What democratic knowledge project does

Democratic Knowledge Project (DKP) is a nonprofit civic education initiative housed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and operating in partnership with the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics. Founded in 2008 by Danielle Allen as a research lab at the Institute for Advanced Study, DKP pivoted in 2018 into a formal curriculum and professional learning provider. Its core products are a yearlong 8th grade civics curriculum ('Civic Engagement in Our Democracy'), a 5th grade unit ('Expanding Liberty and Equality'), and supporting digital resources including the 'Portrait of a Tyrant' video game, a HarvardX/edX course, an Elections Module, Changemaker Biographies, a Student-Led Civics Project Workbook, and a Current Events Toolkit. All curricular resources are delivered free and open-access through a virtual curriculum portal.

DKP co-designs curriculum with K-16 educators — 60 teachers across 19 Massachusetts districts have participated in its Design Based Implementation Research studies since fall 2019 — and delivers professional learning through in-person institutes (Civic Summer Institute at Acadia, Maine; Civic Engagement in Our Democracy Institute; Past to Present Institute) and virtual Civics Pathways programming. The 8th grade curriculum was ranked highest by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education among nearly 100 reviewed, and the 5th grade unit was recognized as one of two qualifying K-5 materials. DKP was one of six core organizations behind the national Educating for American Democracy Roadmap.

In 2024 DKP spun off its implementation arm as DKP Launch, operating out of a separate 501c3 called Partners in Democracy-Education (with One8 Foundation funding a three-year structured adoption program), while DKP Learn remained at Harvard for research and design. The organization is funded by foundation grants from Spencer, Mellon, Carnegie, MacArthur, Knight, IMLS, Lucas Education Research, One8, Sy Sims, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation, plus Harvard institutional support. Customer segments are K-16 schools and educators (primary), 8th grade students and teachers (primary), educators seeking professional development (primary), students and families (secondary), and adult learners worldwide via HarvardX (secondary).

Name

democratic knowledge project

Legal name

Democratic Knowledge Project (initiative of The President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Website

https://democraticknowledgeproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Democratic Knowledge Project is a nonprofit civic education initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education that develops free, open-access K-12 civics curricula, professional learning programs, and assessment tools for schools, educators, and students, primarily in Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Studies & Civics Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAI), Assessment, Testing & Analytics Platforms (Formative/Summative) (EDAJAMAC), Group Work, Breakout & Collaborative Document/Workspace Tools (EDAFAGAE)

Keywords

• Civic education curricula
• K-12 social studies
• Professional development
• Civic assessment tools
• Democratic learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Grant Funding: DKP is funded through grants from foundations including Spencer Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, MacArthur Foundation, Knight Foundation, IMLS, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and others. The organization operates as an initiative of Harvard Graduate School of Education.
2. Government Funding: Funded by Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) and potentially federal sources through NEH investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Democratic Knowledge Project (DKP) develops and disseminates free, open-access K-16 civic education curricula, professional learning programs, and assessment tools. Core offerings include the yearlong 8th grade civics curriculum "Civic Engagement in Our Democracy," the 5th grade unit "Expanding Liberty and Equality," supporting tools such as the "Portrait of a Tyrant" video game, Elections Module, Current Events Toolkit, and Changemaker Biographies, plus a HarvardX/edX course on edX. The organization also provides in-person and virtual professional learning institutes for educators and district implementation support through its DKP Launch arm.

Product overview

The Democratic Knowledge Project (DKP) is a civic education initiative offering a comprehensive portfolio of curricular products and professional learning services. The core offerings include the yearlong 8th grade civics curriculum 'Civic Engagement in Our Democracy' (released August 2023) and the redesigned 5th grade unit 'Expanding Liberty and Equality', both aligned with Massachusetts standards and the Educating for American Democracy Roadmap. Supporting products include the 'Portrait of a Tyrant' Declaration video game, Elections Module, Changemaker Biographies, Student-Led Civics Project Workbook, HarvardX online course, and Current Events Toolkit. Professional learning is delivered through institutes (Civic Summer Institute, Civic Engagement in Our Democracy Institute, Past to Present), Educating for American Democracy pathways, and Civics Pathways programs, with implementation support through DKP Launch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civic Engagement in Our Democracy (8th Grade Curriculum) A yearlong 8th grade civics curriculum co-designed with Massachusetts educators to help students identify values, deepen understanding, and develop skills to be self-caring, reciprocal, and self-confident changemakers. Aligned with Massachusetts state requirements and the Educating for American Democracy roadmap. Available free and open-access via the curriculum portal.
• 5th Grade Curriculum - Expanding Liberty and Equality A 5th grade curricular unit on Expanding Liberty and Equality: Agency, Abolition, and Suffrage, aligned with Massachusetts History and Social Studies Frameworks. Students explore movements to expand liberty and equality through enslavement, abolition, suffrage restrictions, and women's suffrage.
• Declaration Video Game (Portrait of a Tyrant) A six-episode adventure game for students to learn about the Declaration of Independence, its historical context, and contemporary relevance. Players follow heroine Briana Little through events leading to the American Revolution (1765-1776), making complex moral and political choices while engaging with primary source materials.
• Elections Module A set of activities to support teaching and learning about elections in the United States. Designed for 8th grade students and aligned with Massachusetts 8th grade History and Social Science Content Standards. Topics include leadership, political parties, voting rights, and how elections work.
• Student-Led Civics Project Workbook An online tool that students and teachers can use to facilitate Student-led Civics Projects, centered on the 10 Questions for Young Changemakers framework. Targeted to eighth graders but adaptable to various grade levels.
• HarvardX Course - We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy A free online course available on edX providing foundational knowledge of American constitutional democracy. Participants learn about rights and responsibilities, constitutionalism, philosophical foundations of democracy, and levers of change while developing their own civic voice and identity.
• Current Events Toolkit Teacher materials to help students think through and understand complex and sometimes controversial current events. Includes tools and guidance for initial conversations and deeper exploration of current event topics, designed for middle and high school students.
• Changemaker Biographies A collection of historical biographies telling the story of civic leaders through the lens of the 10 Questions for Young Changemakers. Targeted for high school but adaptable for eighth grade students.
• Civic Summer Institute for Learning and Teaching A week-long expenses-paid institute for civics teachers held at Schoodic Institute in Acadia, Maine. Creates a learning community for sharing effective practices and guiding principles for civic learning across the country.
• Civic Engagement in Our Democracy Institute An in-person summer institute providing Massachusetts educators with introduction to the 8th grade civics curriculum, including core pedagogies and instructional strategies. Implemented by DKP Launch.
• Past to Present Institute A week-long summer institute supporting K-12 educators in teaching about the history of enslavement, its legacies, and facilitating productive classroom conversations on hard topics. Co-designed with Project Zero and Educational Ethics.
• DKP Launch Implementation Program A three-year structured support program for Massachusetts public schools adopting DKP's 8th grade civics curriculum. Includes cohort-based implementation support, professional learning, and on-the-ground support, operated by DKP Launch out of Partners in Democracy-Education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 teachers across 19 districts have participated in DKP's Design Based Implementation Research studies since fall 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Edmond & Lily Safra Center for EthicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKP is a member of the Design Studio on Ethics and Civics Pedagogy at the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard. In partnership with other civics and ethics pedagogy initiatives, DKP taps into Harvard's resources combined with on-the-ground teacher expertise to identify, strengthen, and disseminate knowledge, skills and capacities civic actors need to sustain healthy democratic life. DKP Founding Director Danielle Allen serves as Director of Harvard's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics.
• Project Zero (Harvard Graduate School of Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKP partners with Project Zero for professional learning opportunities. The collaboration includes designing and implementing civics-focused professional learning pathways for Massachusetts teachers. Tina Blythe serves as both DKP's Director of Professional Learning and a Project Zero researcher.
• Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDESE collaborated with DKP on the Civics Pathways initiative and recognizes DKP curriculum as meeting high quality standards. DKP partnered with DESE in developing Civics Project Guidebook.
• Educating for American Democracy (EAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKP is one of six core organizations in the Educating for American Democracy initiative. DKP's Gingi Wingard serves as Director of EAD K-12 Initiatives. EAD created a roadmap framework for high-quality history and civics learning with 300+ contributors.
• Massachusetts Civic Learning CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for promoting civic learning in Massachusetts schools.
• CivXNowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition partner for civic education reform.
• More PerfectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast/media partner for civic education content.
• Harvard Graduate School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKP is an initiative of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. DKP Learn is housed at Harvard GSE. The institution provides academic infrastructure, faculty, and institutional credibility.
• Partners in Democracy-EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKP Launch operates out of Partners in Democracy-Education, a 501c3 nonprofit. Dr. Danielle Allen is President. Two long-standing DKP leadership staff lead DKP Launch. Fiscal sponsorship provided by Goodnation.
• Civic Learning InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership offering 4-week online mini-courses on US history and civics aligned with EAD Roadmap.
• Museum of African American HistoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration for NCSS pre-conference offsite clinic at the African Meeting House focusing on underrepresented voices in Revolutionary Boston.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Generation Citizen: Nonprofit that works to close the civic opportunity gap by bringing action-based civics programs to middle and high school students. Comparable to DKP through K-12 civic education focus, action-oriented pedagogy, and nonprofit funding model.
• iCivics: Founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics is the largest civic education provider in the U.S., offering free games, lesson plans, and curriculum units for K-12 civics. Direct peer given overlapping focus on K-12 civics, free digital curricular resources, and similar mission to strengthen constitutional democracy.
• National Constitution Center: Nonprofit chartered by Congress to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution. Develops K-12 civics curricula, teacher professional development, and digital learning resources directly comparable to DKP's offerings.
• Mikva Challenge: Chicago-based nonprofit that develops civic engagement programs for youth, including action civics curricula and teacher professional development. Direct peer in K-12 civic education with overlapping student-led project approach similar to DKP's Civic Project Workbook.
• Facing History and Ourselves: Nonprofit that provides professional development, curricular resources, and learning experiences focused on history, civics, and ethical decision-making for K-12 educators. Directly comparable to DKP in mission, educator-co-design approach, and free curriculum distribution. Adrianne Billingham Bock previously worked at Facing History before joining DKP.
• Bill of Rights Institute: Nonprofit that develops K-12 educational resources on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, including curriculum, professional development, and student programs. Closely comparable to DKP's constitutional democracy and civics content focus.
• Center for Civic Education: National nonprofit that develops K-12 civic education curricula, most notably the 'We the People' program on the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Direct competitor and peer—same product category (K-12 civics curriculum), similar target market (educators and students), and overlapping state-level recognition.

Emerging players

• News Literacy Project: Nonprofit that equips students with news literacy skills through K-12 curriculum and educator training. Adjacent peer given overlap with DKP's civic and current events education mission, though with a narrower information-literacy focus.
• CIRCLE (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement): Tufts University-based research center that produces and translates research on youth civic engagement. Comparable to DKP's research arm (DKP Learn) and connected to the field via Adam Gismondi who previously directed NSLVE at CIRCLE/Tufts.

Others

• Harvard Project Zero: Harvard Graduate School of Education research center that studies learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts and humanities. DKP partners directly with Project Zero for professional learning and Design Based Implementation Research, and Tina Blythe serves in both organizations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DKPHarvard
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Democratic-Knowledge-Project/100086307041822
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/democratic-knowledge-project/mycompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about democratic knowledge project