FWCS Study Connection
FWCS Study Connection is a free, award-winning volunteer tutoring program of Fort Wayne Community Schools that matches volunteer tutors one-to-one with FWCS students needing extra academic help, serving a single Indiana school district through donations and community partnerships.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersFort Wayne, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What FWCS Study Connection does
FWCS Study Connection is a community-based, one-to-one volunteer tutoring program operated by the Family & Community Engagement (FACE) department of Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS), a public school district headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 1989 by Don Wolf, former CEO and President of Do it Best, and institutionalized following a three-year pilot, the program matches volunteer tutors with K-12 students whom classroom teachers have identified as needing additional academic support. Pairs meet for one hour once per week during the school year, typically during the student's lunch period or at partner-hosted study sites, with focus areas spanning reading, spelling, writing, study skills, and organization. The program reports that 85% of participating students improve their grades from the 1st to the 4th quarter, and the offering has received national recognition as an award-winning education/community partnership.
The program is delivered through a network of more than 27 institutional partners — including major employers (BAE Systems, L3 Harris, Valbruna Stainless, Do it Best), ten-plus faith-based organizations, the City of Fort Wayne, the Fort Wayne Housing Authority, Ivy Tech Community College, AmeriCorps, and the Downtown Rotary Club — which supply volunteer tutors and physical study-site locations. Study Connection is a free service to students and volunteer tutors; the program's stated ask of volunteers is one hour per week rather than monetary contribution. The program is staffed by 37 employees and coordinated by a Community Programs Coordinator (Helen Tobo), who runs volunteer screening, orientation training, student-tutor matching, and year-end celebrations.
The operating model is donation-based rather than revenue-based. Funding is sourced from individual and organizational donations plus passive affiliate revenue through the Kroger Community Rewards Program, which allocates a percentage of registered participants' spending at Kroger stores to the program. There are no fees charged to students, families, or volunteer tutors, and all study materials, holiday gifts, and program coordination costs are funded through this donation and affiliate-referral stream. Geographically, the program is strictly bounded by the Fort Wayne Community Schools district; there is no multi-district or out-of-state operation.
FWCS Study Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FWCS Study Connection
- Legal name
- Fort Wayne Community School District
- Website
- https://studyconnection.org
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- FWCS Study Connection is a free, award-winning volunteer tutoring program of Fort Wayne Community Schools that matches volunteer tutors one-to-one with FWCS students needing extra academic help, serving a single Indiana school district through donations and community partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FWCS Study Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Support Services
- NAICS
- Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Homework Help (Multi-Subject) (EDANADAA), Homework Tutoring & Academic Support (Subject Tutoring) (HSAAAHAC), Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)
Keywords
Where FWCS Study Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Wayne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
FWCS Study Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations: The program accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support student/tutor matches throughout the school year. Donations can be made through the program's contact channels.
- Kroger Community Rewards: Study Connection participates in the Kroger Community Rewards Program, receiving funds based on registered participants' spending at Kroger stores using their Kroger Plus cards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free tutoring program for students |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
FWCS Study Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Study Connection is a free, school-based one-to-one tutoring program that pairs volunteer community tutors with Fort Wayne Community Schools students who teachers have identified as needing extra academic assistance. Volunteer-student pairs meet for one hour once a week during the school year, focusing on reading, spelling, writing, study skills, and organization. The program provides all study materials, volunteer orientation, screening, matching, and ongoing coordination support.
Product overview
Study Connection is a single program offering — an award-winning, one-to-one tutoring initiative operated by Fort Wayne Community Schools' Family & Community Engagement (FACE) department. The program matches volunteer tutors with students identified by teachers as needing academic support; pairs meet weekly during the school year at the student's school. It is not a software platform or SaaS product. The program provides volunteer orientation, study materials (books, flashcards, pencils, paper), and coordinates year-end celebrations and holiday gifts. Study Connection is the only named product/service offering under this brand.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Study Connection Tutoring Program A free, award-winning, school-based one-to-one tutoring program that pairs community volunteer tutors with Fort Wayne Community Schools students identified by teachers as needing extra academic assistance. Volunteer-student pairs meet for one hour once a week during the school year at the student's school or at partner study sites. Focus areas include reading, spelling, writing, study skills, and organization. The program provides all study materials (books, flashcards, pencils, paper), volunteer orientation, screening, matching, ongoing coordination, and year-end celebrations with holiday gifts for students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% of Study Connection Students improve their grades from the 1st quarter to the 4th quarter
Companies that use FWCS Study Connection
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FWCS Study Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
FWCS Study Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- AmeriCorpscoreCommunity partner providing volunteer support for the Study Connection tutoring program.
- BAE SystemscoreCommunity partner providing volunteer support and study sites for the Study Connection program.
- Bethany UMCcoreChurch partner providing volunteer tutors and serving as a study site for the program.
- Calvary UMCcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site for the tutoring program.
- City of Fort WaynecoreMunicipal partner supporting Study Connection through community engagement and volunteer coordination.
- Covenant UMCcoreChurch partner providing volunteer tutors and study site locations.
- Design CollaborativeminorDesign firm partner contributing volunteer support to the Study Connection program.
- Do It Best CorpflagshipOriginal founding partner - program was established in 1989 by Don Wolf, former CEO and President of Do it Best. Continues as a community partner supporting the program.
- Downtown Rotary ClubcoreCivic organization partner providing volunteer tutors through Rotary membership.
- First Presbyterian ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site locations.
- Fort Wayne Children's ZoominorLocal attraction partner contributing volunteer support to the Study Connection program.
- Fort Wayne Housing AuthoritycoreHousing authority partner supporting families in need and connecting residents with Study Connection tutoring services.
- Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer tutors and serving as a study site.
- Greater Northeast Indiana Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc.coreFamily organization partner supporting youth development through volunteer tutoring.
- Hagerman ConstructionminorConstruction company partner providing employee volunteers for the Study Connection program.
- Headwaters ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site locations.
- Hispanic Mentor Alliance GroupcoreCommunity organization partner focused on providing mentorship and tutoring support, particularly for Hispanic students.
- Ivy Tech Community CollegecoreHigher education partner providing volunteer tutors and potentially supporting student transition to college readiness.
- L3 Harris TechnologiescoreTechnology company partner providing employee volunteers for the tutoring program.
- Life House ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site for tutoring sessions.
- Med ProminorHealthcare/medical company partner providing employee volunteers for the program.
- Plymouth ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer tutors and serving as a study site.
- St. Joseph UMCcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site locations.
- Trinity English Lutheran ChurchcoreChurch partner providing volunteer tutors and study site for students.
- Valbruna Stainless Inc.minorManufacturing company partner contributing employee volunteers to the Study Connection program.
- Waynedale UMCcoreChurch partner providing volunteer support and study site for the tutoring program.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
FWCS Study Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reading Partners: National nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteer tutors to deliver one-on-one literacy instruction to elementary students identified as reading below grade level — same one-to-one volunteer-tutor delivery model and student-outcome focus as Study Connection.
- School on Wheels: Nonprofit providing volunteer tutoring and academic support to K-12 students experiencing homelessness — directly comparable mission (volunteer tutors supporting underserved students), geographic footprint and outcome-driven model.
- Literacy Volunteers of America (ProLiteracy): National network of volunteer-led literacy and basic-education tutoring programs serving non-readers and under-educated learners — directly comparable volunteer-tutor model targeting academic skill gaps.
- Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places site coordinators inside public schools to connect students to academic supports, tutoring, and community resources — directly comparable school-embedded student support delivery model.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National nonprofit matching adult volunteers one-to-one with youth for mentoring relationships that often include academic support — comparable volunteer-match model serving the same K-12 student population.
- AARP Foundation Experience Corps: National program mobilizing older adult volunteers as literacy tutors for K-3 students in high-need schools — directly comparable volunteer-tutor model for elementary reading and academic outcomes.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit operating community-based youth development facilities that include homework help, tutoring, and academic enrichment — comparable youth academic-support mission delivered through community partnerships.
- United Way: Large national nonprofit that funds and convenes community partnerships around education, often including volunteer tutoring initiatives — comparable community-driven education support model.
Emerging players
- Khan Academy: Free online learning platform offering personalized academic instruction and tutoring-style support to K-12 students — adjacent emerging competitor serving the same academically-struggling student population via a different (digital) delivery model.
- Varsity Tutors: Commercial one-on-one and small-group online tutoring provider serving K-12 students — adjacent emerging competitor using technology-enabled delivery for the same supplemental academic support use case.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
FWCS Study Connection social profiles
Digital presenceFWCS Study Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FWCS Study Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
FWCS Study Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FWCS Study Connection M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FWCS Study Connection
What does FWCS Study Connection do?
Study Connection is a free, school-based one-to-one tutoring program that pairs volunteer community tutors with Fort Wayne Community Schools students who teachers have identified as needing extra academic assistance. Volunteer-student pairs meet for one hour once a week during the school year, focusing on reading, spelling, writing, study skills, and organization. The program provides all study materials, volunteer orientation, screening, matching, and ongoing coordination support.
Is FWCS Study Connection a public or private company?
FWCS Study Connection is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was FWCS Study Connection founded?
FWCS Study Connection was founded in 1989.
Where is FWCS Study Connection based?
FWCS Study Connection is headquartered in Fort Wayne, United States, in the North America region.
How does FWCS Study Connection make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are kroger Community Rewards.
Who are FWCS Study Connection's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reading Partners, School on Wheels, Literacy Volunteers of America (ProLiteracy), Communities In Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and AARP Foundation Experience Corps. Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of America and United Way. Emerging players are Khan Academy and Varsity Tutors.
Does FWCS Study Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for FWCS Study Connection.
What industry is FWCS Study Connection in?
FWCS Study Connection's product category is Education Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALABAF, Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers), with a secondary code of EDANADAA, General Homework Help (Multi-Subject). Its NAICS code is 611691 and its SIC code is 8200.