We’re Listening and Learning With You: Announcing Our 2022 Funding Opportunity
Frances Messano Even in normal times, raising money from philanthropy for a new organization or innovative idea is an arduous and intimidating process. But things aren’t normal right now, and for many innovators, fundraising feels harder than ever. Seeking funding comes with the expectation that an individual must jump through hoops to get introduced to […]
Our Promise and Plan of Action for the Year Ahead
Frances Messano, President This is a tough time to be in education. For teachers and school leaders navigating a third wave of the pandemic and fighting to deliver an excellent education, there are no “time outs.” Education philanthropy has a shared responsibility to support educators who are responding to unrelenting demands every day. Here at […]
MacKenzie Scott Makes Historic Gift to NewSchools Venture Fund
By Frances Messano and Stacey Childress We are thrilled to announce that NewSchools Venture Fund has received an incredible $35M investment from MacKenzie Scott—a gift that allows us to continue to provide unrestricted dream capital to the innovators we fund. This is the single largest contribution NewSchools has received to date, and these funds will […]
Schools Need Support to Reinvent Themselves. Will Philanthropy Step Up to Help?
By Leo Bialis-White and Scott Benson Philanthropy can be a powerful force for good. When innovators have a compelling idea that meets the moment, philanthropy can provide flexible, responsive capital so those ideas can flourish. This is one such moment in education. Despite a massive infusion of federal aid — $190 billion through the Elementary […]
Ceding Power: NewSchools Shifts Grantmaking Power to Parents, Students, and Education Innovators
NewSchools Venture Fund In April, NewSchools launched a new funding opportunity to provide dream capital to innovators of color with bold ideas to advance racial equity in education. This investment area combines a broad focus with a new approach to grantmaking: Ceding decision-making power to a council of parents, students, and education innovators. The council […]
What are pandemic pods, and what do they mean for education?
By Jason Weeby, Director of Strategic Initiatives, NewSchools Venture Fund Occasionally, after the kids are in bed, my neighbor comes over to have a beer. Sitting six feet apart in my backyard, we compare notes on how we’re coping as we raise young kids during a pandemic and a national reckoning with racism. After the […]
Keep the older kids at home and use middle and high schools for elementary students
By Leo Bialis-White, Senior Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund Updates! Back in May, Greg Richmond and Peter Cunningham were some of the first to advocate for reallocating secondary school buildings in The 74. Evidence about how children in different age groups transmit the coronavirus wasn’t out then, which only strengthens their argument. Emily Oster of ParentData blog came to a similar […]
COVID-19 is Upending What “Schooltime” Means. And that’s a good thing.
By Leo Bialis-White, Senior Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund One hundred and eighty days per year. Six and a half hours per day. For decades, the lines separating in-school and out-of-school time have been clear and immutable. Families, schools, after-school providers, and unions built everything around this static structure. Now, COVID-19 is radically changing the […]
Three Principles School Leaders Can Use to Reduce COVID-19 Risk
By David Noah, Comp Sci High Jason Shaad, Charter School Growth Fund Miho Kubagawa, NewSchools Venture Fund Photo by Andy Falconer Are face shields just as effective as face masks? What does social distancing look like for early elementary school students? Should we take everyone’s temperature upon arrival? How often should playground equipment be cleaned? School […]