Book'em

What Book'em does

Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) is a state-level nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Nashville. Operating as the Tennessee affiliate of the national Communities In Schools network (founded 1977), CISTN provides school-based wraparound services that address non-academic barriers to K-12 student success, including chronic absenteeism, unmet basic needs, behavioral challenges, and family engagement gaps. The organization delivers services through a three-tiered evidence-based model — Tier 1 school-wide programs, Tier 2 targeted group services, and Tier 3 individualized case management — with program managers physically embedded in partner schools to provide daily interventions.

CISTN currently serves 64 partner schools across 16 Tennessee counties, reaching 28,390 students, including 25 schools in Nashville, 5 in Chattanooga, and 34 across 14 rural counties. Its core technology is operational rather than software-based: data tracking and reporting systems monitor student outcomes, community resource integration coordinates outside partners, and the Warner Exchange operates a household essentials storefront at Warner Elementary. The service model is nationally coordinated through Communities In Schools National, connecting CISTN to best practices from a network of 2,300 schools in 25 states serving nearly 1.5 million young people annually.

CISTN's revenue model is entirely donation and grant-based. The organization receives funding from individual donations, corporate and foundation grants (including the CAA Foundation, Scarlett Family Foundation, and United Data Technologies), a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee, annual fundraising events (Bingo for Bright Futures, All In For Kids Breakfast), and in-kind supply donations. All services are provided free of charge to schools, students, and families. Primary district-level customers include Metro Nashville Public Schools (26 schools) and Hamilton County Schools (5 schools), with the remainder spread across rural Tennessee districts.

Name

Book'em

Legal name

Communities In Schools of Tennessee

Website

https://cistn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Communities In Schools of Tennessee is a Nashville-based nonprofit providing school-based wraparound services that address non-academic barriers to K-12 student success. The organization operates in 64 partner schools across 16 Tennessee counties, serving 28,390 students through embedded program managers delivering tiered case management and basic-needs support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Student Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Student Support & Related Services (Counseling, SEL, Health, Safety) (EDAJAAAK), Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG), School Counseling & Guidance Services (Academic/Social-Emotional) (EDAJALAF)

Keywords

• Student support services
• School-based wraparound services
• Attendance intervention programs
• Community resource coordination
• Basic needs assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting student success. Donors can give via the website, Donor Advised Funds, or stock gifts.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations and corporate partners including Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Foundation, Scarlett Family Foundation, and United Data Technologies.
3. Government Grants: Funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee for operations.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Bingo for Bright Futures, All In For Kids Breakfast, and Benefit Nights at venues like Jackalope Brewing Co. generate donations while engaging supporters.
5. Supply Donations: Accepts in-kind donations of supplies, Amazon wish list items, and basic needs materials for students.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Book'em provides school-based wraparound services to K-12 students through embedded program managers placed in partner schools across Tennessee. Services address non-academic barriers to academic success—including chronic absenteeism, food/housing insecurity, behavioral challenges, and lack of healthcare access—through a three-tiered evidence-based model of universal school-wide programming, targeted group services, and individualized one-on-one case management. All services are delivered free of charge to students, families, and schools, funded through charitable donations, foundation grants, and a state grant contract.

Product overview

Communities In Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) is a nonprofit organization providing integrated student support services, not a technology product company. The organization operates a community-based support model with three tiers of service delivery (Tier 1 school-wide programs, Tier 2 targeted group services, and Tier 3 intensive individual case management). Services are delivered through program managers stationed in partner schools and include basic needs support, attendance interventions, behavioral support, college/career readiness, family engagement, and health/mental wellbeing coordination. The organization serves 64 partner schools across 16 Tennessee counties with over 28,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School-Based Wraparound Student Support Services Integrated student support services including case management, small group interventions, and school-wide programs designed to remove non-academic barriers to student success such as attendance issues, basic needs, behavioral support, and college/career readiness. Targeted at K-12 students across 64 partner schools in Tennessee.
• School-Based Program Management Direct placement of program managers in partner schools to provide daily interventions addressing chronic absenteeism, social service needs, and behavioral and academic challenges for students in grades K-12.
• Tiered Support Model (CIS Model)

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% improved attendance among case-managed students (2024-25)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and founding.

• United Data Technologies (UDT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Partnership to provide winter clothing for children in Putnam County and across Tennessee. National technology solutions leader focused on enterprise IT and telecommunications solutions contributing to student basic needs.
• Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2024CISTN expanded partnership with MNPS to 26 schools including 5 new schools bringing total to 19 in Nashville. Partnership includes joint op-eds on chronic absenteeism and collaborative initiatives.
• Martha O'Bryan CenterfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Martha O'Bryan Center, along with CIS National and CAA, were instrumental in launching and charting a course for CIS of Tennessee's work in the East Nashville community in school year 2012-13.
• Communities In Schools NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISTN is part of the national CIS network founded in 1977 by Bill Milliken. CIS National provides the evidence-based model, operational guidance, and connects CISTN to best practices from 2,300 schools in 25 states.
• United Way Greater NashvillecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer opportunities are managed through United Way Greater Nashville's Hands On platform. CISTN posts volunteer opportunities including Warner Exchange, classroom support, and clothing closets through this channel.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Communities In Schools of Texas: Texas state-level CIS affiliate operating the same wraparound model with embedded site coordinators in partner schools; same target population (at-risk K-12 students) and outcome metrics as CISTN.
• Communities In Schools of Georgia: State-level CIS affiliate providing the same wraparound school-based support model in Georgia schools; same evidence-based Tier 1/2/3 framework, embedded program managers, and chronic absenteeism interventions as CISTN.
• City Year: National nonprofit placing near-peer AmeriCorps members in high-need schools to deliver attendance, behavior, and course performance interventions; directly comparable in-school student support model and K-12 chronic absenteeism focus.
• Reading Partners: Nonprofit providing literacy tutoring and school-based volunteer programs to K-5 students in high-need schools; comparable in-school service delivery model and K-12 student outcomes focus, though narrower academic scope than CISTN's wraparound approach.
• Communities In Schools of North Carolina: State-level CIS affiliate delivering identical wraparound student support services across North Carolina schools; directly comparable operating model, funding mix, and K-12 student outcomes focus.
• Communities In Schools of Virginia: Another CIS state affiliate providing school-embedded wraparound services and case management to at-risk K-12 students; same national network affiliation and operational framework as CISTN.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Nashville: Regional funder and convener that supports CISTN through volunteer pipeline (Hands On platform) and broader community funding; overlapping donor/funder ecosystem and K-12 community impact focus, but operates as a grantmaker/convener rather than direct service provider.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Middle Tennessee chapter): Large national youth-development nonprofit serving at-risk K-12 youth through after-school programs; comparable target population and youth development mission, but broader youth services portfolio rather than school-embedded wraparound focus.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee: Youth mentoring nonprofit serving at-risk K-12 youth in the same Tennessee geography; comparable mission around non-academic barrier removal and youth outcomes, but focused on 1:1 mentoring rather than comprehensive school-based wraparound services.

Others

• Metro Nashville Public Schools (Student Support Services): The school district partner rather than a competitor; relevant because MNPS internally operates student support, counseling, and SEL services that compete with or complement CISTN's wraparound offering within the same schools.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cistennessee

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 Book'em