Rise Up Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Rise Up Foundation makes grants to support elementary literacy education. To a lesser extent, it also supports U.N. initiatives for children and refugees.
IP TAKE: This funder’s grantmaking is sporadic, but elementary school teachers can nominate their peers for its annual gift program, which provides teachers with “the things they need, big or small.” Most grants support elementary schools and public school districts, but this in an accessible funder that would likely appreciate innovative programming for literacy education. Reach out via this funder’s contact page with questions and ideas.
PROFILE: Established in 2008, the Rise Up Foundation was founded by author Wendy Alane Adams. Wendy joined her family’s recycling business, Adams Steel, where served as CFO for 20 years, overseeing growth of the business as it became a leader in the metal recycling and processing industry. She has since gone on to author books for tweens and middle-grade readers. The mission of the Rise Up Foundation involves “improving literacy among children living in underserved communities.” This funder aims to “to create a more literate and informed society” through “book donations, classroom support, and grant-making.” In addition to its Classroom Grants to support literacy education in the U.S., Rise Up contributes to “global humanitarian organizations” that “work to improve the lives of children in developing countries.” This funder does not name geographic priorities but has mainly made grants to elementary schools in California, New York and Nevada.
Grants for K-12 Education
The Rise Up Foundation supports K-12 literacy education through its Classroom Grants program. Every February, Rise Up awards “surprise gifts” to teacher anywhere in the U.S. who are nominated by “fellow teachers for the things they need, big or small.” This program’s goal is to “is to highlight and support all educators who are making a difference in their schools and communities.”
Additional grants are awarded “periodically” for “literacy related projects in the classroom.” Keep up with new opportunities by signing up for the foundation’s newsletter.
Past grants have supported elementary schools including Echo Loder Elementary School in Reno, Nevada; the Wyandanch Union Free School District in New York; and Spectrum Academy in North Salt Lake, Utah, among others. Other grants have supported literacy-related organizations including Reading Is Fundamental, Girls Write Now, the Orange County Public Library and the California Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students.
In addition to grants and gifts, the Rise Up Foundation supports elementary education through its Teachers & Classrooms program, which donates books, supplies and technology for reading education, and Teacher Community, which runs annual Impact Retreats, where teachers can “connect with other educators, gain new skills and strategies, and learn about the latest developments in education.”
Grants for Global Development
The Rise Up Foundation is a member of the United Nation’s Audrey Hepburn Society, which funds “projects directly impacting children around the globe,” and supports the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Wendy Alane Adams also served on the board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Important Grant Details:
The Rise Up Foundation’s grants range from $500 to about $27,000.
This funder mainly supports elementary schools, school districts and organizations involved in literacy education.
Rise Up does not name geographic priorities, but many grants land in California, New York and Nevada.
The Rise Up Foundation accepts nominations for teacher gifts annually and announces grant applications via its newsletter “periodically.”
See the foundation’s past tax filings for information about past giving.
Submit questions to the Rise Up Foundation via its contact page.
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