The Louis Calder Foundation concentrates its giving on K–12 public school improvement, with a strong emphasis on charter school expansion and advancing evidence-based literacy instruction (the science of reading). Grants are programmatic and capacity-focused — supporting school growth vehicles, fiscal sponsorship for literacy initiatives, and national charter networks — suggesting a preference for scalable education reforms rather than general operating support. Though based in Denver, the foundation funds national organizations and initiatives that can be replicated or scaled across districts and charter networks.
A repeated pattern defines the Louis Calder Foundation’s recent grantmaking: large awards to charter-school infrastructure and literacy intermediaries that can scale across multiple schools or networks. The foundation has backed Charter Fund Inc three years in a row, including $1,000,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for charter-school growth. It has also used seven-figure and high-six-figure support for evidence-based reading work, including $750,000 to Array Education Inc in 2025 as fiscal sponsor for The Literacy Group and $500,000 to Instruction Partners in 2025 for science of reading work. Across its education portfolio, the foundation favors programmatic support tied to implementation, expansion, and capacity-building rather than unrestricted giving. Recent grants show the same approach across charter school growth vehicles, literacy organizations, and school-improvement groups in multiple states. The foundation’s active grant programs also point to three main lanes: science of reading, growth of charter schools, and two-generation family learning. That mix shows a clear interest in K–12 improvement through instructional quality, school scaling, and early-childhood supports that connect parents and children.
In charter-school expansion, the foundation gave $400,000 to New Schools for Alabama in 2024 for growth of charter schools, and $250,000 to The Opportunity Trust in 2025 for the same purpose. It also supported Building Responsible Intelligent Creative Kids with $250,000 in 2024 for growth of charter schools. For science-of-reading work, grants went to organizations doing implementation and support work rather than only direct classroom delivery. Examples include $400,000 to Cambiar Education in 2024 for science of reading, $450,000 to Kipp New York Inc in 2024 for science of reading, and $400,000 to Springboard Collaborative in 2023 for science of reading. The foundation also gave $350,000 to Reach Institute for School Leadership in 2023 for teacher and leader development. Two-generation family learning appears in multiple years as well: Jeremiah Program received $400,000 in 2025 for two-generation family learning and $400,000 in 2024 for the same theme.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-six-figure range, with a p25 of $100,000, a median of $150,000, and a p75 of $250,000. The recent record also includes several larger awards at $400,000, $500,000, $750,000, and $1,000,000. Repeated grantees appear across multiple years, including Charter Fund Inc, Kipp New York Inc, Springboard Collaborative, Jeremiah Program, Achievement First Inc, and Teach for America Inc. The foundation is a regular funder and does accept unsolicited applications in its active programs. Its grants are programmatic and capacity-focused, especially for school growth, literacy implementation, and fiscal sponsorship.
$8.2M
$199.2M
$13.3M
$11.8M
Most grants fall between $100K and $250K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large grants with repeat funding to select organizations. Majority of dollars are directed to a few education-focused recipients emphasizing scale and program growth rather than many small, diverse grantees.
Notable grantees: Charter Fund Inc, Array Education Inc (fiscal sponsor for The Literacy Group), Achievement First Inc
Grantmaking is national, with every recorded recipient in the United States. New York is the top state by grant count, and Colorado recipients account for 10% of grants. Recent city-level recipients include New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA; New Haven, CT; Birmingham, AL; and Minneapolis, MN. The foundation also funds organizations in Denver and Broomfield, Colorado, alongside grantees in California, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Washington, DC.
Its active programs center on science of reading, growth of charter schools, and two-generation family learning. Recent grants also show support for accelerated learning, curriculum, and teacher and leader development, all tied to K–12 school improvement.
Typical grants are in the mid-six-figure range: p25 is $100,000, median grant size is $150,000, and p75 is $250,000. Recent awards also include larger grants of $400,000, $500,000, $750,000, and $1,000,000.
Yes. The active programs listed for science of reading, growth of charter schools, and two-generation family learning each indicate that unsolicited applications are accepted.
It gives nationally. New York is the top state by grant count, while Colorado recipients make up 10% of grants. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants list includes charter-school support organizations, literacy intermediaries, school networks, teacher-development groups, and family-learning providers. Examples include Charter Fund Inc, Array Education Inc, Instruction Partners, Kipp New York Inc, and Jeremiah Program.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Louis Calder Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations that help parents nurture their children's healthy development and complement the Foundation's strategy.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHARTER FUND INC | DENVER, CO | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| ARRAY EDUCATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $750,000 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE LITERACY GROUP, SCIENCE OF READING |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $600,000 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSOR FOR MAGPIE LITERACY, SCIENCE OF READING |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $500,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| THE ACHIEVEMENT NETWORK LTD | BOSTON, MA | $400,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| JEREMIAH PROGRAM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $400,000 | 2026 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $375,000 | 2026 | FISCAL SPONSOR FOR ONYOURMARK, SCIENCE OF READING |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $350,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| KIPP FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| COLORADO SCHOOLS FUND | DENVER, CO | $300,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| BECOMING COLLEGIATE ACADEMY INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $260,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| EXCELLENT SCHOOLS NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $250,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| REACH OUT AND READ INC | BOSTON, MA | $250,000 | 2026 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| KIPP COLORADO SCHOOLS | DENVER, CO | $250,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| SETON EDUCATION PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| NASHVILLE CLASSICAL | NASHVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| KIPP JACKSONVILLE INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $175,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| EPISCOPAL CHILDREN'S SERVICES INC | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $150,000 | 2026 | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY |
| BUILDING RESPONSIBLE INTELLIGENT CREATIVE KIDS | NEWARK, NJ | $150,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $150,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY SCHOOLS | DENVER, CO | $140,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| KIPP NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC | DURHAM, NC | $125,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| INDEPENDENCE SCHOOLS OF ALABAMA | FAIRFIELD, AL | $125,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| INVICTUS NASHVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $100,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| DEKALB BRILLIANCE ACADEMY INC | DECATUR, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| HONOR PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL | MIDLAND, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| MILES AHEAD CHARTER SCHOOL | POWDER SPRINGS, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| KIPP NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $75,000 | 2026 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL | LIVINGSTON, AL | $65,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| WEST PALM GOLF COMMUNITY TRUST INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY |
| UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS INC | ASBURY PARK, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY |
| HORIZONS NATIONAL STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM INC | NORWALK, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY |
| PHILANTHROPY COLORADO | ARVADA, CO | $2,575 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PEAK GRANTMAKING INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,250 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CIVIC NEWS COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| THE 74 MEDIA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| CHARTER FUND INC | DENVER, CO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| ARRAY EDUCATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $750,000 | 2025 | FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE LITERACY GROUP, SCIENCE OF READING |
| INSTRUCTION PARTNERS | NASHVILLE, TN | $500,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| CAMBIAR EDUCATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $400,000 | 2025 | FISCAL SPONSOR FOR MAGPIE LITERACY, SCIENCE OF READING |
| JEREMIAH PROGRAM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $400,000 | 2025 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $350,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| COLORADO SCHOOLS FUND | DENVER, CO | $300,000 | 2025 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| SPRINGBOARD COLLABORATIVE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING |
| THE OPPORTUNITY TRUST | ST LOUIS, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| ROOM TO GROW NATIONAL INC | BRONX, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING |
| BUILDING RESPONSIBLE INTELLIGENT CREATIVE KIDS | NEWARK, NJ | $200,000 | 2025 | GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS |
| UNIVERSITY CHARTER SCHOOL | LIVINGSTON, AL | $200,000 | 2025 | SCIENCE OF READING |
FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE LITERACY GROUP, SCIENCE OF READING
SCIENCE OF READING
KIPP FOUNDATION
$300,000SCIENCE OF READING
COLORADO SCHOOLS FUND
$300,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
BECOMING COLLEGIATE ACADEMY INC
$260,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
BUILDING RESPONSIBLE INTELLIGENT CREATIVE KIDS
$150,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$150,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
KIPP NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC
$125,000SCIENCE OF READING
INDEPENDENCE SCHOOLS OF ALABAMA
$125,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
INVICTUS NASHVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL
$100,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
HONOR PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOL
$100,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
MILES AHEAD CHARTER SCHOOL
$100,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
VALLEY SETTLEMENT
$75,000TWO-GENERATION FAMILY LEARNING
TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
HORIZONS NATIONAL STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM INC
$25,000TRUSTEE DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT FOR HIGH QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
PHILANTHROPY COLORADO
$2,575GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CIVIC NEWS COMPANY
$1,000RESEARCH
FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE LITERACY GROUP, SCIENCE OF READING
COLORADO SCHOOLS FUND
$300,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
BUILDING RESPONSIBLE INTELLIGENT CREATIVE KIDS
$200,000GROWTH OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
