15 years with Edify - a timeline

It all began in 2009, when Chris Crane and Tiger Dawson co-founded EduLeap.

In 2010, things took off as the team officially changed its name from EduLeap to Edify. Operations began in the Dominican Republic and Ghana, with the first loan issued in June in the Dominican Republic.

In 2011, operations began in Rwanda, and a school partnering with us in Ghana installed its first computer lab. In addition, we began a Christian Transformation training partnership with Aprendi/AMO and held the first Family Experience in the Dominican Republic.

In 2012, we hired our first three international staff members, bringing the global staff total to 16. Cumulatively in our first three years of operations, 593 unique partner schools received loans, and 2,598 teachers were trained.

2013 brought expansion in Africa to Burkina Faso and Liberia. We also began operating in Peru. Additionally, the first University of San Diego leadership training was held in Ghana.

In 2014, we began an education technology partnership with SMILE (Stanford Mobile Inquiry-Based Learning Environment), developed by Dr. Paul Kim. This year, Edify’s cumulative impact reached 300,798 students.

Operations began in Guatemala and Ethiopia in 2015, and the first Christian School Owners Fellowship was launched in Ethiopia.

In 2016, operations began in Northeast India, the first country outside Africa and Latin America. We also held the first-ever Ethiopia Family Experience and the first annual Edify Education Technology Conference in Ghana.

2017 brought organizational shifts, as Chris Crane moved from CEO to Executive Chairman of the Board, and Tiger stepped into the CEO role from President. We also began operations in Sierra Leone and hosted our first-ever couples trip to Guatemala.

2018 surpassed expectations, as we exceeded our 2020 goal of impacting 1 million students through Christ-centered education! We also grew to 68 staff (21 US, 47 in-country).

In 2019, we expanded into Uganda, our eleventh country of operation. We also held the first Rwanda Family Experience and celebrated the first 10 years of operations.

2020 took a toll on the world, yet God’s work through Edify persisted. We successfully maintained support for its 4,404 partner schools, designed and implemented the Edify COVID-19 Recovery Plan, and expanded our reach virtually.

2021 brought new hope and operations in Panama. We also grew from 4,404 to over 9,200 partner schools cumulatively as we came alongside school proprietors regaining strength from the effects of COVID-19.

In 2022 alone, Edify’s operations saw an 87 percent increase in the number of students impacted, from 2.4 to 4.5 million, and we also expanded operations to El Salvador.

Most recently, in 2023, Bolivia and Ecuador joined, increasing the total number of countries of operation to 14!

2024 marks a milestone in the first 15 years of Edify, launching the first-ever Mission True Committee led by Makonen Getu, VP of Mission True, with the heart of remaining rooted in the vision and values Edify was built on. We also committed to a year of discernment, allowing God to lead the way in the next steps of organizational growth.

Although only halfway through, we look forward expectantly to what God will do in the second half. We carry praise and gratitude in our hearts for God’s faithfulness and favor in the last 15 years, and we are excited to see all He will continue to accomplish through Edify in the many years ahead.