Equity Accelerator
Equity Accelerator is a nonprofit focused research organization that applies social and behavioral science to help colleges, universities, and workplace organizations build equitable learning and working environments via its Cultures of Growth framework, online courses, consulting, and partner-distributed programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Equity Accelerator does
Equity Accelerator is a nonprofit focused research organization (FRO) headquartered in New York City that applies social and behavioral science to help colleges, universities, and workplace organizations build more equitable learning and working environments. Founded by social psychologist Dr. Mary C. Murphy (formerly operating as CTC, rebranded in 2024), the firm centers its work on the proprietary "Cultures of Growth" framework, which addresses how organizational norms, policies, and practices shape member beliefs and outcomes. EA operates as a partner project of the National Center for Civic Innovation.
The organization delivers a hybrid portfolio spanning free digital resources (Classroom Practices Library used by 4,000+ instructors, Syllabus Revision Module, Academic Standing Toolkit on edX, Mindset Triggers Pulse Check, and a Social-Belonging Intervention delivered via PERTS) and paid offerings, including a $199/seat self-paced online course on Thinkific, consulting engagements with named enterprise clients (Shell, California Community Colleges, six Student Experience Project universities), and Communities of Practice. Quantified outcomes include ~20% reductions in DFW rates, 17-point average bar exam score gains (21 points for first-generation and underrepresented minority students), 10.3% positive student experience uplift, and Shell's zero-fatality Goal Zero achievement in 2020.
EA's revenue model is a blend of foundation grants (Gates, Alfred P. Sloan, Raikes, AccessLex, Pew, Schmidt Futures, College Futures, Student Experience Research Network), consulting fees for institutional engagements, online course sales, and book royalties. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise consulting sales, self-serve PLG via Thinkific, community-led faculty networks, and channel distribution through partner organizations (APLU, USU, State Bar of California, LSAC, edX, PERTS). The organization has no disclosed venture capital or equity shareholders and operates as a nonprofit subsidiary of NCCI.
Equity Accelerator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Equity Accelerator
- Legal name
- Equity Accelerator
- Website
- https://accelerateequity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Equity Accelerator is a nonprofit focused research organization that applies social and behavioral science to help colleges, universities, and workplace organizations build equitable learning and working environments via its Cultures of Growth framework, online courses, consulting, and partner-distributed programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Equity Accelerator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Consulting & Research Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research (EDADADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Research, Innovation & Fellowship Prep (Labs, Competitions, Publications) (EDAMAKAI), Mentorship & Coaching (Career, Academic, Industry-Specific) (EDAMAKAA), Communication, Collaboration & Conflict Resolution Skills (EDAMAIAF)
Keywords
Where Equity Accelerator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Equity Accelerator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Online Course Sales: Self-paced online courses sold to individual educators and institutions. The Creating Growth Mindset Cultures in College Classrooms course is priced at $199 per seat with bulk pricing available for groups, departments, or institutional deployments.
- Consulting Services: Direct consulting engagements with colleges, universities, and organizations to help them build Cultures of Growth. Engagements include leadership training, organizational mindset measurement, and hot spot analyses.
- Professional Development Programs: Workshop-based and community of practice professional development offerings for faculty and staff at educational institutions. Includes virtual workshops, semester-long CoPs, and locally-led communities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Course Enrollment - $199 per seat |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Equity Accelerator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Equity Accelerator is a focused research organization that helps colleges, universities, and workplaces build equitable learning and working environments through its evidence-based 'Cultures of Growth' framework. It delivers this through institutional consulting, professional development workshops, communities of practice, online courses (e.g., the Creating Growth Mindset Cultures in College Classrooms course at $199/seat), free resource libraries, and targeted programs such as the Student Experience Project and Bar Exam Strategies and Stories.
Product overview
Equity Accelerator (EA) is a focused research organization (FRO) that operates primarily in the higher education and workplace sectors, offering a portfolio of evidence-based products and consulting services centered on the 'Cultures of Growth' framework. The product portfolio includes: (1) the Creating Growth Mindset Cultures in College Classrooms Online Course — a self-paced, Thinkific-hosted course for college instructors ($199); (2) the Classroom Practices Library — a free, publicly available collection of evidence-based teaching practice guides organized across six social-psychological constructs; (3) supplementary tools including the Syllabus Revision Module, Academic Standing Toolkit (on edX), Social-Belonging Intervention (via PERTS), Mindset Triggers Pulse Check, Ascend assessment tool, and Communications Guide for Crisis; and (4) consulting services including mindset culture assessments, leadership training, hot spot analyses, and Communities of Practice facilitation. EA also publishes the book 'Cultures of Growth' by Founder Mary C. Murphy. The offerings are grounded in social and behavioral science research and are designed to be high-impact, low-lift for practitioners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creating Growth Mindset Cultures in College Classrooms (Online Course) A self-paced, evidence-based online course for college instructors and administrators comprising 7 modules (approximately 3 hours total) that teaches evidence-based strategies for building inclusive, growth-minded college classrooms. Includes a downloadable workbook, sample syllabi and scripts, and an EA Certificate of Completion. Delivered via Thinkific at $199 per individual seat with bulk pricing for departments and institutions.
- Classroom Practices Library A free, publicly accessible collection of evidence-based, field-tested resource guides organized by foundational and expanded practices. Resources address six social-psychological constructs: belonging, growth mindset culture, identity safety, self-efficacy, social connectedness, and trust and fairness.
- Consulting Services High-impact, low-lift consulting for workplaces and higher education institutions, including leadership mindset training, organizational mindset measurement, and hot spot analyses. EA has partnered with Shell (Goal Zero safety culture), California Community Colleges, the Student Experience Project across six universities, and the Kauffman Foundation.
- Mindset Culture Climate Assessment An assessment offering for organizations and institutions that measures organizational or institutional mindset culture, identifying gaps between espoused beliefs and enacted practices. Often paired with professional development workshops and Communities of Practice.
- Communities of Practice EA-facilitated peer learning groups (e.g., semester-long CoPs for faculty) that support sustained implementation of Cultures of Growth practices. Used extensively in California Community Colleges partnerships and the Student Experience Project, where 50% of faculty teams formed local CoPs post-engagement.
- Mindset Triggers Pulse Check A 12-question interactive workplace assessment (approximately 5 minutes) that helps individuals discover their personal mindset trigger profile, identifying situations that shift them toward fixed vs. growth mindset. Delivered via the EA website with email-based results delivery.
- Academic Standing Toolkit A free resource titled 'How You Say It Matters: A Toolkit for Improving Communications about Academic Standing,' hosted on the edX platform. Designed for college administrators to craft psychologically attuned probation notification materials that support student help-seeking behavior.
- Social-Belonging Intervention An online program delivered through PERTS (Project for Education Research that Scales) that delivers a standardized Social-Belonging Intervention to incoming first-year college students, buffering against belonging uncertainty during the college transition. Available to four-year U.S. colleges and universities.
- Cultures of Growth (Book) A book titled 'Cultures of Growth: How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations,' authored by EA Founder Mary C. Murphy, exploring how organizations and groups harness the power of a growth mindset culture to achieve success. Orderable via marycmurphy.com.
- Syllabus Revision Module An online module with recorded videos and activities to help instructors apply evidence-based syllabus development and messaging practices that promote student belonging, equity, and growth. Created jointly with APLU and USU as part of the Student Experience Project.
- Communications Guide for Collective Crisis A downloadable Communications Guide prepared to support administrators, instructors, and campus leaders in communicating with students through situations of collective uncertainty, disruption, or significant stress. Available via Google Drive.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10.5% increase in students reporting positive learning experiences and ~20% reduction in DFW rates
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Equity Accelerator
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Equity Accelerator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
Equity Accelerator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- National Center for Civic InnovationcoreEquity Accelerator is a partner project of the National Center for Civic Innovation, indicating a deep strategic relationship focused on organizational alignment and shared mission around civic innovation and equity.
- Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)coreEA partners with APLU on the Student Experience Project, collaborating on research, resources, and initiatives to improve student success at public universities across the United States.
- Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU)coreUSU is a key partner in the Student Experience Project, working with EA to support urban universities in implementing evidence-based practices for student success.
- Indiana UniversitycoreEA has a longstanding relationship with Indiana University, where Dr. Mary Murphy is based. IU provides institutional support and research infrastructure for EA's initiatives.
- AccessLex InstitutecoreAccessLex funded the Bar Exam Strategies and Stories program, supporting EA's work to improve bar exam passage rates and reduce equity gaps in the legal profession.
- The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)strategicEA collaborates with LSAC on the Strategy Booster program to improve individuals' experiences preparing for the LSAT and their future in the legal field.
- The State Bar of CaliforniacoreThe State Bar of California has offered EA's Bar Exam Strategies and Stories program to all applicants for California bar exams since July 2018.
- California Community CollegescoreEA partnered with California's largest higher education system (116 colleges, 1.9 million students) to assess faculty mindset impacts and provide professional development for equity-focused teaching practices.
- ShellcoreEA Founder Dr. Mary Murphy worked directly with Shell's leadership team including then-CEO Ben van Beurden to develop and implement the Learner Mindset model, transforming safety practices and achieving Goal Zero.
- Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationstrategicEA collaborated with Kauffman Foundation on research studying how entrepreneurs' growth mindsets influence company cultures and venture success.
- Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS)corePERTS is a core partner in the Student Experience Project, providing the technical infrastructure for delivering interventions and assessments to college students.
- Education CounselstrategicEducation Counsel provides legal and policy expertise to support SEP's work in translating research into practice across higher education institutions.
- ShiftstrategicShift contributes expertise to the Student Experience Project, supporting the collaborative effort to improve student experiences through evidence-based practices.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Equity Accelerator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association): A nonprofit policy and research organization focused on equity in PK-16 education, particularly for Latino and other underrepresented students; overlaps with EA's equity-gap mission but serves a broader K-16 audience.
- BetterLesson: An edtech company delivering educator professional development and coaching; competes with EA's instructor-facing PD products but across K-12 as well as higher education.
- EAB: A large higher-education consulting firm offering student-success, DEI, and faculty development services to universities; competes for the same institutional consulting dollars as EA but from a much broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- USC Race and Equity Center: Produces research and equity assessment tools (e.g., USC Equity Scorecard) used by colleges to close racial equity gaps, directly comparable to EA's mindset-culture assessment and equity-gap interventions.
- National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity: Provides online professional development, mentorship, and coaching for faculty from underrepresented groups, addressing similar faculty-facing training and equity gaps as EA's Communities of Practice and online courses.
- Achieving the Dream: A national nonprofit focused on community college student success and equity; it works with similar institutions (including the CCC system) on faculty practice, belonging, and completion gaps, overlapping EA's higher-ed equity mission.
- InsideTrack: Provides coaching and student-success services to colleges and universities, including interventions targeting persistence, belonging, and equity gaps—directly competitive with EA's faculty development and student-experience offerings.
- Mindset Scholars Network: A research-practice network of scholars studying growth mindset and learning environments; EA's research team overlaps with this network, and both produce the academic evidence base that drives institutional mindset interventions.
- PERTS (Project for Education Research that Scales): PERTS delivers social-belonging and growth-mindset interventions in higher education through its own platform; EA explicitly integrates with PERTS for the Social-Belonging Intervention and Ascend survey, making them co-deliverers of the same evidence-based practices to college students.
- USC Center for Urban Education: A university-based research center focused on racial equity in higher education outcomes; comparable in translating equity research into institutional practice, particularly for community colleges and urban-serving universities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Equity Accelerator social profiles
Digital presenceEquity Accelerator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Equity Accelerator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Equity Accelerator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Equity Accelerator 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 Equity Accelerator
What does Equity Accelerator do?
Equity Accelerator is a focused research organization that helps colleges, universities, and workplaces build equitable learning and working environments through its evidence-based 'Cultures of Growth' framework. It delivers this through institutional consulting, professional development workshops, communities of practice, online courses (e.g., the Creating Growth Mindset Cultures in College Classrooms course at $199/seat), free resource libraries, and targeted programs such as the Student Experience Project and Bar Exam Strategies and Stories.
Is Equity Accelerator a public or private company?
Equity Accelerator is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Equity Accelerator founded?
Equity Accelerator was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Equity Accelerator based?
Equity Accelerator is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Equity Accelerator make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Online Course Sales are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services and professional Development Programs.
Who are Equity Accelerator's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IDRA (Intercultural Development Research Association), BetterLesson and EAB. Direct peers are USC Race and Equity Center, National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, Achieving the Dream, InsideTrack, Mindset Scholars Network, PERTS (Project for Education Research that Scales) and USC Center for Urban Education.
Does Equity Accelerator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Equity Accelerator.
What industry is Equity Accelerator in?
Equity Accelerator's product category is Education Consulting & Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADADAF, Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research, with a secondary code of EDAMAKAI, Research, Innovation & Fellowship Prep (Labs, Competitions, Publications). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 8200.