WakeEd Partnership

What WakeEd Partnership does

WakeEd Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 and headquartered at 1816 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NC. It serves as a business-backed advocate for the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), the largest school district in North Carolina, uniting local employers, foundations, government agencies, and civic leaders to strengthen public education in Wake County. The organization is governed by a 30+ member Board of Directors and operates with a small staff (1-10 employees), relying on corporate donors, foundations, and grassroots fundraising for support. Its revenue model is donation-driven, with eight named Cornerstone Investors (BASF, SAS, UNC Health, Wake County, Raleigh Chamber, ChildTrust, 4 Others Foundation, and others) anchoring the funding base alongside recurring individual donations and annual event proceeds.

The organization's core offerings are programmatic rather than technology-based. Tools4Schools runs a free classroom-supply store and annual supply drive for WCPSS teachers, with Staples as a 2026 partner. Partners Read places volunteer business professionals in schools for 30-minute weekly reading sessions with developing readers. SummerSTEM embeds WCPSS educators in STEM companies for workplace-based professional development, culminating in the annual STEMposium. College scholarships include the Coach Bob Pittard commitment (up to $50,000 per student, $350,000 in its first year) and others. Career Accelerator, Career Conversations, and Career Exploration connect students with business mentors. Advocacy and policy work is delivered through the In Context publication, WakeEdge alerts, and the weekly WakeEd Wednesdays video series, with the annual Stars of Education Gala serving as the flagship fundraising event. No proprietary technology, AI, or platform products are offered; all programs are delivered offline and in-person within the Wake County geography.

Name

WakeEd Partnership

Legal name

WakeEd Partnership LLC

Website

https://wakeed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WakeEd Partnership is a Raleigh-based nonprofit founded in 1983 that unites local businesses, foundations, and civic leaders to advocate for and support Wake County Public Schools through programs such as Tools4Schools, Partners Read, SummerSTEM, scholarships, and career initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Support Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Engagement & Service-Learning Partnerships (EDALAOAI)

Keywords

• Education advocacy services
• Public school support programs
• Teacher classroom resources
• Student literacy programs
• STEM educator development

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: WakeEd Partnership generates revenue through donations from businesses, foundations, and individuals committed to supporting public education in Wake County. The organization lists Cornerstone Investors and maintains a donor-supported funding base.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WakeEd Partnership is a nonprofit education advocacy organization that operates support programs for the Wake County Public School System, including volunteer reading tutoring (Partners Read), STEM educator workplace immersion (SummerSTEM), free classroom supplies for teachers (Tools4Schools), college scholarships, career readiness programs (Career Accelerator, Career Conversations, Career Exploration), and policy advocacy. The organization also produces the WakeEd Wednesdays video series, the In Context monthly policy review, and the annual Stars of Education Gala.

Product overview

WakeEd Partnership is a nonprofit education advocacy organization offering a portfolio of programs supporting educators and students in the Wake County Public School System. The organization operates programs across several areas: literacy support (Partners Read), STEM education (SummerSTEM with its culminating STEMposium event), college scholarships (including the Coach Bob Pittard Scholarship), career development (Career Accelerator, Career Conversations, Career Exploration), and teacher resources (Tools4Schools supply drive). Additional offerings include the weekly WakeEd Wednesdays video series, the annual Stars of Education Gala, Hall of Fame inductions, the Vernon Malone Friend of Education Award, policy advocacy through In Context publications, and community engagement initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Partners Read: Reading program where volunteers read with developing readers for 30 minutes to boost confidence and enjoyment in reading
• SummerSTEM
• Tools4Schools
• Stars of Education Gala
• WakeEd Wednesdays
• Career Accelerator
• Career Conversations
• Career Exploration

Products and services

• Partners Read A volunteer reading program where business professionals read with developing readers for 30 minutes on Friday mornings to boost students' confidence and enjoyment in reading. The program serves WCPSS students as a literacy support intervention.
• SummerSTEM A professional development program that embeds Wake County Public Schools educators in STEM companies to experience the workplace they are preparing students to enter, culminating in an annual STEMposium event.
• Scholarship Program College scholarship programs including the Coach Bob Pittard Scholarship for Apex High School and Green Hope High School athletes, awarding up to $50,000 per student.
• Career Accelerator Career development program helping students prepare for future careers through direct engagement with the business community.
• Career Conversations Career mentorship program connecting students with business professionals for guidance and networking.
• Career Exploration Program helping students explore different career paths and opportunities.
• Tools4Schools A classroom supply store operated by WakeEd Partnership that provides free school supplies to Wake County Public School teachers through supply drives and a teacher shopping program.
• Stars of Education Gala Annual fundraising gala honoring educators and community leaders who support public education in Wake County, typically held at the Raleigh Convention Center.
• Advocacy Policy advocacy efforts supporting public education funding, teacher compensation, and school improvement initiatives at the state and local level.
• In Context Publication Monthly education review publication providing analysis of education policy and issues affecting Wake County schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Partners Read reached 650 students with 13,000 books in 2025-2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StaplescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaples partnered with WakeEd Partnership and WCPSS for the 2026 Tools4Schools Community Supply Drive, providing support for free school supplies distribution to Wake County teachers.
• Wake County Public School SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner for all WakeEd programs including Tools4Schools, Partners Read, SummerSTEM, scholarships, and career programs. WCPSS is the beneficiary of WakeEd's advocacy and community engagement efforts.
• NC State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WakeEd Partnership and WCPSS on 'The Economic Impact the Wake County Public School System' report assessing the district's value to the region.
• Public School ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWakeEd participates in Public School Forum's annual Eggs & Issues breakfast, grounding the state's education conversation in facts.
• Governor Roy CooperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernor Roy Cooper visited Tools4Schools, a classroom supply store operated by WakeEd Partnership that provides free school supplies to Wake County Public School teachers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WakeEd_Partnrs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/wakeedpartnership1
• Facebookfacebook.com/WakeEdPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wake-education-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/wakeedpa

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 WakeEd Partnership