What Alignment Nashville does

Alignment Nashville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit backbone organization that serves as the strategic convener and alignment partner for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Operating with a small staff of five from Nashville, Tennessee, the organization runs a portfolio of Collaborative Initiatives — including the Out of School Time Collaborative, English Learners Collaborative, Youth Health Collaborative, College Access & Success A-Team, School Culture & Climate A-Team, Math A-Team, and Student Voice — that bring together more than 365 community partners, nonprofits, businesses, and government entities to coordinate educational support across 12 zoned high schools and 35 career/thematic academies.

The organization's core product surface is the Academies of Nashville, a nationally recognized high school transformation model founded in 2006 and recognized by the White House as a national model. Supporting offerings include the Nashville Hub (a national/international consulting arm providing study visits and technical assistance), the Positive Schools Conference, Family University, the Student Voice Toolkit, and the Summer Math Passport Challenge. Rather than building a unified technology platform, Alignment Nashville produces coordinated programming, downloadable resources, and convening events.

The business model is grant-dependent philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. Funding flows from Metro Nashville Public Schools, Metro Nashville-Davidson County government, the Charles F. and Mary Miller Foundation, EPIC, and a diversified base of corporate and community partners. All programming is delivered free of charge to MNPS students, families, schools, and partner organizations. There is no pricing model, no product sales, and no traditional go-to-market motion; the organization operates as a collective-impact intermediary whose value is measured in student outcomes (e.g., 1,900+ EL service exits in 2024-25) and partner engagement rather than revenue. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Eric Higgs and transitioned to Interim CEO Heather Chalos in June 2026.

Name

Alignment Nashville

Legal name

Alignment Nashville

Website

https://alignmentnashville.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alignment Nashville is a nonprofit backbone organization that convenes 365+ community partners to coordinate educational support for Metro Nashville Public Schools through collaborative initiatives, the Academies of Nashville, and the Nashville Hub consulting program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Collective Impact Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Sector Coordination, Clusters & Working Groups (EDADALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Educational alignment services
• Collective impact initiatives
• School community partnerships
• Nonprofit education programs
• Workforce development pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Funding: Alignment Nashville receives funding from foundations including Metro Nashville Public Schools, the City of Nashville, and Charles F. and Mary Miller Foundation. The organization also receives support from corporate funders and community partners for collaborative initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alignment Nashville operates as a backbone nonprofit organization that convenes and aligns nonprofits, businesses, and community partners to support Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Its core offerings include coordinated Collaborative Initiatives (Out of School Time, English Learners, Youth Health, College Access & Success, School Culture & Climate, Math A-Team, Student Voice), the Academies of Nashville career pathway program across 12 high schools and 35 academies, the Nashville Hub for national consulting and training, the annual Positive Schools Conference, and downloadable toolkits for educators and families.

Product overview

Alignment Nashville is a nonprofit backbone organization that serves as the central connector for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), strategically aligning community resources to address educational challenges. Rather than a unified software platform, Alignment Nashville offers a portfolio of collaborative initiative programs and resources. The core offerings include multiple Collaborative Initiatives (Out of School Time Collaborative, English Learners Collaborative, Youth Health Collaborative, College Access & Success A-Team, School Culture & Climate A-Team, Math A-Team) that bring together hundreds of nonprofits, businesses, and community partners. The Nashville Hub extends these programs nationally through consulting and training. Additional offerings include the Academies of Nashville career pathway program, the Student Voice Toolkit for schools, the annual Positive Schools Conference, Family University for caregiver engagement, and the Summer Math Passport Challenge. These programs work together as an integrated ecosystem of support for MNPS students, families, and educators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collaborative Initiatives Convening teams that bring together nonprofits, businesses, and community partners to address specific educational needs for MNPS, including the Out of School Time Collaborative, English Learners Collaborative, Youth Health Collaborative, College Access & Success A-Team, School Culture & Climate A-Team, Math A-Team, and Student Voice initiative.
• Academies of Nashville Nationally recognized high school transformation model offering 35 career and thematic academies across 12 zoned MNPS high schools, connecting students to real-world learning experiences and career pathways through industry partnerships.
• Nashville Hub Program supporting transformative change for schools, students, and communities nationally and internationally through consulting, technical assistance, training, and special events including customized study visits and peer learning experiences for communities implementing Academy models.
• Positive Schools Conference Annual professional development conference for educators, leaders, and partners featuring workshops on positive schools, student success, belonging, adult wellness, and family engagement.
• Student Voice Toolkit Downloadable toolkit for schools to strengthen student voice and engagement, including strategies, resources, case studies, and classroom activities.
• Family University Educational enrichment partnership between MNPS and Alignment Nashville that provided training and resources for families to support student success; now housed within MNPS Office of Family and Community Partnerships.
• Summer Math Passport Challenge Travel-based math activity program created by the Math A-Team for families to explore math relevance outside classroom settings, with passport activities at various Nashville locations.
• Out of School Time (OST) Resource Dashboard Online directory providing professional development materials, curriculum ideas, grant opportunities, and tools for Nashville's out-of-school time educators and community partners.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

46 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Ford Next Generation LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing national perspective, thought partnership, and shared commitment to community-connected learning. Has been foundational to the Academies of Nashville from the very beginning.
• Nashville Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnsured strong and enduring engagement from the business community, grounding work in workforce relevance and real-world experience. One of three founding partners of the Academies of Nashville.
• PENCILcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor more than 40 years, PENCIL has been the essential bridge between MNPS and the business community, serving as partner coordinator for Academies of Nashville, matching every academy with industry and community partners.
• DeloittesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides meeting space and logistical support for collaborative events including hosting the 2025 Academies of Nashville awards ceremony. Creates professional and inspiring environment for educators, business leaders, and community partners.
• Metro Nashville Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner; Alignment Nashville serves as trusted partner and backbone organization for MNPS, working to ensure critical needs are understood and addressed through sustainable, system-level change.
• Metro Nashville Davidson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government partner providing support and alignment with public services. Listed as funder and partner in collaborative initiatives.
• Vanderbilt UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing expertise in medicine, behavioral health, nursing, engineering, and education research through multiple collaborative initiatives.
• Oasis CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-serving organization and member of multiple collaborative initiatives including College Access & Success A-Team and Youth Health Collaborative.
• STARS NashvillesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-support organization delivering prevention, intervention, and behavioral health services in schools and communities. Key leader in Positive Schools Conference and mental wellness initiatives.
• Martha O'Bryan CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner active in College Access & Success A-Team, providing services to economically disadvantaged students and families.
• United Way of Greater NashvillesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner in OST Collaborative and various education initiatives, supporting funding and resource alignment.
• Nashville Public LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Summer Reading Partners initiative (now housed at Library) and various literacy and educational programs.
• Nashville After Zone AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOut-of-school time programming partner, co-chair of OST Collaborative, focused on providing quality OST opportunities for K-12 youth.
• HCA HealthcaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare industry partner supporting career pathways and workforce development through the Academies of Nashville.
• NissansupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer partner contributing to workforce development and career pathway programs through the Academies of Nashville.
• Belmont UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing dual credit, dual enrollment, and pathway programs for MNPS students.
• Lipscomb UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner contributing to academic programs, including College Access & Success initiatives.
• Tennessee State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically Black university partner providing higher education access and career pathways for MNPS students.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle TennesseesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development partner in OST Collaborative and multiple community initiatives supporting student success.
• YMCA of Middle TennesseesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth and family services partner active in College Access & Success A-Team and community programs.
• Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at VanderbiltsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner contributing to Youth Health Collaborative and student health initiatives.
• Vanderbilt Medical CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner supporting health-related career pathways and student health programs.
• Communities in SchoolssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational dropout prevention organization with local chapter supporting student retention and success.
• Big Brothers Big SisterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentoring organization partner supporting youth development and positive adult relationships.
• Tennessee College Access & Success NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState network partner supporting college access initiatives and FAFSA completion programs.
• EdTrust TennesseesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation policy and research organization providing data analysis and policy insights for collaborative initiatives.
• Nashville ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing educational experiences and career exposure through out-of-school time programs.
• Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution partner supporting arts education and career pathways in creative industries.
• Frist Center for the Visual ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts institution partner contributing to visual arts education and cultural enrichment programs.
• Nashville BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts partner supporting dance education and creative career pathways.
• Nashville SymphonyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical arts partner contributing to music education and performance opportunities.
• Adventure Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience education partner providing STEM learning experiences and career exposure.
• Metro Arts (Metro Nashville Arts Commission)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity arts agency partner supporting creative education and arts integration across schools.
• KPMGsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm partner supporting business and finance career pathways through the Academies of Nashville.
• F5 NetworkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company partner supporting IT career pathways and technology education.
• AsurionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company partner contributing to technology and innovation career pathways.
• Wego Public TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transportation partner supporting transportation access and career exposure in transit industry.
• Austin Peay State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner providing dual enrollment and pathway programs.
• Middle Tennessee State UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner offering dual credit and career pathway programs.
• Trevecca Nazarene UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner contributing to academic pathways and leadership development.
• Fisk UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically Black university partner supporting higher education access and academic excellence.
• Siloam HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner serving immigrant and refugee communities through EL Collaborative.
• CenterstonesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services partner contributing to Youth Health Collaborative and behavioral health initiatives.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, TN ChaptersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuicide prevention organization partner active in Youth Health Collaborative.
• Nashville Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding partners of the Academies of Nashville, linking education to economic opportunity and workforce development.
• Nashville HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA program of Alignment Nashville that extends learning beyond Nashville through customized learning experiences, site visits, peer learning, and technical assistance for communities implementing Academy models.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PENCIL: Nashville-based nonprofit that is a founding partner of Alignment Nashville and serves as the school-business partnership coordinator for the Academies of Nashville — directly comparable in mission of connecting industry partners to MNPS schools.
• United Way of Greater Nashville: Major Alignment Nashville partner in the OST Collaborative and education initiatives — directly comparable as a regional nonprofit convener aligning cross-sector resources for community outcomes in Nashville.
• Ford Next Generation Learning: Founding partner of Alignment Nashville and the national architect behind the career academy model — directly comparable in the academy ecosystem work and shares operational co-development responsibility for Academies of Nashville.
• Boston Opportunity Agenda: Cross-sector collaborative of Boston institutions focused on closing educational opportunity gaps through aligned data and shared goals — comparable urban education collective impact backbone operating at city scale.
• StriveTogether: National cradle-to-career collective impact network that serves as a backbone organization aligning cross-sector partners for student outcomes — directly comparable backbone model to Alignment Nashville, though operating at multi-city scale rather than single-district.
• Promise Neighborhoods Institute at Harlem Children's Zone: Operates cradle-to-career collective impact pipelines anchored in a single school district with intensive wraparound services — comparable urban backbone model with proven outcome metrics and national replication footprint.
• E3 Alliance: Central Texas regional collective impact organization convening school districts, higher education, businesses, and nonprofits around education-to-workforce alignment — closely analogous backbone structure for a single metropolitan region.

Emerging players

• Big Picture Learning: National network of career-themed schools built on personalized learning and workplace experiences — comparable academy-model philosophy to Academies of Nashville but operates as a school design network rather than a backbone.

Broad incumbents

• Communities in Schools: National dropout prevention organization with a Middle Tennessee chapter that is an Alignment Nashville partner — broadly comparable in the student wraparound support space but focuses on direct service delivery rather than backbone convening.

Others

• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce: One of three founding partners of Alignment Nashville and the convener of Nashville's business community — comparable as a Nashville ecosystem convener that grounds Alignment Nashville's work in workforce relevance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlignNashville
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlignmentNashville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alignment-nashville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Alignment Nashville