A Special Message from Grantmakers for Education

“Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.”
– Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States – and confront the still-incomplete promise of a democratic society that supports human flourishing – we at Grantmakers for Education are reminded of the intimate and intricate connection between education and freedom, agency, civil rights, opportunity and achievement.

This Is a Defining Moment for Education
Education may be generating fewer front page headlines today, but the stakes have only intensified. The work of reshaping what people learn and how they lead continues, often in ways that are harder to see and harder to influence.

Childcare centers, classrooms, colleges and universities, and communities – and all places where people learn and grow - are still being asked to carry more while being resourced with less. They are being pulled into conflict faster than they are supported by solutions, and are too often used as a proxy battle for deeper fears about our future. Philanthropy has a responsibility to show up decisively in that current reality, not just with concern but with staying power.

The choices we make about investing in education are shaping individual life chances, and our shared sense of reality: what facts we hold in common, who we recognize as “us,” and whether people still believe that public institutions can work for them. What is at stake is whether people can see an opportunity-rich future for themselves in their communities and in our democracy.

Why This Moment Calls for Staying at the Table
Across the field of education philanthropy, we see both urgency and drift. Many funders continue to see education as central to stronger neighborhoods and communities, economic mobility, and a more resilient democracy. At the same time, politicization, fatigue, and shifting priorities are making it easier to quietly step back from education, or to support it in ways that are less visible, less vocal, and less clearly owned.

The cost of a quiet drift is real. When funders pull away from education, communities lose not only resources but also signals of commitment and leadership. At a moment when education is contested and consequential, silence does not read as neutrality. It creates a vacuum that can be filled by voices and agendas that work against an equitable future. What is needed now is not just continued investment, but visible, public support that reinforces education as a shared priority.

It is not enough to care about education in principle or to act behind the scenes. This is a moment to stay in the work, to keep education at the center of our portfolios, and to be visible about that choice.

This is the call to action we want to extend: if you believe education is central to the future you care about, don’t step back, and don’t stay quiet. Double down. Keep investing. Show up in ways that reflect the gravity—and possibility—of this moment. In the coming weeks, we’ll share specific ways to do that together through GFE’s programs, conference, and shared learning spaces.

What Comes Next
In the weeks ahead, we will share more about how our network is organizing around the belief that education is a core imperative for shared well-being. We will offer a clearer picture of the commitments education funders are making, and how our conference and year round programs are designed to help you live those commitments out in practice. Together, we can ensure that education continues to expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and sustain a vibrant democracy.