About Uncommon Schools
To get all students to and through college by operating high‑quality public charter schools and investing in continuous professional development for educators.
Focus Areas
K-12 educationCharter school managementCollege access and readinessTeacher training and professional developmentAlumni support
Who They Fund
K-12 schoolsschool districtscharter schoolseducational institutions (school operators)
Funding Style
capital/real-estate fundingrestricted/project-specific grantsoperational support for institutions
About Uncommon Schools
Uncommon Schools Inc uses grantmaking to support a charter-school network strategy rather than a conventional open-ended philanthropy. Its recent grants show a mix of school operations support and real estate funding tied to specific campuses and school operators, with especially large commitments to Camden Prep Foundation Inc and North Star Academy Charter School. The biggest single recent grant was $11,858,586 to Camden Prep Foundation Inc for real estate, underscoring how central facilities are to the organization’s giving. Other large awards supported North Star Academy Charter School’s operations and North Star Academy Foundation Inc’s property needs, alongside operating support for Uncommon New York City Charter School and True North Rochester Preparatory Charter. The funder’s stated purpose is to get all students to and through college by operating high-quality public charter schools and investing in continuous professional development for educators, which aligns with the school-specific, project-specific pattern visible in the grants. The portfolio also includes recurring support for affiliated charter schools in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and upstate New York.
What Uncommon Schools Funds
A large share of the foundation’s giving is tied to school operations. In 2024, it awarded $2,021,241 to North Star Academy Charter School for school operations, and in 2023 it gave $1,410,032 for the same purpose. It also provided $948,902 to Uncommon New York City Charter School in 2024 and $842,869 in 2023, both for school operations. Real estate and facility support is another clear theme. Examples include $1,226,000 to North Star Academy Foundation Inc for real estate, $1,100,000 to Roxbury Prep Foundation Inc for real estate, and $500,000 to Uncommon Lender Inc for real estate. These grants point to an emphasis on physical plant, ownership, and school-site development. The grant list also includes support for Rochester Prep Foundation Inc and NJ Students Succeed Inc, both categorized as real estate grants.
How Uncommon Schools Gives
Typical awards are in the mid-six-figure range, with a p25 of $280,912, a median of $663,551, and a p75 of $1,130,375. The recent record includes both very large project grants and smaller operating awards, which fits a restricted, school-by-school funding style. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including North Star Academy Charter School, Uncommon New York City Charter School, Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, Camden Prep, and Rochester Prep Foundation Inc, indicating ongoing support rather than one-off gifts. The organization makes program-related investments and does not fund individuals. Its grantmaking is regional, with a strong concentration in New York recipients.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$12.4M
Total Assets
$294.4M
Total Revenue
$88.8M
Total Expenses
$88.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $281K and $1.1M, with a median of $664K.
25th Percentile
$281K
Median
$664K
75th Percentile
$1.1M
Geographic Reach
Regional3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOHN POWELL
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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