PLATINUM2023

Equal Learning Fund

A world where education is available for all.

Santa Barbara, CA   |  www.equallearningfund.org

Mission

Equal Learning Fund is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to provide educational funding and supplies to children/young adults in need of additional support to help bridge the socioeconomic inequality gap.

Ruling year info

2021

Founder/ CEO

Hannah Huelin-Meek

Main address

3463 State Street #322

Santa Barbara, CA 93449 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

86-2166135

NTEE code info

Human Service Organizations (P20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Research indicates that children from low socioeconomic households or communities and who have less access to technology and programs are more vulnerable to adverse impacts affecting students’ academic progress and outcomes. At Equal Learning Fund, we strive to bridge that gap to help ensure that every child has an equal opportunity for learning. Equal Learning Fund is an impartial organization that promotes fairness for all children who need additional assistance.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Educational Funding

Enables students to benefit directly from donated funds. Funds can be used for any essential educational supplies, programs, and courses.

Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups
At-risk youth
Homeless people
Families
Non-adult children

School supplies could include books, computers, backpacks, learning games, essentials for back to school etc.

Population(s) Served

Supports funding for tutors and educational programs.

Population(s) Served

Besides providing essential support, the organization also works to educate local communities and families about the impacts of socioeconomic gaps within the education sector. Equal Learning Fund also hosts regular storytelling sessions with underserved communities introducing kids to great authors to inspire reading and learning.

Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups
Families
Non-adult children
At-risk youth
Economically disadvantaged people
Ethnic and racial groups
Families
Non-adult children
At-risk youth
Economically disadvantaged people
Ethnic and racial groups
Families
Non-adult children
At-risk youth
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of children who have emerging literacy skills such as beginning letter recognition and phonological awareness, story comprehension, and use of writing materials.

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Program Support

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Number of lessons taught

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Education & Awareness

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Total dollars received in contributions

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Average online donation

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Equal Learning Fund believes that every child should have an equal opportunity for education regardless of socioeconomic status. We provide educational funds, school supplies, and program support to those most in need so that every child can have a chance at a great future.

Funding: Provide funding to educational institutes, shelters, programs, and individuals needing additional support.

Supplies: Provide school supplies directly to teachers and students in need.

Program Support: Aid children/ young adults with funding for tutors, courses, and programs to enhance their educational experience.

Education/ Awareness: Increase community awareness through educational platforms and storytelling sessions.




Partner with the community and corporations to fundraise for planned annual campaigns.
Partner with educational institutes, homeless shelters, and school programs to do annual needs analysis for where assistance is needed.
Enable students to benefit directly from donated funds.
Allow our partners and corporations to donate supplies, in-kind gifts, and free services directly distributed to educators and students most in need.
Supports funding for tutors and educational programs.
Drive community awareness and education.
Hold community educational events that students can attend for free.
Focus areas: Impacts of socioeconomic, educational gaps, facts, success stories, impact stories, how/ where we are helping.

Our team comprises a robust team of volunteers and a diverse board. Volunteers are matched against their interests and organizational needs and then are assigned projects. Board members take an active role in leading and supporting the organization through financial contributions, community involvement, fundraising, and providing expertise in a variety of areas.

Since our inception, our organization has accomplished the following:
* Developed a network of educational partners who aid us in our mission.
* Partnered with educational institutes, school programs, homeless shelters, and youth programs to offer assistance across California.
* Developed relationships with corporations that partner with ELF for fundraising and volunteer opportunities.
* Advised tech executives on CSR initiatives that lead to educational resources being provided to hundreds of underserved youth.
* Developed, implemented, and executed fundraising strategies.
* Engage with technology/tools to help with the strategic growth and development of the nonprofit.
* Built alliances and relationships to achieve long-lasting, meaningful community impact in the areas we serve through education and grassroots efforts.
* Built brand development marketing efforts through community engagement, social media, and fundraising efforts.
* Developed and implemented community educational programs offered to underserved youth.
* Directly impacted hundreds of youth through educational donations.
* Provided group and 1:1 tutoring to youth in core academic subjects.
* Helped bridge the technology gap by providing laptops, hot spots, and low-cost internet options to families and youth living below the poverty line.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Equal Learning Fund
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Equal Learning Fund

Board of directors
as of 11/09/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Hannah Huelin-Meek

John Nania

Learning For All

Ken Klein

Retired

Philippa Kim

Minerva Project

Jax Chaudhry

The Literacy Lab

Natalie Estrella

Cantos Ventures

Kristen Hammer

Running Tide

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/9/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 05/13/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.