Membership Criteria

Grantmakers for Education is a national association of over 200 philanthropies. Our vantage-point is unique: We represent a diverse and experienced cross-section of grantmakers working to change programs, systems and institutions from pre-kindergarten through higher education.

Members agree that the defining function of membership is to learn from and contribute to understanding how to make grantmaking increasingly effective. Accordingly, members agree not to engage in fundraising activities when meeting under the auspices of GFE.

Membership is open to the following types of grantmakers:

• Corporate foundations;
• Corporations with giving programs;
• Individual donors with significant grantmaking efforts;
• Private independent foundations;
• Private family foundations;
• Private operating foundations;
• Public foundations with a direct grant program of at least $60,000 per year, at least 50 percent of the operating budget in direct grants, and a competitive grant program funding multiple individuals or organizations;
• Public agencies with competitive grantmaking programs

Associate membership is available to philanthropy affinity groups and regional associations of grantmakers. Contact GFE for more information.