The Gamba Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on K–12 public education in Washington, D.C., funding charter schools, school-transformation intermediaries, and teacher-residency/replication initiatives. Grants are often multi-year commitments to the same organizations and target program scaling (math best practices, school replication) and student transitions (8th‑grade to high school). The foundation prioritizes local impact in DC rather than broad geographic giving and mixes support for intermediary organizations and individual schools.
A defining feature of Gamba Family Foundation Inc’s recent grantmaking is its repeated backing of DC school-transformation intermediaries and charter-school supports, including a $27,500 grant to Empower K12 for math best-practice replication and bold school replication. The foundation’s education giving is centered on K–12 public education in Washington, D.C., with grants that support school leaders, teacher pipelines, literacy work, and student transitions from middle school to high school. Recent awards also show multi-year commitments rather than one-time gifts, with organizations such as Education Forward DC, KIPP DC, Citybridge Foundation, and City Tutor DC receiving support across multiple years. The foundation’s portfolio mixes intermediary organizations with individual schools and program partners. Two Rivers Public Charter School received funding for eighth-grade graduates moving into high school, while other grants supported literacy investments, science-of-reading work, and teacher support. The pattern points to a funder focused on improving school quality and implementation inside DC’s public and public charter ecosystem, rather than broad national education philanthropy.
The foundation supports school transformation through intermediary organizations. Education Forward DC received funding for school transformation in DC, including a 2025 grant described as the third year of a five-year commitment. Citybridge Foundation and City Tutor DC were each funded for comprehensive transformation strategy work with DC schools and leaders. In literacy, the foundation backed Two Rivers Public Charter School for literacy investments and DC Ed Fund for literacy tactics at Stanton Elementary. It also funded Sela Public Charter School for Science of Reading work, showing interest in structured reading instruction. Teacher development is another clear theme: KIPP DC received support for the Capitol Teaching Residency, and Urban Teachers was funded to support teacher training in DC public schools and the Black Educators Initiative. Student well-being appears as well, with grants to Statesman College Prep Academy for Boys for well-being initiatives.
Typical grants cluster at a small-to-mid scale, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $6,000, and a p75 of $15,750. Recent awards include several $20,000 commitments and a larger $27,500 grant, but the overall distribution stays centered on modest program support. The foundation shows recurring support patterns: Education Forward DC, KIPP DC, Citybridge Foundation, and several schools appear in multiple years, often as annual installments within multi-year commitments. The grant program structure is family-foundation style direct grantmaking, not individual aid or program-related investing. The active education programs described are also not open to unsolicited applications, which is consistent with a relationship-based funding approach.
$157K
$1.3M
$111K
$196K
Most grants fall between $1K and $16K, with a median of $6K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$6K
75th Percentile
$16K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated, place-based giving with repeated multi-year commitments to a small set of education-focused grantees; mid-sized grants ($15k–$60k) aimed at scaling programs and sustaining institutional partners rather than one-off seed funding.
Notable grantees: KIPP DC, Education Forward DC, Empower K12, City Tutor DC, Two Rivers Public Charter School
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local to Washington, DC, which accounts for the top share of recipient locations and anchors most of the portfolio. DC recipients include Empower K12, Citybridge Foundation, KIPP DC, Education Forward DC, City Tutor DC, and many charter schools across the city. Outside DC, the foundation has made smaller grants to Baltimore-based City Teaching Alliance and Urban Teachers, and a $5,000 grant to Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Florida. The recipient country distribution is entirely US-based, with 43 grants in the United States.
Its grantmaking is centered on K–12 public education, especially school transformation in Washington, DC. Recent grants support charter schools, intermediary organizations, literacy work, teacher residency and training, and programs that help students move from middle school into high school.
Typical awards are modest: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $6,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,750. Recent grants also show a number of $20,000 commitments, plus a larger $27,500 award.
Yes. Several grants are explicitly described as annual installments or years of five-year commitments. Examples in the recent-grants list include Education Forward DC, KIPP DC, and City Tutor DC, each tied to multi-year support.
Washington, DC is the main recipient location in the grant data. The portfolio is concentrated there, with only small amounts going elsewhere, including Baltimore and Fort Myers. The recipient-country distribution is entirely US-based.
The recent grants include school-transformation strategy, math best-practice replication, literacy and Science of Reading work, teacher residency and the Black Educators Initiative, student well-being, and support for eighth-grade students transitioning into high school.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMPOWER K12 | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2026 | BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP |
| DC PREP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| EMPOWER K12 | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2026 | BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP |
| MARYLAND STATE DEPT OF ED | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2026 | LITERACY COACHING IN PG COUNTY |
| TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | LITERACY INVESTMENTS |
| DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT LITERACY, SCHOOL BEST PRACTICE |
| FRIENDSHIP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | DC SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION, 4TH OF 5TH YEAR COMMITMENT |
| KIPP DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL TEACHING RESIDENCY |
| CITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS W TUTORING AND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY |
| CITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS W TUTORING AND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY |
| FRIENDSHIP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | READING CLINIC FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL | FT MYERS, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | TECHACADEMY FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS |
| DC ED FUND- READING CLINIC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | LITERACY TRAINING AT DC READING CLINIC |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | DC KIDS & SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN DC |
| DC ED FUND- STANTON ELEMENTARY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT LITERACY TACTICS AT STANTON ELEMENTARY |
| DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THIS TIER 1 NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL |
| HOPE AND A HOME | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | TWO GENERATION TUTORING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| TECH FOR AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | SPONSOR TWO NEW TEACHERS |
| KENSINGTON HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY HS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | STORYSHARES BOOKS FOR LIBRARY |
| EMPOWER K12 | Fort McNair, DC | $27,500 | 2025 | 15K REPLICATE MATH BEST PRACTICE AND $12,500 FOR BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION |
| CITY TUTOR DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS AND LEADERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY AS THIRD OF FIVE ANNUAL |
| KIPP DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL TEACHING RESIDENCY AS 4TH OF FIVE ANNUAL GRANTS |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION IN DC, 3RD OF 5 YEAR COMMITMENT |
| TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | LITERACY INVESTMENTS |
| DC ED FUND | Washington, DC | $14,052 | 2025 | SUPPORT LITERACY TACTICS AT STANTON ELEMENTARY |
| SELA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| DIGITAL PIONEERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $8,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING AND BLACK MEN TO ATTEND CENTER FOR BLACK EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL CONVENING IN |
| STATESMAN COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY FOR BOYS | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2025 | 4K STORYSHARES $3K BLACK MEN TO ATTEND CENTER FOR BLACK EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT CONVENING IN PHILLY |
| FRIENDSHIP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $7,000 | 2025 | $3K FOR MATH SUPPORT AND $4K FOR STORYSHARES |
| DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THIS TIER 1 NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL |
| CHANGE SUMMER | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | SUMMER CAMP FOR DIGITAL PIONEERS AND OTHER DC CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| FIHANKRA AKOMA NTOASO FAN | Washington, DC | $500 | 2025 | SUMMER CAMP IN ANACOSTIA REQUESTED BY FUNDED |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION IN DC AS THE SECOND YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT |
| CITYBRIDGE FOUNDATION | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS AND LEADERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY |
| KIPP DC | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITOL TEACHING RESIDENCY AS THE THIRD OF FIVE ANNUAL GRANTS |
| TWO RIVERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $16,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATES INTO HIGH SCHOOL TO ASSURE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION |
| DIGITAL PIONEERS ACADEMY | Washington, DC | $6,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT AFTER GUN VIOLENCE AND GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STATESMAN COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY FOR BOYS | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT WELL-BEING INITIATIVES |
| CITY TEACHING ALLIANCE | Baltimore, MD | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT THE BLACK EDUCATORS INITIATIVE |
| DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL | Fort Myers, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | AFTER SCHOOL READING PROGRAM |
| DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOP | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THIS TIER I NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL |
| CHANGE SUMMER | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | SUMMER CAMP FOR DIGITAL PIONEERS CHARTER SCHOOL |
| EL EDUCATION | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING EXECUTION IN LOW INCOME SCHOOLS |
| WOODLAND TIGERS YOUTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM | Bolling AFB, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTE TO MEMORIAL BANNER WITHIN FACILITY |
| WASHINGTON LATIN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT TEACHERS |
| TURNAROUND FOR CHILDREN | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS |
| DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT LITERACY TACTICS |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2023 | SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION IN DC |
| KIPP DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL TEACHING RESIDENCY |
EMPOWER K12
$70,000BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
DC PREP PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
$35,000SCIENCE OF READING
EMPOWER K12
$30,000BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION TO NARROW THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP
MARYLAND STATE DEPT OF ED
$30,000LITERACY COACHING IN PG COUNTY
DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE
$25,000SUPPORT LITERACY, SCHOOL BEST PRACTICE
CITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
$20,000SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS W TUTORING AND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY
CITY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
$20,000SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS W TUTORING AND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY
DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL
$10,000TECHACADEMY FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS
DC ED FUND- READING CLINIC
$10,000LITERACY TRAINING AT DC READING CLINIC
DC KIDS & SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN DC
SUPPORT LITERACY TACTICS AT STANTON ELEMENTARY
DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$5,000TO SUPPORT THIS TIER 1 NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
TECH FOR AMERICA
$2,000SPONSOR TWO NEW TEACHERS
KENSINGTON HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY HS
$1,000STORYSHARES BOOKS FOR LIBRARY
EMPOWER K12
$27,50015K REPLICATE MATH BEST PRACTICE AND $12,500 FOR BOLD SCHOOL REPLICATION
CITY TUTOR DC
$20,000SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS AND LEADERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY AS THIRD OF FIVE ANNUAL
KIPP DC
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL TEACHING RESIDENCY AS 4TH OF FIVE ANNUAL GRANTS
DC ED FUND
$14,052SUPPORT LITERACY TACTICS AT STANTON ELEMENTARY
SELA PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$10,000SCIENCE OF READING
DIGITAL PIONEERS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$8,000SCIENCE OF READING AND BLACK MEN TO ATTEND CENTER FOR BLACK EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL CONVENING IN
STATESMAN COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY FOR BOYS
$8,0004K STORYSHARES $3K BLACK MEN TO ATTEND CENTER FOR BLACK EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT CONVENING IN PHILLY
$3K FOR MATH SUPPORT AND $4K FOR STORYSHARES
DC BILINGUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$5,000TO SUPPORT THIS TIER 1 NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
FIHANKRA AKOMA NTOASO FAN
$500SUMMER CAMP IN ANACOSTIA REQUESTED BY FUNDED
SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION IN DC AS THE SECOND YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR COMMITMENT
CITYBRIDGE FOUNDATION
$20,000SUPPORTS DC SCHOOLS AND LEADERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY
KIPP DC
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE CAPITOL TEACHING RESIDENCY AS THE THIRD OF FIVE ANNUAL GRANTS
SUPPORT EIGHTH GRADE GRADUATES INTO HIGH SCHOOL TO ASSURE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
DIGITAL PIONEERS ACADEMY
$6,000SUPPORT AFTER GUN VIOLENCE AND GENERAL SUPPORT
STATESMAN COLLEGE PREP ACADEMY FOR BOYS
$5,000TO SUPPORT WELL-BEING INITIATIVES
SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT THE BLACK EDUCATORS INITIATIVE
DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000AFTER SCHOOL READING PROGRAM
DC SPECIAL EDUCATION COOP
$2,000TO SUPPORT THIS TIER I NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL
WOODLAND TIGERS YOUTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM
$1,000CONTRIBUTE TO MEMORIAL BANNER WITHIN FACILITY
TURNAROUND FOR CHILDREN
$1,000TO SUPPORT TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES IN SCHOOLS
KIPP DC
$20,000TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL TEACHING RESIDENCY