GFE  FUNDER  NETWORKS       

Grantmakers for Education (GFE) currently sponsors these three Funder Networks:

  WORKING GROUP ON EDUCATION ORGANIZING (WGEO)
Across the country, communities are pushing for improvements in low performing schools, fighting for equitable and adequate funding for schools, and seeking a voice in school reform initiatives. Community organizing is a key strategy of community groups to build power at the grassroots and develop relationships with allies within and outside the system to push for change. Increasingly, funders are recognizing the vital role these organizations play in building political will to catalyze and sustain reform.

  OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME FUNDER NETWORK (OST)
The out-of-school time field plays an increasingly vital role in improving educational equity for all children. Quality programs narrow achievement gaps and provide the critical developmental supports young people need to become successful adults. We face many challenges: reaching populations often left out, increasing quality, securing sustainable financing and sound public policy, developing a quality workforce, and assessing impact. GFE members are consistently leaders and investors in the OST field.

  EDUCATION POLICY WORKING GROUP (EPWG)
Foundation leaders are uniquely positioned to advocate for systemic public policy change. And although it's true that many of GFE's most experienced grantmakers are seasoned public policy workers, the task has become more challenging. We see increased complexity, the need to align efforts across jurisdictions, and the need to work in concert with others. The EPWG reflects GFE’s commitment to and appreciation for the role public policy plays in shaping education in America, noting that even the most seasoned of us could benefit from a network of education grantmakers focused on impacting public policy.

For more information about an individual funder network and for network-specific contact information, please follow the above links.

For general information about funder networks and GFE's support for them, please contact John Branam, director of programs for GFE.