Project Ledo
Project LEDO is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers LEGO robotics, JA Biztown financial literacy, back-to-school supply drives, and food-equity programming to BIPOC and low-income students through Title I school partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Ledo does
Project LEDO is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on STEM, financial literacy, and basic-needs programming to children from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities. Founded by Fidel Ferrer and now operating with a 3-person core team (President/Executive Director, Co-Founder/School Liaison, Program Coordinator), the organization runs four program lines: LEGO Robotics (4–8 week after-school and summer courses serving 400 students across 6 schools in 2023-2024), the JA Biztown financial literacy curriculum delivered with Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington (213 alumni to date), a Back-to-School supply drive that distributed 400 backpacks and 160 door-to-door deliveries saving families $185 per student, and a Food Equity Program covering meals at camps and food drives. A Free Geek partnership adds a refurbished-computer distribution component for BIPOC students.
The organization's revenue model is donation-driven and diversified across three streams: individual contributions (one-time and recurring via PayPal, check, Amazon Smile, and New Seasons Market bag credits), corporate/business partnerships (First Tech Credit Union, Columbia Bank, First American Title, Linguava, Welocalize, Murdock), and in-kind volunteer labor (LEGO robotics coaches, mentors, administrative support). Pricing is framed as suggested unit donations — $25 per LEGO robotics student, $50 per month of meals, $100 for a full-year LEGO Robotics slot — rather than commercial fees. GTM is community-led: programs are delivered directly through Title I schools in the Portland Public Schools district and SW Washington, with awareness generated through an Instagram-led organic presence, a Squarespace-hosted blog and newsletter, and earned media placements in Fox 12 Oregon, Portland Business Journal, NPR, KGW, Koin 6, and Immigrant Story. The organization has no proprietary technology product and operates as a program-delivery nonprofit rather than a technology company; it is qualified under IRC Sec 501(c)(3) and headquartered at 610 SW Alder Suite 200, Portland, OR.
Project Ledo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Ledo
- Legal name
- Project LEDO
- Website
- https://projectledo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Project LEDO is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers LEGO robotics, JA Biztown financial literacy, back-to-school supply drives, and food-equity programming to BIPOC and low-income students through Title I school partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Ledo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth STEM Education Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
Keywords
Where Project Ledo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Project Ledo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time or monthly recurring donations via PayPal, check, or through retail partner programs (New Seasons bag credit, Amazon Smile). Donations fund specific programs like LEGO robotics participation ($25/student) and food equity meals ($50/student/month).
- Corporate/Business Partnerships: Organizations partner with Project LEDO through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or program support. Business partners include First Tech Credit Union, Columbia Bank, First American Title, and others.
- Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers provide mentorship (LEGO robotics coaches), event support, and administrative expertise. While not direct revenue, volunteer hours enable program delivery without compensated staff costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $25 covers cost for 1 student to participate in LEGO robotics program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $50 provides 1 student with 1 month of meals as part of Food Equity Program |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | $100 reserves space for LEGO Robotics program for an entire school year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Project Ledo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project LEDO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on STEM and life-skills programs to BIPOC and low-income youth in the Portland area, primarily through Title I school partnerships. Its core offerings include LEGO robotics team programs (4–8 week after-school and summer sessions), Junior Achievement Biztown financial literacy curricula, and wraparound basic-needs support including back-to-school supply distribution, a food equity program, and free computer distribution through Free Geek. Programs are funded by individual donations, corporate partners, and retail partner programs rather than by fees charged to participants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LEGO Robotics Teams
Quantifiable outcome
- 400 students served from 6 schools in 2023-2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Ledo
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Project Ledo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Ledo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program)coreORTOP provides educational robotics opportunities with emphasis on diversity. They support Project LEDO's LEGO Robotics Program through coach/teacher training, tournaments, and funding for disadvantaged communities. ORTOP is Oregon's longest-running K-12 STEM robotics program continuum with 18+ years experience implementing FIRST programs.
- Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW WashingtoncorePartnership to bring JA Biztown financial literacy experience to Title I Elementary Schools. JA Finance Park helps students build foundations for intelligent financial decisions regarding income, expenses, savings, and credit.
- Free GeekcorePartnership to provide free computers for BIPOC students. Free Geek's sustainable technology reuse mission enables digital access and education to empower students in STEM. Students have received computers and families have received laptops through this partnership.
- Columbia BankminorCorporate partner supporting School Supply Drive for students.
- First American TitleminorCorporate partner supporting School Supply Drive for students.
- LinguavaminorCorporate partner supporting School Supply Drive for students.
- WelocalizeminorCorporate partner supporting School Supply Drive for students.
- First Tech Credit UnioncorePartner hosting FREE GEEK tech events with Project LEDO. Supports technology access and digital inclusion for communities of color.
- New Seasons MarketminorRetail partner where shoppers can donate 5 cent bag refunds to Project LEDO at checkout.
- MurdockminorPartner organization supporting Project LEDO programs (logo displayed on partners page).
- Portland Public District SchoolscoreTitle I schools in Portland Public District Schools partner with Project LEDO to provide STEM programs and school supplies to underserved students.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Project Ledo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- iUrban Teen: Pacific Northwest-based nonprofit delivering STEM, tech, and career-readiness programs to underrepresented youth of color. Comparable as a smaller, emerging BIPOC STEM-equity nonprofit with similar mission and partnership-driven delivery model.
- Oregon Food Bank: Regional food-equity nonprofit addressing food insecurity in Oregon — directly comparable to Project LEDO's Food Equity Program and basic-needs/back-to-school mission, with overlapping donor base in the same geography.
Direct peers
- Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington: Core partner delivering the JA Biztown financial literacy curriculum that Project LEDO offers at Title 1 schools. Directly comparable as a youth financial-literacy and work-readiness nonprofit with overlapping Title 1 school delivery model.
- Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI): Portland-based nonprofit providing youth development, education, and family services to African American and other underserved communities. Directly comparable as a same-metro BIPOC-serving nonprofit offering after-school enrichment and basic-needs support.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro: Local after-school and youth-development nonprofit serving low-income and BIPOC youth in the same Portland-area Title 1 schools. Directly comparable as an after-school enrichment and basic-needs provider with overlapping donor and volunteer pools.
- ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program): Oregon's longest-running K-12 STEM robotics program continuum (18+ years); core strategic partner of Project LEDO and effectively the upstream curriculum/competition provider for its LEGO Robotics program. Directly comparable as a BIPOC-focused STEM enrichment nonprofit operating in the same geography.
- Free Geek: Portland-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated computers for digital inclusion; provides the computers Project LEDO distributes to BIPOC students. Directly comparable as a tech-equity nonprofit in the same Portland ecosystem serving the same beneficiary segments.
Broad incumbents
- Code.org: National nonprofit promoting computer-science education in K-12 schools, with explicit focus on equity and Title 1 access. Comparable as a STEM-equity nonprofit targeting the same underserved student segments, though at vastly greater scale.
- Black Girls CODE: National nonprofit providing STEM and computer-science education to girls of color. Directly comparable mission (BIPOC STEM equity), with broader geographic reach and deeper curriculum than Project LEDO's LEGO-focused offering.
- FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): National K-12 STEM robotics organization whose FIRST LEGO League / FIRST Tech Challenge programs sit upstream of Project LEDO's robotics offering. Comparable as a larger, established robotics-curriculum and competition provider that Project LEDO's LEGO teams could feed into.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Project Ledo social profiles
Digital presenceProject Ledo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Ledo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Project Ledo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Ledo 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 Project Ledo
What does Project Ledo do?
Project LEDO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on STEM and life-skills programs to BIPOC and low-income youth in the Portland area, primarily through Title I school partnerships. Its core offerings include LEGO robotics team programs (4–8 week after-school and summer sessions), Junior Achievement Biztown financial literacy curricula, and wraparound basic-needs support including back-to-school supply distribution, a food equity program, and free computer distribution through Free Geek. Programs are funded by individual donations, corporate partners, and retail partner programs rather than by fees charged to participants.
Is Project Ledo a public or private company?
Project Ledo is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Ledo founded?
Project Ledo was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Project Ledo based?
Project Ledo is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Ledo make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate/Business Partnerships and volunteer Contributions.
Who are Project Ledo's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are iUrban Teen and Oregon Food Bank. Direct peers are Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington, Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro, ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program) and Free Geek. Broad incumbents are Code.org, Black Girls CODE and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).
Does Project Ledo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Ledo.
What industry is Project Ledo in?
Project Ledo's product category is Youth STEM Education Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAC, After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAMALAE, Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.