s community colleges balance the pressure of sweeping
budget reductions with a top-down challenge to improve
student completion, many are reaching out to charitable
foundations for financial help. A
The good news? Benefactors are willing to open their checkbooks—
In the report, “Benchmarking 2010: Trends in Education Philanthropy,” 87 per-
cent of grantmakers said they support causes that improve educational outcomes
for disadvantaged students, particularly for low-income or minority learners.
Ninety percent of funders said they planned to maintain or increase funding in
these areas.
Programs to keep students in school and engage disconnected youth (61 percent),
particularly English as a second language learners (54 percent), were also heavily
supported. Professional development was another area of interest, with 72 percent
of funders showing a willingness to invest in such programs.
Though the national dialogue among
educators and policymakers has shifted
toward completion, grantmakers say the
majority of funding efforts lag behind.
Fifty-one percent remain focused on
improving access to higher education,
though responses to open-ended questions indicated that soon could change.
College and Career Readiness
Funders also voiced support for efforts that prepare students for the next phase of
their educational and professional lives. Sixty-eight percent of grantmakers fund
high school reform and college and career readiness programs; 80 percent of those
respondents said they planned to maintain or grow that funding.
Innovation
Of course, no change would be possible
without innovation. Recognizing this,
some 67 percent of funders reported
investing in the exploration of new
methods in teaching and learning,
with an emphasis on the integration of
technology in the classroom. Said one
respondent: “The impact of technology
is tremendous. Many school administra-
tors are ill-equipped to handle it.”
For more on the kinds of projects
funded by grantmakers, see the graphic
below. For the full report, visit the
Grantmakers for Education website
at www.edfunders.org.
Current and Anticipated Grantmaking Priorities
do you fund this? what changes do you anticipate do you fund this?
to current funding levels?
achievement gaps for low-income
or minority students
what changes do you anticipate
to current funding levels?
87%
teacher professional development
72%
high school reform, including
college- and career-readiness
68%
reading/literacy skills
31% 58% 3%
27% 51% 6%
28% 52% 4%
22% 61% 4%
29% 53% 2%
25% 53% 3%
17% 58% 7%
15% 64% 3%
15% 64% 3%
13% 65% 3%
67%
innovation/new models of learning
67%
family, community and social supports
effective school and/or district leadership
education of english language
learners/immigrants
54%
steM (science, technology,
engineering, math)
54% 24% 51% 6%
postsecondary access
(financial or nonfinancial)
51%
postsecondary success/attainment
45%
teacher preparation/certification
39%
data systems/
performance management
38%
standards and assessments
35%
digital/online learning
28%
teacher performance and
compensation systems
24%
13% 63% 3%
16% 66% 2%
22% 50% 0%
14% 62% 2%
17% 60% 4%
