Philanthropy

Invest: Co-Creation, Partnerships, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building

Build the foundation for robust state education R&D through strategic investments in inclusive co-creation processes, R&D infrastructure and capacity, and modern data systems that enable communities to innovate and scale evidence-based improvements.

Fund the co-creation of state-level vision, research agendas, and strategic planning processes.

How:

• Support inclusive, multi-stakeholder processes. Shared vision and research agenda setting should engage practitioners, school system leaders, learners, caregivers, workforce and postsecondary leaders, and community members.
• Support participation costs. Stipends, child care, and translation help bring diverse voices to the table.
• Invest in intermediaries, coalitions, or universities. These entities can facilitate vision co-creation and build cross-sector, bipartisan partnerships designed to outlast political cycles.
• Connect policy to practice. Fund the development of clear “implementation chains” that articulate how learner experiences will change, what behavior changes are needed at every system level, and how progress will be measured.
• Publicize findings. Emphasize what a diverse set of stakeholders values when designing for a more effective education system and the R&D needed to get there. 

Fund education R&D infrastructure and conditions to build capacity for innovative community-based design, R&D cycles, peer learning, and evidence-based improvement.

How:

Invest in:

• Intermediaries that can coordinate activities, facilitate connections, and capture and share learning.
• Research-practice partnerships that pair local communities with universities that have the technical skills to use data for good.
• Technical assistance providers and professional learning that build educator and community capacity for innovation.
• Practical tools, guides, and templates to make improvement science accessible.
• Statewide or regional networks.
• Communities of practice focused on specific challenges or approaches.

Co-fund data system modernization and technology infrastructure.

How:

• Support modernized longitudinal data systems. Philanthropic resources can be blended with federal and state funding to enable evidence-based decision-making at all levels.
• Support the development of secure, accessible, interoperable tools and dashboards. Keep diverse stakeholders in mind, from learners navigating their pathways to policymakers making resource decisions.
• Fund partnerships with technology providers. Build use cases aligned with inclusive R&D needs and responsible AI integration, especially leveraging AI for accessible translation of research and data to actionable systemic takeaways from policy to practice.
• Invest in data literacy and capacity building in educator preparation programs and professional development. Help practitioners effectively use data for evidence-based improvement.
• Offer R&D grants to develop and responsibly test tools for measuring real-time student experience, including tools that utilize AI. Seed the exploration of emerging technologies—including AI-enabled video and audio analysis, digital trace data, and sensor-based observation—that make it possible to gather continuous, unobtrusive insights into student engagement, interaction patterns, and classroom climate.

Convene: Funder Collaboratives, Coalitions, Networks

Leverage your unique convening power to build bridges, coordinate philanthropic efforts around shared priorities, and create coalitions that bring together diverse stakeholders who wouldn’t otherwise connect or collaborate.

Coordinate philanthropic efforts around shared state or regional priorities.

How:

• Create funder collaboratives. Pool resources and align funders around state and local learning agendas and strategic priorities. Consider how states or regions with seemingly divergent contexts can still learn from and support each other. 
• Establish clear communication channels and coordination mechanisms. Avoid duplication, share learning, and amplify collective impact.
• Build coalitions of the willing. Convene philanthropists, state leaders, intermediaries, and local implementers who share a common vision for education system transformation and can sustain momentum through leadership transitions.

Leverage your trusted position to broker relationships and build bridges across the system.

How:

• Activate network connections. Leverage your position as a convener to bring together actors who might not otherwise connect or trust each other (or invest in trusted intermediaries – see “Invest”). Introduce key players, facilitate relationship building, and help networks identify and access the resources they need. 
• Ensure networks include diverse voices and prioritize inclusive participation, particularly from historically marginalized communities.
• Pull together insights. Identify commonalities and differences among different stakeholders. Use your platform and influence to disseminate system-level insights across networks.

Participate: Vision-Setting, Networks, Influence

Join the work as a collaborative partner by participating in multi-stakeholder vision-setting, co-designing initiatives with practitioners and state leaders, sharing your learning openly, and amplifying evidence-based practices across the field.

Participate in state vision development and research agenda-setting processes.

How:

• Make yourself available. Participate in multi-stakeholder processes for developing state visions, strategic priorities, and an aligned research agenda.
• Share foundation strategic priorities and learning agendas with state partners. Identify areas of alignment and mutual benefit.
• Commit to aligning your funding priorities with state-defined research agendas.

Join and actively participate in networks, coalitions, and communities of practice.

How:

• Work side-by-side with leaders, practitioners, and researchers. Become active members of innovation networks and communities of practice. Contribute foundation expertise to cross-sector coalitions focused on education transformation.
• Engage in national networks and convenings. Take advantage of opportunities for states and funders to learn together about effective R&D infrastructure and share lessons learned.
• Share your foundation’s learning, failures, and insights publicly. Contribute to the broader field’s knowledge.

Co-design initiatives with state leaders and communities.

How:

• Partner with state leaders. Jointly develop theories of change, success metrics, and implementation strategies rather than imposing foundation-designed models.
• Engage in authentic co-creation processes. Center practitioner and community expertise alongside research and philanthropy perspectives.
• Support feedback loops. Fund infrastructure that channels practitioner insights back into R&D priorities, valuing local knowledge and bright spots. At the same time, build feedback loops that allow grantees and partners to shape your foundation’s strategy and approach.

Leverage your platform and influence to elevate evidence and promising practices.

How:

• Use your foundation’s platform. Shine light on effective state R&D infrastructure, innovative approaches, and evidence-based practices.
• Amplify examples of practitioners, students, and communities doing transformative work. Use communication channels like newsletters, social media, and your organizational website.
• Advocate for policy conditions that enable R&D. Use your relationships and influence to push for regulatory flexibility, data modernization, and/or dedicated state capacity.