Thursday is education & youth day on The Grant Brief.

Both of these funders sit in the education space, but they reward very different organizations. One writes six-figure checks to established independent schools. The other starts at $5,000 for project-based work in five states. Knowing which lane you're in saves a lot of wasted proposal time.

What we know: Ford made 31 grants in its most recent filing year, totaling about $3 million, with a median award of $100,000. Nearly all grants go to higher education or independent school organizations. Top states include New York, California, Massachusetts, D.C., and North Carolina. Recent recipients include University Liggett School ($250,000), Marymount School of New York ($250,000), The Gregory School ($250,000 across two grants), and William Penn Charter School ($150,511). One large grant of $2 million went to National Philanthropic Trust, which accounts for roughly 25% of lifetime giving. Every proposal requires at least a 1:1 match from funds the school raises independently.

Realistic fit: established independent schools serving grades 9 through 12 that can demonstrate a clear institutional need and match the grant dollar for dollar.

What we know: The foundation made 18 grants in its most recent year, totaling about $858,000, with a median of $22,500. The stated range is $5,000 to $25,000 for initial project grants, but the 990 data tells a different story at the top end: UNLV Foundation received $1 million, Georgia Tech Foundation received $733,247 across three grants, and University of Michigan School of Education received $650,000 over three grants. Giving clusters in Tennessee, Colorado, Nevada, and Louisiana. Most grants code to higher education, with smaller allocations to arts/culture, environment, health, and human services. The foundation prefers science-based educational initiatives. Most funding decisions happen in Q4.

Realistic fit: education-focused 501(c)(3)s based in one of the five eligible states, especially those with ties to universities or a measurable, science-grounded project.

If your organization isn't an independent secondary school or a state-eligible education nonprofit with a concrete project proposal, neither of these is the right fit. Ford rewards institutional track records and matching capacity. Dunn rewards specificity and a science-based angle, with most real dollars flowing to university-affiliated grantees.