Grantmakers for Education

Grantmakers for Education
Name	Grantmakers for Education
Formation	1960s
Type	nonprofit association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States, international partners
Membership	foundations, corporate philanthropies, individual funders

Grantmakers for Education is an association of philanthropic funders focused on improving K–12 education outcomes, advancing postsecondary education access, and promoting equitable policy reform in the United States. Founded by a coalition of regional and national philanthropies, the organization convenes members for knowledge exchange, professional development, and collaborative grantmaking strategies. It operates at the intersection of major philanthropic actors, education nonprofits, and public institutions.

History

The group emerged during a period when regional organizations such as the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Annenberg Foundation, Lilly Endowment, and private family foundations increased investments in school reform and higher education initiatives. Early influence drew on networks established by the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and policy-focused donors associated with the Brookings Institution and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Over decades, the association engaged with federal initiatives like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act discussions and state-level actors including the California Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency. Key moments included coordinated responses to national debates following the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, and partnerships during economic downturns alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and regional community foundations.

Mission and Activities

Grantmakers for Education's mission centers on strengthening philanthropic practice to improve student outcomes and promote equity, connecting funders such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Wallace Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and corporate donors like Walmart Foundation and JP Morgan Chase Foundation with practitioners. Core activities include convenings modeled after meetings held by the Aspen Institute and the EdTrust style policy forums, professional development similar to offerings from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and knowledge products comparable to reports published by the National Education Association and the American Institutes for Research. The association also provides tools for strategic grantmaking inspired by research from RAND Corporation, Education Commission of the States, and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises private foundations, community foundations, corporate philanthropic arms, and individual donors affiliated with institutions like The New Schools Venture Fund, Lumina Foundation, Annenberg Challenge, Spencer Foundation, and regional networks including the San Francisco Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust. Governance typically involves a board of directors drawn from leaders at organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Lilly Endowment, Ford Foundation, and university-affiliated funders from Stanford University and Teachers College, Columbia University. Committees reflect practice areas aligned with organizations like Educational Testing Service and SRI International, while advisory groups convene experts with ties to the U.S. Department of Education and state education agencies.

Programs and Initiatives

Programmatic work includes funder collaboratives on themes linked to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, accelerated learning efforts seen in partnerships with Relay Graduate School of Education and Teach For America, and equity-focused investments mirroring advocacy by Education Trust and Children's Defense Fund. Initiatives often support research collaborations with American Institutes for Research, implementation pilots with district partners such as the New York City Department of Education, and scaling strategies informed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant models. Professional learning opportunities echo convenings hosted by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National School Boards Association, while toolkits draw on frameworks from Learning Forward and National Center on Education and the Economy.

Impact and Evaluation

The association measures impact through metrics informed by studies from the National Bureau of Economic Research, RAND Corporation, Urban Institute, and program-evaluation frameworks utilized by Mathematica Policy Research and MDRC. Evaluations often assess influence on policy adoption comparable to analyses by the Education Trust and outcomes in districts similar to those tracked by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform. Impact narratives highlight collaborative grants that supported increased college enrollment and improved literacy outcomes in communities served by partners like Communities In Schools and regional initiatives led by the San Francisco Foundation or Chicago Community Trust. Independent assessments reference methodologies used by the What Works Clearinghouse and accountability practices informed by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Partnerships and Funding

Partnerships span national foundations such as the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Lumina Foundation; corporate funders including JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Walmart Foundation; and intermediary organizations like the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and NewSchools Venture Fund. Funding mechanisms include membership dues, fee-for-service learning events, grant-supported collaboratives, and underwriting from program partners similar to models used by The Rockefeller Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Strategic alliances engage research partners such as RAND Corporation and American Institutes for Research and implementation partners including district systems like the New York City Department of Education and nonprofit networks like Teach For America and Communities In Schools.

Category:Philanthropy