PLATINUM2023

Act Now Education Organization Inc

We are the resource for your resources!

aka ACT NOW   |   Ellicott City, MD   |  https://actnoweducation.org/
GuideStar Charity Check

Act Now Education Organization Inc

EIN: 87-4345131


Mission

Our Purpose: ACT NOW Education provides guidance and the tools necessary to make your goals a reality. Whether career planning, business development, job opportunities, certifications, apprenticeships, or transitioning/retiring from the military, we will point you in the right direction. Our Vision: Improving and impacting the military community through the empowerment of education. Our Mission: To inspire and empower our community via education by providing upskilling, reskilling, and career-enhancing information and opportunities for Active Duty, Veterans, Military Spouses, Reservists, and the National Guard in order to better lives and strengthen minds.

Notes from the nonprofit

ACT NOW Education is proud to serve the military community and is committed to providing reliable free resources and opportunities to support their unique needs. We recognize the challenges faced by military personnel and their families and are dedicated to helping them thrive. Our organization is constantly seeking feedback from those we serve to ensure that our programs and services are meeting their needs and helping them achieve their goals. We believe that by working together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of those who have served and continue to serve our country.

Ruling year info

2022

Principal Officer

Jai Salters

Main address

10309 Globe Dr

Ellicott City, MD 21042 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

87-4345131

Subject area info

Educational management

Information and communications

Employment

Population served info

Military personnel

Veterans

NTEE code info

Employment Procurement Assistance and Job Training (J20)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

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

Tax forms

Show Forms 990

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Underemployment and unemployment with the Military community. THE CIVILIAN-MILITARY DIVIDE The civilian-military divide is a term used in veteran advocacy to talk about the gap in knowledge and understanding that exists between those who have served in the military and the general public. We generally see it manifested in veteran employment when trying to understand the value that military service can bring to non-military environments. Articulating experiences and achievements can be a challenge for veterans, because civilian hiring managers sometimes don’t recognize military job titles and acronyms, as well as their scope of responsibility and accomplishment during their military service. The probability of a hiring professional only recognizing a fraction of a veteran’s capabilities makes it more likely that they’ll be hired into a lower-paying job that’s below their skill level. The civilian-military divide is the network gap in action

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?

3 CERT COHORT

ACT NOW promotes economic opportunities by developing IT and cybersecurity opportunities for the U.S. Military community. Our “3 CERT” program provides a comprehensive approach to gaining the training and skills necessary to transition from military service and launch a civilian career in technology.

Program Outline
-8 weeks of instructor-led virtual training, with 6 cohorts of 25-30 students each.
-Opportunity to earn 3 industry-recognized certifications.
-1 year mentorship sessions from IT professionals.
-Professional Resume
-Tailor-made Suits
-Headshot
-3 mock job interviews
-Employment readiness workshop.
-Job placement assistance with access to a wide range of top employers.

Certification Program will get certification preparation and training, as well as exam vouchers to earn 3 of the follow certification:
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Project+
Certified CMMC Professional
Certified CMMC Assessor
Professional Scrum Master
PMI Project Management Professional
Service Now Developer

Population(s) Served

ACT NOW Education has partnered with Coursera to provide the Military Community with free access to 26 certifications, 500+ specialization and over 7000+ courses.

Population(s) Served

ACT NOW has partnered Splunk to offer Splunk training and certifications in efforts to train the workforce of tomorrow, equipping veterans and former service members with the Splunk skills to position you for the jobs of today.

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Military personnel
Economically disadvantaged people
Unemployed people
Veterans
Military personnel
Economically disadvantaged people
Unemployed people
Veterans
Military personnel
Economically disadvantaged people
Unemployed 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 Facebook followers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Military personnel, Veterans

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of participants attending course/session/workshop

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Military personnel, Veterans

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

200-500 average attend weekly orientation

Number of new grants received

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Military personnel, Veterans

Related Program

3 CERT COHORT

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of people trained

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Veterans, Military personnel

Related Program

ACT NOW Coursera

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

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.

The marketplace does not properly value experience and education" is precisely the issue that ACT NOW Education has been striving to resolve by leveraging various resources (education and professional certifications, networking, resume preparation, interview assistance...) to assist our military community in upskilling, reskilling, and pivoting into vital career roles.
Many people connected with our organization have received free certifications and training to help them prepare for life after the military. However, with 60,000 members, we are determining the most efficient approach to doing it at scale.

We feel that the greatest x-factor present is an inadequate understanding of accessible resources and their potential impact/influence on an individual. We want to be able to assist our community in changing their professional trajectory for the better, and we're trying our best to streamline the process.

ACT NOW Education's strategies for achieving its goals include:

1.Leveraging technology and social media to reach a wider audience and enhance outreach efforts.
2.Conducting comprehensive needs assessments to gather information on the needs and preferences of the military community.
3.Developing relationships with key stakeholders through regular meetings and networking events.
4.Developing partnerships with training providers to offer new certification and training programs.
5.Developing a comprehensive marketing plan that leverages social media platforms and builds relationships with key influencers and stakeholders.

In addition, ACT NOW Education will work to expand its reach and impact on the military community by increasing its member base to 100,000 within the next three years. The organization will also develop and implement new programs and services that meet the changing needs of the community, such as mental health support and financial literacy training. ACT NOW Education will actively seek new partnerships and collaborate with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate entities to provide additional resources and opportunities to its members.

ACT NOW Education will also expand its "3 CERT" program and offer additional certification and training programs by researching the needs of the military community and developing partnerships with training providers like Coursera and Splunk. Finally, the organization will improve its marketing and outreach efforts by developing a comprehensive marketing plan that leverages social media platforms and builds relationships with key influencers and stakeholders, including organizations like Coursera and Splunk.

ACT NOW Education has a number of capabilities that enable it to achieve its strategic goals:

1.Expertise: The organization has a team of experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about education and career development, as well as the unique needs of the military community.

2.Resources: ACT NOW Education has access to a variety of resources, including funding, technology, and training materials, which enable it to provide high-quality education and career development opportunities to its members.

3.Partnerships: The organization has established partnerships with a number of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate entities, which provide additional resources and opportunities to its members.

4.Flexibility: ACT NOW Education is a nimble and flexible organization that is able to adapt quickly to changing needs and priorities within the military community.

5.Technology: The organization leverages technology to reach a wider audience and enhance its outreach efforts, including social media platforms and online learning platforms like Coursera and Splunk.

6.Reputation: ACT NOW Education has a strong reputation within the military community for its commitment to education and career development, which helps to attract new members and partnerships.

These capabilities enable ACT NOW Education to effectively achieve its strategic goals and make a positive impact on the lives of its members within the military community.

ACT NOW Education has made significant progress towards achieving its mission of empowering the military community through education. The organization has organically grown a community of 60,000 members within the military community through the courses it offers. This community has enrolled over 28,000 members, with over 118,000 learning hours and 195,000 lessons taken.

In addition, ACT NOW Education has offered 200 master scholarships to its members, helping them to further their education and improve their career prospects. The organization has also assisted over 1,000 members in finding jobs, which is a testament to its commitment to empowering the military community and improving their lives.

Moving forward, ACT NOW Education's next steps will be to expand its reach and impact on the military community by increasing its member base to 100,000 within the next three years. The organization will also develop and implement new programs and services that meet the changing needs of the community, such as mental health support and financial literacy training.

ACT NOW Education will continue to leverage its partnerships with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate entities to provide additional resources and opportunities to its members. The organization will also expand its "3 CERT" program and offer additional certification and training programs in partnership with organizations like Coursera and Splunk.

Overall, ACT NOW Education has made significant progress towards achieving its mission of empowering the military community through education. The organization's next steps will enable it to expand its impact and reach even more members of the military community, providing them with the resources and opportunities needed to achieve their goals and improve their lives.

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, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

Act Now Education Organization Inc
Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Revenue vs. expenses:  breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info
NET GAIN/LOSS:    in 
Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Act Now Education Organization Inc

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Act Now Education Organization Inc

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: cloud_download Download Data

Operations

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

Documents
Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

Principal Officer

Jai Salters

Jai is a native New York, and enlisted in the Navy on September 11, 2002, as a Cryptologic Technician (Collection). Mr. Salters worked his way up through the ranks to Chief Petty Officer and was commissioned as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer. He has earned several degrees, including a master's in cybersecurity information assurance. He's provided educational seminars from the White House to overseas, helping over 60,000 families with educational training and resources. He is the founder of ACT NOW Education, which provides free comprehensive educational resources and opportunities to the military community and DE&I Tech.

Act Now Education Organization Inc

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation
Other
Related
Show data for fiscal year
Compensation data
Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.

Act Now Education Organization Inc

Board of directors
as of 06/09/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board of directors data
Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization
Board chair

Binal Patel

Mircosoft

Binal Patel

Microsoft

Yasmin George

Trendlabs

Mario Simon

Bank of America

KP Phillips

US Department of Homeland Security

Tyrone Hewitt

Zeiders

Nicole Dhanraj

Medical Technology Management Institute

Jai Salters

US Navy

Mona Contractor

NBA

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 ? Yes
  • 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? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/17/2023

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
Black/African American
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 03/17/2023

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 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 use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • 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.