funded by The Endeavor Foundation that advances higher-education transformation through grants, convenings, publications, and networks serving nearly 600 U.S. colleges and universities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bringing Theory to Practice industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Transformation Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)
Keywords
Where Bringing Theory to Practice is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bringing Theory to Practice business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants and Support: BT2P is a national initiative hosted by Elon University with generous support from The Endeavor Foundation. The organization operates through grant funding to advance its mission of transforming higher education around holistic learning, civic engagement, and student wellbeing.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Bringing Theory to Practice product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BT2P is a national initiative that advances holistic, transformative change in higher education by providing grants, convenings, publications, and multi-institutional collaboration to colleges and universities. Its work centers on civic engagement, student wellbeing, and integrative learning, currently channeled through the Paradigm Project, a multi-year systemic change initiative launched in 2022. The organization also runs community-of-practice programs, the PLACE Collaboratory, podcasts, video series, and a publications library of seven books and journal special issues.
Product overview
Bringing Theory to Practice (BT2P) is a national initiative focused on advancing transformative change in higher education. The organization operates as a networked collaborative rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings include The Paradigm Project (its primary multiyear initiative for systemic higher education transformation), The PLACE Collaboratory (a humanities-based civic engagement network), various publications (seven books and journal special issues), media resources (The Way Forward Podcast, The Paradigm Conversations video series), and a biweekly newsletter (Bringing It). BT2P also operates community-building programs including the Institutional Changemakers Network, Emerging Models Community of Practice, and Curriculum Collaboratory. These offerings work together to advance BT2P's mission of holistic, equitable, and engaged education through grant-making, convening, publications, and networked collaboration across nearly 600 colleges and universities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Paradigm Project: Multi-year initiative to develop new models of holistic, inclusive, engaged education and catalyze systemic change in higher education
- PLACE Collaboratory
- The Way Forward Podcast
- The Paradigm Conversations
- Bringing It
Products and services
- BT2P Publications Library A library of seven published books and two journal special issues covering civic engagement, student well-being, and holistic education, available for free download from the BT2P website.
- The PLACE Collaboratory E-Book A multi-media digital book titled 'The PLACE Collaboratory: Higher Education, Community Engagement, and the Public Humanities' documenting the PLACE Collaboratory projects, partners, and learnings.
- The Way Forward Podcast A podcast series titled 'The Way Forward: Higher Education in a Time of Crisis' addressing crises facing higher education and featuring conversations with educational leaders and changemakers.
- The Paradigm Conversations Video Series A video series partnership with Bryan Alexander's Future Trends Forum presenting episodes featuring educational leaders and changemakers connected to the Paradigm Project, exploring inclusive leadership, equity-minded student success, and institutional innovation.
Quantifiable outcome
- BT2P has worked with nearly 600 colleges and universities since 2003
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bringing Theory to Practice
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Bringing Theory to Practice technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bringing Theory to Practice partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Bryan Alexander's Future Trends ForummajorBT2P partnered with Bryan Alexander's Future Trends Forum to produce 'The Paradigm Conversations' video series featuring educational leaders and changemakers connected with BT2P's Paradigm Project.
- AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities)majorBT2P collaborates with AAC&U on conferences and publications including the annual AAC&U Annual Meeting and joint initiatives on curriculum and career innovation.
- Elon UniversitycoreBT2P is a national initiative hosted by Elon University in North Carolina. Elon University serves as the institutional home and provides infrastructure and support for BT2P's operations and programs.
- Imagining AmericamajorBT2P works closely with Imagining America as part of the Civic Learning and Democratic Education Action Network, collaborating on civic engagement and democratic education initiatives.
- Campus CompactmajorBT2P collaborates with Campus Compact on national civic learning and democratic education efforts, sharing resources and participating in joint initiatives.
- Project PericlesmajorBT2P partners with Project Pericles on civic engagement initiatives, including the Pericles Civic Fellowship program supporting faculty and staff at higher education institutions.
- American Democracy ProjectmajorBT2P works with the American Democracy Project as part of collaborative efforts to build an academy committed to democratic civic life and social justice.
- Institute for Democracy in Higher EducationmajorBT2P collaborates with the Institute for Democracy in Higher Education on civic learning and democratic engagement initiatives.
- Bonner FoundationmajorBT2P partners with the Bonner Foundation on civic engagement and community service initiatives, including the annual Bonner Summer Leadership Institute.
- Healthy Minds NetworkmajorBT2P works with and learns from the Healthy Minds Network on student well-being research and initiatives.
- The Jed FoundationmajorBT2P collaborates with The Jed Foundation on student mental health and well-being programming and research.
- The Steve FundmajorBT2P works with The Steve Fund on well-being initiatives specifically focused on supporting students of color.
- Network for Improvement and Innovation in College Health (NYU)majorBT2P collaborates with NYU's Network for Improvement and Innovation in College Health on student well-being research and improvement initiatives.
- 20x30 Learning and Action NetworkmajorBT2P is a partner in the 20x30 Learning and Action Network, a consortium to improve the health and well-being of 20 million college students by 2030.
- PHENND (Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development)majorBT2P partners with PHENND on conferences and civic engagement initiatives in the Philadelphia region.
- Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement CoalitionmajorBT2P participates in the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition, contributing to guides and initiatives for civic learning in higher education.
- Centre for Belonging in EducationminorBT2P collaborates with the UK-based Centre for Belonging in Education on transatlantic teaching fellowship opportunities at Elon University.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Bringing Theory to Practice competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities): Larger, established membership association for colleges and universities focused on liberal education, quality, and inclusive excellence. BT2P collaborates with AAC&U on conferences and publications and operates in overlapping spaces (curricular redesign, civic engagement, holistic learning).
- American Democracy Project (AASCU): Multi-campus initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities focused on advancing civic engagement and democratic practice. BT2P works with the American Democracy Project as a coalition partner on civic learning initiatives.
Direct peers
- Campus Compact: National coalition of colleges and universities advancing civic and community engagement in higher education. BT2P works directly with Campus Compact on civic learning initiatives and serves a similar audience of institutional change-makers.
- Imagining America: Consortium of colleges and universities advancing public humanities and community-engaged arts. BT2P partners with Imagining America in the Civic Learning and Democratic Education Action Network, and PLACE Collaboratory's work directly overlaps.
- Project Pericles: Consortium that promotes civic engagement within the liberal arts curriculum at colleges and universities. BT2P co-runs the Pericles Civic Fellowship program with Project Pericles, sharing similar goals of embedding civic purpose in higher education.
- Bonner Foundation: Foundation supporting student civic engagement and community service programs at colleges and universities, including the Bonner Scholar Program. BT2P collaborates with the Bonner Foundation on civic engagement initiatives and the Summer Leadership Institute.
- Healthy Minds Network: Research-to-practice network conducting surveys on student mental health and well-being. BT2P collaborates with the Healthy Minds Network on student well-being research, overlapping in target audience and mission focus.
Emerging players
- The Jed Foundation: Nonprofit protecting youth and young adult emotional health and preventing suicide, with strong campus programs. BT2P collaborates with the Jed Foundation on student mental health and well-being programming, working with similar institutional buyers.
- Ashoka U: Initiative of Ashoka that works with colleges and universities to embed changemaker education across disciplines. BT2P's holistic-learning and changemaker framing overlaps with Ashoka U's focus on institutional transformation.
Regional players
- Netter Center for Community Partnerships (University of Pennsylvania): University-based center advancing community-engaged scholarship and service learning. Like BT2P, it promotes civic engagement and community-based learning in higher education, though as a single-institution model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bringing Theory to Practice social profiles
Digital presenceBringing Theory to Practice financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bringing Theory to Practice leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Bringing Theory to Practice funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bringing Theory to Practice 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 Bringing Theory to Practice
What does Bringing Theory to Practice do?
BT2P is a national initiative that advances holistic, transformative change in higher education by providing grants, convenings, publications, and multi-institutional collaboration to colleges and universities. Its work centers on civic engagement, student wellbeing, and integrative learning, currently channeled through the Paradigm Project, a multi-year systemic change initiative launched in 2022. The organization also runs community-of-practice programs, the PLACE Collaboratory, podcasts, video series, and a publications library of seven books and journal special issues.
Is Bringing Theory to Practice a public or private company?
Bringing Theory to Practice is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bringing Theory to Practice founded?
Bringing Theory to Practice was founded in 2003.
Where is Bringing Theory to Practice based?
Bringing Theory to Practice is headquartered in Elon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bringing Theory to Practice make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Grants and Support.
Who are Bringing Theory to Practice's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities) and American Democracy Project (AASCU). Direct peers are Campus Compact, Imagining America, Project Pericles, Bonner Foundation and Healthy Minds Network. Emerging players are The Jed Foundation and Ashoka U. Netter Center for Community Partnerships (University of Pennsylvania) is listed as a regional player.
Does Bringing Theory to Practice have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bringing Theory to Practice.
What industry is Bringing Theory to Practice in?
Bringing Theory to Practice's product category is Higher Education Transformation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADALAA, Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8600.