Teaching Cleveland
Teaching Cleveland is a Cleveland-based non-profit founded in 2016 that develops place-based history curriculum, educator professional development, and corporate programming for K-12 schools, students, and community members across Northeast Ohio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Teaching Cleveland does
Teaching Cleveland is a non-profit, place-based education organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The organization develops curriculum, professional development, and community programming centered on Cleveland and Northeast Ohio history, with the stated objective of integrating regional context into K-12 classrooms, corporate professional development, and broader civic engagement. It operates as part of a broader "Teaching Place" learning initiative that replicates the place-based model in other Ohio markets, including the Teaching Lorain Institute.
Its core offerings include the Teaching Cleveland Institute (a summer professional development program for educators), downloadable lesson plans, neighborhood history projects (including the Fairfax Neighborhood History Project), curated Cleveland tours, Lunch & Learns, a speaker series, and the Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge. In 2024 the organization acquired Cleveland Landmarks Press, a regional book publisher whose catalog has sold 175,000+ books historically, adding a commercial publishing arm to its programming. Other owned products include curriculum tied to the Freshwater Institute, a partnership with Cuyahoga County.
Revenue is generated through a mix of foundation grants (Cleveland Foundation, Gund Foundation, Nordson, Eaton, Deaconess Foundation, Cleveland Cavaliers Foundation, Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, St. Luke's Foundation), corporate sponsorships (KeyBank, Dollar Bank), federal pass-through funding routed through Cuyahoga County, fees from corporate workshops, book sales via Cleveland Landmarks Press, and individual donations. The customer base spans K-12 educators and administrators, high school and college students, corporate employees, and community members. The team comprises approximately 12 staff.
Teaching Cleveland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Teaching Cleveland
- Legal name
- Teaching Place
- Website
- https://teachcle.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Teaching Cleveland is a Cleveland-based non-profit founded in 2016 that develops place-based history curriculum, educator professional development, and corporate programming for K-12 schools, students, and community members across Northeast Ohio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Teaching Cleveland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing (MPAJAFAF), Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD), Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC)
Keywords
Where Teaching Cleveland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Teaching Cleveland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Programs: Customized workshops for organizations connecting employees to their place - from one-hour sessions to half-day programs and more
- Publisher Sales (Cleveland Landmarks Press): Sale of books on Cleveland history through Cleveland Landmarks Press subsidiary, which has published 43+ books and sold over 175,000 copies
- Sponsorships and Donations: Funding from corporations, foundations, and individuals who contribute to support the organization's educational programs and mission
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free lesson plans available for download |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Teaching Cleveland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Teaching Cleveland designs and delivers place-based education programs, including professional development workshops for K-12 educators, corporate Lunch & Learns and Speaker Series, historical tours, and curriculum resources focused on Cleveland and Northeast Ohio history. It also publishes books on Cleveland history through its Cleveland Landmarks Press division and runs student programs such as the Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge.
Product overview
Teaching Cleveland is a place-based education organization offering a suite of programs and resources for educators, students, organizations, and community members. The core offerings include the Teaching Cleveland Institute (a three-day professional development program), downloadable K-12 Lesson Plans, Tours, Lunch & Learns, and Speaker Series for organizations. Specialized programs include the Fairfax Neighborhood History Project (oral histories) and the Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge for high school students. Through its 2024 acquisition of Cleveland Landmarks Press, the organization expanded to include a publishing division producing books on Cleveland history, with curriculum development supporting all programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Teaching Cleveland Institute A three-day summer professional development program for K-12 educators held at the Cleveland Public Library, offering CEUs and PDUs and featuring community leaders, historical content, and place-based learning experiences.
- Lesson Plans Free downloadable K-12 lesson plans focused on Cleveland and Northeast Ohio history, civic education, and place-based learning for educators.
- Tours History tours of Cleveland for organizations and educators, providing customized workshops connecting employees and participants to local history and civic engagement.
- Lunch & Learns One-hour educational sessions for organizations that connect employees to their place through local history and civic engagement topics.
- Speaker Series Educational presentations featuring community leaders and experts on Cleveland history, culture, and civic topics for organizational audiences.
- Fairfax Neighborhood History Project An oral history initiative documenting the history of the Fairfax neighborhood on Cleveland's east side through interviews with past and present residents, preserving African American family histories and Civil Rights movement stories.
- Cleveland Landmarks Press A local publisher producing books about Cleveland's landmarks, key events, and history. By 2023, CLP had published 43 books and now operates as a division of Teaching Cleveland.
- Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge A program engaging high school students from area high schools in exploring community challenges such as workforce development, innovation culture, and sustainability in Northeast Ohio.
- Curriculum Place-based curriculum developed for K-12 educators and administrators, designed to engage students in transformative learning connected to Northeast Ohio communities.
- Freshwater Institute Curriculum Educational curriculum developed by Teaching Place covering the history and ecology of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, and how freshwater resources can play a role in economic development for Cuyahoga County high school students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of students report being more informed about Cleveland than ever before
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Teaching Cleveland
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Teaching Cleveland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Teaching Cleveland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Cuyahoga CountycorePartnership for Freshwater Institute initiative creating 'citizen ambassadors' for Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River stewardship, with $250,000 grant from Cleveland Foundation and $500,000 in federal funds.
- Greater Cleveland PartnershipmajorVP Shawn DaVis serves on Teaching Cleveland's board. Strategic partner for economic and community development initiatives.
- University Circle Inc.majorCommunity Education Director Arin Miller-Tait serves on Teaching Cleveland's board. Partner for cultural and educational programming in University Circle area.
- Young Entrepreneur InstitutemajorFounder Greg Malkin serves on Teaching Cleveland's board. Partner for youth entrepreneurship and education programs.
- Cleveland Zoological SocietyminorAdvancement Officer Alyssa Raybuck serves on Teaching Cleveland's board.
- Cleveland Landmarks PresscoreAcquired in 2024, Cleveland Landmarks Press is a local publisher producing books on Cleveland history. By 2023 had published 43 books with nearly 250,000 copies sold. Now supports Teaching Cleveland's mission.
- SYATTcore'See You At The Top' nonprofit introducing children of color to outdoor experiences. Partner with Teaching Place for Freshwater Institute programs teaching youth about Lake Erie and Cuyahoga River stewardship.
- Foundry Rowing and Sailing CentercoreLocation for Freshwater Institute fellowship program for Cuyahoga high school students providing classes on regional freshwater history and ecology.
- Erase the SpaceminorNonprofit facilitating year-long writing exchanges between classrooms to bridge divides and foster community. Guest speaker at Teaching Cleveland Institute.
- MAGNETminorManufacturing Association Group. Connected through Deaconess Foundation to Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge workforce ecosystem.
- Greater Cleveland Career ConsortiumminorWorkforce development organization connected through Deaconess Foundation partnership.
- Team NEOminorEconomic development organization connected through Deaconess Foundation partnership.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Teaching Cleveland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iCivics: National nonprofit founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor providing free K-12 civic education curriculum, lesson plans, and games. Comparable in mission (civic education for students and educators) and freemium content model, with a much broader digital footprint.
- Arcadia Publishing / The History Press: Major publisher of local and regional history books, producing thousands of titles on U.S. cities, landmarks, and neighborhoods. Directly comparable to the Cleveland Landmarks Press publishing arm and a potential distribution, co-publishing, or acquisition partner.
- Tenement Museum: New York City-based nonprofit that uses neighborhood history (specifically the Lower East Side) as a vehicle for place-based civic education, educator PD, and student programs. Closest functional analog to Teaching Cleveland at a different scale, with a strong publishable book/conversation program paralleling Teaching Cleveland's content engine.
- National Writing Project: National network of educator professional development programs focused on writing, literacy, and place-based learning. Comparable delivery model: teacher-led PD institutes, university-hosted summer programs, and lesson plan resources — similar institutional shape to Teaching Cleveland Institute.
- Heinz History Center: Pittsburgh's regional history institution offering educational programs, exhibits, and school partnerships focused on Western Pennsylvania history. Closely analogous organizational model to a combined Teaching Cleveland + Western Reserve Historical Society, and a useful comp for Teaching Cleveland's potential to expand beyond Cleveland.
- Center for Civic Education: National nonprofit providing K-12 civic education curriculum, PD, and student programs. Overlaps with Teaching Cleveland's mission of connecting students to local history and civic engagement; comparable PD and curriculum licensing model.
- Western Reserve Historical Society: Cleveland's primary regional history organization, operating a museum, library, and educational programs focused on Northeast Ohio history. Directly comparable to Teaching Cleveland in subject matter (Cleveland history) and educational mission, with greater physical infrastructure but less place-based curriculum focus.
- Facing History and Ourselves: National nonprofit providing professional development, curriculum, and lesson plans for educators focused on civic education, local history, and identity. The most direct functional peer: a place-based/civic education PD provider serving K-12 educators with paid and free resources, but operating at national scale.
Emerging players
- Antioch University Midwest - PLACE Program: Academic institution offering place-based education graduate programs and educator PD in the Midwest. Overlaps with Teaching Cleveland's place-based PD and curriculum development, though the target audience skews more toward graduate-level educators and researchers.
Broad incumbents
- Smithsonian Center for Education and Technology: Education division of the Smithsonian Institution producing K-12 curricula, lesson plans, and educator resources based on museum collections. Operates at vastly greater scale and brand recognition, but comparable in that it monetizes institutional history content via curriculum and PD for K-12.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Teaching Cleveland social profiles
Digital presenceTeaching Cleveland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Teaching Cleveland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Teaching Cleveland subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Teaching Cleveland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Teaching Cleveland 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 Teaching Cleveland
What does Teaching Cleveland do?
Teaching Cleveland designs and delivers place-based education programs, including professional development workshops for K-12 educators, corporate Lunch & Learns and Speaker Series, historical tours, and curriculum resources focused on Cleveland and Northeast Ohio history. It also publishes books on Cleveland history through its Cleveland Landmarks Press division and runs student programs such as the Teaching Cleveland Student Challenge.
Is Teaching Cleveland a public or private company?
Teaching Cleveland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Teaching Cleveland founded?
Teaching Cleveland was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Teaching Cleveland based?
Teaching Cleveland is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Teaching Cleveland make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Programs are the primary driver. The others are publisher Sales (Cleveland Landmarks Press) and sponsorships and Donations.
Who are Teaching Cleveland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iCivics, Arcadia Publishing / The History Press, Tenement Museum, National Writing Project, Heinz History Center, Center for Civic Education, Western Reserve Historical Society and Facing History and Ourselves. Antioch University Midwest - PLACE Program is listed as an emerging player. Smithsonian Center for Education and Technology is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Teaching Cleveland have an API?
No public API is recorded for Teaching Cleveland.
What industry is Teaching Cleveland in?
Teaching Cleveland's product category is Educational Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAA, K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services, with a secondary code of MPAJAFAF, Children’s Educational & Curriculum Publishing. Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 2731.