Propel Education
Propel Education is a public charity based in Birmingham, Alabama. It operates under the name Ed Farm and is part of an organization that also includes Propel Center. Its work supports digital education and workforce readiness for students, educators, adult learners, and HBCU students.
Propel Education at a glance
- Total assets
- $26,412,888
- -6.9% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $8,533,384
- -25.1% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $253,906
- -46.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $12,948,086
- -12.6% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Propel Education
- Contact
Mailing address: 1914 4Th Avenue North Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 547-1800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Propel Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Propel Education is based in Birmingham, Alabama. Ed Farm says it works across the Southeast and beyond, and describes partnerships with schools, industries, municipalities, and communities. Its reported 2023 grants included recipients in Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Propel Education gives
- Giving grew 1349% from 2020 to 2023. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2020) to $3.0M (2021). In 2023 it made 5 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Cheyney Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Virginia State University Foundation Petersburg, VA | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Harris-Stowe Foundation Inc St. Louis, MO | Program Support | $200,000 |
| The Morehouse School of Medicine Inc Atlanta, GA | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Inc Salisbury, MD | Program Support | $200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Propel Education?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,412,888 | $8,533,384 | $12,948,086 | — | — | $253,906 |
| 2024 | $28,375,688 | $11,398,307 | $14,820,452 | — | — | $473,753 |
| 2023 | $32,011,290 | $12,655,421 | $17,868,201 | $1,000,000 | 5 | $119,159 |
| 2022 | $32,212,884 | $731,270 | $8,815,698 | — | — | $9,647 |
| 2021 | $41,135,810 | $43,965,281 | $11,678,574 | $3,000,000 | 15 | $14,778 |
| 2020 | $4,996,826 | $6,199,770 | $2,166,571 | $69,000 | 2 | $418 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Propel Education’s stated mission includes equipping educators in schools and communities with tools and strategies for active learning, and providing HBCU students with resources to help transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. Its filing describes services for K–12 educators and students, college students and staff, unemployed or underemployed adults, and education technology innovators and entrepreneurs.
Programs described by Propel Education include professional learning for teachers; challenge-based learning for middle and high school students; technology-focused learning spaces; community digital-skills programs; and free courses for adult learners covering digital skills, app coding, employability skills, and post-secondary credentials. Propel Center provides shared services and digital learning tools for HBCUs and connects HBCU students with industry partners.
In 2023, Propel Education reported grants to five organizations. Among the named recipients, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore describes its mission as inspiring community philanthropy and connecting people with causes; the Virginia State University Foundation says it supports the university by managing and distributing contributions for its growth; and Morehouse School of Medicine describes its work as advancing health equity through education, research, and service, with emphasis on people of color and underserved populations.
Grantmaking
Propel Education reported $1,000,000 in grants across five grants in 2023. The three named grants in the available information were $200,000 each: to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, the Virginia State University Foundation, and Morehouse School of Medicine. The reported total divided by the grant count is an average of $200,000 per grant; amounts for the other two grants are not provided. The organization reported no grants in 2024 or 2025.
Separately, Ed Farm’s website describes the Transform:ED Communities Challenge Grant, through which selected communities may receive a tailored mix of programs and support, potentially including technology, space-design and technical assistance, community engagement, and program activation. The website invites communities and organizations to apply, but does not state a deadline or describe application materials or restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Herring as President of Propel Center; Camesha Whittaker as Chief Innovation & Design Officer; Waymond Jackson as President of Ed Farm; Carl Moore as Senior Director, Academic Partner; Michael Johnson as Chief of Staff; Inga Willis as Vice President, Community & External Affairs; Morgan Tyler as Vice President, Talent, Culture & Operations; Taylor Smith as Senior Swift Developer; Sarah Jones as Head of Learning Product; and Beth Sanders as Vice President, Learning, PE Ventures.
Ed Farm’s team page lists Myla Calhoun as CEO and President of Propel Education. It lists Anthony Oni as chair of Propel Education’s board.
Propel Education is led by Waymond Jackson, President & Executive Director Farm since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 15 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Waymond Jackson
President & Executive Director Farm
CEO → President, 2022
President → President & Executive Director Farm, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $193K (2025)
Lisa Herring
President & Propel Center
President & Propel Operations → President & Propel Center, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$92K (2024) → $319K (2025)
Anthony Oni
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl Moore
Senior Director & Academic Partner
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$180K (2025)
Mark Wright
Director & Digital Learning
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$127K (2025)
Myla Calhoun
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hudson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lamell McMorris
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nichole Francis-Reynolds
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Sanders
Vice President, Learning & Pe Ventures
Vice President of Learning → Vice President, Learning & Pe Ventures, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$105K (2021) → $129K (2025)
Camesha Whittaker
Chief Innovation & Design Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$175K (2024) → $203K (2025)
Inga Willis
Vice President, Community & External Affai
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$170K (2024) → $159K (2025)
Kenya Browning
Controller & Vice President of Finance
Vice President & Finance → Controller & Vice President of Finance, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$46K (2024) → $38K (2025)
Candyce Monroe
Head of Learning Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Dione Simon
Chief Impact & Programs Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Glen Spencer
Chief Development Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$117K (2025)
Michael Johnson
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$167K (2025)
Morgan Tyler
Vice President, Talent, Culture & Operati
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$133K (2025)
Sarah Jones
Head of Learning Product
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$121K (2025)
Taylor Smith
Senior Swift Developer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Jay Brandrup
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Cortney Harris (2023–2024) — Senior Vice President, Impact & Programs
- Former: Ardis Blanchard (2024) — Senior Director & Develop Communications
- Former: Christopher Warren (2024) — Senior Director & Work Based Learning
- Former: Sederia Bond (2024) — Vice President, Talent & Culture
- Former: Eugene Wade (2021–2023) — CEO
- Former: Juanita Reynolds (2021–2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Lisa Doyle (2021–2023) — Vice President of Finance
- Former: Charles Gibbs (2023) — President of Hbcu Consortium
- Former: Hae-Sin Kim Thomas (2023) — President of Pathways
- Former: Julie Sills Mollock (2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Lige Shao (2023) — Vice President of Growth
- Former: Sherrie Deans (2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Nichole Francis Reynolds (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Bing Edwards (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Bobby Watson (2021) — Former Director of Operations
- Former: Julie Sills-Molock (2021) — Vice President of Development
- Former: April Benetollo (2020) — Vice Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $319K, to Lisa Herring (President, Propel Center). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Propel Education
How large is Propel Education?
Propel Education reported $26.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.5M.
What does Propel Education fund?
Propel Education’s stated mission includes equipping educators in schools and communities with tools and strategies for active learning, and providing HBCU students with resources to help transform the nation’s talent pipeline and workforce. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Propel Education?
Propel Education has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Propel Education make grants?
Propel Education is based in Birmingham, Alabama. Ed Farm says it works across the Southeast and beyond, and describes partnerships with schools, industries, municipalities, and communities. Its reported 2023 grants included recipients in Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia.
What is Propel Education's EIN?
Propel Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4045034. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Propel Education funds
Employment Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Propel Education's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Tom Joyner Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The Tom Joyner Foundation supports scholarships and educational programs at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), with grants paid to colleges for student scholarships. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,048 to $56,952, with a median of $20,000; funding went to HBCUs across the United States, with the largest shares in North Carolina and Washington, D.C. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
17
Total Given
$377K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Strada Education Foundation Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Strada Education Foundation funds U.S. nonprofits, postsecondary institutions, and workforce educators working to connect education with opportunity, including through affordability, career coaching, work-based learning, and employer partnerships. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,500 to $1.3 million, with a median of about $110,000; its work is national. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
182
Total Given
$27.3M
The Simpson Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The Simpson Foundation funds educational scholarships, with awards restricted to residents of Wilcox County, Alabama; recent grants have gone mostly to Alabama colleges and universities. In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $274,400, ranging from $1,800 to $52,600, with a median of $7,200. It accepts student applications online, with a hardcopy transcript mailed to the foundation; the 2024 filing says applications are accepted approximately mid-January through March 1.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
23
Total Given
$274K
Alabama Power Foundation Inc
Birmingham, AL
The Alabama Power Foundation funds Alabama nonprofits, schools, and community initiatives in education, civic and community development, arts and culture, health and human services, and environmental stewardship. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $2,500. It provides an online application for grants; unsolicited requests are not specifically addressed.
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
1,240
Total Given
$16.2M
United Negro College Fund Inc
Washington, DC
UNCF funds scholarships, student support, and capacity-building for HBCUs and other educational and scholarship organizations, with reported grants concentrated in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas and scholarship programs serving students nationwide. Its 2025 itemized grants ranged from about $835,000 to $3.84 million, with a median of about $1.2 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$892.4M
Grants
40
Total Given
$59.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Alabama
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Propel Education's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Propel Education down — hundreds of funders to go?