What Pasadena Educational Foundation does

Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded in 1971 in response to the court-ordered desegregation of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). It is recognized as the oldest educational foundation in California and operates exclusively to support PUSD's 23 schools and 14,000 students across Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. PEF runs a diversified program portfolio rather than a single product: signature programs include My Masterpieces (a nationally recognized K-6 visual arts curriculum delivered through 10+ partner museums), Math Academy (radically accelerated math pathway through AP Calculus by 8th grade), Summer Enrichment (20 years, 1,000+ students), Robotics, App Academy, 3D Printers, Open Stage, Dual Language Immersion in four languages, nine College and Career Academies, School Community Gardens (recognized by USDA as a model program), Teacher Grants ($325,000 awarded), and Scholarships ($303,000 distributed in 2026). It also provides back-office services to PUSD including grantwriting and school annual funds administration.

PEF is not a technology company and has no proprietary technology stack; its core "product" is programmatic delivery and capital deployment to public schools. Its revenue model is fundraising-based: the foundation raises between $12 and $15 million annually through individual donations, corporate contributions, and government/foundation grants, then deploys those funds as program grants, scholarships, and direct program operations. It has 19 employees and a lean operating model, with 500+ community and student volunteers contributing approximately 10,000 hours annually. Distribution is direct to PUSD schools; donor outreach runs through email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter), community ambassadors, and signature events such as Celebrating Our Schools. Recent extensions include the Eaton Fire Response Fund (over $7.4 million distributed to the PUSD community) and capital projects like the $260,000 Stadium 42 reconstruction at John Muir High School in partnership with the Dodgers Foundation.

Name

Pasadena Educational Foundation

Legal name

Pasadena Educational Foundation

Website

https://pased.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pasadena Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 — the oldest educational foundation in California — that raises $12–15 million annually to fund programs, grants, and scholarships for the 23 schools and 14,000 students of Pasadena Unified School District.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Educational foundation services
• Public school fundraising
• Teacher grant programs
• Scholarship administration
• School enrichment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: PEF raises between $12 and $15 million annually through individual donations, corporate contributions, and community fundraising campaigns. The foundation unites the power of the committed community to support PUSD schools.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: PEF receives large government grants and foundation grants that contribute to the annual fundraising total, supporting myriad essential programs.
3. Scholarship Administration: PEF administers scholarship funds for graduating seniors, writing hundreds of scholarship checks awarded at ceremonies. In 2026, distributed over $303,000 in scholarships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation that raises and distributes $12–15 million annually to support the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). The foundation delivers a portfolio of enrichment programs (arts, STEM, math acceleration, robotics, gardening, performing arts), administers teacher grants and student scholarships, and mobilizes community volunteers and partnerships to bridge the gap between public school funding and student needs across 23 schools serving 14,000 students in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre.

Product overview

Pasadena Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) schools through a diverse portfolio of educational programs and services. The foundation operates as a unified support structure rather than a platform-with-modules architecture, offering direct programs including Summer Enrichment Program (celebrating 20 years), My Masterpieces visual arts curriculum serving all K-6 students, Math Academy for gifted acceleration, Robotics, App Academy for coding, 3D Printers technology, Teacher Grants, Scholarships (over $303,000 distributed in 2026), School Community Gardens, Student Think Tank leadership program, Dual Language Immersion programs in four languages, and College and Career Academies. These programs are supported by fundraising, volunteer coordination, and community partnership services, all unified under the foundation's mission of achieving excellence and equity in all PUSD schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Masterpieces: Award-winning visual arts program serving every K-6 student in PUSD, partnering with ten local museums and arts institutions including The Huntington Library and Gardens, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Norton Simon Museum, and Kidspace Children's Museum.
• Math Academy
• Summer Enrichment Program

Products and services

• Summer Enrichment Program A multi-week summer program for PUSD-area students that blends academic subjects with hands-on activities including cooking, language exploration, rocketry, theater, robotics, tennis, and 3D design. Celebrated its 20th year of operation in 2026 and served more than 1,000 students.
• My Masterpieces: Discovering Art in My Community A nationally recognized and award-winning visual arts program that serves every K-6 student in PUSD by linking classroom lessons with field trips to partnering museums and cultural institutions including The Huntington Library and Gardens, USC Pacific Asia Museum, The Gamble House, Norton Simon Museum, and Kidspace Children's Museum.
• Math Academy A radically accelerated mathematics program for mathematically gifted middle and high school students that begins Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry in 6th grade and completes AP Calculus by the end of 8th grade; high school program includes undergraduate-level mathematics and individual research projects.
• Teacher Grants Grants awarded directly to PUSD teachers to help take creative classroom projects from idea to reality. PEF recently awarded over $325,000 in teacher grants to enhance classroom experiences.
• Scholarships College scholarship program administered across 6 PUSD secondary schools providing needs-based and academic achievement awards to graduating seniors. In 2026, PEF distributed over $303,000 in scholarships, including $100,000 to students who lost homes in the Eaton Fire.
• School Community Gardens Outdoor classroom spaces providing nutrition education, healthy eating, science, and other subjects through school gardens. Recognized by the USDA as a model program with a proven 10% reduction in overweight and obesity over 11 years; received over $150,000 USDA grant and over $100,000 from Pasadena Community Gardens Conservancy.
• Robotics Program Middle school robotics program providing hands-on experience in robotics design, programming, and competition for PUSD students.
• App Academy Coding and programming academy at Pasadena High School where all students receive a laptop to use at school and home; part of the Development & Technology Academy (DevTech).
• Dual Language Immersion Programs Bilingual education programs beginning in kindergarten offering Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Armenian, and French language instruction across 5 dual language immersion schools, continuing through middle and high school.
• College and Career Academies Nine unique academies across four PUSD high school campuses including Academy for Creative Industries, App Academy, Arts Entertainment and Media, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative Arts Media and Design, Development and Technology Academy (DevTech), Engineering and Environmental Science Academy, Health Careers Academy, and Law and Public Service.
• Student Think Tank Student leadership program in which high school students developed an innovative model for student representation on the Board of Education, including procedures for equitable elections to the Student Assembly.
• Open Stage Performing arts program supporting theater and stage performances for PUSD students.
• 3D Printers Program Educational technology program providing 3D printing equipment, instruction, and supplies to PUSD schools for design and fabrication learning.
• SciTech Initiative Outreach program connecting PUSD students with science and technology opportunities and resources.
• PUSD Today Community awareness and presentation program highlighting 15+ facts about Pasadena Unified School District programs including Arts, Music, Dual Language, IB, and College Pathways. Delivered by trained Community Ambassadors at neighborhood meetings, churches, and businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Distributed more than $7.4 million to PUSD community
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, minor, core and supporting.

• Dodgers/Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dodgers and LADF managed the reconstruction of Stadium 42 at John Muir High School, including completely rebuilding the field with new fencing, sod, scoreboard, and signage. The $260,000 project also involved multiple vendor donations coordinated by Dodger Head Groundskeeper Eric Hansen.
• Baseball Tomorrow FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed to the $260,000 Stadium 42 renovation project at John Muir High School baseball field.
• Tournament of RosesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Stadium 42 at John Muir High School renovation project.
• TurfaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated professional mound clay and three pallets of conditioner for the Stadium 42 renovation.
• CovermasterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated home plate cover, pitching mound cover, and bullpen covers for Stadium 42.
• Midwest Rake & Kochak through Ewing IrrigationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated field hose, nozzles, and field maintenance tools for Stadium 42 project.
• SyngentaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated one case of Primo Maxx for the Stadium 42 field maintenance.
• TorominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated Reelmaster 3100 mower for Stadium 42 grounds maintenance.
• Norton Simon MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 10+ arts and cultural institutions participating in My Masterpieces program, providing field trips and family access passes for PUSD K-6 students.
• Huntington Library and GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum in My Masterpieces program providing arts education and free family passes for PUSD students.
• USC Pacific Asia MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partner in My Masterpieces program serving PUSD K-6 students with cultural learning opportunities.
• Kidspace Children's MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My Masterpieces program providing hands-on arts learning and field trip experiences for PUSD students.
• Pasadena Museum of HistorysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts and cultural partner in My Masterpieces program serving PUSD K-6 students.
• Pasadena Museum of California ArtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partner in My Masterpieces program for PUSD K-6 visual arts education.
• The Gamble HousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner museum in My Masterpieces program providing architectural arts education for PUSD students.
• Armory Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education innovator partner in My Masterpieces program, matched with a specific grade level.
• Side Street ProjectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education partner in My Masterpieces program for PUSD K-6 students.
• City of PasadenasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My Masterpieces program contributing to arts education for PUSD students.
• Descanso GardenssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in My Masterpieces program providing nature and botanical arts experiences for PUSD students.
• Pasadena Community Gardens ConservancysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided over $100,000 in support for PUSD school gardens program.
• Huntington Medical Research InstitutessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Blair High School Health Careers Academy to provide real-world healthcare experience.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• California Community Foundation: Large-scale community foundation operating across LA County and California with a dedicated education portfolio. Comparable fundraising and grantmaking infrastructure, but PEF is district-specific while CCF is broader.
• San Diego Foundation: Regional community foundation with a significant education grantmaking portfolio. Shares the foundation-based K-12 funding model with PEF, though operates at multi-county scale.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the U.S., funding K-12 education initiatives across its region. Comparable in scale of fundraising and grantmaking, though geographically and programmatically broader.

Regional players

• Hawaii Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation with major education-giving programs and scholarship administration. Comparable in administering scholarship and education grant programs at regional scale.
• East Bay Community Foundation: Bay Area community foundation supporting education equity initiatives across multiple school districts. Comparable in operating as a regional grantmaking and community-anchored education funder, though across a broader footprint.
• Pasadena Community Foundation: Local community foundation serving Pasadena and surrounding areas, with education as one of its core funding priorities. Shares donor base and geography with PEF, though PEF is exclusively education-focused.

Direct peers

• Oakland Public Education Fund: Nonprofit foundation that raises funds and partners with Oakland Unified School District to expand educational opportunities, teacher support, and student programs — a direct functional peer to PEF.
• San Francisco Education Fund: Nonprofit that raises and deploys private funds to support San Francisco Unified School District, including teacher grants, student scholarships, and enrichment programs — directly analogous to PEF's role with PUSD.
• LA Fund for Public Education: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that mobilizes private resources for LAUSD schools through grants, scholarships, and enrichment programs; comparable mission, fundraising model, and K-12 district-support structure.

Emerging players

• New Schools Venture Fund: Nonprofit venture philanthropy that funds and supports innovative public schools and education entrepreneurs. Comparable in mission (transforming public education) and in deploying philanthropic capital into K-12 innovation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PasEdFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/PasadenaEducationalFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pased

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pasadena Educational Foundation