Improving Public Education: A Guide for Donors to Make a Difference

Are you interested in working to improve public schools so that every student achieves his or her full potential? We believe philanthropy is uniquely positioned to help make that happen – and we've collected the best advice from experienced donors and grantmakers to help you sort out ways your gifts and donations can make the biggest difference.

Below, you'll find free PDF versions of a four-part toolkit we've published, Improving Public Education: A Guide for Donors to Make a Difference. Three national networks of donors – Grantmakers for Education, the Association of Small Foundations and Social Venture Partners – created the guide because we've seen individual donors and small foundations spur changes in public education, finding excitement and fulfillment in the process. We want to help others like you do the same.

To help your gifts accomplish what you want – so they can serve as a "tipping point" for creating progress – the guide encourages you to think carefully about the needs of your community and school system, your personal values and interests, your resources, and what gives you the most personal satisfaction out of giving.

In the coming months, we'll be working to build out this website with more resources, links and ideas. Until then, we encourage you to print out, read and reflect on the questions and information provided in each of the four booklets below.

We look forward to hearing about your contributions to better schools.

TOOLKIT CONTENTS

1. Foreword
   By Tom Vander Ark of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
   
   
2. Getting Started in Education Philanthropy: A Workbook to Identify Your Values, Interests and Goals
   A series of questions to help you make thoughtful choices about what to invest in and how -- plus profiles of 12 creative, strategic and effective donors.
   
   
3. Primer on the U.S. Education System
   An overview, based on the latest education data, of how well students are achieving, what factors influence achievement, what the teacher workforce is like, who makes the decisions in the public education system and how public schools are funded. Includes seven areas where philanthropy is in an ideal position to make a difference.
   
   
4. Principles for Effective Education Grantmaking
   Eght principles of effective philanthropy that provide a framework for making the most of your unique resources and capabilities and for promoting change in education.
   
   
5. Resources
   A selected list of websites and articles offering additional background on key issues in education and on the practice of strategic philanthropy, with links to organizations that can help you find more local donor resources.

BOUND-COPY PRICING

Bound copies of the complete toolkit can be purchased at: https://www.edfunders.org/knowledge/publications_order.asp. All prices include shipping.

GFE Member Organizations:

• 1 free copy (upon request)
• Additional copies at $35 each
• Special offer for members with assets of $30 million or less: First 5 additional copies at $10 each

Non-GFE Members:

• $75

Funder Networks and Regional Affinity Groups:

• $35 under most circumstances; contact GFE for more information.