Center for Black Educator Development
To ensure there will be equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators who both reflect the cultural background and share the common socio-political interests of the students they serve.
Center for Black Educator Development at a glance
In short: Center for Black Educator Development gave $846K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $94K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $845,505
- +65.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $93,945
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $33,289,058
- +40.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Center for Black Educator Development
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Center for Black Educator Development
Black Teacher Pipeline Grant
Center for Black Educator Development
Amount
$500,000 (total for cohort)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Diverse Teacher Pipeline Grants
Center for Black Educator Development
Amount
~$500,000 total pool/yr across ~8 organizations (award amounts vary)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Center for Black Educator Development funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Negro College Fund Inc-UNCF ($346K). Together the top 9 received $846K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 17 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2023) to $846K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $846K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Negro College Fund Inc-UNCF Washington, DC | Sponsorship | $345,505 |
| Citytutor DC Washington, DC | Spring Point Sponsorship | $80,000 |
| Man up Teacher Fellowship Memphis, TN | Spring Point Sponsorship | $80,000 |
| Project Sankofa Los Angeles, CA | Spring Point Sponsorship | $80,000 |
| Watts of Power Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Spring Point Sponsorship | $80,000 |
| Teachplus-Pa Philadelphia, PA | Spring Point Sponsorship | $75,000 |
| Breakthrough Collaborative San Francisco, CA | Spring Point Sponsorship | $50,000 |
| Empowered Washington, DC | Spring Point Sponsorship | $46,500 |
| Teachers Supporting Teachers Everywhere Inc Detroit, MI | Spring Point Sponsorship | $8,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,289,058 | $17,325,663 | $8,665,153 | $845,505 | 9 | $909,224 |
| 2024 | $23,700,474 | $12,848,207 | $9,099,498 | $510,000 | 6 | $477,432 |
| 2023 | $19,460,397 | $10,098,582 | $6,540,151 | $21,713 | 2 | $145,550 |
| 2022 | $15,967,141 | $15,885,668 | $3,901,367 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $576,593 | $2,351,434 | $2,096,687 | — | — | — |
About Center for Black Educator Development
Based on IRS filings
Center for Black Educator Development is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $33.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $846K. Net investment income was $909K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Center for Black Educator Development is led by Sharif El Mekki, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 3 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sharif El Mekki
Executive Director
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2022
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$189K (2021) → $215K (2025)
Winston Cox
Chairman
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Reynolds-Whitaker
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Vanessa Renee
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$149K (2025)
Heather Harding
Member
Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dorinda Andrew Carter
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Stovall-Leonard
Chief Finance & Administrator Officer-Jul
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mahalia Hines
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Orpheus Williams
Chief Program Officer From Jan
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Nicole Duckett (2023–2024) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Dr Hines (2024) — Member
- Former: Trevor Brown (2024) — Member
- Former: Jonah Edleman (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Ashley Griffin (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Christina Grant (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Darien Headen (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Hilary Beard (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Jean Desravines (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jonah Edelman (2021–2022) — Chair
- Former: Lee Whack (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Robert Parker (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Russell Washington (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Tremaine Johnson (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Valerie Adams-Bass (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: William Hayes (2021–2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Erin Trent Johnson (2022) — Advisory Board
- Former: Erin Trent (2021) — Member & Advisory Board
- Former: Kelli N Seaton (2021) — Chief Learning Officer
- Former: Shayna Terrell (2021) — Chief Learning Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $215K, to Sharif El Mekki (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Black Educator Development
How much does Center for Black Educator Development give each year?
Center for Black Educator Development gave $846K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $510K across 6 grants.
What is Center for Black Educator Development's typical grant size?
Center for Black Educator Development's median grant in 2025 was $80,000, and its average grant was $93,945, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Black Educator Development give grants?
Center for Black Educator Development gives mostly in District of Columbia: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (25%) and Tennessee (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Center for Black Educator Development give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Center for Black Educator Development's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Spring Point Sponsorship" (8 grants).
Who are Center for Black Educator Development's largest grantees?
Center for Black Educator Development's largest 2025 grantees include United Negro College Fund Inc-UNCF ($345,505), Citytutor DC ($80,000) and Man up Teacher Fellowship ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Black Educator Development?
Center for Black Educator Development reported $33.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.3M.
What is Center for Black Educator Development?
Center for Black Educator Development is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. It holds $33.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Center for Black Educator Development's EIN?
Center for Black Educator Development's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1814119. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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