Embracing the Next Stage of Education Philanthropy

Grantmakers for Education Dec 10, 2020
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Embracing the Next Stage of Education Philanthropy Giving Compass

Giving Compass' Take:

• Grantmakers for Education (GFE) surveyed its members to take a deeper dive at the direction of education philanthropy in this evolving time, identifying relevant issues and priority areas for funders.

• Where are there opportunities for funders to address systemic change in education?

• Read more on education and the role of philanthropy. 

The potential for philanthropy to help shape the future of the American system of education has never been greater. Change is happening. But there is no guarantee that this change will result in improved and equitable educational outcomes for learners. Education funders must determine from an array of opportunities and needs where to focus their resources to leverage the change they hope to see in how our nation’s education system functions and serves learners going forward.

Where could funders make a difference now?

Grantmakers for Education (GFE) surveyed our members and others supporting education philanthropy to understand where they as individuals see the greatest opportunities for leveraging action in this quickly evolving reality. Our focus on capturing individual perspectives reflects our view that individual voice is a leading indicator of how institutional priorities and strategies may evolve. Reflecting back the outlook of individuals is especially critical during a time of rapid societal transformation.

Benefiting from the insights of a set of member advisors, we identified issues highly relevant to the current moment to home in on five interlocking themes we believe are central to the future of education:

  • Pre-K-12 Educational Improvement
  • Racial Justice in Education
  • Civic Education and Students
  • Postsecondary and Workforce Success
  • Philanthropy in an Inequitable System

Within these major themes, we identified a subset of 41 specific priority areas that could be rated on three criteria critical for assessing where education funders see the greatest potential for catalyzing change. (See “Thematic Priority Areas” for a complete listing of the 41 priority areas within each of the five major thematic areas.) These criteria include:

  • Urgency—Has addressing the priority area become more or less urgent in the current environment?
  • Opportunity—Is there an opportunity for systemic change in the priority area given the current environment?
  • Philanthropy—Is philanthropy an essential part of accelerating systemic change in the priority area?

Read the full PDF about education philanthropy at Grantmakers for Education. 

Interested in learning more about Philanthropy? Other readers at Giving Compass found the following articles helpful for impact giving related to Philanthropy.

  • This article is deemed a must-read by one or more of our expert collaborators.
    Click here for more.
    How Some Grantmakers Make Life Harder for Nonprofits

    It’s not the philanthropist’s intention to make life harder; it simply happens because no one is paying attention. Here are some of the most common examples: 1. Developing complex grant applications. Yes, philanthropists need some key pieces of information to make wise decisions before giving money away, but there’s a limit to how much an individual can process in any meaningful way. Don’t make extra requests for information that no one will look at, and don’t ask for long narratives that no one will read. 2. Taking forever to approve a grant. Once a grant application is received, philanthropists should understand that time is of the essence, especially if the funds are being requested to address a crisis. If the approval process will take more than a month, communicate with applicants throughout so that those who are declined early can direct their attention elsewhere. 3. Making one-time awards to address long-term problems. Most of today’s social challenges are systemic in nature and will require years of work through multiple avenues. That said, I am continually baffled by the number of funders who will make one grant award, feel good about their generosity and move on. The most effective philanthropy is about long-term partnerships, not one-off pats on the back. 4. Refusing to fund general operating expenses. For nonprofits, however, nothing is as sexy as general operating support. Even the most effective programs can’t operate if the rent isn’t paid, the lights don’t come on and the employees have all been laid off. By removing a basic worry, it allowed its nonprofit partners to focus more of their attention and energy on the initiative’s work. Read the full article about how grantmakers make it harder for nonprofits by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Putnam Consulting Group. 

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