Freedom Arts & Education Center

What Freedom Arts & Education Center does

Freedom Arts & Education Center (FAEC), founded in 2012 and headquartered at 4138 N Grand Blvd in St. Louis, Missouri, is a nonprofit organization that delivers free arts education, academic tutoring, and youth development programming to children and young adults (preK through age 24) living in systemically under-resourced neighborhoods of St. Louis. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs: After Sessions (after-school program serving ~30 preK–12 graders on Mondays/Wednesdays), Camp C.A.P.E. (an annual 8-week K–12 summer camp with free tuition, meals, and transportation), Freedom Readers (literacy), Arts Organizing (paid creative projects for ages 12–18), Youth Leaders (leadership pipeline for ages 18–24), Community Power (community organizing/events), and the annual Freedom Arts Expo. The organization also runs over 50 interactive Art & Academic Workshops and offers bookable services (performances, murals, tutoring, consultation) to schools, organizations, and events.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: donations collected via PayPal on the website, grants from regional and national funders (Regional Arts Commission, Arts & Education Council, Missouri Arts Council, St. Louis Community Foundation, The Pettus Foundation, Siteman Family Charitable, Vanguard Charitable, Neeb Family Foundation, Percussive Arts Society, The Assistance League of St. Louis, Pathfinder Church, LinkedSelling), administrative fees from fiscal sponsorship of five external organizations (St. John's Church, WSX Radio, Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, Cherokee Street Reach, Freedom Community Center), and earned income from bookable consultation, performance, and workshop services. All core youth programs are provided free of charge, including meals, transportation, and supplies. The organization is governed by a five-member board and led by co-founders Andrew Gibson (Executive Director) and Miles Dela Cruz (Director of Program Integrity), with a teaching-artist team of 10+ artists and a 11–50 total headcount. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Freedom Arts & Education Center

Legal name

Freedom Arts & Education Center

Website

https://faecstl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedom Arts & Education Center is a St. Louis nonprofit founded in 2012 that provides free arts education, academic tutoring, and youth development programs to children and young adults in systemically under-resourced neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH), Test Prep Learning Centers (SAT/ACT, AP/IB, State Exams) (EDANAHAH)

Keywords

• Youth arts education
• After school programs
• Summer arts camp
• Literacy tutoring
• Community arts workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal on their website. Donations support free youth programs, arts education, and academic enrichment services.
2. Fiscal Sponsorship: FAEC serves as fiscal sponsor for St. John's Church, WSX Radio, Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, Cherokee Street Reach, and Freedom Community Center, receiving administrative fees or percentage of funds managed.
3. Program Fees (Booking Services): The organization offers bookable services including performances, workshops, art installations, event support, tutoring, and consultation to schools, organizations, and events for fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Freedom Arts & Education Center is a nonprofit that provides free arts education, academic tutoring, and youth development programming to children and young adults in St. Louis. Its offerings include more than 50 Art & Academic Workshops, an 8-week K-12 summer camp called Camp C.A.P.E., after-school After Sessions, the Freedom Readers literacy program, Youth Leaders leadership pathways, and Community Power community organizing, alongside bookable performances, workshops, event support, mural installations, tutoring, and consultation for external schools, organizations, and event planners.

Product overview

Freedom Arts & Education Center is a nonprofit arts and education organization serving youth in St. Louis since 2012. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including Art & Academic Workshops (50+ interactive seminars), Camp C.A.P.E. (annual 8-week K-12 summer camp), After Sessions (after-school program), Freedom Readers (literacy program), Youth Leaders (leadership development), Community Power (community organizing), and the annual Freedom Arts Expo. The center also provides virtual learning resources and offers Book Us services for performances, workshops, tutoring, and consultation. Programs focus on combining arts education with academic enrichment and social-emotional development for youth living in systemically under-resourced areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp C.A.P.E. Annual K-12 summer camp offering free tuition, arts classes, academic skills building, field trips, swimming, and community education. Stands for Community, Arts, Power, Education.
• After Sessions
• Freedom Readers
• Freedom Arts Expo

Products and services

• Camp C.A.P.E. Annual 8-week K-12 summer arts and activism camp offered free of charge, including tuition, two meals and snacks daily, aftercare, free transportation to most parts of the city, arts classes, academic skills building, field trips, and swimming. Curriculum is centered on Black liberation and trauma-informed pedagogy for youth in under-resourced St. Louis communities.
• After Sessions Free after-school program held on Mondays and Wednesdays serving approximately 30 preK-12th graders with arts learning, community arts training, and academic support including homework help and tutoring.
• Freedom Readers Literacy program providing culturally relevant books and tutoring to strengthen reading skills for youth in divested areas.
• Freedom Arts Expo

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of scholars improved reading and math skills to grade level
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Debt Free Justice CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAEC is a member of the Missouri Coalition of Debt Free Justice, a national campaign to abolish fines and fees incurred in the juvenile justice system. The organization hosts the DFJ campaign resources on their website and advocates for House Bill 2338 in Missouri.
• The People's PlancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAEC is part of this collective of STL organizations reshaping public policy and building a new vision for the city. Andrew Gibson serves on the steering committee.
• St. John's Church (The Beloved Community)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership working with interfaith communities to bring youth education and healing resources to North St. Louis. Andrew Gibson serves as Music Coordinator. FAEC provides programming and staff support; St. John's provides venue and community connections.
• Faith For JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrew Gibson serves as Director of Partnerships with Faith For Justice, co-organizing national conferences and campaigns. Organizations partner on anti-racism training and community organizing. Miles Dela Cruz volunteers with Faith For Justice.
• Regional Arts CommissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor funder and partner supporting Camp C.A.P.E., Freedom Arts Expo, and general operations. Miles Dela Cruz is an inaugural member of the Great Rivers Greenway Artists of Color Council and judge for annual South Grand Chalk Walk through RAC connections.
• Unleashing PotentialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization receiving Art & Academic Workshops. Toni Thomas, Board President, has worked for Unleashing Potential and Freedom Schools before joining FAEC board.
• St. Louis County LibrariescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization receiving Art & Academic Workshops. Collaboration brings arts programming to library locations.
• St. Louis Public LibrariescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization receiving Art & Academic Workshops.
• Missouri History MuseumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization receiving Art & Academic Workshops.
• Action St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organization leading The People's Response to May 2025 tornado. Partner on Camp C.A.P.E. and community initiatives.
• Gateway Early Childhood AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood alliance supporting Camp C.A.P.E. summer programming.
• Building on DirectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Camp C.A.P.E. summer camp.
• Operation Food SearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood security organization supporting Camp C.A.P.E. with meals.
• Usborne BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook publisher supporting Freedom Readers program with donations.
• M4BL (Movement for Black Lives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Black liberation organization supporting Community Power program initiatives.
• Regional Response TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency response organization supporting Community Power program with food rapid response.
• Banned Books WeekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization fighting against book bans; FAEC participates in advocacy for free, open access to information.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Recipients (St. John's Church, WSX Radio, Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, Cherokee Street Reach, Freedom Community Center)minorOthersFAEC serves as fiscal sponsor for these organizations, providing administrative and financial management services in exchange for fees or percentage of funds.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Music Center of Boston: Boston-based nonprofit providing accessible music education, dance, and arts programming to a diverse urban population. Comparable to FAEC in combining fine arts instruction with youth development and tuition-free or sliding-scale access for under-resourced communities.
• Gateway Early Childhood Alliance: St. Louis-area coalition supporting early childhood education access for under-resourced families. Documented FAEC partner on Camp C.A.P.E. summer programming; highly comparable in mission, target demographic, and St. Louis geography.
• Unleashing Potential: St. Louis-based nonprofit providing after-school tutoring, mentoring, and academic enrichment to youth in under-resourced neighborhoods. FAEC's Board President Toni Thomas previously worked at Unleashing Potential, and the organizations actively partner on workshops, making this a tightly comparable peer in mission, geography, and population served.
• DreamYard Project: Bronx, NY-based nonprofit combining arts education, youth development, and social justice with explicit focus on Black and Brown youth. DreamYard's pedagogy, abolitionist framing, and youth-paid creative practice are highly comparable to FAEC's Arts Organizing and Community Power programs, even though it operates in a different city.
• Family Forward: St. Louis-based nonprofit providing family services, parenting education, and youth programming in the region. FAEC is a documented partner receiving FAEC workshops, and the two share both geography and a focus on serving families in under-resourced St. Louis communities.
• Center of Creative Arts (COCA): St. Louis-based nonprofit arts education organization offering classes, camps, and performances across dance, theater, music, visual arts, and creative writing for youth and adults. COCA is the most direct local comparable to FAEC in its combination of arts instruction and youth programming, though it operates a fee-based rather than free model.
• People's Music School: Chicago-based nonprofit providing free, high-quality music instruction to youth from low-income families. The tuition-free, community-rooted music education model closely mirrors FAEC's free arts programming and shared commitment to removing economic barriers to arts access.

Regional players

• St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Community Programs: The St. Louis Symphony operates youth education and community engagement programs targeting similar demographics in the same metro area. Although much larger and classical-music focused, it overlaps with FAEC's music instruction and community concerts offerings in the same St. Louis geography.
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (Education Programs): Regional contemporary art museum providing free community education programs in the Kansas City area. While museum-based rather than community-embedded, Kemper's free youth education and outreach work shares FAEC's emphasis on culturally relevant art access in the broader Missouri/Metro region.

Others

• National Guild for Community Arts Education: National membership and advocacy organization supporting community-based arts education providers. Relevant to FAEC as a sector-level peer and potential capacity-building partner, but not a direct competitor since it does not deliver programming.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLogFHj9-8RT_27XUAnqhsuiaOlMrW0oJ3
• Instagraminstagram.com/freedomarts_stl
• Xx.com/faecstl
• Facebookfacebook.com/faecstl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freedom-arts-and-education-center

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 Freedom Arts & Education Center