Schools, Tools, and People: How a Venture Philanthropy Fund Works on K-12
The NewSchools Venture Fund is a player in the charter school movement, but its most ambitious goals involve revolutionizing how students learn. We take a peek inside... Read more.
Betting on a New Model for Schools: Inside Arnold’s K-12 Grantmaking
As part of an ambitious quest to achieve systems change in U.S. society, including in education, LJAF is giving heavily to push a "portfolio model" of school governance.... Read more.
So Much Potential, So Few Grants: The Logic of Investing More in Gifted Students
While the very term suggests gifted students already have a head start, many are never challenged and fall through the cracks, especially if they're poor.  Where... Read more.
A Long Distance Runner in the Endless Quest for Good Teachers Who’ll Stick Around
While funding for efforts to recruit and retain talented K-12 teachers has grown exponentially in recent years, Carnegie has been working this problem forever. Where... Read more.
Light Years Ahead: How George Lucas Has Been a Pioneer in K-12 Philanthropy
Lucas's foundation has now been going for 25 years. Along the way, an interesting thing has happened: a growing number of other K-12 funders have gotten on the same... Read more.
Can New School Models Offer a Big Boost to K-12 Outcomes? These Funders Think So
With more funders excited about reinventing how schools operate, we look at an effort backed by heavy hitters that's seeking to test ideas and accelerate change... Read more.
These Funders Want Kids to Play Hard, Too
A small but growing group of funders believes that play is an overlooked area of education, and that it's critical to helping kids learn social and emotional skills.... Read more.
Who’s Helping the Formerly Incarcerated Lead the Fight for Criminal Justice Reform?
There's a growing recognition that more grant dollars should be going to groups that are run by the same people they speak for. JustLeadershipUSA certainly fits... Read more.
Inequity Goes to Court: Meet the Funders Behind Recent School Finance Lawsuits
Over many years, funders have backed litigation to achieve greater equity in school finance. Is this strategy in Connecticut and elsewhere working? We take a look.... Read more.
Deep Pockets, New High Schools: What’s Laurene Powell Jobs Up To?
Critics have long complained about cookie cutter high schools that fail to engage restless young people on the cusp of adulthood. A billionaire is giving big to... Read more.
Who is Funding the Backlash against John Oliver’s Charter School Critique?
With charters still only educating 5 percent of K-12 students after 25 years of effort, and some donors turning to other ideas, it's no wonder comedian Oliver touched... Read more.
Grants Are Flowing Big-Time to Tackle a Jobs Mismatch Leaving Millions Behind
A range of funders and other stakeholders are ramping up efforts to close the mismatch between jobs and skills. It's a promising front in the fight for equity, and... Read more.
What’s Up With Impact Investing and Higher Education?
As impact investing spreads to new areas of education, we got to wondering about who's backing what in higher ed. So far, it's a sparse field. Lumina is one foundation... Read more.
The “Big Bet” of a Funder That Hasn’t Forgotten Traditional Public Schools
These days, it can be easy to wonder if anyone making grants still cares about the district schools that most students actually attend. We look at a funder doubling... Read more.
Is Impact Investing About to Turbo-Charge the Charter School Movement?
Some charter advocates, frustrated by the slow pace of building new schools, see impact investing as the key to the rapid expansion of charters nation-wide.... Read more.
A Building Boom for Charter Schools Is Coming. Guess Who’s Footing the Bill?
One of the hardest parts of a creating a charter school is finding the physical space. The Walton Family Foundation is zeroing on this brick-and-mortar challenge... Read more.
Why Is Oakland the Latest Hotspot for Activist Ed Philanthropy?
Big things are happening with education in Oakland right now, and lots of funders are involved, including the Walton Family Foundation, which just launched a new... Read more.
