Honesty for Ohio Education

What Honesty for Ohio Education does

Honesty for Ohio Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2021 and headquartered in Athens, Ohio, with approximately 15 employees. The organization mobilizes Ohioans to protect and strengthen the state's public K-12 education system through a portfolio of advocacy toolkits (HB 8, Voucher, K-12 DEI, RTRI, Property Tax), a network of local Honesty Teams, a School Board Alliance for equity-focused board members, a Youth Action Team, and civic engagement programming including an Elections Resources channel. Its beneficiary base spans Ohio families, educators, school board members, youth, immigrant students and families, and the broader electorate, with a coalition of 90+ organizational partners providing statewide distribution.

The organization distributes resources through a free-download model hosted on its Squarespace website, supplemented by email newsletters, social media, community events, and coalition-amplified channels. The Public School Funding Calculator is its most distinctive interactive asset, allowing users to model alternative state funding scenarios. Operational reach spans all 611 Ohio school districts, with the Voucher Toolkit providing fact sheets for 609 of them and HB 8-related policy compliance required across all districts by July 1, 2025.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, including one-time gifts, a recurring 'Honesty Champion' monthly program, and an investment fund held at the Cleveland Foundation for long-term financial stability. Political advocacy and candidate support are routed through a separate affiliated 501(c)(4) entity, Action for Honest Education, to which donations are not tax-deductible. There is no proprietary technology product, software platform, or AI component disclosed; the organization operates as a human-driven coalition and advocacy operation.

Name

Honesty for Ohio Education

Legal name

Honesty for Ohio Education

Website

https://honestyforohioeducation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Honesty for Ohio Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2021 that mobilizes Ohioans through a coalition of 90+ partners, local Honesty Teams, and a portfolio of education-advocacy toolkits to protect and strengthen Ohio's public K-12 schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Education Advocacy

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12/School & District Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Transparency Portals & Open Data Reporting (EDADAIAN)

Keywords

• Public education advocacy
• Education policy
• School funding
• Coalition building
• Grassroots organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. Monthly donors join the 'Honesty Champion' monthly giving program. Donations to Honesty for Ohio Education (501(c)(3)) are tax-deductible.
2. Investment Fund: Long-term financial stability through the Honesty For Ohio Education Fund at the Cleveland Foundation, which allows access to diversified investment pools.
3. Political Advocacy (Action for Honest Education): Donations to Action for Honest Education, the organization's 501(c)(4) arm for political activities. These donations are NOT tax-deductible but support candidate endorsements and political advocacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Honesty for Ohio Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that builds power for public education in Ohio through downloadable advocacy toolkits (RTRI, HB 8, Vouchers, K-12 DEI, Property Tax), the Public School Funding Calculator, the Honesty READS banned books initiative, the Belonging for Every Student listening campaign, and voter engagement/Elections resources. It coordinates a network of local Honesty Teams and a 90+ organization statewide coalition, supported by individual donations and an investment fund at the Cleveland Foundation.

Product overview

Honesty for Ohio Education is a nonprofit advocacy organization (501(c)(3)) that does not offer a traditional software product but provides a portfolio of advocacy toolkits, educational resources, and civic engagement tools. The organization's offerings include: downloadable advocacy toolkits (RTRI Toolkit, HB 8 Toolkit, Voucher Toolkit, K-12 DEI Toolkit, Property Tax Toolkit) addressing Ohio education legislation; the Public School Funding Calculator as an interactive web tool; the Honesty READS program against book bans; the Belonging for Every Student listening campaign; and Elections Resources for voter education. These toolkits and resources are offered free and distributed via Google Drive downloads, with the organization collaborating with 90+ partners statewide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RTRI Toolkit A downloadable advocacy toolkit that educates Ohioans about Released Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) and LifeWise programs and equips community members with resources to push back on state legislation and local district policies enabling such programs. Targeted at Ohio families, educators, and community members concerned about religious instruction during the school day.
• HB 8 Toolkit An advocacy toolkit for school communities that guides responses to Ohio House Bill 8, including a printable quick guide covering LGBTQ+ student protections and Parents' Bill of Rights language. Targeted at Ohio school administrators, faculty, students, and families navigating HB 8 implementation.
• Voucher Toolkit A comprehensive guide titled 'Public Funds Belong in Public Schools' that equips Ohioans with advocacy knowledge and tools against universal vouchers, including local fact sheets for 609 Ohio school districts. Targeted at Ohioans advocating against voucher expansion and for equitable public education funding.
• K-12 DEI Toolkit (Ohio: A Place for Every Student) A toolkit providing guidance for defending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 schools, including advocacy steps against Ohio SB 113 and HB 155 diversity bans, developed with the Civil Rights Coalition of 20+ organizations. Targeted at Ohio educators, families, and community members seeking to protect DEI in schools.
• Property Tax Toolkit (Funding Ohio's Communities) A toolkit titled 'Funding Ohio's Communities' that equips Ohio families with facts, talking points, and tools about property taxes, public schools, and local services funding. Targeted at Ohio families, voters, and community members seeking to understand and advocate around property tax and school funding issues.
• Public School Funding Calculator An interactive web-based calculator that allows Ohioans to explore what public schools could receive under different state funding choices, including visualizations of wealth tax revenue potential for education funding. Targeted at Ohio residents, advocates, and policymakers exploring public school funding scenarios.
• Honesty READS A program supporting the freedom to read for all students in Ohio that features curated banned books reading lists, resources against book censorship, and celebration of Banned Books Week. Targeted at Ohio students, families, educators, and library advocates opposing book bans.
• Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign A statewide listening campaign by Honesty's LGBTQ+ Coalition that gathers input on how recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws (including HB 8) are shaping experiences of students, educators, and families across Ohio, with findings to inform 2026-2027 advocacy strategies. Targeted at LGBTQ+ students, educators, and families in Ohio.
• Elections Resources A voter education hub offering voter registration guidance, early voting information, absentee ballot resources, candidate research tools, and candidate support resources for Ohio elections. Targeted at Ohio voters seeking election information and pro-public-education candidate support.
• Protecting Immigrant Students Resources A compilation of resources for school communities amid ICE enforcement activity, including ICE tracking tools, safe zone policies, know-your-rights guides, and advocacy resources for protecting immigrant students' right to education. Targeted at Ohio immigrant students, families, and school communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 609 school district fact sheets available on voucher impacts
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 90+ Organizational PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with over 90 organization partners and thousands of Ohioans across the state to protect honest and inclusive education. Partners work together on advocacy campaigns, coalition initiatives, and shared resources.
• Action for Honest EducationcoreOthersAffiliated political action organization (501(c)(4)) for electing pro-public education candidates. Donations to this arm are not tax-deductible but support political advocacy.
• The Columbus Education Justice CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit - a resource for school communities on Ohio's anti-LGBTQ+ House Bill 8.
• Equality OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for advocacy against discriminatory legislation.
• LGBT Community Center of Greater ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for protecting LGBTQ+ students.
• Kaleidoscope Youth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for LGBTQ+ youth advocacy.
• National Association of Social Workers - Ohio ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for social work perspective on student protections.
• TransOhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for transgender advocacy.
• GLSEN - Northeast Ohio ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creator of the HB 8 Toolkit for safe schools advocacy.
• The League of Women Voters of OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating the Voucher Toolkit - Public Funds Belong in Public Schools.
• Policy Matters OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating the Voucher Toolkit and providing research on public school funding.
• Red Wine & Blue OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating the Voucher Toolkit for fighting voucher expansion.
• AAUP OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition opposing SB 113 and HB 155 diversity bans.
• Applied Academic SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Cleveland Heights-University Heights School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Common Cause OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• It Takes a VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• LOVEboldlycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Medina County IndivisiblescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• New Voices for Reproductive JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Ohio Council of ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Ohio Equal RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Ohio Families Unite Against Police BrutalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Ohio Interfaith CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• OPAWL Building AAPI Feminist LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Pint Sized ProtesterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• Public Education PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• The Freedom BloccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in K-12 DEI Toolkit coalition.
• NASW Ohio ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign on HB 8 impacts.
• Glisten OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign on HB 8 impacts.
• Equality OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign.
• Columbus Education Justice Coalition (CEJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign.
• Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign.
• LGBT Center Greater ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign.
• Ohio Equal RightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Belonging for Every Student Listening Campaign.
• RTRI Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group of Honesty Teams Network that contributed to RTRI Toolkit development.
• Valley View Parents Concerned About LifeWiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group contributing to RTRI Toolkit on LifeWise programs.
• All in for Ohio's Kids CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition that fought to hold Ohio's legislature accountable for Fair School Funding Plan phase-in.
• Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School FundingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 500+ Ohio school districts that filed the DeRolph lawsuit challenging unconstitutional school funding.
• LEAD OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCandidate training organization featured on Honesty's elections page. 501(c)(4) providing year-round recruiting, training, and support for progressive candidates in Ohio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stand for Children: National education advocacy nonprofit that organizes parents and communities around school funding, equity, and policy reform. Comparable in its grassroots coalition model and policy-toolkit approach, though operating across multiple states rather than a single state.
• Parents for Public Schools: National nonprofit engaging parents as advocates for quality public schools. Comparable in its parent-led, community-organizing approach to defending public education and building local advocacy capacity.
• Network for Public Education: National advocacy organization dedicated to defending and strengthening public schools against privatization and defunding. Closely aligned with Honesty for Ohio Education's anti-voucher and pro-public-school-funding mission.
• Public Advocates: California-based legal and policy advocacy organization fighting for education equity and immigrant student rights. Comparable in its multi-issue equity advocacy (funding, immigrant rights, anti-discrimination) and use of toolkits and community organizing.
• 50CAN: State-based education advocacy network that builds local campaigns to advance policy reform in multiple states. Directly comparable in its state-focused advocacy structure and policy-campaign playbook, although oriented toward reform choice rather than pro-public-school messaging.

Broad incumbents

• Education Trust: National nonprofit promoting high academic achievement for students of color and low-income learners through policy research and advocacy. Comparable in its equity-focused education policy work, though operating at a larger scale and with a research-first orientation.

Regional players

• Ohio Education Association: Ohio's largest teachers union and education advocacy organization. Comparable as an Ohio-based education advocacy stakeholder with overlapping concerns around school funding, DEI, and educator rights, though operating from a labor rather than community-organizing model.
• Policy Matters Ohio: Ohio-based policy research institute producing research on school funding, vouchers, and economic equity. Direct partner in the Voucher Toolkit and a closely aligned research and advocacy peer within Ohio's progressive ecosystem.
• League of Women Voters of Ohio: Ohio chapter of a national civic engagement organization focused on voter education and election integrity. Direct partner in the Voucher Toolkit and a closely aligned civic engagement peer operating statewide in Ohio.
• Innovation Ohio: Ohio-based progressive research and advocacy organization focused on holding statehouse actors accountable. Directly comparable as an Ohio advocacy peer with overlapping donor and partner networks, though broader than education alone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/honestyforohioeducation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Honesty for Ohio Education