The Fishing School

What The Fishing School does

The Fishing School (TFS) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1990 by retired D.C. police officer Tom Lewis to serve elementary-aged children from low-income D.C. communities through free STEAM-focused programming. Its core products are a free Afterschool Program (grades 1-5, September-June, 3-6pm, 2 or 5 days per week), a free Summer Program (June 30-August 2, 11am-4pm, 5 days/week), and year-round Parent Engagement activities. Curriculum is built on externally licensed content: YES/Engineering is Elementary from the Boston Museum of Science for STEM units (Pumpkin Pollinators, Programming Robots, Rescue Shuttles, Bubble Bonanza, Building Bridges), Second Step for social-emotional learning, supplemented by literary arts and fabric arts (weaving, quilting, knitting, embroidery). All programs are delivered at no cost to families.

Operating from a 6,700-square-foot headquarters at 4737 Meade Street NE, TFS serves approximately 400 students daily across four partner school sites (John Lewis Elementary in Ward 4, Mary McLeod Bethune Day PCS in Ward 5, Leckie Educational Campus in Ward 8, and Houston Elementary in Ward 7). Reported outcomes from program assessments include 94% of students improving in reading, 98% in math, 61% increasing STEM knowledge and attitudes, 78% improving creative expression, 70% improving emotional regulation, and 30% family member participation in TFS events. The organization was ranked #1 in math and #2 in reading among 24 out-of-school time providers evaluated by the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and grants from a diversified funder base: individual giving (including United Way workplace giving #8553), corporate donors (KPMG, Deloitte, Danaher Foundation, Wyndham Destinations), regional and private foundations (Greater Washington Community Foundation, Cafritz Foundation, Clark-Winchcole, Share Fund, Jack and Jill of Washington DC, Nora Roberts Foundation), D.C. government (Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs, Events DC, Learn24), and faith-based contributors (Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church). Historical disclosure indicates revenue grew from $1M to over $1.5M under former Executive Director Leo Givs. The current Executive Director is Meeta Sharma-Holt, who joined following a 17-year Givs tenure. The board is chaired by Eric Causey of KPMG with representation from Deloitte Digital, Matador Capital, FDIC, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and World Wide Technology.

Name

The Fishing School

Legal name

The Fishing School

Website

https://fishingschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Fishing School is a Washington, D.C. 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1990 that provides free STEAM-focused afterschool, summer, and family engagement programs to elementary-aged children from low-income D.C. communities, delivered on-site at four partner public and charter schools serving roughly 400 students daily.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

Keywords

• Afterschool youth programs
• STEAM education services
• Nonprofit youth development
• Summer enrichment programs
• Elementary education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, including workplace giving programs (United Way #8553). Donors can sponsor specific impact levels from $1,000 to $35,000.
2. Corporate Donations and Sponsorships: Corporate donors including KPMG, Deloitte, Danaher Foundation, Wyndham Destinations, and others provide funding and sponsorships for fundraising events.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including The Greater Washington Community Foundation, Clark-Winchcole Foundation, Share Fund, Jack and Jill of Washington DC, Nepeni Foundation, Nora Roberts Foundation, Opalek Foundation, and The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
4. Government Grants and Support: Government funding and support from Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs, Events DC, and Learn24:Office of Out of School Time.
5. Faith-Based Organization Support: Support from faith-based organizations such as Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Fishing School provides free, hands-on STEAM-focused afterschool, summer, and parent engagement programs for elementary-aged children (grades 1-5) from low-income communities in Washington, D.C. The Afterschool Program runs September to June (3-6pm, 2 or 5 days per week) and the Summer Program runs June 30 to August 2 (11am-4pm, 5 days per week), all delivered at no cost to families through partnerships with DC Public Schools and charter schools.

Product overview

The Fishing School is a non-profit organization offering STEAM-focused afterschool and summer programs for elementary-aged children from underserved communities in Washington, D.C. Their portfolio includes three core programs: the Afterschool Program, Summer Program, and Parent Engagement initiative. These programs are delivered through integrated curriculum modules including STEM (using YES/Engineering is Elementary from Boston Museum of Science), Arts/Literacy Arts, and Life Skills (using Second Step curriculum). The Afterschool Program also includes Homework Help and recreation time. Programs rank 1st in math and 2nd in reading among 24 out-of-school time providers evaluated by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. All programs are provided at no cost to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Afterschool Program Free hands-on STEM and Arts afterschool program that boosts academics and reduces risk for students grades 1-5 from low-income DC communities. Runs September to June, 3 to 6 pm, 2 or 5 days per week at partner school sites. Includes weekly STEM activities, Arts/Literacy, Life Skills, Homework Help, and recreation.
• Summer Program Free summer enrichment program for elementary-aged students to maintain academic skills, explore interests, and prepare for future success. Runs June 30 to August 2, 11 am to 4 pm, 5 days per week at TFS headquarters.
• Parent Engagement

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of students improved in reading based on program assessments
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• John Lewis Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFS delivers afterschool and summer programs on-site at this DC Public School, serving 2nd to 5th grade students in Ward 4. School provides program space, enrollment support, and student performance data access.
• Mary McLeod Bethune Day Public Charter SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFS delivers programs on-site at this public charter school serving 2nd to 4th grade students in Ward 5. Partnership provides program space and enrollment support.
• Leckie Educational CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFS delivers programs on-site at this DC Public School serving 1st to 4th grade students in Ward 8. School provides space and enrollment support.
• Houston Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFS delivers programs on-site at this DC Public School serving 1st and 2nd grade students in Ward 7.
• DC Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFS partners with DC Public Schools to deliver programming at multiple school sites and receives access to student performance data for program evaluation.
• YES/Engineering is Elementary (Boston Museum of Science)coreTechnology or IntegrationTFS uses the Engineering is Elementary curriculum from the Boston Museum of Science for weekly STEM activities, covering environmental engineering, computer science, aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, and structural engineering units.
• Second Step CurriculumcoreTechnology or IntegrationTFS uses the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum for Life Skills lessons, focusing on community, growth mindset, emotion management, empathy, and career awareness.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Metropolitan Washington: Regional YMCA affiliate offering afterschool care, academic enrichment, and youth development across the DC metro area. Comparable free/subsidized afterschool delivery model serving school-age children from similar demographic backgrounds.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing free afterschool programs to youth in underserved communities, with strong STEM programming focus. Operates at larger scale across multiple cities, making it a comparable but broader incumbent.
• 4-H: National youth development organization operated by Cooperative Extension that delivers STEM, civic, and life-skills programming through school and community partnerships. Comparable in audience and curriculum pillars but operates at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington: Regional affiliate of the Boys & Girls Club network offering afterschool programs, STEM activities, and youth development services to DC-area youth. Similar community-based, free programming model targeting the same demographic.
• DC SCORES: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit providing afterschool programming that combines soccer, poetry, and service-learning for elementary and middle school students. Shares the same DC geography, school-partner model, and underserved-youth focus.
• Citizen Schools: National nonprofit operating expanded learning time programs for middle-school students in underserved communities, including apprenticeship-based STEM and career exposure. Comparable free-program, school-partner-based delivery model.
• Higher Achievement: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit providing afterschool and summer academic enrichment to middle-school scholars from underserved communities. Directly comparable mission, target population, and free-program delivery model.
• Girls Inc. of the Washington Metropolitan Area: DC-area affiliate of the national Girls Inc. network delivering afterschool and summer STEM, leadership, and life-skills programming for girls from underserved communities. Comparable free-program, youth-development, school-based delivery.
• Horizons Greater Washington: DC-area affiliate of the national Horizons network providing summer and year-round academic enrichment for under-resourced students. Operates in the same geography with similar mission and school-based delivery.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area: DC-area youth-mentoring nonprofit where TFS's current Executive Director previously led large multi-site community-based programming. Operates with a similar mission around positive youth development and historically shares partner ecosystems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=ZDl4_IXCpF0
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFishingSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-fishing-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefishingschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Fishing School