Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP)

What Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP) does

Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP) is a place-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 and headquartered at 404 Euclid Avenue in San Diego, California. The organization was launched in response to low-literacy rates that were undermining economic revitalization efforts by the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in southeastern San Diego's Diamond Community. DEEP's mission is to ensure that children attending schools in the SDUSD Lincoln Cluster enter kindergarten prepared for success and complete third grade reading proficiently.

DEEP delivers its theory of change through three interconnected program pillars: (1) Preparing for Kindergarten — including 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, family workshops, family childcare provider workshops, and Early Music Years in partnership with the San Diego Children's Choir; (2) Reading by Third Grade — including a 2-year SDUSD-approved agreement to train teachers and literacy coaches, the Principals' Learning Community in partnership with CRLP at UCSD, and the new Literacy Liberator Tutoring Program; and (3) Learning Beyond the Classroom — including after-school Soaring Readers and Super Tuesdays, and the 5-week Summer Readers-Future Leaders program. Supporting offerings include the ABC Project, Learn Together Now (bilingual family engagement), and six community Little Libraries. No proprietary technology platform is operated.

DEEP is funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and charitable foundations, accepting contributions via PayPal, Mightycause, checks, wire transfers, stock donations, IRA rollovers, and Donor Advised Funds. Named investing partners include the San Diego Foundation (which awarded $252,000 in June 2021), the Dr. Seuss Foundation, the City of San Diego, United Way of San Diego County, the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, the Downtown San Diego Lions Club, and several family foundations. Programs are free to families, and the organization is led by Executive Director Allison Ohle with a 7-person staff and a board chaired by Amanda Bonds of Words Alive.

Name

Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP)

Legal name

Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership

Website

https://deepsd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEEP is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers evidence-based early literacy programs to families and children ages 0–8 in southeastern San Diego's Diamond Community through four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Literacy Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Literacy & Pre-Reading (Phonics, Letter Knowledge) (EDAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reading & Literacy Centers (Phonics, Comprehension, Writing) (EDANAHAD), Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational) (EDAAAAAE), Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG), K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

Keywords

• Early literacy programs
• Kindergarten readiness services
• Teacher professional development
• After-school enrichment programs
• Family literacy workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: DEEP is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships, and charitable foundations. The organization accepts donations via PayPal, Mightycause, checks, wire transfers, stock donations, IRA rollovers, and Donor Advised Funds.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DEEP is a place-based nonprofit that delivers free early-literacy programs for children ages 0-3rd grade in southeastern San Diego. Its core offerings span three pillars: Preparing for Kindergarten (1,000 Books Before Kinder, family workshops, family childcare provider training, Early Music Years), Reading by Third Grade (teacher professional development, on-site literacy coaching, Principals' Learning Community, Literacy Liberator Tutoring), and Learning Beyond the Classroom (Soaring Readers, Super Tuesdays, Summer Readers – Future Leaders). Programs are delivered directly at four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools and through community-based family workshops, with supporting offerings including the ABC Project, Learn Together Now bilingual engagement, and community Little Libraries.

Product overview

DEEP is a place-based nonprofit organization that offers a suite of early literacy programs designed to ensure children in southeastern San Diego enter kindergarten prepared and read proficiently by third grade. The organization operates three interconnected program pillars: (1) Preparing for Kindergarten through the 1,000 Books Before Kinder program, family workshops, childcare provider workshops, and early music lessons; (2) Reading by Third Grade via teacher professional development, principals' learning community, and literacy coaching; and (3) Learning Beyond the Classroom through after-school programs (Soaring Readers, Super Tuesdays) and summer programming (Summer Readers-Future Leaders). Additional offerings include the ABC Project for alphabet learning, Learn Together Now for bilingual family engagement, and community Little Libraries. DEEP does not offer a technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1,000 Books Before Kinder A free program that challenges and supports families with children ages 0-5 to read 1,000 books before kindergarten, delivered in partnership with the San Diego Public Library and serving over 400 families annually.
• Family Workshops Free workshops delivered in collaboration with partners including Words Alive, the Fleet Center, and Motiva Associates to recruit and train families with young children at partner schools in early literacy skill development.
• Family Childcare Provider Workshops Saturday workshops for family childcare providers in zip codes 92113, 92114, and 92102 covering social-emotional development, language, literacy, science, art, and music, often delivered in partnership with YMCA Childcare Resource Service.
• Early Music Years Weekly music lessons delivered in partnership with the San Diego Children's Choir that build early language skills and support social-emotional development for over 500 children in grades PK through first grade at partner schools.
• Principals' Learning Community A convening of partner-school principals with DEEP and California Reading and Literature Project (CRLP) to observe, reflect upon, and improve early reading instruction across schools.
• Teacher Professional Development Research-based early-reading professional development delivered under a two-year SDUSD agreement, with each partner school hosting a full-time Literacy Coach and 100% of K-3 teachers receiving foundational training (50 teachers and 4 literacy coaches trained).
• Soaring Readers Before and after-school literacy program supporting emerging readers at partner schools with targeted literacy instruction.
• Super Tuesdays After-school enrichment program offered on partner-school half-days, combining literacy instruction with STEAM activities to encourage curiosity and project-based learning.
• Summer Readers – Future Leaders (SRFL) A 5-week, full-day literacy-enriched summer program serving students entering grades 1-3, featuring high-quality early literacy morning instruction and afternoons with STEAM-based enrichment activities.
• ABC Project Early literacy resource providing practice sheets, worksheets, and video resources for alphabet learning and letter recognition for young children.
• Learn Together Now Bilingual family engagement program providing resources and activities for families to support early literacy and learning at home, aligned with the Talking is Teaching initiative.
• Little Libraries Six little libraries placed across the Diamond Community where families can pick up or leave books, promoting access to reading materials.
• Literacy Liberator Tutoring Program Trained tutors placed directly into classrooms to provide individualized, science-of-reading-based support during the school day, reinforcing decoding, fluency, and language skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third-grade reading proficiency at partner schools improved from 28% to 34%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Chollas-Mead ElementarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools where DEEP delivers literacy programs, professional development, and after-school support services.
• Encanto ElementarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools where DEEP delivers literacy programs, professional development, and after-school support services.
• Johnson ElementarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools where DEEP delivers literacy programs, professional development, and after-school support services.
• Webster ElementarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four SDUSD Lincoln Cluster partner schools where DEEP delivers literacy programs, professional development, and after-school support services.
• California Reading and Literature Project (CRLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead literacy partner based at UCSD. DEEP works with CRLP to provide professional development, literacy coaching, and teacher training in evidence-based early reading practices.
• San Diego Council on LiteracymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in literacy initiatives. San Diego Council on Literacy has recognized DEEP with its Collaborative Award for Literacy 2025.
• San Diego Public LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, helping to distribute literacy resources to families in the Diamond Community.
• San Diego Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict partner enabling DEEP's work in four Lincoln Cluster schools. SDUSD approved a 2-year agreement with DEEP to train teachers and literacy coaches.
• SDSU Child and Family DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on early literacy research and the Aligning PK, TK, & K professional learning community pilot.
• SDSU School of Speech Language and Hearing SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting speech and language development aspects of DEEP's literacy programs.
• United Way of San DiegomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding and strategic partner. United Way of San Diego County recognized DEEP as Partner of the Year 2025.
• Words AlivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in family literacy workshops and programs. Words Alive's Program Director Amanda Bonds serves as Chair of DEEP's Board.
• Diamond Business Improvement DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business organization supporting DEEP's community development work in the Diamond Community.
• San Diego Children's ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing the Early Music Years program, bringing weekly music lessons to over 500 children at partner schools.
• YMCA Childcare Resource ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner delivering workshops on trauma-informed care and child development for family childcare providers.
• Talking is TeachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner resource provider supporting the Learn Together Now family engagement program.
• Family Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting a Little Library location at 4725 Market Street.
• Jacobs Center for Neighborhood InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEEP was launched in 2012 through the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation's revitalization efforts. The Jacobs Center's economic development investments initially highlighted the low-literacy rates that DEEP was created to address.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Diego Public Library Foundation: Co-delivers the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program with DEEP and runs other early-literacy family programming in San Diego — directly comparable on early-literacy family programming and book access.
• San Diego Council on Literacy: San Diego regional literacy umbrella that awards and convenes literacy nonprofits across the county; directly comparable as a regional literacy coalition and DEEP collaborator.
• Words Alive: San Diego-based nonprofit focused on family literacy, reading programs for children and youth, and parent engagement — directly comparable to DEEP's family literacy work and is itself a DEEP partner; Amanda Bonds, Words Alive's Program Director, also chairs DEEP's board.
• California Reading and Literature Project (CRLP): UCSD-based literacy professional development provider that delivers DEEP's teacher training and literacy coaching; directly comparable on K-3 evidence-based reading instruction, teacher PD, and principal learning communities.
• KIPP San Diego: San Diego charter school network where DEEP's Executive Director Allison Ohle previously served as Founding Executive Director — directly comparable on K-3 literacy outcomes and education equity mission, but operates as a charter school rather than as a nonprofit partner network.

Emerging players

• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that promotes early literacy through pediatricians and book distribution to families with young children — directly comparable to DEEP's early-literacy family engagement model, but at national scale and through a healthcare delivery channel.
• Raising A Reader: National nonprofit focused on early literacy and family book-sharing routines for children ages 0-5 — directly comparable to DEEP's 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and family workshop programming.

Others

• United Way of San Diego County: Major regional funder and convenor of literacy and education nonprofits in San Diego; comparable as a literacy funder/convenor and is itself DEEP's named Partner of the Year 2025.

Regional players

• BookSpring: Texas-based early-literacy nonprofit delivering school and family literacy programs for young children — closely comparable in mission and program design to DEEP, but operating regionally in Central Texas rather than San Diego.

Broad incumbents

• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): Long-standing national early-literacy nonprofit providing books and literacy resources to children; comparable to DEEP's Little Libraries and book-distribution work, but at significantly larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu9Xp5VpI6IPL26IhPUTLuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/DEEPSanDiegoReader
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diamond-educational-excellence-partnership-deep
• Instagraminstagram.com/deepsandiego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP)