PIE Network

What PIE Network does

PIE Network is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)-style nonprofit membership organization founded circa 2006 that connects, strengthens, and catalyzes the work of education advocates across the United States. It operates a diverse, nonpartisan network spanning 144 state and local member organizations, 53 national member organizations, more than 2,000 individual advocates, and 38 states plus D.C. The organization serves two primary customer segments — state and local education advocacy organizations (charter associations, parent advocacy groups, community-based reform organizations) and national education policy partners — by providing a convening function that spans political and ideological differences.

PIE Network's core offerings are delivered through a WordPress-based website platform with member login: Policy Portals (member-only curated content libraries covering accountability, assessment, literacy, college/career pathways, and other verticals); the AI Policy Hub (co-developed with Bellwether and funded by the Walton Family Foundation, providing AI policy learning labs and a State Advocacy Learning Cohort); the Leadership Institute (a $2,500/participant, year-long cohort-based professional development program that has trained 200+ advocates since its first cohort in 2013); The Eddies (an annual peer-nominated awards program); Communities of Practice (policy-specific member groups such as College and Career Pathways, Literacy, Assessment and Accountability, and Math Multipliers); and an NLP-driven "Ask Eddie" chat assistant for website visitor support. Content includes video interviews, research, polling/messaging resources, 50-state scans, advocacy case studies, and model legislation.

The organization runs on a hybrid revenue model combining membership dues from 197 member organizations, Leadership Institute tuition (where PIE itself covers over two-thirds of program costs via funders), and grant funding from foundations including the Walton Family Foundation. Distribution is direct: organizations self-register through the website using member organization email addresses, executives apply competitively for the Leadership Institute, and state teams apply competitively for AI Policy Hub cohorts. Marketing is community-led, anchored by an annual Summit, Executives' Meetings, weekly/bi-weekly email newsletters, social media (X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram), and a blog and resources hub. The organization employs roughly 20 staff.

Name

PIE Network

Legal name

PIE Network

Website

https://pie-network.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PIE Network is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit membership organization that connects 197 state, local, and national education advocacy organizations across 38 U.S. states through curated policy resources, leadership training, peer learning communities, and an AI Policy Hub.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Advocacy Network

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)

Keywords

• Education advocacy network
• Policy research resources
• Professional development programs
• Member-based association
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: PIE Network connects state and local education advocacy organizations and national policy partners through membership. Organizations join the network to access exclusive tools, resources, events, and professional development opportunities.
2. Leadership Institute Tuition: The Leadership Institute charges $2,500 per participant for the year-long cohort-based leadership program, which includes professional development, meals, and lodging at in-person meetings. PIE Network covers over two-thirds of program costs through funders. Limited scholarships available based on organizational budget and need.
3. Grant Funding: PIE Network receives support from funders including the Walton Family Foundation for specific initiatives like the AI Policy Hub, as well as other foundations and organizations committed to education advocacy capacity building.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PIE Network is a nonprofit membership organization that connects, strengthens, and catalyzes education advocacy organizations across U.S. states and ideologies. It provides members with curated policy resources through online portals, cohort-based leadership development programs, policy-specific Communities of Practice, an annual awards program, and convening events such as the annual Summit and Executives' Meetings. Membership is offered to state/local education advocacy organizations, charter school associations, and national policy partners.

Product overview

PIE Network is a membership network for education advocates that operates as a unified platform with multiple integrated programs and services. The core offering includes Policy Portals (member-only curated resources), the AI Policy Hub (AI policy support in partnership with Bellwether), the Leadership Institute (cohort-based professional development), The Eddies (annual awards), Communities of Practice (policy-specific groups), and a Blog/Resources/Events platform. These components work together to connect, strengthen, and catalyze education advocacy across states and ideologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Portals Members-only curated policy and advocacy resource portals providing access to video interviews with field leaders, research, polling and messaging resources, evidence of impact, state legislation trackers, 50-state scans, advocacy case studies, and model legislation, available to staff of member and partner organizations.
• AI Policy Hub A resource and learning platform developed in partnership with Bellwether that provides education advocates with AI policy expertise, including an AI Policy Learning Lab with landscape scans, issue briefs, and expert guidance, plus a State Advocacy Learning Cohort for state-based teams, supported by the Walton Family Foundation.
• Leadership Institute A cohort-based, year-long leadership development program for executive directors and senior leaders of member organizations, focused on leading change in complex political climates with world-class facilitators and experiential learning, charged at $2,500 per participant with PIE Network covering over two-thirds of program costs through funders.
• The Eddies Annual advocate-nominated and voted awards ceremony recognizing outstanding policy and advocacy wins across multiple categories including Game Changer Campaign of the Year, Weaver of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Defense, and Best Implementation.
• Communities of Practice Policy-specific member-driven groups including College and Career Pathways, Assessment and Accountability, Literacy, and Math Multipliers, each providing virtual programming, in-person working meetings, site visits, resources, and collaborative learning opportunities.
• Blog, Resources, & Events Platform A content platform featuring blogs, curated resources, and event listings covering policy topics across accountability, assessments, CTE, charter schools, data systems, early learning, education funding, educator topics, literacy, and student wellbeing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ advocates trained through Leadership Institute since 2013
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BellwethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIE Network and Bellwether partnered on the AI Policy Hub to connect education advocacy organizations with resources, support, and national AI education sector experts. The partnership offers the AI Policy Learning Lab, State Advocacy Learning Cohort, and field-building thought leadership on AI in education policy. Bellwether contributes expertise through the Learning Systems series and produces publications, policy briefs, and webinars.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TNTP (The New Teacher Project): TNTP is a national nonprofit focused on teacher effectiveness and education policy. An actual PIE Network member participating in learning site visits; comparable in operating at the intersection of education research and policy advocacy.
• Chiefs for Change: Chiefs for Change is a bipartisan network of state and district education leaders focused on improving education outcomes. Comparable to PIE Network's leadership development and policy advocacy model, though targeted at system leaders rather than advocacy organizations.
• Bellwether Education Partners: Bellwether is an education-focused nonprofit that provides research and consulting on education policy. PIE Network's strategic partner on the AI Policy Hub; highly comparable as a thought-leadership and capacity-building organization in the same policy domain.
• Education Trust: Education Trust is a national nonprofit advancing excellence and equity in education through advocacy, research, and community engagement. Direct peer in education policy advocacy with similar member-network and policy resource model.
• 50CAN: 50CAN is a 50-state education advocacy network that recruits and trains local advocates to push for policy change, sharing PIE Network's "big tent" approach across states. Direct peer in the education advocacy network category.
• Teach Plus: Teach Plus is a national teacher-led advocacy organization developing teacher leaders to shape education policy. PIE Network members include Teach Plus Mississippi, indicating direct overlap; both organizations operate in the teacher-voice-in-policy space.
• National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ): NCTQ is a national policy research and advocacy organization focused on increasing the number of effective teachers. NCTQ is an actual PIE Network member (Heather Peske quoted), making it a direct peer with overlapping policy focus.

Emerging players

• CRPE (Center on Reinventing Public Education): CRPE is a research and policy organization focused on transforming public education through innovative approaches. Overlaps with PIE Network's policy research and innovation-focused work but emphasizes research output over member convening.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): CCSSO is a nonpartisan nationwide membership organization for public officials who lead state education agencies. A broader incumbent in education policy leadership with convening functions comparable to PIE Network.
• National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE): NASBE is a nonpartisan association representing state boards of education, providing policy resources and convening state education leaders. Operates in the same policy network space with broader institutional remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PIEnetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pie-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 PIE Network