From the Board: Upcoming Membership Dues Adjustment

In this moment, when education systems are under strain, conditions are increasingly politicized, and yet central to opportunity and democratic life, your choice to stay engaged with Grantmakers for Education and with education funding more broadly matters more than ever.

For thirty years, member investments in Grantmakers for Education have helped build the infrastructure, relationships and leadership that strengthen funding, convening power, field research and influence to improve how people learn and lead throughout their lives.

Over the past year, we undertook a comprehensive review of our business model to ensure we can continue to deliver meaningful value to you as a member while building a sustainable foundation for the future. Through that process, we benchmarked our dues against peer philanthropy networks and reviewed cost trends. We found that our dues fall below those of similar networks, and the dues have not kept pace with the cost of operating the organization and delivering value to our members. At the same time, we heard from members that there is a desire for deeper engagement with GFE and for the field to evolve to meet this moment and build for the future.

To support this vision and the long-term sustainability of our work, the Board of Directors has approved an adjustment to membership dues beginning in 2027. This increase reflects both the changing needs of our members and the realities of sustaining a strong organization that can continue serving the field at the highest level. This increase will occur gradually over a two-year period: in 2027, dues will increase halfway toward the new rate, and in 2028, dues will move to the full new rate.

Importantly, this adjustment is not about maintaining our work today; it is about strengthening the network and creating a pathway toward reducing additional out-of-pocket costs for members over time. We will seek opportunities to incorporate more value directly into membership and reduce the need for separate costs that can create barriers to participation. Our goal is to deepen engagement, make it easier for members to fully participate in the GFE community, and ensure that cost is less of an obstacle to accessing the resources, connections and learning opportunities that support your work.

The investments you make allow us to serve as a trusted convener, knowledgeable connector and vital catalyst for the field, ensuring your membership delivers real, tangible value year-round. Put simply, investing in GFE is investing in the field itself.

Today, your membership includes:

• Access to a national network of 2,500 education grantmakers and peer leaders.
• Year-round opportunities for learning, collaboration and leadership.
• Field research, benchmarking data, case studies and field insights.
• Participation in impact groups, fellowships and other communities of practice.
• Leadership opportunities through network and field committees and workgroups.
• Exclusive conference resources, recordings and program materials.
• Coming soon: an enhanced member portal with a growing resource library and a searchable member directory to help you find and connect with peers across issue areas and geographies.

We are sharing this now so you can plan as you set your 2027 budgets, and so there is time for conversation and questions. Further, to help ease this transition, conference registration fees will be frozen for 2027, so members will not absorb both the dues adjustment and a conference increase at the same time.

This decision was made thoughtfully. We recognize it is a meaningful ask, and we do not take your continued partnership for granted. All of this is happening at a time when education is being asked to do more with less and is pulled into conflict faster than it is supported by solutions. GFE’s role is to help you do that with more clarity and less fragmentation, and the dues adjustment is about sustaining the shared infrastructure that makes it possible for education philanthropy to show up with the staying power this moment and the future demands.

If you have questions about your specific dues tier or would like to discuss your membership, please reach out to Nicole Rodriguez Leach or Kyle Malone.

We are deeply grateful for your commitment to education philanthropy. Together, we are building a stronger field and a stronger future for the learners, leaders and communities we serve.

Thank you for being part of the Grantmakers for Education community.

Sincerely,
Grantmakers for Education Board of Directors