Company and Competitor Profile: United to Learn
Overview
United to Learn (U2L) is a leading education nonprofit organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It aims to transform community engagement with public elementary schools in the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) through enhanced educational outcomes. Since its inception over a decade ago, U2L has impacted approximately 65,000 students across 130 schools, focusing primarily on improving literacy rates.
Mission and Vision
The mission of United to Learn is to accelerate student achievement by bridging opportunity gaps with a community-centric approach. U2L envisions fostering leadership development and enriching educational experiences through partnerships, focusing on literacy, social and emotional learning, campus improvement, and educator wellness.
Impact and Demographics
U2L supports and influences over 52,000 students across 103 schools. These students include:
- 88% economically disadvantaged
- 95% students of color (71% Hispanic and 20% Black)
- 52% emergent bilingual learners
Improvements in literacy rates are significant, with doubled literacy rates since 2017 and consistently increased 3rd-grade reading achievements according to STAAR scores.
Organizational Achievements
U2L has been awarded a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for its outstanding use of funds and transparency. Positive outcomes include:
- 95% positive feedback from educators
- 21% increase in teacher efficacy
- 29% improvement in positive classroom strategies
These achievements underscore U2L's successful impact on the educational community it serves.
Leadership and Team
U2L is led by Abigail Williams, Founder and CEO, whose vision transitioned from her prior role at Goldman Sachs to impactful community engagement through U2L. The leadership team includes:
- Amee Joshi, Chief Operations Officer
- Emily Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer
- Christine Lipschitz and Sheryl Collins, Chief Programs Officers
- Michael Riemer and Sarah Burr, Directors of Community Activation
- Christina McSwain, Director of Corporate Relations
- Marisol Rodriguez, Director of Literacy
The organization employs approximately 55 staff members, reflecting a 22% workforce growth over the past year, indicative of its expanded programmatic focus and outreach.
Community and Partnerships
United to Learn collaborates with Dallas ISD and partners with various foundations, including The Harold Simmons Foundation and The Addy Foundation. These strategic partnerships enhance community impact and help drive the organization's mission.
Recent Initiatives
A primary focus of U2L's current efforts is an ambitious campaign to raise $24 million to support educational programs and interventions aimed at improving outcomes for Dallas ISD elementary students.
Competitor Landscape
United to Learn identifies several competitors in the nonprofit educational sector, each addressing diverse societal needs:
1. Housing Authority of the City of Beaumont
- Revenue: $3.5 million
- Employees: 50
2. Robotics Education and Competition Foundation
- Revenue: $15 million
- Employees: 95
3. San Antonio Food Bank
- Revenue: $15 million
- Employees: 268
4. Cornerstone Assistance Network
- Revenue: $3.5 million
- Employees: 66
5. Bill Glass Behind the Walls
- Revenue: $3.5 million
- Employees: 48
Competitor Insights
- Housing Authority of Beaumont and Bill Glass Behind the Walls operate with comparable resources to U2L.
- Robotics Education and Competition Foundation and San Antonio Food Bank exhibit larger scale operations, offering insights into potential scalability strategies for U2L.
Through strategic partnerships and impactful community facilitation, United to Learn continues to lead as an educational service provider, advancing equity in the Dallas education system.
