Survey Finds Education Grantmakers Getting More Strategic in 2011

Philanthropies maintained consistent funding levels for education during 2011, on average, but were more strategic and deliberate with dollars, according to a new report on trends in education philanthropy.

The latest edition of the annual report was produced by Grantmakers in Education, a Portland, Ore.-based membership association of 280 public and private philanthropic organizations that fund education. The association assessed 2011 trends and changes in education funding based on survey responses from 184 members varying in size and type.

In 2010, there was a large jump in funding from the previous year, but 2011 funding levels remained fairly similar to those for 2010, the report says. Though philanthropic funding for education initiatives has grown in the past couple of years, funding levels still have not reached those from before the...