Latino Education Advancement Fund

What Latino Education Advancement Fund does

Latino Education Advancement Fund (LEAF) is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by Dinorah Olmos that delivers Spanish-language parent education, K-12 academic coaching, and education-rights advocacy to first-generation Latino families across Maryland, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. Its core product portfolio comprises three structured workshop programs — La Escuela, sus Hijos y Usted (a nine-week parent-navigation workshop capped at 20 parents), El Llavero (a 3–4-hour gifted-identification workshop for parents and students), and IMPULSO (a 10-month college-preparation series for 11th–12th graders) — supplemented by volunteer-run online tutoring for grades 2–12 in math, advanced algebra, geometry, and reading/writing, and an advocacy service for families experiencing discrimination or school-system disputes. The platform layer is lightweight: a bilingual WordPress/WooCommerce website, Zoom-based virtual delivery, and WhatsApp-based advising, with all curriculum delivered through in-person school-hosted workshops and live virtual sessions.

The organization operates through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund and is funded primarily by individual donations and an OSI Baltimore Community Fellowship held by the founder. Paid membership is offered at three heavily discounted tiers — $5/month, $30/semi-annual, and $50/year — with financial-hardship waivers available. Distribution relies on partnerships with Baltimore City Public Schools and individual school administrators for workshop hosting and student referral, an annual Educational Summit (Cumbre Educativa) as the principal demand-generation event, and community-led word-of-mouth within the Latino community; no paid acquisition channels are indicated.

Name

Latino Education Advancement Fund

Legal name

Latino Education Advancement Fund

Website

https://leafedu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Latino Education Advancement Fund (LEAF) is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers Spanish-language parent workshops, K-12 tutoring, and education advocacy to first-generation Latino families in Maryland, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Community education programs
• Parent engagement workshops
• Academic coaching services
• College preparation workshops
• Culturally responsive education

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: LEAF generates revenue through annual, semi-annual, and monthly membership subscriptions offering parent support groups, exclusive educational program information, academic guidance via WhatsApp, virtual monthly parent meetings, and invitations to grade-appropriate programs.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, LEAF accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations to fund scholarships and operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LEAF delivers Spanish-language and bilingual educational workshops, academic coaching, counseling, and advocacy resources that help Latino parents navigate the U.S. school system and prepare their K-12 children for academic and post-secondary success. Core offerings include the nine-week La Escuela, sus Hijos y Usted workshop, the El Llavero talent-identification workshop, the ten-month IMPULSO college preparation program, individual tutoring, one-on-one parent support, and a recurring LEAF Membership.

Product overview

LEAF (Latino Education Advancement Fund) is a nonprofit organization that offers a suite of educational programs, coaching services, and advocacy support for Latino families. Its core portfolio includes three structured workshop programs — La Escuela, sus Hijos y Usted (a nine-week parent navigation workshop), El Llavero (a three-to-four-hour workshop for identifying academically talented students), and IMPULSO (a 10-month college preparation program for 11th–12th graders) — supplemented by academic coaching (tutoring and one-on-one parent support), resources and advocacy services, and a paid LEAF Membership providing ongoing parent support and information access. Programs are offered in Spanish and English across Maryland, Los Angeles, CA, and Puerto Rico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• La Escuela, sus Hijos y Usted Workshop A nine-week, culture-sensitive workshop delivered in Spanish that teaches Latino parents how to navigate the U.S. educational system and take an active role in their child's education. Each series accommodates up to 20 parents and covers report cards, attendance, standardized tests, parent-teacher conferences, bullying, and special education laws.
• El Llavero Workshop A three-to-four-hour culturally relevant workshop in Spanish for parents and students focused on identifying academically talented Latino students as early as 2nd grade and preparing them for a direct path to post-secondary options. Covers high school graduation requirements, standardized tests, financial aid, and scholarships.
• IMPULSO Program A 10-month series of monthly two-hour workshops for 11th-12th grade high school students and their parents, delivered in English and Spanish with culturally relevant materials. Focuses on high school completion, higher education, financial aid, scholarships, academic resumes, essays, and college preparation.
• Academic Coaching Encompasses student volunteer-run tutoring for 2nd to 12th grade students (launched in 2021 to address COVID learning gaps) and one-on-one parent support for problem-solving, school selection, and applications for schools, summer programs, FAFSA, and university admissions.
• Resources and Advocacy Provides advice for families experiencing discrimination, bullying, or harassment in school; training courses for parents, communities, and professionals on effective advocacy; and legal information and resources when school problems are not resolved.
• LEAF Membership An annual membership program offering parents a parent support group, exclusive information on educational programs and scholarships, help registering for extracurricular programs, standardized test guidance, monthly virtual parent meetings via Zoom, and direct WhatsApp advising. Available at $5/month (auto-renewing), $30/six months, or $50/year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Workshop attendance tripled over the program period; served 1,665+ Latino parents and students in the Baltimore region since 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) Division of SciencenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAF partnered with the NAOJ Division of Science to enable high school students to conduct scientific research alongside NAOJ scientists, providing real-world research experience for Latino youth and supporting STEM career pathways.
• Players Philanthropy FundcoreOthersLEAF operates as a Maryland nonprofit corporation through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178), a Maryland not-for-profit charitable trust with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Contributions to LEAF are tax-deductible through this arrangement.
• Baltimore City Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAF partners with Baltimore City Public Schools and individual school administrators to host parent workshops and identify academically talented students. Workshops are arranged in collaboration with school administrators and community liaisons at school facilities.
• Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEAF's founder and board members have deep ties to Johns Hopkins CTY. Founder Dinorah Olmos previously served as Assistant Director for National and International Recruitment at CTY, and Vice President Dr. Lea Ybarra retired as Executive Director of CTY. CTY identifies and serves gifted students globally.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UnidosUS: A large national Latino civil-rights and community-services organization with education and family-support programs. It is a broad incumbent because it operates at much greater scale and covers advocacy and services beyond LEAF's education niche.
• GreatSchools: A nonprofit education resource that gives parents school information, reviews, and tools for navigating school choice. It is a broad incumbent and adjacent comparator for LEAF's school-selection and academic-navigation services, although it is primarily a digital information platform.
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): A national Latino advocacy organization with education, scholarship, and family/community programs. It is a broad incumbent and ecosystem peer for LEAF's bilingual education navigation and Latino family engagement.
• Hispanic Federation: A national Latino nonprofit network supporting education, economic mobility, and family services through member organizations. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping community reach and institutional funding and partnership channels.

Emerging players

• College Possible: A nonprofit college-access and success organization providing coaching to students from low-income backgrounds, including first-generation students. It is an emerging and adjacent peer for LEAF's IMPULSO college-preparation and student coaching programs, though it is less parent-centered.
• OneGoal: A nonprofit that helps low-income and first-generation students prepare for and persist in college. It is an emerging player comparable to LEAF's college-readiness and post-secondary navigation work, but it focuses on student persistence rather than whole-family education support.

Direct peers

• Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE): A nonprofit providing parent education, school navigation, and family-engagement programs, including for Latino and immigrant families. It is a direct comparison for LEAF's workshops and coaching that help parents understand and advocate within the U.S. school system.
• Abriendo Puertas / Opening Doors: A national nonprofit that trains and supports Latino parents through family-engagement and early-childhood workshops. Its parent-centered, culturally responsive model closely matches LEAF's community-based family education approach, though it focuses more on the early-childhood years.

Regional players

• Casa de Maryland: A Maryland-based immigrant-services nonprofit offering education, workforce, legal, and family support. It is a regional player sharing LEAF's immigrant-family audience and community-led delivery model, but its service scope is broader.
• Families in Schools: A Los Angeles nonprofit connecting families, schools, and communities through parent engagement, leadership, and school-navigation programs. It is a regional peer because it addresses similar language-access and family-engagement barriers for Latino families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LEAFeducacion
• Facebookfacebook.com/LEAFEDUORG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leafedu
• Instagraminstagram.com/leafedu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Latino Education Advancement Fund