Foundations/Philanthropy

Learn more about the impact of foundations and philanthropy in schools
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Education Funding Opinion Foundations Have Given Money to Schools for a Long Time. What's Actually Working?
Investments in one key area seem to be making a difference when it comes to improving schools.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 4, 2023
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14 min read
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Education Funding Opinion Education Funders Need to Ditch the Savior Complex
Trust in the input from teachers, staff, community, and students will go a long way toward making initiatives successful.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 21, 2023
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12 min read
Actor Matthew McConaughey holds an image of Alithia Ramirez, 10, who was killed in the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, as he speaks during a press briefing at the White House on June 7, 2022, in Washington.
Actor Matthew McConaughey holds an image of Alithia Ramirez, 10, who was killed in the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, as he speaks during a press briefing on June 7, 2022, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
School Climate & Safety How Matthew McConaughey Will Make It Easier for Schools to Get Safety Grants
The actor aims to cut the red tape for schools that could benefit from the federal grants, but lack the capacity to apply.
Evie Blad, July 20, 2023
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4 min read
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Education Funding Opinion Foundations Invest in Public Education. Teachers Would Like the Money Spent These Ways
Philanthropies invest millions on trying to improve student achievement. Educators don't always agree on what they're targeting.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 19, 2023
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14 min read
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School & District Management Supports in Every Title I School? A Community Schools Group Receives Record $165M
The donation from the Ballmer Group, funded by Connie and Steve Ballmer, the former Microsoft CEO, is the largest in Communities In Schools’ history.
Denisa R. Superville, February 14, 2023
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6 min read
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Student Well-Being 4 Ways to Leverage Education Foundations to Support School-Based Mental Health
Education foundations don’t need big budgets to help school districts with rising mental health challenges.
Denisa R. Superville, January 31, 2023
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4 min read
Image of arrows encircling a student from two sides.
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Student Well-Being School Foundations Shift Their Focus to Students' Mental Health as Need Grows
School district foundations generally help plug funding gaps. Some districts are tapping them to shore up mental health supports.
Denisa R. Superville, January 23, 2023
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11 min read
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Education Funding Big Money for Schools, No Strings Attached: Will MacKenzie Scott Change Education Philanthropy?
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave millions of dollars to dozens of districts and charter schools.
Evie Blad, December 5, 2022
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8 min read
Illustration of a large dollar bill with an opening at the end where a man is passing big, heavy coins to various people.
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Mathematics How Would Teachers Spend the Gates Foundation $1.1 Billion Investment in Math?
Professional development that actually sticks, smaller classes, and better instructional materials are on educators' wish lists.
Alyson Klein, October 28, 2022
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4 min read
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Mathematics Why the Gates Foundation Is Investing $1.1 Billion in Math Education
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is investing big in math, including teacher training and high quality instructional materials.
Alyson Klein, October 19, 2022
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8 min read
First grade teacher Ashley Sides helps Emily Hernandez with a worksheet during a tutoring class after school at Roy Clark Elementary school in Tulsa, Okla. on Oct. 21, 2021.
First grade teacher Ashley Sides helps Emily Hernandez with a worksheet during a tutoring class after school at Roy Clark Elementary school in Tulsa, Okla.
Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World via AP
Student Achievement Millions Toward Tutoring: Funders Bank on the Recovery Strategy Despite Big Challenges
A $100 million philanthropic initiative aims to help districts staff and monitor tutoring programs and learn what features are most promising.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 5, 2022
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5 min read
Image of a girl selecting a book in the library.
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Reading & Literacy PEN America Receives $500,000 to Fight Book Bans
The donation from publishing CEO Markus Dohle aims to help ramp up anti-book ban efforts.
Eesha Pendharkar, March 11, 2022
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2 min read
Then-MacKenzie Bezos arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 4, 2018. MacKenzie Scott is one of the 50 Americans who gave the most to charity in 2020, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual rankings.
Then-MacKenzie Bezos arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 2018. Her organization has donated more than $8.5 billion to charities since 2020 and its latest gift went to a national nonprofit that provides wraparound services to students in need.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Student Well-Being Nonprofit Serving Schools in Need Gets Surprise $133.5 Million Gift From MacKenzie Scott
The donation puts Communities in Schools on a path to expand wraparound health and social services to more Title I schools nationwide.
Denisa R. Superville, February 3, 2022
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4 min read
New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, second from left, and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, far left, meeting with senior students at the Bedford Academy High School in New York on Dec. 3, 2013. Bloomberg campaigned on gaining control of the nation's largest public school system. left his mark by championing charter schools, expanding school choice, giving schools letter grades, and replacing scores of struggling institutions with clusters of small schools.
Then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, second from left, and former Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, far left, meet with senior students at Bedford Academy High School in New York in 2013.
Bebeto Matthews/AP
School Choice & Charters Bloomberg Launches $750 Million Fund to Grow Charter Schools Amid 'Broken' K-12 System
Former New York City mayor and one-time presidential hopeful Michael R. Bloomberg aims to add 150,000 charter school seats over five years.
Andrew Ujifusa, December 1, 2021
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5 min read
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