Your Business as a Mission Platform: The TeachAids Example

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🚧 What We’re Building: Quick Status Update

We’re still waiting on 501(c)(3) approval from the IRS.
The Service is currently processing applications submitted before May 8th — and ours went in June 2. That means we’re likely just a few weeks away.

No delays on our end though — we’re building like we already got it.

This week we’re showing you how an actual nonprofit built like a for-profit tech company — without giving up ownership, control, or mission.

Let’s dive into a real-world example you can use to shape your own nonprofit holdco.

🧠 Case Study Spotlight: TeachAids

• Founded: 2009 at Stanford

• Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

• What They Do: Develop and distribute free, culturally-customized health education software (HIV, concussions, etc.)

• Reach: 80+ countries

• Revenue Model: Grants, partnerships, earned distribution

• Business Model: High-impact, high-tech nonprofit without shareholders

🔗 Wikipedia Overview of TeachAids

💡 Why It Works — And What You Can Steal

1. They Solved a Real Problem—With a Nonprofit Shell
The original idea was to create engaging, culturally appropriate HIV education in places where stigma prevented honest discussions. Instead of creating a business that sold content to governments or clinics, they went nonprofit—which made partnering easier and distribution frictionless.

Takeaway: You don’t need to sell your product if your mission is to deliver knowledge. Distribution becomes your proof of impact.

2. Their Product Is the Program
TeachAids didn’t apply for grants and then create a program. Their product is the programming: educational software distributed for free in places that need it most. It’s downloaded, used in schools, and broadcast in media channels across the globe.

Takeaway: If you can package your know-how as education, content, training, or support—you have a program.
This could be:

• A video series

• A curriculum or tutorial

• Templates or guides

• Software that teaches or enables

All of this fits inside IRS education guidelines.

3. Their Structure Protects the Mission
By forming as a nonprofit, the team avoided VC or shareholder pressure. No one owns equity in TeachAids. No one’s waiting for an exit. The organization can grow as long as the mission grows.

Takeaway: If your business relies on long-term education, behavior change, or social outcomes—nonprofit structure protects that focus and can still support a paid team, partnerships, and scalable systems.

🧰 Your Actionable Next Steps (Even While Waiting)

A. Define YOUR “TeachAids” Equivalent
What does your business already know or teach that could become a public good?

• Can your consulting model become an educational program?

• Can your service workflows become a tutorial?

• Can your founder story become a curriculum?

B. Turn Product into Programming
Write down 2–3 ways your business knowledge could become:

• A how-to resource

• A live workshop

• A repeatable support framework

C. Draft Your Public Benefit Language
The IRS doesn’t require genius-level prose — just clarity.
Use this structure:

You’ll need that for your Form 1023-EZ anyway. Might as well get it right now.

📌 Coming Up in Issue #9

In the next issue, we’ll finally drop:

• Our Form 1023‑EZ narrative — the actual mission and structure we submitted

• A full breakdown of our bylaws — including how to retain founder control

• And the sneak peek of our Nonprofit Compliance Kit coming this fall

PLUS: Early screenshots of the board minutes, templates, and filings we’ll include inside the kit.

📣 Want More Examples Like TeachAids?

We're just getting started.

This build-along isn’t about theories—it’s about showing real, IRS-approved nonprofit businesses that hold knowledge, systems, and software without needing donations or exits.

✅ Quick Reminders:

• IRS is processing 1023-EZ apps submitted before May 8 — we’re right behind them

• If you’re new, Subscribe here

• Forward this to someone thinking about structuring smarter