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ETHIOPIA EDUCATION INITIATIVES INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 815480515 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B20 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · ethiopiaed.org
revenue
$2.4M
expenses
$2.1M
net assets
$15.2M
employees
5
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENTED STUDENTS IN ETHIOPIA.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit organization founded in 2016 that provides high-quality secondary education to talented students in Ethiopia through its flagship residential school, Haile-Manas Academy, located in Debre Birhan. The school emphasizes academic excellence, community service, and leadership development, with a merit-based admissions process and financial aid for those in need. Graduates have gained admission to prestigious universities worldwide.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

HMA Service Learning
Community outreach program providing daily educational programming for local elementary students and robotics instruction for middle school students in Debre Birhan.
Haile-Manas Academy
Residential high school in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia, offering merit-based admissions and financial aid to high-achieving students from across the country, with a curriculum emphasizing design thinking and hands-on learning.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Conducting capacity-building training for Ethiopian education officials
      Hosted a three-week intensive training program for ten directors and deputy directors from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education on best practices in special boarding school management.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Delivering innovative academic programming at Haile-Manas Academy
      Implements classroom instruction focused on solving real-world problems through applied frameworks and principles, alongside structured sessions on emotional development, self-knowledge, and self-expression as part of student life at HMA.
  • Solar Energy Access in Underserved Communities 1 activity
    • Expanding STEM education at Hawassa Montessori Academy
      Installed solar panels and implemented robotics education programs at Hawassa Montessori Academy to support energy needs and enhance STEM learning opportunities.
  • College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
    • Operating Haile-Manas Academy (HMA), a boarding school in Ethiopia
      Operates Haile-Manas Academy, a residential boarding school in Ethiopia that provides high-quality academic instruction and emphasizes community, leadership, and service for talented students from across the country. The school has enrolled or graduated 265 students to date and achieved a 100% pass rate on Ethiopia’s Grade 12 National Exam, significantly above the national average.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Providing educational programming in Debre Birhan
      Provides daily educational programming for local elementary students and offers robotics instruction to middle school students in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Supporting student graduation cohorts
      Supported student cohorts through to graduation, including the 2024 graduating class at Haile-Manas Academy.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.39M
Contributions & grants$1.52M64%
Program service revenue$434K18%
Investment income$330K14%
Other revenue$102K
expenses
Total expenses$2.14M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$446K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$15.78M
Cash$6.71M
Investments$0
Liabilities$554K
Net assets$15.22M
Liquid reserves37.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -51.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ANDREA SPINNER HEAD OF SCHOOL 40 $150K
board members · 13
  • ALEESHA TAYLOR — Director
  • ANNE MELVIN — Director
  • BENJAMIN WILLIAMS — Director
  • CAROLINE BROWN — Director
  • ELIZABETH NEGA — Director
  • EZANA BOCRESION — Director
  • HELEN MESFIN — Director
  • JEAN E MANAS — Director
  • KELLEY MURPHY — Director
  • LIBEN HAILU — Director
  • MIMI ALEMAYEHOU — Director
  • REBECCA G HAILE — Director
  • SOSSINA HAILE — Director
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Government of the Amhara Region Partner — Collaborated with government officials, including the then governor, in establishing the school in Ethiopia.
  • Haile-Manas Academy Partner — Co-founded and supported by Ethiopia Education Initiatives, Inc., with shared leadership and ongoing involvement in school operations and culture.
  • Haile-Manas Academy Partner — Ethiopia Education Initiatives, Inc. supports Haile-Manas Academy as a model school for delivering world-class education in Ethiopia.
  • Haile-Manas Academy Partner — Flagship project and implementing institution for Ethiopia Education Initiatives' educational model.
  • Haile-Manas Academy Partner — Flagship project and model boarding school operated by Ethiopia Education Initiatives Inc.
  • Hawassa Montessori Academy Partner — Implements educational programs and infrastructure projects at Hawassa Montessori Academy in Ethiopia
  • Ministry of Education (Ethiopia) Government — Solicited input from EEI and sent educators to observe Haile-Manas Academy; hosted training for new school leaders on EEI's campus.
  • Nyala Gojo Partner — Hosts a related blog post on entrepreneurial mindset linked from the article.
  • Williams College Partner — Collaborates with Williams College on educational initiatives and events
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • HOLISTIC STUDENT-CENTERED PEDAGOGY
    methodology: student_centered_holistic_learning
    By using student-centered learning approaches such as problem-based learning, design thinking, and hands-on engagement, the organization fosters critical thinking, emotional development, and real-world problem solving, because active, personalized pedagogy deepens intellectual and personal growth more effectively than traditional instruction.
  • MERIT-BASED ADMISSIONS WITH NEED-BASED ACCESS
    methodology: merit_based_with_financial_aid
    By selecting students based on academic merit and providing need-based financial aid, the organization increases access to high-quality education for talented youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, because combining meritocracy with equity ensures both excellence and inclusion.
  • MODEL SCHOOL FOR SYSTEMIC POLICY INFLUENCE
    methodology: model_school_policy_influence
    By operating a high-performing model school, the organization generates evidence and expertise that can inform national education policy, because demonstrable success in practice creates credible leverage for broader systemic change.
  • NATIONAL DIVERSITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC INTEGRATION
    methodology: socioeconomic_integration
    By recruiting students nationally and supporting them with financial aid, the organization builds a diverse, inclusive learning community, because exposure to varied regional, cultural, and socioeconomic perspectives enriches the educational experience and strengthens social cohesion.
  • TRANSFORMATIVE RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
    methodology: residential_character_education
    By delivering a residential educational model that integrates academic rigor with character development, community service, and leadership training, the organization cultivates future leaders, because immersive, holistic environments produce deeper personal transformation and civic commitment than academics alone.