How to Fund Your Microschool: 10 Practical Income Ideas

As a part of our how to fund a microschool series, I am talking all things money! One of the most common questions I get asked as the founder of Kind Academy is, “How do you make money in a microschool?” And honestly, it’s an important question. Without sustainable, thriving schools, we can’t change the face of education, which is the heart of everything we do.

1. Tuition Fees

The most straightforward way to make money is through tuition. Your tuition model can vary depending on your audience:

Flat tuition: A fixed yearly or monthly rate.
Sliding scale: Tuition based on family income, making your school accessible to diverse families.
Membership model: A subscription-style fee that breaks payments into smaller, more frequent installments.

2. Grants and ESA's

Grants are an excellent way to support your microschool, especially if you operate as a nonprofit. Organizations like VELA Education Fund and Stand Together offer grants to support innovative educational models. For more information on getting funding as a nonprofit, click here. For information on how to get investors as a microschool, click here.

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are state-administered funds that allow parents to customize their child's education by directing public education dollars toward certain expenses, such as private school tuition, homeschooling materials, and tutoring.

Microschools can utilize ESAs to attract families seeking personalized education options, expanding their enrollment and resources.

Resource: Kidvestors - Education Savings Accounts

3. After-School Programs and Tutoring

Expand your offerings with after-school programs. Parents often look for safe, engaging places for their children to spend time after school. Programs can include:

Art and music classes.
STEM workshops.
Homework help or tutoring.

4. Summer Camps

Running summer camps can provide a significant income boost during the off-season. Focus on themes that align with your school’s mission, such as:

Nature-based learning.
Coding and technology.
Creative arts and storytelling.

Resource: Guide to Starting a Summer Camp

5. Offer Online Classes

Expand your reach by offering online courses. Virtual classes let you serve students beyond your local community and create scalable revenue streams. You can teach subjects like coding, writing, or even mindfulness. We have an entire microschool where we can reach learners from all over the world on Outschool. We love how easy the platform is to navigate and add to our revenue streams.

Resource: Outschool

6. Partner with Local Businesses

Collaborate with local businesses to offer co-branded programs or events. For example:

A local yoga studio could host family yoga classes.
A farm could partner on a hands-on agriculture program.
These partnerships can generate income while also expanding your network.

7. Host Events and Workshops

Community events are another way to engage families and bring in revenue. Some ideas include:

Parent education nights on topics like homeschooling.
Workshops for students on creative writing or entrepreneurship.
Fundraising events like fun runs or auctions.

8. Sell Educational Products

Create and sell products that align with your school’s mission. Examples include:

Curriculum guides for homeschoolers.
Digital resources, like lesson plans or activity kits.
Branded school merchandise.

Resource: Check out our shop to see how we monetized some of our curriculum. We have also sold on Teachers Pay Teachers and Etsy.

9. Corporate Sponsorships

Many businesses are interested in supporting education initiatives. You can partner with corporations for:

Sponsorship of events or scholarships.
Funding for specific programs, like STEM or arts education.

Resource: National Corporate Funding Database

10. Membership or Subscription Models

Consider creating a membership model for your school community. This could include:

Access to exclusive content or workshops.
Monthly “learning boxes” for families with activities and resources.
Ongoing professional development for parents and teachers.

Resource: Patreon for subscription-based memberships. We also love how Moonrise does its membership program!

To support microschool founders like you, we created Kind Con: Money Mindset and Microschools, our annual deep-dive event every July. It’s where we bring together our cohort of Kind School Founders to strategize, plan, and build long-term sustainable models.

Why Sustainability Matters

Microschools like ours at Kind Academy are at the forefront of changing education. But without financial sustainability, even the best ideas can’t last. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to build revenue streams that align with your mission while keeping your school alive and thriving.

For more tips and resources, feel free to connect with us at Kind Academy. Together, we can build schools that last and make a real impact.