Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF)

Name

Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF)

Legal name

Classroom of the Future Foundation

Website

https://classroomofthefuture.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• STEM scholarship programs
• Innovation grants education
• School district partnerships
• Educator professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting educational innovation in San Diego County schools. Multiple donation options including one-time, monthly recurring, memorial/dedication gifts, and gifts of stock.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events (Innovation in Education Awards, College & Career Pathways Summit), program support, and scholarship funding. Premier sponsors include National University, SchoolsFirst, SDG&E, Cox, SDCOE, NICU, USS Midway Museum.
3. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations to support specific programs like the Innovation Grant Program ($25,000 annually in grants), AVID STEM Scholarships, and Career Discovery Experience programs.
4. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for educational events: College & Career Pathways Summit (Educator $50, Business $150). Innovation in Education Awards ticket sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

Classroom of the Future Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates an Innovation Grant program awarding $5,000-$10,000 grants to K-12 programs, AVID STEM Scholarships for underserved students, the Career Discovery Experience project-based learning program, the Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center, and signature events including the annual Innovation in Education Awards, College & Career Pathways Summit, and Supe Tank pitch events. Its core service is convening San Diego County business, community, and educational leaders around classroom innovation.

Product overview

Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF) is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 1997 that operates as a portfolio of educational programs and events rather than a unified tech product. The organization offers: Innovation in Education Awards (annual grants program with Inspire, Innovate, Achieve, and Impact categories); AVID STEM Scholarships supporting underserved students pursuing STEM degrees; Career Discovery Experience Program providing project-based learning in Cybersecurity and Blue Economy; College & Career Pathways Summit (annual networking event); Supe Tank (Shark Tank-style superintendent pitching event); and multiple podcasts including Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged, To The Mountaintop, Level Up Launch, and Impactful Sandbox. CFF also operates the Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center as a regional technology hub for educator training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation in Education Awards Annual awards program recognizing innovative K-12 classroom programs with grants under Inspire, Innovate, Achieve, and Impact categories awarding $5,000 to $10,000 to winning programs in San Diego County.
• AVID STEM Scholarships Scholarship program supporting AVID students from underserved communities pursuing STEM degrees, including the Joe Rindone Memorial Scholarship, with over $630,000 distributed to more than 600 students since 1999.
• Career Discovery Experience Program Six-week project-based learning experience providing elementary and middle school students exposure to cybersecurity and Blue Economy career sectors through hands-on curriculum, industry partnerships, and mentorship, piloted across multiple San Diego County school districts.
• College & Career Pathways Summit Annual summit bringing together education, business, and community leaders to explore college and career readiness strategies and Career Technical Education (CTE) initiatives. Ticketed event with Educator tickets at $50 and Business tickets at $150.
• Supe Tank Shark Tank-style event where San Diego County superintendents pitch innovative programs and initiatives to business and community leaders for potential partnerships and funding.
• Joe Rindone Regional Technology Center (JRRTC) Regional technology hub completed in 2000 serving as a center for educator capacity building and student preparation around emerging technologies, serving more than 485,000 children and 25,000 teachers annually across San Diego County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 in STEM scholarships distributed to 600+ students since 1997
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997CFF is formally established as an extension of SDCOE. Works closely with SDCOE's Innovation Division on educational programs. SDCOE provides institutional backing and access to all 42 county school districts.
• USS Midway MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier sponsor and partner since 2006. Partnership for educational programming including 'Evacuation of Saigon' learning experience. CFF helped establish innovative educational programming at the museum. USS Midway is now at max capacity for student hosting.
• National UniversityflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor and venue host for College & Career Pathways Summit. Hosts events at National University Scripps Ranch and Spectrum Center locations.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor for CFF events. Sponsored Future Pathways podcast. Board Chair Josh Smith serves as VP of School and Community Relations.
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor of CFF events. SDG&E representative Praem Kodiath served as Board Chair in 2023. Sponsors Impact Award.
• Cox CommunicationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor for Innovation in Education Awards. Sally Bowen serves as Account Manager on Board of Directors. Sponsors INSPIRE Award.
• University of San Diego Jacobs Institute for Innovation in EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Supe Tank events at USD campus. Co-creator of Impactful Sandbox podcast. Partnership for innovation in education initiatives.
• NordsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Career Discovery Experience program through donations and program support.
• Best BuyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Career Discovery Experience program through donations and technology donations.
• Girls Who CodeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting STEM education programs and career pathways for students.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of San MarcosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting Career Discovery Cybersecurity Experience in after-school space for students from San Marcos USD and Escondido UHSD.
• Mission Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Angelica Gamble-Wong serves as Sr. Vice President on Board of Directors.
• Alaska AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor for Innovation in Education Awards.
• California Schools VEBAcoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor and Business Team Award winner. VEBA receives Business Team Award for supporting local educational causes.
• Center for Educational Innovation (CEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 event sponsor. Thomas Aurelio Davis serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships.
• Dillon Family (Tom Dillon)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time supporter. Tom Dillon served as Board Chair multiple times (2007-2009) and received Todd W. Gutschow Visionary Award. Dr. Tom Dillon is on Advisory Board.
• F3 LawcoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Gretchen Shipley serves as Partner on Board of Directors. Peter Fagen is Co-Founder & Senior Partner on Advisory Board.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor for Innovation in Education Awards.
• Motorola SolutionscoreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Ryan Ta serves as Business Development Manager on Board of Directors.
• San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU)coreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Sponsors Community Team Award for USD Jacobs Institute.
• SeaWorld San DiegocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for Annual Innovation in Education Awards (23rd year). Nautilus Pavilion hosts awards ceremony.
• Sony Electronics, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Samantha Corn serves as Senior Manager Business Development and Education on Board of Directors.
• WorkEDminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026 event sponsor. Sponsors Todd W. Gutschow Visionary Award.
• Project NextcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2026 Community Team Award winner. North County San Diego nonprofit operating Future Centers on high school campuses in partnership with Escondido UHSD, San Marcos USD, and Oceanside USD.
• Olivewood GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2024 Business Team Award winner (Community). Nonprofit-school partnership model within National School District providing hands-on learning and career pipelines.
• Palomar HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical Discoveries Program partner with Escondido Union School District providing 8th grade students hands-on instruction in medical career exploration.
• San Diego Maritime Museum of San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Blue Economy career pathway development. Creating collaborative maritime hub for youth workforce development.

Scale indicators12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DonorsChoose: National nonprofit crowdfunding platform that channels individual and corporate donations directly to K-12 public school classroom needs. Operates in a similar education-foundation space with comparable donor-driven K-12 innovation funding mechanics, though at much larger national scale.
• Point Foundation: National scholarship foundation providing financial support and mentorship to underserved students pursuing higher education. Comparable scholarship-funding model for underrepresented students, though at national scale and broader in scope than STEM.
• AVID Center: San Diego-based national nonprofit focused on college and career readiness for underserved students, including a dedicated STEM scholarship pathway. CFF's AVID STEM Scholarship program is directly aligned with AVID's mission and student population, making it the closest comparable organization.

Broad incumbents

• Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Large national scholarship organization supporting Hispanic and underrepresented students pursuing higher education, including STEM fields. Comparable as a scholarship foundation targeting underserved students with corporate sponsor funding models similar to CFF's.
• Teach For America: Major national education nonprofit focused on educational equity and leadership development in underserved K-12 communities. Comparable as a high-profile education-convening nonprofit with similar donor base and mission alignment around K-12 opportunity gaps.
• KIPP Foundation: National K-12 education nonprofit foundation supporting a charter school network focused on underserved students and college readiness. Comparable as a K-12 education foundation, but operates schools directly rather than convening districts around innovation.

Regional players

• Price Philanthropies: San Diego-based family foundation supporting education, community development, and immigrant integration. Comparable as a regional education-focused foundation with similar grantmaking and program support models in the same geography.
• San Diego Foundation: Regional community foundation serving San Diego County through grants, scholarships, and convening. Operates in the same San Diego geography with overlapping funder and partner network, though with a broader focus beyond education innovation.

Emerging players

• California Schools VEBA: San Diego-region nonprofit benefits organization supporting school employee health and community causes, including education. 2026 CFF Business Team Award winner and active event sponsor — operates as a complementary education-supporting nonprofit with overlapping funder ecosystem.
• Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education (USD): University of San Diego institute focused on educational innovation research and convening. Direct CFF partner and 2025 Community Team Award winner; operates in adjacent innovation-in-education space with strong overlap in mission and San Diego region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cffsd
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFFSD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/classroom-of-the-future-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/classroom_of_the_future

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Classroom of the Future Foundation (CFF)