About
Pencils of Promise (PoP) is a New York City-based education nonprofit that builds schools and creates programs and global communities around the common goal of education for all. Working in rural communities in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos, PoP builds safe learning environments, trains and supports teachers, and delivers water, sanitation, and hygiene programs so students can reach their full potential.
Mission
Pencils of Promise believes every child should have access to quality education. The organization describes its work as building schools from the inside out: safe and healthy learning environments, full of well-trained and supported teachers, where students can thrive. It is dedicated to improving student literacy around the globe through school builds and high-quality Teacher Support and WASH programming.
What they do
- School Builds: constructing safe school structures as the first step to providing students with a quality learning environment, with communities contributing up to 20 percent of infrastructure project costs through labor and materials.
- Teacher Support: improving teacher effectiveness through methods including Digital Learning and Social Emotional Learning, creating child-centered classrooms aligned with each country's national curriculum.
- WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene): building bathrooms, distributing water filters, and educating communities on healthy behaviors to keep kids healthy and in school.
PoP states that 100 percent of online donations go to its programs, with operational costs covered by private donors, events, and corporate sponsors. It monitors and evaluates every project through dedicated Learning and Evaluation teams, and all of its country directors are locally hired.
History
Pencils of Promise was founded in October 2008 by Adam Braun, inspired by a boy on the streets of India who, asked what he wanted most in the world, answered: a pencil. Braun spent years traveling through more than 50 countries handing out pencils and talking with local communities about their educational needs, then started the organization with a 25 dollar deposit, built on principles of local leadership, community participation, and long-term sustainability.
Scale and impact
The organization reports it has built more than 550 schools to date across Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos.
Financials
Pencils of Promise Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 26-3618722). According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for fiscal year 2024 it reported total revenue of 2,807,917 dollars (almost entirely from contributions) and total expenses of 3,945,658 dollars. Annual reports, audited financial statements, and IRS Form 990s dating back to 2008 are published on its website.
Governance
Pencils of Promise is led by Chief Executive Officer Leslie Engle, with founder Adam Braun listed among its people. Its board includes chair Emily Bonfiglio (Principal, Red Lion Fund) and Gary Vaynerchuk (Co-Founder, VaynerMedia).