Trends in Education Philanthropy: Benchmarking 2023

Trends in Education Philanthropy: Benchmarking 2023 offers insights into where and how funders are working, their evolving priorities and their role in supporting education innovation that benefits the nation’s learners. The 15th anniversary report by Grantmakers for Education -- the first post pandemic -- is based on a survey of 142 education philanthropies.

The survey results signal that the pandemic and attention to the ways in which systems disadvantage different communities have shifted the investments and concerns of education philanthropists.

• Education philanthropies are funding redesign and transformation in the U.S. education system, signaling a fundamental shift in approach.
• Education funders are very concerned about the politicization of education. Funder interest in supporting a “whole learner” approach is growing, as there is growing recognition that children without access to basic needs and emotional security will not thrive academically.
• With trust in government eroding, the role of philanthropy as it relates to education has never been more critical, but the impact of philanthropy depends on whether funders can critically examine their own practices.

Details about these highlights, plus findings on postsecondary pathways, early learning, out-of-school time, equity and more, can be found in the full report.

Read the press release here.