Adtalem Global Education Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Adtalem Global Education Foundation supports education, economic and workforce development, health and wellbeing and veterans causes. Recent funding has emphasized college and workforce readiness.
IP TAKE: Based in Chicago, this controversial funder works with both local and national organizations in its areas of interest. It accepts applications on an ongoing basis and provides guidelines and materials on its website. Many of this funder’s grantees operate in greater Chicago, where the foundation is based.
To apply for funding, please first reach out to Lauren Rengel. You will then need to complete the application and return with requested materials. The date of the next board meeting will be posted at least one month prior to the meeting.
PROFILE: The Adtalem Global Education Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Adtalem Global Education, a publicly traded company that runs for-profit institutions of higher education. The foundation was established in 2010 by Devry, Inc. In 2016 Devry settled a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit for deceptive advertising for $100 million, and in 2017, the company was rebranded as Adtalem Global Education. The group operates Adtalem Educacional do Brasil, the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Becker Professional Education and OnCourse Learning, among other institutions. The foundation aims to “empower students to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community.” Its funding areas are education, economic and workforce development, health and well-being and veterans.
The Adtalem Global Education foundation does not have clear grantmaking programs, but does have grant initiatives. It’s site is sparse, given it’s location on its corporate sister’s webpage.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
Adtalem’s education funding supports “[n]on-profit organizations that work to improve K-12 education, increase access to higher education for underserved populations, and strengthen the transition from high school to college.” Its education funding tends to overlap between support for education and workforce development in order to help ready students and youth for a more economically prepared future.
Past K-12 grantees include Chicago Debates, Teach for America, Communities in Schools and Junior Achievement, which runs financial literacy and career education programs for elementary, middle and high school students across the U.S.
In higher education, Adtalem has supported One Goal, the Foundation for Teaching Economics and i.c. Stars, which provides project-based learning programs to college students in the fields of business and technology.
Grants for Economic and Workforce Development
This program supports “workforce initiatives that advance career opportunities for new majority students and improve the economic health of local communities.” Its goals overlap significantly with the foundation’s higher education funding. The foundation has provided ongoing support for the Association House of Chicago, which works in the city’s underserved neighborhoods to provide bilingual services in the areas of health, education and economic advancement.
Grants for Public and Global Health
Adtalem’s health and wellbeing funding supports community health, mental health and health education with an emphasis on populations in the U.S. and abroad “who do not traditionally have access to quality and affordable health care.” Grantees range from large international organizations like the American Red Cross to local organizations like the Chicago-based Wings, which provides housing, counseling and advocacy to victims of domestic violence. Another grantee, Giant Steps, serves Chicago’s autistic community with education and family support.
Grants for Military and Veterans
Adtalem’s veterans program supports organizations that work with veterans and military families. To this end the foundation has supported the World War II veterans organization AMVETS and Fisher House, which provides housing for military families near military and VA hospitals across the United States.
Important Application Details:
Adtalem’s largest areas of giving address education and human services, and most of its grants range from $10,000 to $50,000. In a recent year, the foundation gave away about $400,000 in grants. This funder has provided ongoing support for many organizations in Chicago. Grantmaking appears to be limited to the states of Illinois, Virginia and New York, although the foundation does not name geographic limitations or preferences.
Adtalem runs an open application process and provides guidelines and application forms on its website. If your organization would like to submit a funding request, complete the cover letter available on its site and forward to info@adtalemfoundation.org along with the additional documents listed therein.
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