Apply for Funding
We invest in the ideas and energy of education leaders and entrepreneurs who are advancing innovative solutions that expand the definition of what works.
Our 2025 funding opportunity is now open, offering you the chance to bring your vision to life and join a national community of innovators. If you're developing bold new visions for innovative public schools, creating math or literacy learning solutions, reimagining educator roles, or empowering students with learning differences, we want to hear from you.
The final application deadline is January 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST. The first step is to complete the eligibility form to determine if your idea aligns with our strategy. We strongly encourage you to submit the form by the priority deadline of December 10, 2024. Submitting this form early will give you the opportunity to receive personalized support to strengthen your application.
Funding
Direct financial support to advance your work. One-year, unrestricted grant ranging from $150,000 to $250,000
Expert Support
One-on-one coaching and access to national experts.
Community
Connection with peer organizations across the country.
What We Fund
We support early-stage organizations and new initiatives within existing organizations in the following areas:
New innovative, public schools that support students to develop a strong academic foundation and skills needed for success in life
K-8 reading and math solutions that build foundational skills and personalize learning to support student success
Solutions that evolve how educators work, engage caregivers & community experts, and leverage genAI to make the role more sustainable and effective
Enhance teaching and learning for students with diagnosed and undiagnosed learning disabilities within and beyond our three main focus areas.
Our Investment Criteria
Alignment
We invest in visionary, early-stage education leaders and entrepreneurs with bold ideas that expand the definition of what works. Our focus is on creating new possibilities and a just future for all students, especially those furthest from opportunity — including students of color, students experiencing poverty, and students with learning differences. Ideas must align with at least one of our investment areas: Innovative Schools, Learning Solutions, Teaching Reimagined, or Learning Differences.
Idea
We seek bold ideas that combine new approaches with proven practices to improve student learning and advance equitable outcomes for all. We believe equipping students with a strong academic foundation, as well as essential habits, mindsets and skills within a positive learning environment, is key to this goal. (We call this an expanded definition of student success). We aim to have a catalytic impact on student success nationally, so we invest in ventures that seek to expand their impact significantly over time by growing their organizations, codifying and sharing best practices, or influencing the work of others.
Community Engagement
We expect innovators to engage their stakeholders – students, families, and educators – early and often to inform solution design and implementation. By understanding the needs, interests and aspirations of those they aim to serve, innovators can not only design better solutions but also build the relationships necessary to grow their impact over time.
Team
We seek mission-driven innovators who demonstrate passion, integrity, and the ability to execute their vision. Innovators should build diverse and capable teams with the right mix of skills and backgrounds to drive impact. Leaders should be open to collaboration, committed to building high-functioning teams, and be excited to participate in our communities of practice, which foster learning and growth.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We support teams committed to equity that work to break the predictability of who succeeds in this nation. We believe – and research demonstrates – that teams committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are better equipped to meet the needs of the students they serve. We seek teams that implement comprehensive strategies with measurable goals to embed DEI across their program models and organization, including recruiting diverse leadership and staff.
Financial Sustainability
We look for organizations with long-term plans for achieving financial sustainability through a mix of revenue sources, such as philanthropy, earned revenue, and government grants. Our focus is on supporting ventures that can secure the revenue they need to grow their impact over time.