Teach One to Lead One

What Teach One to Lead One does

Teach One to Lead One (T1L1), operating under CLI, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 by Dr. Lori Maldonado and headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia. The organization delivers community-based mentoring programs that teach 10 Universal Principles (Respect, Integrity, Self-control, Courage, Humility, Excellence, Compassion, Enthusiasm, Teamwork, Honor) to K-12 students through two curriculum tracks: ANEW for grades 6-12 and PRIMO for grades 3-5. Certified, background-checked adult volunteers deliver weekly in-person sessions in partner public schools, juvenile courts, and youth organizations, supported by pre/post-student assessments, journals, and teacher feedback surveys intended to demonstrate measurable improvements in attendance, attitude, and academics.

T1L1's technology surface centers on the Mobile Mentor app (iOS and Android), launched originally in 2023 and updated to version 2.0 in February 2024. The app is built on the TalentLMS learning management system and adds live video mentor sessions, gamified character challenges, polls, and milestone-based journey tracking, extending the in-person curriculum into a free digital channel for individual students and families. The app runs alongside the in-person program rather than replacing it, and is funded by donor contributions.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: six semi-autonomous regional chapters (Clark County NV, Metro Atlanta, Clark County WA, Maricopa County AZ, Louisiana, Central Indiana) plus newer Denver Metro and Whatcom County chapters deliver programs locally and recruit volunteer mentors and donors. Revenue is sourced from per-student school fees ($125 per student for the ANEW program), structured sponsorship tiers ($200/student to $50,000/school), individual and corporate donations, and the multi-year Legacy of Leadership donor campaign. As of 2023 the organization reported mentoring 4,000+ students with a 2024 target of 5,500, and claims to have impacted 60,000+ students since inception across seven U.S. states and at least seven countries. Leadership transitioned to Teresa Lutz as CEO effective December 31, 2024, succeeding founder Dr. Lori Maldonado.

Name

Teach One to Lead One

Legal name

CLI, Inc. dba Teach One to Lead One

Website

https://t1l1.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Teach One to Lead One is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers curriculum-based mentoring programs teaching 10 Universal Principles to K-12 students through certified volunteer mentors in schools, juvenile courts, and youth organizations, supplemented by a free Mobile Mentor app. It serves students across seven U.S. states and multiple countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Character Education and Mentoring Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Character education programs
• Leadership curriculum
• School mentoring partnerships
• Digital mentoring platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Kennesaw

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Per-Student School Fees: Schools pay $125 per student for the ANEW curriculum-based mentoring program. Funding may come from school budgets, grants, community sponsorships, and fundraising.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual and corporate donations fund the program. Sponsorship tiers: $200/student, $5,000/classroom, $25,000/5 classrooms, $50,000/school. Legacy of Leadership is a 3-year commitment campaign.
3. Mobile Mentor App (Free): Mobile Mentor digital experience is provided at no cost to individual students and families, funded by donor contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Teach One to Lead One delivers a community-based mentoring program built on a 30-year-developed curriculum of 10 Universal Principles (Respect, Integrity, Self-control, Courage, Humility, Excellence, Compassion, Enthusiasm, Teamwork, Honor), taught through stories, group discussions, and activities by certified, background-checked volunteer mentors in schools, juvenile courts, and youth organizations. It offers the ANEW curriculum for grades 6-12 and the PRIMO curriculum for grades 3-5, complemented by the Mobile Mentor digital app that delivers the same curriculum via iOS and Android with video sessions, gamified challenges, and progress tracking.

Product overview

Teach One to Lead One (T1L1) offers a community mentoring program with two main curriculum tracks: ANEW for middle and high school students and PRIMO for elementary students (grades 3-5). Both programs teach 10 Universal Principles through certified volunteer mentors using storytelling, group discussions, and activities. The organization also provides Mobile Mentor, a complementary digital platform delivered via iOS and Android apps that extends the mentoring experience online with video sessions, gamified challenges, and virtual mentor groups. The in-person programs are delivered in schools and community settings, while the Mobile Mentor app provides flexible digital access for remote or additional engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ANEW: Middle and high school program teaching Universal Principles through stories, activities, and discussion questions to build character and leadership skills.
• PRIMO
• Mobile Mentor

Products and services

• ANEW Curriculum

Quantifiable outcome

• Guaranteed improvement in Attendance, Attitude, and Academics
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT1L1 students participate in service projects at IDES campus, packaging meals for global communities. Over 70 students from Hamilton Heights High School and Eastwood Middle School packaged 15,996 meals for South Africa. Partnership provides hands-on service learning opportunities for students to practice Universal Principles.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth development organization reaching millions of K-12 students through clubs, camps, and school enrichment programs focused on leadership and character. Comparable to T1L1 in mission and youth demographic, though much larger scale and broader programming scope.
• National Urban League: Major civil rights and urban advocacy organization running youth development and education programs including mentoring and leadership development. Comparable to T1L1 in youth mentoring mission and urban school partnerships, though broader civil rights advocacy focus.
• Junior Achievement USA: National nonprofit delivering K-12 educational programs focused on financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship through school-based curricula. Comparable to T1L1 in school-embedded curriculum delivery, K-12 student demographic, and volunteer-driven implementation model.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth development nonprofit serving 4+ million youth annually through club-based programs. Comparable to T1L1 in target demographic (school-age youth) and character development mission, though operates through physical club locations rather than school-based delivery and serves broader programming beyond mentoring.

Direct peers

• MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership: National umbrella organization for the youth mentoring field, working to expand quality mentoring programs across the U.S. Directly comparable as a youth mentoring peer that also partners with schools and provides curriculum/resources, though MENTOR functions primarily as a capacity-builder for other mentoring programs rather than direct service provider.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places school-based coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver integrated student supports including mentoring. Comparable to T1L1 in school-embedded service delivery model, K-12 student focus, and goal of improving attendance/engagement/academics, though CIS takes a broader case-management approach.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing after-school programming to youth in underserved communities, with a focus on character development and life skills. Comparable to T1L1 in school-based delivery, at-risk youth focus, and character/leadership curriculum, though ASAS operates extended-hours rather than during-school sessions.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: The largest youth mentoring nonprofit in the U.S., matching adult volunteers with youth for one-to-one mentoring relationships. Direct comparable to T1L1 in mission (youth mentoring), volunteer-driven model, and school/court partnerships, though BBBS focuses on individual matches rather than classroom-based curriculum delivery.
• iCouldBe: Online mentoring nonprofit connecting middle and high school students with college-student mentors via a digital platform. Closely comparable to T1L1's Mobile Mentor app approach, serving similar demographics with virtual mentoring sessions and structured curriculum.

Emerging players

• Character.org: National nonprofit focused on character development in K-12 schools, providing frameworks, training, and certification for character education programs. Comparable to T1L1 in character education curriculum focus and school partnerships, though operates more as a standards/training body than direct service provider.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Teach1Lead1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@teachonetoleadone
• Facebookfacebook.com/teach1lead1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teach-one-to-lead-one
• Instagraminstagram.com/teachonetoleadone

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Teach One to Lead One