Project:LEARN of Medina County

What Project:LEARN of Medina County does

Project:LEARN of Medina County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 (per firmographics) that provides free adult education services to residents of Medina County, Ohio. Its core programs comprise English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL) instruction, GED/High School Equivalency preparation, one-on-one tutoring in basic literacy and numeracy, and U.S. citizenship test preparation. In 2025 the organization served 126 students from 35 countries, delivered 6,447 instructional hours, and logged 1,517 volunteer tutoring hours. All services are provided at no cost to adult learners aged 18 and older, delivered through a combination of in-person community locations (Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth) and online tutoring.

The organization funds operations through a hybrid nonprofit revenue model rather than tuition. The primary revenue-generating arm is The BookShelf, a network of two used bookstores (Medina and Wadsworth; Brunswick closed in 2025) selling donated books and media at $1–$5 price points, with all proceeds earmarked for educational programming. The remainder of the operating budget is assembled from individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Westfield Insurance, Westfield Bank, RPM International, Huntington, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and approximately 10 additional local sponsors), annual fundraising events (notably the Match Wits trivia night), and grants. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates with no parent company, no paid investor base, and no disclosed technology platform of its own — relying instead on standard third-party tools (Bloomerang for volunteer management, Qgiv for event processing, Microsoft for internal operations, Wix for web presence).

Operationally the organization runs a community-led go-to-market model: enrollment flows through a website interest form, word-of-mouth referrals, and partnerships with local organizations; marketing is conducted primarily through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, an email newsletter, and community events. The organization participates in Ohio Aspire, the Ohio Department of Higher Education's adult education program, which provides programmatic oversight. Leadership comprises Executive Director Julie Alexander (nearly 30 years of cross-sector experience) and a Board of Trustees with credentials spanning workforce development, financial planning, HR, marketing, and library science.

Name

Project:LEARN of Medina County

Legal name

Project: LEARN of Medina County

Website

https://projectlearnmedina.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project:LEARN of Medina County is a nonprofit that provides free adult literacy, GED preparation, English language learning, and citizenship classes to residents of Medina County, Ohio, funded by donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from its used bookstores (The BookShelf).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General ESL Programs (Multi-level Adult ESL) (EDAAACAA)

Keywords

• Adult literacy education
• GED preparation
• English language learning
• Citizenship test preparation
• One-on-one tutoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Medina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Used Bookstore Sales (The BookShelf): Revenue generated from the sale of donated used books, DVDs, audiobooks, CDs, vinyl records, puzzles, and games at two retail locations in Medina and Wadsworth. Book prices range from $1-5 depending on format and category. All proceeds directly fund educational programs including classes, tutoring, and materials for adult learners.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: The organization receives financial contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners. Sponsors receive recognition on the website, in program materials, and at events. The organization also accepts Amazon Wishlist donations for supplies and resources.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events such as Match Wits trivia night generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, raffle baskets, wine pulls, and silent auctions. Proceeds support adult education and English language literacy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Project: LEARN of Medina County provides free adult education services including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL), High School Equivalency (GED) preparation, U.S. Citizenship test preparation, and one-on-one tutoring to adult learners aged 18+ in Medina County, Ohio. All instruction, materials, and technology access are provided at no cost. Programs are funded entirely by donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from two used bookstores, The BookShelf, located in Medina and Wadsworth.

Product overview

Project:LEARN of Medina County is a nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of free adult education services. The core offerings consist of ESOL (English Language Learning), GED/High School Equivalency preparation, and One-on-One Tutoring. The organization operates The BookShelf, a dual-location used bookstore network in Medina and Wadsworth, which serves as the primary revenue-generating mechanism funding all educational programs. Additionally, the Community Resource Toolkit provides free access to information about local services. The entire offering is provided free of charge to adult learners in Medina County, with services delivered through both in-person and online modalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English Language Learning (ESOL/ESL) Personalized English for Speakers of Other Languages instruction helping non-native English speaking adults improve communication abilities, cultural understanding, and confidence for thriving in their communities and workplaces. Delivered free of charge to adults aged 18+ in Medina County.
• High School Equivalency (GED) Comprehensive GED preparation covering essential subjects to equip adult learners with the knowledge and skills needed to pass the GED exam and pursue further education or career opportunities. Delivered free of charge to adults aged 18+ in Medina County.
• One-on-One Tutoring Personalized tutoring assistance helping adult learners overcome educational challenges in literacy, numeracy, and other academic areas to achieve educational and personal goals. Available both in-person and online, and provided free of charge.
• The BookShelf (used bookstores) Retail used-bookstore operations at two locations — 105 W. Liberty Street, Medina and 130 Main Street, Wadsworth — selling gently used books, DVDs, audiobooks, CDs, vinyl records, puzzles, and games to fund Project: LEARN's educational programs. All proceeds directly support adult literacy instruction, tutoring services, and educational materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 126 students served in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio AspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState workforce and adult education program administered by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Project: LEARN participates in the Aspire program which provides comprehensive oversight and strategic guidance of educational programming.
• Guidestar/CandidminorOthersNonprofit information platform providing transparency ratings and financial information about the organization.
• Medina County District LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner. Deputy Director Suzie Muniak serves on Project: LEARN's Board of Trustees. Prior to its closure, the Brunswick BookShelf was operated in partnership with the library system.
• Leadership Medina CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity leadership development organization. Board member Tanner Hamsher participates in Leadership Medina County's Custom Leadership Track. Leadership Medina County Signature Class 'Legacy 35' has donated supplies and support.
• AmazonminorOthersAmazon Wishlist allows donors to purchase essential supplies and resources directly for Project: LEARN's programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• USA Learns: Free online adult English learning platform funded by the U.S. Department of Education and PBS, offering self-paced ESL courses for immigrants. Comparable as an alternative-channel adult ESL provider targeting the same learner population but delivering instruction via free digital self-serve rather than in-person tutoring.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit operating workforce-development and adult education programs (including literacy and ESL) across hundreds of local Goodwill affiliates. Comparable as a broader incumbent in adult education and workforce skills, though literacy is one of many program lines rather than the core focus.

Direct peers

• Literacy Volunteers of DuPage: DuPage County (Illinois) adult literacy nonprofit providing free tutoring in ESL and basic literacy to adults through trained volunteers. Directly comparable as a county-level peer with the same free, volunteer-driven adult education service mix.
• The Immigrant Learning Center: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing free English language instruction, citizenship preparation, and related services to adult immigrants. Directly comparable in free adult ESOL/citizenship focus, with a similar immigrant-learner target population.
• Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts: Massachusetts-based adult literacy nonprofit providing free volunteer tutoring in English and basic literacy to adults, including immigrants. Directly comparable in mission, free-service model, volunteer tutor corps, and adult ESOL/literacy scope.
• ProLiteracy: National 501(c)(3) adult literacy nonprofit that supports a network of community-based volunteer literacy programs offering ESL, basic literacy, and GED prep. Directly comparable as a peer adult-literacy federation operating with a similar volunteer-driven service model.
• Literacy New York: Statewide adult literacy nonprofit delivering free, volunteer-based tutoring in English language, basic literacy, and workforce skills. Directly comparable as a regional/state-level peer offering the same mix of ESOL, adult literacy, and citizenship-adjacent instruction on a free basis.
• The Literacy Center of West Michigan: Community-based adult literacy nonprofit offering English as a Second Language, adult basic literacy, and customized workplace tutoring across West Michigan. Directly comparable as a regional adult-literacy peer with a similar free-program, volunteer-tutor model.
• International Institute of Minnesota: Nonprofit providing immigrant integration services including adult ESL, citizenship preparation, and job-readiness training. Directly comparable as an adult ESOL and citizenship-prep peer serving a multicultural immigrant learner base on a free or sliding-scale basis.
• Centro Tyrone Guzman: Latino-centered nonprofit offering adult education including ESOL and citizenship preparation, alongside family services. Directly comparable as an adult ESOL/citizenship peer serving a multicultural immigrant community through free programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectLearnMedina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-learn-of-medina-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectlearnmedina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Project:LEARN of Medina County