Teach4Good: Bridging Educational Gaps

Today, we had the privilege of interviewing Teach4Good, a high school-run tutoring organization committed to supporting low-income students in their community. Joining us are Leonard (Chief Executive Officer), Evan (Chief Marketing Officer), Matthew (Chief Financial Officer) and David (Assistant Chief Financial Officer).

Background

Leonard (CEO) explained the motivation behind Teach4Good: We noticed a significant number of students in Fort Lee needed affordable tutoring. With many high-end tutoring companies charging premium prices, we wanted to offer a more budget-friendly service at $15 per hour. Furthermore, we wanted to reinvest these earnings in projects to assist low-income students within the Bergen County area. 

Community Initiatives 

Since its inception, Teach4Good has raised over $7,000 thanks to the effort of its 15 dedicated tutors. These funds have supported various community endeavors, such as the YCFL Annual Color Run and School #4 PTA Carnival. 

Matthew (CFO): “This year’s Color Run was especially a blast. Our organization was able to contribute $600 towards the event, which raised a total of $18,000 towards cancer research. It was exciting to see the runners in colored powder coming to our interactive table to fill out the worksheets and earn prizes.”

Evan (CMO): “It’s amazing to see the difference a tutoring session can make. Not only were we able to provide generous funding for these local events, but we also made impactful connections to improve the scope of our community projects further.”

Recently, Teach4Good partnered with JerseyCare to launch a school supply drive, rallying the Fort Lee community to collect essential school supplies for low-income students across Bergen County.

Struggles

Teach4Good’s success did not come without challenges. David (Assistant CFO) mentioned: “As a small business, we struggled to make a name for ourselves within the local tutoring market. Competing against major companies like Kumon, it was hard to distinguish ourselves.”

Within its first year, the organization has tried various marketing methods, from posters to social media campaigns. Ultimately, Teach4Good maintained a steady client base through referral programs. 

Evan: I remember those Saturday afternoons, waking up at 7 am to hand out flyers until late afternoon. It could have been more tiresome and efficient. For every 100 flyers we set out, we would be lucky if we got 2 call-backs. 

Success Stories

Fortunately, Teach4Good found success by leveraging their networks. Leonard shared: We came up with the idea of a referral program at one of our meetings. We offered two free tutoring sessions to parents who referred friends and family to our services. This method was far more effective and required less time. 

By the end of that month, Teach4Good accumulated 5 new tutees and began recruiting more tutors to meet the demand. One student, Ryan Tan (11th Grade) shared his experience: “ I was fortunate enough to meet David. As I was adjusting to my Pre-Calculus class, he did a great job preparing me for the exams through rigorous preparation in both the materials and the mindset.” 

Currently, Teach4Good has over 15 tutees matched with their talented high school tutors. 

Advice

The story of Teach4Good offers valuable lessons for aspiring young entrepreneurs. 

Matthew mentions: “When starting a business, never compromise your principles for immediate growth or expansion. Set small, achievable goals and expand as you meet them. Many students set unrealistic expectations and stress about not meeting them.”

David adds: “Teamwork is crucial. Everyone has their vision of how the business should run. We took time to understand and hear everyone’s perspectives during meetings. It wasn’t easy but it was necessary to organize a clear direction for our organization.”

For high school entrepreneurs and startups, continuous marketing efforts and cash flow management are crucial. A strong marketing plan is necessary to promote your brand for growth while proper financial management ensures sustainability. Using finance software like Notion is definitely a plus to monitor the company’s cash flow. Finally, there’s always a bit of luck needed to run a successful business. The phrase ‘Luck is when opportunity meets readiness’ holds. By being prepared, businesses can capitalize on unexpected opportunities at any moment.