The Calvin K Kazanjian Economics Foundation concentrates its giving on improving economics education and pedagogy at multiple levels, from K–12 standards to university and online professional learning. Grants focus heavily on scalable, digital and open-access tools (MOOCs, open textbooks, AI-embedded learning) and on building standards and curricular resources that broaden access to high-quality economics instruction. The foundation funds established institutions—both universities and education nonprofits—rather than small grassroots programs.
A $100,000 grant to MIT Economics Department for the DEDP MicroMasters survey MOOC signals the Calvin K Kazanjian Economics Foundation Inc.'s core pattern: backing economics education that can scale through digital delivery. The foundation funds institutions building tools for learners and teachers, with a clear preference for programs that expand access through technology, curriculum, and standards. Recent awards also show support for open-access learning infrastructure, such as the $75,000 grant to Openstax - Rice University for Staxly 2.0, which adds embedded AI activities to economics learning. Other grants point to a broad but disciplined portfolio: universities, education nonprofits, and national organizations working on economics pedagogy, personal finance, and teacher preparation. The grantee list includes projects for K–12 standards, adult learners completing degrees, and specialized economics content such as health, environmental, and energy economics. The foundation also funds financial literacy and entrepreneurship education, including programs for low-income and Latinx communities, young adults with chronic conditions, and entrepreneurs of color. Across these awards, the common thread is building reusable education resources rather than isolated local interventions.
In higher-education economics, the foundation backed MIT Economics Department with $100,000 for the DEDP MicroMasters survey MOOC, and Mercatus Center - George Mason University with $25,000 for Marginal Revolution University curriculum development and expansion. Those grants show interest in online and modular economics learning that can reach large audiences. It also supports open educational resources: Openstax - Rice University received $75,000 for Staxly 2.0, embedded AI activities for economics learning. For K–12 systems, National Council on Economic Educat received $75,000 for the voluntary K–12 national standards in economic education project, while Economics Arkansas received $32,500 for econ ed training for Arkansas education majors. The portfolio also includes specialized thematic instruction, such as Tufts College’s EconoFact project at $37,000 and Georgia Council on Economic Educati’s energy economics project at $30,000.
$258K
$10.5M
$523K
$374K
Most grants fall between $21K and $26K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$26K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Concentrated, strategic grants to a small number of established institutions focused on scalable, system-level interventions; three mid-to-large grants totaling $250K that prioritize digital/standards work rather than small local projects.
Notable grantees: MIT Economics Department, OpenStax (Rice University), National Council on Economic Education
Typical grant sizes cluster tightly around the mid-$20,000s: p25 is $21,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $25,500. The recent-grants list shows a mix of one larger award at $100,000 and many grants at $25,000 or near that level, suggesting a standardized funding style with occasional larger flagship commitments. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Fitmoney and National Public Radio Inc, which points to recurring support rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private foundation with annual grants of $1,053,392, and it accepts unsolicited applications through its general grant programs. It funds U.S.-based work and says it prefers projects that collaborate with economic education institutions.
Grantmaking is national and reaches recipients across the United States, with the highest concentration in Massachusetts. Recent grants also landed in New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Named recipient cities include Cambridge, Boston, Houston, New York, Phoenix, and Tucson, showing a spread beyond the foundation’s Arizona headquarters. The recipient distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the supplied data, and 8% of grants went to recipients in Arizona.
The foundation focuses on economic education and personal finance education, with recurring support for curriculum development, teacher education, educational technology, and AI-enabled learning. Recent grants include economics MOOCs, K–12 standards, open educational resources, and financial literacy programs for youth and adults.
Yes. The active grant programs listed for Calvin K Kazanjian Economics Foundation Inc accept unsolicited applications, including the General Grant Program and related economic education grant programs for U.S.-based projects.
The recent-grants data shows a tight cluster around $25,000: p25 is $21,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $25,500. Most listed awards fall near that level, with one larger $100,000 grant standing out in the sample.
No. The foundation’s geographic scope is national, and the recent grants are all to U.S. recipients. Massachusetts appears most often in the grant list, while recipients also include organizations in New York, California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other states.
Yes. Fitmoney appears in both 2023 and 2025, and National Public Radio Inc appears in both 2023 and 2025. That pattern suggests some continuing relationships alongside one-time awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATI | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2026 | The trade game |
| COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | support state councils |
| MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS ED | JACKSON, MS | $30,000 | 2026 | COUNTY ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE |
| FLORIDA COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS EDUCAT | TAMPA, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | Financial literacy & Money Education |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | NPR's 2026 planet money summer school |
| THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT Economic Forces in American Civics (EFAC) |
| CARING FOR MILITARY FAMILIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | Financial wellness for caregivers: Expanding economic literacy through resource navigation |
| SOUTH CAROLINA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC | COLUMBIA, SC | $24,000 | 2026 | Economics in the wild |
| FINANCIAL SCHOLARS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | Expansion 2025-26 (Philadelphia and Connecticut) |
| BOOKS ARE GEMS | EL PASO, TX | $15,000 | 2026 | Promoting Financial Literacy through Storybooks and Community Engagement |
| National Assoc of Economic Educator | NEWNAN, GA | $5,000 | 2026 | Support NAEE Spring Conference |
| ARIZONA COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS EDUCAT | PHEONIX, AZ | $3,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GRANT |
| MIT ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT DEDP MICROMASTERS SURVEY MOOC: APPLIED ECONOMICS FOR POLICY, MARKETS, AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS. |
| OPENSTAX - RICE UNIVERSITY | HOUSTON, TX | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT STAXLY 2.0: EMBEDDED AI ACTIVITIES FOR ECONOMICS LEARNING. |
| TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE | BOSTON, MA | $37,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT ECONOFACT PROJECT. |
| SECURE FUTURES | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT MONEY PATH PROGRAM. |
| MERCATUS CENTER-GEORGE MASON UNIVER | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT MARGINAL REVOLUTION UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION. |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR NPR'S 2025 PLANET MONEY SUMMER SCHOOL. |
| FITMONEY | NEWTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT $UPERSQUAD PROJECT - FREE FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR GRADES K-6. |
| AFTER INNOCENCE | OAKLAND, CA | $22,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAM. |
| 3RD DECADE | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND MENTORING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME YOUNG ADULTS. |
| BRUNSWICK COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL | SUPPLY, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT MONEY MENTOR: FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAM. |
| ALPAUGH FAMILY ECONOMICS CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT $MARTPATH ALL ACCESS. |
| NEBRASKA COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCA | LINCOLN, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | DOUBLING THE CAPACITY OF THE NCEE ECONOMICS CHALLENGE. |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCAT | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT VOLUNTARY K-12 NATIONAL STANDARDS IN ECONOMIC EDUCATION PROJECT |
| ECONOMICS ARKANSAS | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $32,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT ECON ED TRAINING FOR ARKANSAS EDUCATION MAJORS |
| GEORGIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATI | ATLANTA, GA | $30,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ENERGY ECONOMICS PROJECT |
| TRANSITION INC | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY" PROJECT |
| QUALITAS OF LIFE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT ECONOMIC EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME LATINX COMMUNITIES PROJECT |
| ONABEN | TULSA, OK | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "REAL CHANGE: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE" |
| JEWISH FAMILY SVCS OF WASHTENAW COU | ANN ARBOR, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT PEER MENTOR MODEL FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROJECT |
| WORKING IN SUPPORT OF EDUCATION WIS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT QUALITY OF LIFE INNOVATIONS PROJECT |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA FOUNDAT | TAMPA, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "AN INTENSIVE SUMMER PRIMER TO PREPARE TEACHERS FOR FLORIDA'S FINANCIAL LITERACY LAW" PROJECT |
| CENTER FOR HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $24,892 | 2024 | SUPPORT "BUILDING WEALTH AND HEALTH NETWORK" PROJECT |
| MARYLAND COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC FOUNDA | TOWSON, MD | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "TEACHING ECONOMICS THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS" PROJECT |
| WEST ENTERPRISE CENTER INC | MENDOCINO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT STARTUP MENDOCINO 2024 PROJECT |
| KIDS NEED TO READ | MESA, AZ | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT "READING IS A LIFE SKILL" PROJECT |
| LEGALCORPS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $36,500 | 2023 | ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR PROGRAM COLLABORATION |
| AMELIA PARK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | WESTFIELD, MA | $35,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE PIGGY BANK PROJECT |
| COLLEGE UNBOUND | PROVIDENCE, RI | $32,500 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR "EVERDAY ECONOMICS: A PRACTICAL FINANCE AND ECONOMICS CURRICULUM FOR ADULT BA COMPLETERS" |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVAT | PHOENIX, AZ | $26,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT "ECONOMICS OF CONSERVATION!" PROJECT |
| FITMONEY | NEWTON, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT $UPERSQUAD PROJECT |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | SAN DIEGO, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION |
| GENERATION PATIENT | GREENWOOD, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT HEALTH ECONOMIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR NPR'S PLANET MONEY |
| CROOKED CREEK NW COMM DEVELOPMENT C | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD INCUBATOR FOR CREATORS, HUSTLERS, AND ENTREPRENEURS PROJECT |
| PROPERY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CE | BOZEMAN, MT | $25,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS FOR STUDENTS PROJECT |
| VIRGINIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCAT | RICHMOND, VA | $24,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT "A RESOURCE FOR CULTIVATING GREAT ECONOMIC MINDS" PROJECT |
| INSTITUTE OF STUDENT LOAN ADVISORS | PLYMOUTH, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT ONE-ON-ONE STUDENT LOAN COUNSELING |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN NEVA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $5,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT "WE ALL NEED FINANCIAL LITERACY" PROJECT |
MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS ED
$30,000COUNTY ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE
FLORIDA COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS EDUCAT
$25,000Financial literacy & Money Education
SUPPORT Economic Forces in American Civics (EFAC)
Financial wellness for caregivers: Expanding economic literacy through resource navigation
SOUTH CAROLINA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC
$24,000Economics in the wild
FINANCIAL SCHOLARS
$20,000Expansion 2025-26 (Philadelphia and Connecticut)
BOOKS ARE GEMS
$15,000Promoting Financial Literacy through Storybooks and Community Engagement
National Assoc of Economic Educator
$5,000Support NAEE Spring Conference
ARIZONA COUNCIL ON ECONOMICS EDUCAT
$3,500UNRESTRICTED GRANT
MIT ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT
$100,000SUPPORT DEDP MICROMASTERS SURVEY MOOC: APPLIED ECONOMICS FOR POLICY, MARKETS, AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS.
OPENSTAX - RICE UNIVERSITY
$75,000SUPPORT STAXLY 2.0: EMBEDDED AI ACTIVITIES FOR ECONOMICS LEARNING.
SECURE FUTURES
$25,000SUPPORT MONEY PATH PROGRAM.
SUPPORT MARGINAL REVOLUTION UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION.
SUPPORT FOR NPR'S 2025 PLANET MONEY SUMMER SCHOOL.
AFTER INNOCENCE
$22,000SUPPORT FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAM.
3RD DECADE
$20,000SUPPORT FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND MENTORING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME YOUNG ADULTS.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY LITERACY COUNCIL
$10,000SUPPORT MONEY MENTOR: FINANCIAL WELLNESS PROGRAM.
ALPAUGH FAMILY ECONOMICS CENTER
$10,000SUPPORT $MARTPATH ALL ACCESS.
NEBRASKA COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCA
$10,000DOUBLING THE CAPACITY OF THE NCEE ECONOMICS CHALLENGE.
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCAT
$75,000SUPPORT VOLUNTARY K-12 NATIONAL STANDARDS IN ECONOMIC EDUCATION PROJECT
ECONOMICS ARKANSAS
$32,500SUPPORT ECON ED TRAINING FOR ARKANSAS EDUCATION MAJORS
TRANSITION INC
$25,000SUPPORT "MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY" PROJECT
QUALITAS OF LIFE FOUNDATION
$25,000SUPPORT ECONOMIC EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME LATINX COMMUNITIES PROJECT
ONABEN
$25,000SUPPORT "REAL CHANGE: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE"
SUPPORT PEER MENTOR MODEL FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROJECT
SUPPORT QUALITY OF LIFE INNOVATIONS PROJECT
SUPPORT "AN INTENSIVE SUMMER PRIMER TO PREPARE TEACHERS FOR FLORIDA'S FINANCIAL LITERACY LAW" PROJECT
CENTER FOR HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITIES
$24,892SUPPORT "BUILDING WEALTH AND HEALTH NETWORK" PROJECT
MARYLAND COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC FOUNDA
$20,000SUPPORT "TEACHING ECONOMICS THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS" PROJECT
WEST ENTERPRISE CENTER INC
$10,000SUPPORT STARTUP MENDOCINO 2024 PROJECT
KIDS NEED TO READ
$5,000SUPPORT "READING IS A LIFE SKILL" PROJECT
LEGALCORPS
$36,500ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR PROGRAM COLLABORATION
AMELIA PARK CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$35,000SUPPORT THE PIGGY BANK PROJECT
SUPPORT FOR "EVERDAY ECONOMICS: A PRACTICAL FINANCE AND ECONOMICS CURRICULUM FOR ADULT BA COMPLETERS"
SUPPORT "ECONOMICS OF CONSERVATION!" PROJECT
SUPPORT FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
SUPPORT HEALTH ECONOMIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS
CROOKED CREEK NW COMM DEVELOPMENT C
$25,000SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD INCUBATOR FOR CREATORS, HUSTLERS, AND ENTREPRENEURS PROJECT
SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS FOR STUDENTS PROJECT
VIRGINIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCAT
$24,000SUPPORT "A RESOURCE FOR CULTIVATING GREAT ECONOMIC MINDS" PROJECT
INSTITUTE OF STUDENT LOAN ADVISORS
$10,000SUPPORT ONE-ON-ONE STUDENT LOAN COUNSELING
SUPPORT "WE ALL NEED FINANCIAL LITERACY" PROJECT