About Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Ensure every young person in New England has access to excellent, rigorous, and relevant educational experiences that support their healthy development and prepare them to thrive in school, community, and careers of the future.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationstudent successracial equity in public educationcommunity engagementeducation policy and systems change
Who They Fund
organizations led by people of color (BIPOC-led orgs)BIPOC students and youtheducators and teacher workforce (including prospective teachers)school leaders and elected/appointed school board members (superintendents)New England regional communities and local coalitions
Funding Style
About Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Nellie Mae Education Foundation Inc. pairs large-scale regional grantmaking with a clear emphasis on racial equity, community engagement, and systems change in New England. In 2025, its largest recent award in the data was a $2,995,000 grant to The Bridgespan Group for capacity building accelerator provider work, alongside seven-figure support to Schott Foundation for Public Education and Fsg Inc for strategic impact and systems transformation efforts across the region. The foundation also backs community-school partnerships, youth voice, and organizations led by people of color, showing a portfolio that reaches from field-building intermediaries to local coalitions and culturally rooted groups. Recent grants also point to a strong interest in strengthening the infrastructure around education work, not only direct programming. Brown University received $850,000 for education research infrastructure in New England, while Fund for the City of New York received $600,000 for the launch of the Center for Youth and the Future of Work and a national study. Other awards support partner organizations that convene, coach, and help regional actors align around student success, educator leadership, and public education change.
What Nellie Mae Education Foundation Funds
Community-school partnerships are a recurring theme. In 2023, Nellie Mae Education Foundation Inc. gave $900,000 each to Pioneer Valley Project Inc., Manchester Public Schools, and Worcester Education Collaborative (United Way of Central Massachusetts) for advancing community-school partnerships. In 2024, it awarded $312,000 to Central Falls School District for the same purpose, and $523,070 to Portland Empowered Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition for supporting community-school partnerships. The foundation also invests in youth leadership. Roger Williams University received $545,000 in 2023 for the Youth Leadership Institute and NEYON membership organizations, plus $367,000 in 2023 and $355,000 in 2024 for amplifying youth voice and leadership. Another area is support for organizations led by people of color, including $375,719 to Beloved Community in 2023 as a technical assistance provider for organizations led by people of color and $312,000 to Save Girls on Fyer Inc. for supporting organizations led by people of color.
How Nellie Mae Education Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$21M
Total Assets
$543M
Total Revenue
$40.9M
Total Expenses
$30M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $12K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
Geographic Reach
Regional23 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
DR GISELE SHORTER
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Nellie Mae Education Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime