The We Can Learn Foundation is sharply focused on supporting education innovation, with the bulk of its funding going to development and dissemination of educational software and assessment tools. Most grants flow to a small set of recurring partners that operate K–12 and youth education programs or education-related research, with occasional modest international relief/education support. Their giving signals a preference for operational and programmatic support that advances measurement, curriculum delivery, and direct services for young learners.
We Can Learn’s largest recent grant was $1,570,419 to Breakthrough in Oakland for educational software and assessment, which sets the tone for the foundation’s giving. Across the latest grants, the foundation repeatedly backs organizations that use digital tools, curriculum support, and assessment systems to serve students in out-of-school or high-risk learning settings. Its grants also reach education-related research institutions and youth programs that depend on structured instructional support. The pattern is not broad general philanthropy; it is centered on funding that helps organizations deliver and measure learning more effectively. The foundation’s recent awards include a $439,375 grant to Breakthrough Collaborative in Oakland for the same purpose, plus smaller grants to groups such as St Jude Research Hospital in Memphis and Hope Academy Schools EBCM in Houston. That mix shows a clear preference for education technology and programmatic support, with occasional cash support tied to specific schooling needs. We Can Learn also appears in education settings that extend beyond traditional classrooms, including refugee-linked school support through Alight’s cash-for-school work in Nakivale.
Educational software and assessment is the foundation’s core pattern. In that area, it gave $45,250 to St Jude Research Hospital in Memphis for educational software and assessment, and $14,407 to Hope Academy Schools EBCM in Houston for the same category. Smaller awards followed the same theme, including $4,807 to Emmanuel International College Jos in Boston and $2,625 to Child Help in Phoenix. The foundation also supports youth-serving and out-of-school education programs. It gave $28,883 to Emerald Youth Foundation in Knoxville for educational software and assessment, and $3,707 to Kids on Point in Charleston for the same purpose. For school-related support tied to a specific context, it awarded $18,580 to Alight in Minneapolis for cash for school in Nakivale, showing an education aid line that reaches refugee-linked settings.
Typical grant size sits at $3,850 at the 25th percentile, $18,580 at the median, and $44,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list shows a very wide spread, from small four-figure awards to seven-figure support, indicating both targeted operating help and much larger program funding. Grantmaking is recurring rather than one-off for some recipients: Breakthrough appears in 2023 and 2025, St Jude Research Hospital appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Emerald Youth Foundation appears in 2024 and 2025. We Can Learn is a regular funder, and its active programs include software grants, in-kind services, and funding donations for nonprofit, non-school organizations serving students at high risk.
$2.2M
$167K
$543K
$508K
Most grants fall between $4K and $45K, with a median of $19K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$19K
75th Percentile
$45K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in MN.
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Highly concentrated giving: a few large grants dominate total dollars (one grantee receives ~70%+ of funding). Funding is directed to repeat grantees and program-focused organizations rather than one-off small awards; most grants are sizable and targeted to program support or product/assessment scaling.
Notable grantees: Breakthrough, Breakthrough Collaborative, St. Jude Research Hospital, Emerald Youth Foundation, Alight
Grants are national, with every recent recipient located in the United States. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 22% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include Alight and Project Success, both in Minneapolis. Other repeated recipient locations include Oakland, Memphis, and Knoxville, while the list also reaches Houston, Boston, Charleston, Naples, Atlanta, Phoenix, Fresno, and Jacksonville.
The foundation primarily funds educational software and assessment, especially for organizations serving students at high risk. Recent grants also show support for out-of-school learning, school-level support, and education-related research institutions with educational components.
Typical grants are $3,850 at the 25th percentile, $18,580 at the median, and $44,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes a much larger award of $1,570,419, showing that the foundation sometimes makes outsized program grants.
Yes. Breakthrough appears in both 2023 and 2025, St Jude Research Hospital appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Emerald Youth Foundation appears in 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests repeated support for selected partners.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 22% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. Recent Minnesota recipients include Alight in Minneapolis and Project Success in Minneapolis.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals. Its active grant programs are aimed at nonprofit, non-school organizations serving students at high risk, and they include software grants, in-kind services, and funding donations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIVE | OAKLAND, CA | $439,375 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| HOPE ACADEMY SCHOOLS EBCM | HOUSTON, TX | $14,407 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $7,169 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| EMMANUEL INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE JOS | BOSTON, MA | $4,807 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| KIDS ON POINT | CHARLESTON, SC | $3,707 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| PROJECT BUILD | NAPLES, FL | $3,607 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| RAISING EXPECTATIONS | ATLANTA, GA | $2,797 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $714 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| KIM'S OPEN DOOR | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $707 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $44,500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION | KNOXVILLE, TN | $28,883 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| CARE FRESNO | FRESNO, CA | $1,936 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| BREAKTHROUGH | OAKLAND, CA | $1,570,419 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $45,250 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| ALIGHT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $18,580 | 2023 | CASH FOR SCHOOL IN NAKIVALE |
| PROJECT SUCCESS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | CASH DONATION FOR PROJECT SUCCESS |
| FAMILY BIZ BUILDER | TUNICA, MS | $3,850 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
| CHILD HELP | PHOENIX, AZ | $2,625 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT |
BREAKTHROUGH COLLABORATIVE
$439,375EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
HOPE ACADEMY SCHOOLS EBCM
$14,407EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$7,169EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
EMMANUEL INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE JOS
$4,807EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
KIDS ON POINT
$3,707EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
PROJECT BUILD
$3,607EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
RAISING EXPECTATIONS
$2,797EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION
$714EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
KIM'S OPEN DOOR
$707EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$44,500EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
EMERALD YOUTH FOUNDATION
$28,883EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
CARE FRESNO
$1,936EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
BREAKTHROUGH
$1,570,419EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
ST JUDE RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$45,250EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
ALIGHT
$18,580CASH FOR SCHOOL IN NAKIVALE
PROJECT SUCCESS
$10,000CASH DONATION FOR PROJECT SUCCESS
FAMILY BIZ BUILDER
$3,850EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
CHILD HELP
$2,625EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE & ASSESSMENT
Current and upcoming funding from We Can Learn that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit, non-school organizations with pre-established community engagement, staff, and resources to implement curriculum and training; missions that include education and raising academic achievement; serving students at high risk. U.S. and international nonprofits are considered.
Who can apply: U.S. and international nonprofit non-school organizations; organizations with pre-established community engagement, staff, and resources to implement curriculum and training; nonprofits serving students at high risk.
Deadline: Application process will reopen soon; no current deadline listed.
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