Children First Education Fund
Children First Education Fund is a Utah 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers the state-designated Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, funding private school and homeschool tuition for children with disabilities through tax-credit-eligible donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSouth Jordan, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Children First Education Fund does
Children First Education Fund (CFEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in South Jordan, Utah, founded in 2020. The organization administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program, a state-designated scholarship fund under Utah Code §53E-7-4 that provides tuition and fee funding for children with disabilities to attend private schools or homeschool programs. CFEF is the statutorily designated scholarship-granting entity, with its authority anchored in a regulatory framework administered in coordination with the Utah State Board of Education (USBE).
CFEF's operational platform consists of several interconnected web properties: the Parent Portal (cfef.theolearning.com) for scholarship applications, eligibility updates, and reimbursement management; a partner school directory of 80+ USBE-approved private schools; a directory of 729+ service providers; a donation portal (donor.cfe-fund.org); and a partner school application toolkit. Scholarship funds flow from CFEF to qualifying schools via quarterly ACH payments on behalf of recipients.
The organization's revenue model is entirely donation- and appropriation-based. Contributions from Utah individuals and businesses are eligible for a 100% Utah state income tax credit, effectively allowing donors to redirect state tax liability to the scholarship program. CFEF additionally receives appropriations from the State of Utah, including residual balances from the legacy Carson Smith scholarship. The organization is led by a 5-person team and partners with a broad network of schools, service providers, and donor organizations across Utah.
Children First Education Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Children First Education Fund
- Legal name
- Children First Education Fund
- Website
- https://cfe-fund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Children First Education Fund is a Utah 501(c)(3) nonprofit that administers the state-designated Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, funding private school and homeschool tuition for children with disabilities through tax-credit-eligible donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Children First Education Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Scholarship Administration
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Children First Education Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Jordan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Children First Education Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations with Tax Credits: CFEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions to the Fund are eligible for a 100% Utah state income tax credit. Individuals and businesses who owe Utah state income tax can donate to CFEF and receive the tax credit, effectively redirecting their state tax dollars to the scholarship program.
- State Appropriation: CFEF receives an appropriation from the state of Utah. Additionally, funds not used for the legacy Carson Smith program are transferred to CFEF for the new Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Children First Education Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Children First Education Fund administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program, providing scholarships for children with disabilities to attend private school or homeschool in Utah. The organization connects eligible students with 80+ USBE-approved partner schools and 729+ service providers, while funding the scholarships through donations eligible for a 100% Utah state income tax credit and state appropriations.
Product overview
Children First Education Fund (CFEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program, providing scholarships for children with disabilities to attend private schools or homeschool programs in Utah. The organization operates multiple interconnected platforms: a scholarship application and management system through the Parent Portal (cfef.theolearning.com), a directory of over 80 approved partner schools, a directory of 729+ service providers, and a donation portal. The scholarship is funded through donations eligible for 100% Utah state income tax credit, and the organization also receives state appropriations. All components work together to connect scholarship-eligible students with private schools, service providers, and the funding mechanisms needed for alternative education placement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship: The Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship is a scholarship program administered by Children First Education Fund for children with disabilities to attend private school or homeschool. It replaced the legacy Carson Smith scholarship program.
Products and services
- Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80 partner schools across Utah approved by USBE
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Children First Education Fund
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Children First Education Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Children First Education Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Utah State School Board (USBE)coreCFEF partners with the Utah State School Board (USBE) which approves private schools to receive scholarship students under the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program. Schools must be approved by USBE before CFEF can disburse funds.
- 80+ Private Schools in UtahcoreCFEF partners with over 80 private schools across Utah that have been approved by USBE to receive students awarded with the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship. These schools serve as the primary educational placement for scholarship recipients.
- 729 Service ProviderscoreCFEF partners with dozens of service providers who offer educational programs, services, or activities that support student learning, skill development, or educational engagement for scholarship recipients.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Children First Education Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACE Scholarships: Operates tax-credit scholarship programs in multiple states (CO, FL, GA, etc.) for K-12 private school choice, including special-needs students. Closely comparable business model with state tax-credit-eligible donations funding private school scholarships.
- Step Up For Students: Florida-based 501(c)(3) that administers the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program and other K-12 scholarships for low-income and special-needs students. Direct peer in operating state tax-credit scholarship programs with similar value proposition to families, schools, and donors.
- Children's Scholarship Fund: National K-8 private school scholarship nonprofit operating in multiple states. Comparable mission of providing private school choice to low-income and special-needs families via donor-funded scholarships, with similar nonprofit operating model.
- Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program: Georgia's qualified education expense tax credit scholarship organization for K-12 private school students, including special-needs. Direct peer operating a state tax-credit scholarship program with parallel donor incentive structure to CFEF's Utah program.
- BLOCS (Buckley Location of Catholic Schools): Maryland-based nonprofit that administers scholarship programs for low-income K-12 students to attend Catholic and other private schools, including special-needs populations. Comparable nonprofit scholarship-granting model serving similar families and schools.
- AAA Scholarship Foundation: Multi-state (FL, GA) tax-credit scholarship organization providing K-12 scholarships to special-needs and low-income students. Direct comparable in mission, structure, and donor incentive mechanism via state tax credits.
Regional players
- School Choice Wisconsin: Wisconsin-based nonprofit that administers the state's private school choice programs (vouchers and tax-credit scholarships) for K-12 students. Comparable mission and operating model, but serves Wisconsin rather than Utah, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.
Others
- EdChoice: National advocacy organization promoting K-12 school choice, including tax-credit scholarship programs. Adjacent/ecosystem connection rather than direct competitor — EdChoice influences policy that creates opportunities for organizations like CFEF but does not administer scholarships.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Children First Education Fund social profiles
Digital presenceChildren First Education Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Children First Education Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Children First Education Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Children First Education Fund 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 Children First Education Fund
What does Children First Education Fund do?
Children First Education Fund administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program, providing scholarships for children with disabilities to attend private school or homeschool in Utah. The organization connects eligible students with 80+ USBE-approved partner schools and 729+ service providers, while funding the scholarships through donations eligible for a 100% Utah state income tax credit and state appropriations.
Is Children First Education Fund a public or private company?
Children First Education Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Children First Education Fund founded?
Children First Education Fund was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Children First Education Fund based?
Children First Education Fund is headquartered in South Jordan, United States, in the North America region.
How does Children First Education Fund make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations with Tax Credits are the primary driver. The others are state Appropriation.
Who are Children First Education Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACE Scholarships, Step Up For Students, Children's Scholarship Fund, Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, BLOCS (Buckley Location of Catholic Schools) and AAA Scholarship Foundation. School Choice Wisconsin is listed as a regional player. EdChoice is listed as an others.
Does Children First Education Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Children First Education Fund.
What industry is Children First Education Fund in?
Children First Education Fund's product category is Educational Scholarship Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAHAC, Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.