Education Forward DC works to make sure every DC student thrives by supporting and advancing high-quality and equitable educational experiences that ensure every student excels.
A defining pattern in Education Forward DC’s recent grantmaking is its support for school operators, education intermediaries, and policy organizations through large general operating grants. In 2024, the foundation gave $1,265,000 to Pave Inc and $1,138,000 to Washington Latin Public Charter School, both for general operations, showing a willingness to back organizations with flexible funding rather than only project-specific support. Its portfolio also includes repeated support for groups such as Kipp DC, Urban Institute, and DC Charter School Alliance, alongside investments in school leadership, special education, and school transformation. The foundation’s stated work centers on making sure every DC student thrives by advancing high-quality and equitable educational experiences. That mission shows up in grants to a mix of public charter schools, research and policy organizations, and leadership-development entities. Recent awards also include substantial support for citywide capacity-building organizations such as DC Public Education Fund and Citybridge Education, reinforcing a role in strengthening the ecosystem around DC public education rather than funding only one part of it.
Education Forward DC supports several connected parts of the DC public education system. In school leadership, it gave $500,000 to School Leader Lab for general operations, and the foundation also lists school leader development as a grantmaking focus. In policy and research, it awarded $750,000 to Urban Institute and $270,000 to DC Policy Center, both for general operations, alongside a broader focus on citywide policy and research. The foundation also funds school operators directly: Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School received $388,000, while Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School received $225,000, both for general operations. Special education is another named area in its grantmaking, reflected in support for organizations working on special education and school-based student supports.
Education Forward DC’s typical grant size sits at a p25 of $54,000, a median of $110,000, and a p75 of $250,000. The recent grant list shows a strong tilt toward general operating support, often at six-figure levels, and several organizations appear more than once, including Pave Inc, Urban Institute, DC Charter School Alliance, Kipp DC, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School, Digital Pioneers Academy, and DC Policy Center. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. One active program, its general grantmaking, accepts unsolicited applications.
$5.9M
$26.9M
$21.9M
$10M
Most grants fall between $54K and $250K, with a median of $110K.
25th Percentile
$54K
Median
$110K
75th Percentile
$250K
BISI OYEDELE
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Giving is highly concentrated in Washington, DC: 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and DC is also the top state by grant count. The recent grants list is dominated by DC recipients such as Pave Inc, Washington Latin Public Charter School, Urban Institute, DC Charter School Alliance, and DC Public Education Fund. Outside DC, the foundation still makes a small number of grants, including Education Reform Now in Brooklyn, Tntp in New York, Surge Institute in Chicago, Greenhouse E3 in Portland, Texas, and Education Pioneers Inc in Portland, Maine. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Education Forward DC funds public charter schools, school operators, research and policy organizations, and leadership-development groups. Recent grants went to Washington Latin Public Charter School, Urban Institute, DC Charter School Alliance, School Leader Lab, and DC Policy Center, showing a mix of direct school support and ecosystem-building grants.
The typical grant size is $54,000 at the 25th percentile, $110,000 at the median, and $250,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include seven-figure general operating grants, such as $1,265,000 to Pave Inc and $1,138,000 to Washington Latin Public Charter School.
Some of its grant programs do. The general grantmaking program lists unsolicited applications as accepted, and the School Leader Lab also accepts unsolicited applications. The School Climate Microgrants program does not accept unsolicited applications.
Its stated focus areas include K-12 education, public school quality, educational equity, racial equity in education, school creation and transformation, teacher and leader pipeline development, special education supports, student social-emotional well-being and school climate, and citywide policy and research.
Yes. DC is the top state by grant count, and 73% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recent grants list is overwhelmingly Washington, DC-based, with a smaller number of recipients in New York, Illinois, Texas, Maine, and Louisiana.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Education Forward Dc that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Work must align with Education Forward DC's strategy areas and support DC students; the organization does not require 501(c)(3) status and can fund start-ups or more mature organizations. Only work on behalf of DC students is eligible.
Deadline: No published deadline; prospective grantees should contact the funder.
Who can apply: Work must be aligned to Education Forward DC's strategy and benefit DC students; the organization reports working with start-ups through mature organizations.
Deadline: No published deadline; prospective grantees should contact the funder.
Who can apply: Aligned work must support DC students and fit Education Forward DC's strategy areas; there is no minimum budget requirement and no residency requirement, but the work must be on behalf of DC students.
Deadline: No published deadline; prospective grantees should contact the funder.
Who can apply: Must align with Education Forward DC's strategy areas and work on behalf of DC students; groups without 501(c)(3) status may be considered.
Deadline: No published deadline; prospective grantees should contact the funder.
Who can apply: Projects must support DC students and align with the funder's five strategy areas; Education Forward DC can fund organizations based outside DC if the work is on behalf of DC students.
Deadline: No published deadline; prospective grantees should contact the funder.
Who can apply: Applicants must undertake work on behalf of students in Washington, DC and align with one of Education Forward DC’s strategy areas. Applicants do not need to be physically located in DC, have a minimum organizational budget, or already have 501(c)(3) status. The funder supports start-ups, mature organizations, individuals, groups, and early-stage school founders.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; prospective applicants may contact Education Forward DC on an ongoing basis.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAVE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,190,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $430,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC POLICY CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EDUCATION REFORM NOW | BROOKLYN, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EDNAVIGATOR | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $325,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $260,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BELLWETHER EDUCATION PARTNERS INC | SUDBURY, MA | $253,100 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LEE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $208,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CITYBRIDGE EDUCATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| URBAN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADER FELLOWSHIP | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INGENUITY PREP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $192,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| BLACK SWAN ACADEMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WASHINGTON YU YING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $146,875 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK MALE EDUCATORS | BRANDYWINE, MD | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SCHOOLTALK INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $120,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SCHOOL LEADER LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FESTIVAL CENTER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION | ENCINO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EDUCATION PIONEERS INC | PORTLAND, ME | $90,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $85,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FRIENDSHIP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $78,804 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PAUL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $56,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ELSIE WHITLOW STOKES PCS | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,600 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ROOTED SCHOOL FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SURGE INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| THE CREATIVE SCHOOL INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EMPOWERK12 INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| TNTP | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC WILDFLOWER PCS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CAPITAL VILLAGE SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EQUITY LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MUNDO VERDE BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC HEBREW LANGUAGE CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,903 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CAPITAL CITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,170 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PAVE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,265,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WASHINGTON LATIN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,138,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PAVE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $900,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| URBAN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $750,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $600,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SCHOOL LEADER LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $489,750 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $479,563 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $425,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| URBAN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $410,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| EAGLE ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE
$430,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
EDNAVIGATOR
$325,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS
LEE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$208,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
INGENUITY PREP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$192,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK MALE EDUCATORS
$125,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
SCHOOLTALK INC
$120,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$85,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PAUL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL INC
$56,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ELSIE WHITLOW STOKES PCS
$50,600GENERAL OPERATIONS
ROOTED SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
THE CREATIVE SCHOOL INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
EMPOWERK12 INC
$30,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC WILDFLOWER PCS
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CAPITAL VILLAGE SCHOOLS
$25,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
EQUITY LAB
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MUNDO VERDE BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC HEBREW LANGUAGE CHARTER SCHOOL
$8,903GENERAL OPERATIONS
CAPITAL CITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$5,170GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE
$600,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
DC CHARTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE
$425,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
EAGLE ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$400,000GENERAL OPERATIONS