About Vela Education Fund
VELA is a national network of education founders that helps founders access peer networks, resources, and funding to grow flexible, personalized learning models and reach families.
Focus Areas
EducationK-12Personalized learningFounder supportCapacity building
Who They Fund
founders/entrepreneurs of small, student-centered schoolsK-12 studentsfamilies seeking family-centered or homeschool optionseducators operating microschools and learning pods
Funding Style
capacity buildingseed and startup fundingscaling/expansion support
About Vela Education Fund
VELA Education Fund’s recent grant record is defined by very large awards to recipients listed as “See Attached,” alongside a stated commitment to helping founders build flexible, personalized learning models. The foundation sits within a network of education founders and says it helps founders access peer connections, resources, and funding to grow alternative education ventures and reach families. Its current activity shows support for startup and scaling work in microschools, hybrid homeschool programs, learning pods, and family-centered K-12 options. The three largest recent grants are all in Illinois and run from $4.7 million to $10.9 million, pointing to a funder that makes high-dollar, mission-specific commitments rather than many small awards. In 2023, it granted $10,880,332 to See Attached in Glencoe, Illinois for “VARIOUS.” In 2024, it gave $9,031,084 to See Attached in Glencoe, Illinois for “SUPPORT.” The 2025 filing shows another $4,742,250 award to See Attached in Deerfield, Illinois for support. That pattern aligns with VELA’s stated role in backing founders of small, student-centered schools and related family-choice models.
What Vela Education Fund Funds
VELA Education Fund’s stated focus is education, especially K-12 models that give families more flexible options. The grant record matches that emphasis through support for microschools, hybrid homeschool programs, homeschool co-ops, and learning pods. The foundation also names founder support and capacity building as part of its approach, which fits its network-based model for education entrepreneurs. Its program description says founders can access tools, funding opportunities, peer connections, and events through the VELA app. That makes the funder notable for pairing capital with infrastructure for people building new schooling models. The beneficiary types listed include founders and entrepreneurs of small, student-centered schools, K-12 students, families seeking homeschool options, and educators operating microschools and learning pods. The taxonomy also includes K-12 STEM education, suggesting that VELA’s support can extend to content and model development within these alternative learning settings.
How Vela Education Fund Gives
VELA Education Fund’s recent awards are unusually large, with a p25 of $9,493,396, a median grant of $9,955,708, and a p75 of $10,418,020. The top three grants on file are all in the multi-million-dollar range, which signals a concentrated funding pattern rather than a broad small-grant portfolio. The available record shows repeated support across 2023, 2024, and 2025, all to Illinois recipients. That suggests ongoing commitments over multiple years rather than a one-time grant. VELA is classified as a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its active program states that founders can access funding opportunities through the VELA app, and it accepts unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$24.7M
Total Assets
$21.4M
Total Revenue
$18.9M
Total Expenses
$11.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $9.5M and $10.4M, with a median of $10M.
25th Percentile
$9.5M
Median
$10M
75th Percentile
$10.4M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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