The Cafe Group

What The Cafe Group does

The CAFE Group is a Chicago-based nonprofit (legal name: Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group) founded by Liz and Don Thompson that channels philanthropic capital into education equity. The organization operates two flagship programs. The 1954 Project, named for the Brown v. Board of Education decision and launched in 2021, awards $1 million unrestricted grants to nonprofit education leaders committed to Black students and communities, alongside a multi-year cohort experience that includes leadership coaching, capacity-building support, and access to an ongoing national network convened through annual Network Summits and Luminary Retreats. The LEAD Internship Program places college students—particularly those from first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds—into 10-week paid summer roles at Chicagoland foundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies, with weekly CAFE-led programming on leadership, identity, and equity.

The organization's product surface is programmatic rather than technological. The 1954 Project combines a competitive application and selection process (written applications, financial reviews, expert interviews, panel discussions) with a three-year cohort experience and continuing network membership beyond the grant term. LEAD combines direct placement at partner host organizations with curated weekly convenings. Operationally, The CAFE Group runs on standard nonprofit infrastructure—a Wix-hosted website, Mailchimp for email outreach, and conventional donor management systems—without proprietary software, AI tooling, or specialized technology products.

The revenue model is philanthropic: contributions from individuals, foundations, and institutional funders are received through the organization's website and deployed both into programmatic grantmaking (the $1 million Luminary awards) and operating costs (staff, convenings, retreats, communications). Since 2021, The CAFE Group has deployed $21M+ in unrestricted catalytic capital through The 1954 Project, reaching 30+ education leaders and 250+ LEAD interns, with a September 2025 announcement of an additional $5M to the 2025 Luminary cohort. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: applications-based cohort selection, in-person convenings, and word-of-mouth through the Luminaries network, supplemented by earned media and founder visibility.

Name

The Cafe Group

Legal name

Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group

Website

https://thecafe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The CAFE Group is a Chicago-based nonprofit that advances education equity through The 1954 Project, providing $1M unrestricted grants to 30+ education leaders, and LEAD, offering paid internships to 250+ college students in Chicagoland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Philanthropy / Nonprofit Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAA

Private Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Education philanthropy
• Unrestricted grantmaking
• Leadership development
• Education equity
• Community foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: The CAFE Group is funded through donations from individuals, foundations, and institutional funders who support their mission of education equity and Black leadership development. The organization describes having a national network of partners, funders, and supporters.
2. Donor Contributions: Individual and institutional donors contribute to The CAFE Group to support initiatives like LEAD and The 1954 Project, driving systemic change through love-centered philanthropy. The organization accepts donations through its website.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The CAFE Group is a Chicago-based nonprofit that awards $1 million unrestricted grants to nonprofit education leaders through The 1954 Project and runs the LEAD Internship Program placing college students in paid summer roles at Chicagoland foundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies. Programs are paired with leadership coaching, capacity support, and a national network of Luminaries across a multi-year cohort experience.

Product overview

The CAFE Group operates as a nonprofit philanthropic organization offering two flagship programs: The 1954 Project and the LEAD Internship Program. The 1954 Project is its signature initiative that provides $1 million unrestricted grants (called Luminary Awards) to nonprofit education leaders committed to serving Black students and communities, paired with leadership coaching, capacity support, and membership in a national network of innovators over a three-year journey. The LEAD Internship Program connects college students to paid placements at foundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations across Chicagoland, with weekly programming on leadership and equity. These programs are interconnected through the 1954 Project Network, which provides ongoing community and resources to awardees beyond their formal grant period.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The 1954 Project A signature initiative providing $1 million unrestricted grants to nonprofit education leaders committed to Black students and communities. Includes catalytic funding, leadership coaching, capacity support, and membership in a national network of innovators across a three-year cohort experience.
• LEAD Internship Program A leadership and network-building program that connects college students to paid, 10-week summer placements at foundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies across Chicagoland, with weekly CAFE-led workshops on leadership, identity, and equity.
• Luminary Award $1 million unrestricted grants awarded to education leaders transforming education in Black communities, part of The 1954 Project. Recipients gain access to coaching, capacity support, and a national network through a multi-stage application and selection process.
• The 1954 Project Network A community of 1954 Project awardees — educators, entrepreneurs, and cross-sector champions — who receive ongoing access to coaching, capacity-building resources, and a platform to amplify their work beyond the formal grant term.

Quantifiable outcome

• $21M+ in unrestricted catalytic capital invested through The 1954 Project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Blue MeridiancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJim Shelton from Blue Meridian served as facilitator for 'The Future of Our Work: Leveraging Cross-Sector Imagination and Collective Wisdom' panel at the 2025 Network Summit, discussing partnership and collaboration across sectors.
• The Bridgespan GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTonyel Edwards and Brit Savage from The Bridgespan Group guided Luminaries through strategic exercises at the Inaugural Luminary Retreat in Memphis, helping leaders refine organizational priorities.
• National Civil Rights MuseumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Russ Wiggington, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, provided a private tour during the Inaugural Luminary Retreat, connecting the retreat's theme of building lasting institutions to civil rights history.
• Children's Defense FundsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Starsky Wilson, President & CEO of the Children's Defense Fund, posed strategic questions to Luminaries about organizational vs. institutional leadership at the Memphis retreat.
• LEAD Host OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoundations, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies across Chicagoland serve as host organizations for LEAD interns, hiring students directly for 10-week summer positions while LEAD provides the programmatic wraparound experience.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Robin Hood Foundation: Major poverty-fighting New York-based foundation that funds evidence-driven programs for low-income families, with significant education components. Comparable for its large-scale, outcomes-oriented grantmaking into education and economic mobility, though it serves a different geography.
• NewSchools Venture Fund: Education-focused venture philanthropy that funds innovative school leaders and education entrepreneurs, particularly those serving Black and Brown students. Highly comparable for its catalytic grantmaking, leadership cohort model, and focus on education equity and innovation.
• Schusterman Family Philanthropies: Private family foundation that funds education equity, leadership development, and Jewish community causes with a relationship-driven, trust-based grantmaking model. Highly comparable as a private, founder-led foundation deploying unrestricted catalytic capital into education and leadership pipelines.
• Joyce Foundation: Chicago-based private foundation focused on education equity, economic mobility, and racial justice in the Great Lakes region. Highly comparable for its Chicago base, education-equity mission, and grantmaking into nonprofits serving underrepresented communities.
• Blue Meridian Partners: A philanthropic funder that pools capital from donors and deploys large, unrestricted, multi-year growth capital to high-performing nonprofits — already a CAFE partner. Highly comparable for its place-based, trust-based, large-scale grantmaking into education and equity-focused nonprofits.

Broad incumbents

• Emerson Collective: Large, impact-focused organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs that invests in education equity, immigration, climate, and social justice. Comparable as an education-equity grantmaker operating outside traditional foundation norms, though at materially larger scale and broader mandate.
• Ballmer Group: Philanthropic organization focused on economic mobility for children and families in the U.S., with major investments in education equity and Black-led organizations. Comparable for its education-equity grantmaking and investments in leaders serving underrepresented communities.
• Lumina Foundation: Major private foundation focused on postsecondary education access and success, particularly for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. Comparable for its education-equity mission and grantmaking into leadership and capacity-building for underserved student populations, though at materially larger scale.
• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Major private foundation focused on education and entrepreneurship, particularly supporting underrepresented founders and students. Comparable for its unrestricted grantmaking, focus on education and economic mobility, and commitment to equitable outcomes.
• Carnegie Corporation of New York: Large private foundation with major education initiatives focused on equity, immigrant integration, and democratic engagement. Comparable for its education-equity grantmaking and investments in leadership development for underserved communities, though at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thecafegroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCAFEGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thecafegroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/thecafegroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 The Cafe Group