FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

What FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION does

Foundation for Excellence in Education (branded as ExcelinEd) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education policy organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida. The organization works directly with state legislators, governors' offices, and state education departments to advance student-centered K-12 policy reform across eight focus areas: College & Career Pathways, Early Literacy, Education Funding, Education Choice, K-8 Math Policy, School Accountability, Teachers & Leaders, and Digital Policy.

ExcelinEd's core products are not software in the traditional sense but rather curated policy resource platforms and frameworks. Its flagship offerings include Pathways Matter (a K-12 to workforce policy continuum platform), Early Literacy Matters (a comprehensive early literacy policy resource), and a Policy Playbook that consolidates implementation guides across all eight policy areas. The organization employs approximately 12 staff and supports its mission through philanthropic contributions and grants from donors committed to education reform. Distribution occurs through direct state government engagement, an annual National Summit, state-specific email newsletters covering all 50 states, and self-serve online policy portals.

The business model is advocacy-driven rather than revenue-generating. ExcelinEd does not sell products or charge for its policy resources; instead, it provides frameworks, research, testimony, and implementation support at no cost to state governments. The organization maintains affiliated entities including the Foundation for Florida's Future and ExcelinEd in Action, suggesting a federated structure that may support both 501(c)(3) research and adjacent advocacy activity. Notable cited outcomes include Mississippi's first-in-the-nation fourth grade reading improvement (2017-2019), Florida's second-place national ranking for AP exam participation, and adoption of demonstration-of-mastery credit policies in 32 states.

Name

FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

Legal name

Foundation for Excellence in Education

Website

https://foundationforexcellenceineducation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) is a Tallahassee-based nonprofit that develops K-12 education policy frameworks and works directly with state legislators and education departments to advance student-centered reform across eight policy areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Career & College Readiness Platforms (Guidance, Planning, Scholarships) (EDAJAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD), Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)

Keywords

• Education policy advocacy
• K-12 policy reform
• Early literacy policy
• College career pathways
• Education choice policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Contributions: As a non-profit organization, ExcelinEd is funded through donations and grants from supporters committed to education reform. The organization accepts contributions through its website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ExcelinEd develops and provides policy resources, frameworks, and advocacy support for state-level K-12 education reform. Its deliverable products include the Pathways Matter platform (a K-12 through workforce policy continuum), Early Literacy Matters (a comprehensive early literacy policy resource), and a Policy Playbook covering eight focus areas such as College & Career Pathways, Early Literacy, Education Funding, Education Choice, K-8 Math Policy, School Accountability, Teachers & Leaders, and Digital Policy. These resources are delivered at no cost to state policymakers, legislators, and education leaders.

Product overview

ExcelinEd is a policy advocacy organization offering a portfolio of policy resource platforms and tools rather than a traditional technology product. Its core offerings include Pathways Matter (a K-12 to workforce policy continuum platform) and Early Literacy Matters (a comprehensive early literacy policy resource), supported by a Policy Playbook library covering eight distinct education policy areas. These resources function as information platforms providing policy guidance, research, and frameworks for state-level education reform rather than software products with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pathways Matter A comprehensive learner-centered education-to-workforce policy platform that establishes the first unified continuum for state policy, spanning K-12 through postsecondary education to employment. Targeted at state policymakers and education leaders.
• Early Literacy Matters A policy resource providing state policymakers and education leaders with comprehensive state policy solutions for supporting teachers, administrators, students, and families in improving reading outcomes. Targeted at state policymakers and education leaders.
• Policy Playbook A collection of policy resources covering multiple education focus areas including College & Career Pathways, Early Literacy, Education Funding, Education Choice, K-8 Math Policy, School Accountability, Teachers & Leaders, and Digital Policy. Targeted at state policymakers and education leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mississippi achieved 1st place nationally in fourth grade reading improvements from 2017-2019 through ExcelinEd-supported policies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Association of Public Charter SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing data and research support for charter school policy initiatives. ExcelinEd cites their statistics on charter school enrollment (3.3 million students across 7,500 schools in 44 states and D.C.) to support education choice policy advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Chiefs for Change: A bipartisan network of state and district education chiefs focused on advancing student outcomes through policy. Comparable as a state education leader convening and policy advocacy organization that works directly with chief state school officers on reform.
• EdChoice: Education choice advocacy organization focused on school choice, vouchers, and education savings accounts. Directly comparable as a state-focused education reform advocacy nonprofit that produces policy research and engages state legislatures on choice and accountability — overlapping heavily with ExcelinEd's Education Choice and School Accountability policy areas.
• Foundation for Florida's Future: The Florida-focused affiliate of ExcelinEd. Directly comparable as a state-level education policy organization working on the same education reform issues within a single state, with shared leadership and complementary strategic priorities.
• American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): A large state-legislator-focused policy organization that drafts and disseminates model education legislation to state lawmakers. Directly comparable as a state legislative policy shop, though operating across all policy domains rather than education only.
• ExcelinEd in Action: The 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. Directly comparable as a sibling organization conducting the legislative and political advocacy arm of ExcelinEd's policy work, with overlapping leadership and strategic agenda.

Broad incumbents

• Thomas B. Fordham Institute: A nationally recognized education policy think tank producing research and analysis on standards, accountability, school choice, and curriculum. Comparable as an established K-12 education policy research and advocacy organization with broader analytical capacity.
• National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ): A research and policy organization focused on teacher quality, preparation, and policy reform. Comparable as a K-12 education policy nonprofit that engages state legislatures on teacher policy — a direct overlap with ExcelinEd's Teachers & Leaders domain.
• The Education Trust: A national education advocacy organization promoting high academic achievement and equity for all students, with strong state policy engagement. Comparable as a K-12 education policy nonprofit working with state education leaders on accountability and equity reforms.
• Center for American Progress — Education: A large progressive think tank with a substantial K-12 and higher education policy program producing research and advocating for federal and state education reforms. Comparable as a well-resourced K-12 policy organization, though operating from an opposing policy perspective.

Emerging players

• National Association of Public Charter Schools: A membership organization supporting the charter school sector through data, research, and federal/state policy advocacy. Comparable as a partner and adjacent K-12 education policy organization whose data underpins ExcelinEd's charter-related advocacy work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundation-for-excellence-in-education

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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