Philanthropic Partners
Learning Forward would like to thank the following organizations for their generous support in promoting professional learning to advance student achievement.
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works
to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving
people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.
In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—
have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle,
Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under
the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
supports Learning Forward and its partners Educate Texas and the Dana Center to implement the
Texas Network for School Improvement. For more information, visit www.gatesfoundation.org.
CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the
advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. In keeping with this mandate,
the Corporation’s agenda focuses on the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of paramount
importance: the advancement of education and knowledge, a strong democracy, and international
peace. The Corporation’s Leadership and Teaching to Advance Learning portfolio in the Education
Program supports Learning Forward in the revision of the Standards for Professional Learning and
the development of their Content-Based Coaching Program for Master Coaches. The Standards
outline the conditions for and characteristics of professional learning that changes educator
knowledge, skills, and practices, leading to improved teaching and learning for all students. The
Content-Based Coaching Program will allow Learning Forward to provide standards-aligned
support for coaches that targets their own content and pedagogical expertise to better prepare
them to support teachers in more effective lesson planning and classroom instruction. For more
information, visit www.carnegie.org.
CHARLES AND LYNN SCHUSTERMAN FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies is a global organization that seeks to
improve lives, strengthen communities, and advance equity. Schusterman’s philanthropic vision
is grounded in a commitment to pursue justice, repair the world, and treat all people with dignity
and civility. Schusterman invests in efforts to improve public education in the United States,
strengthen the Jewish people and Israel, and address the needs of marginalized individuals and
communities. Schusterman supports Learning Forward in its efforts to amplify the importance
of integrating high-quality curriculum and professional learning and share their stories as they
advocate for continued high-quality professional learning programs and funding. For more
information, visit www.schusterman.org.
ROBIN HOOD LEARNING + TECHNOLOGY FUND
The Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund is a joint effort among Robin Hood, Overdeck
Family Foundation, and Siegel Family Endowment to unlock the potential of technology
to transform learning and advance achievement for low-income students in New York City.
In collaboration with visionary school leaders, educators, and organizations, our goal is to
collectively learn what is needed to bring to life two potentially powerful learning strategies:
blended literacy and integrated computational thinking. For more information, visit
www.robinhood.org/programs/special-initiatives/learning-and-technology.
WALLACE FOUNDATION
Based in New York City, The Wallace Foundation is an independent national philanthropy whose
mission is to foster equity and improvements in learning and enrichment for young people, and in
the arts for everyone. Current areas of interest include school leadership, expanding and diversifying
audiences for the arts, social and emotional learning, summer learning, arts education, and
afterschool. Wallace aims to help solve problems facing the fields in which it works, benefiting both
the organizations it funds directly and the broader field by developing credible, useful knowledge to
inform policy and practice nationwide. Research commissioned by and produced by the foundation
is available without charge from the Knowledge Center at www.wallacefoundation.org.
WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a nonpartisan, charitable foundation that advances
ideas and supports institutions to promote a better world. Their programs focus on education,
environment, global development and population, U.S. democracy, performing arts, and effective
philanthropy. The Education Program makes grants to help educators and communities turn
schools into places that empower and equip every student for a lifetime of learning. The Hewlett
Foundation supports Learning Forward’s revision of the Standards for Professional Learning. For
more information, visit www.hewlett.org.
