The New Education Philanthropy: Politics, Policy, and Reform
Published By: Harvard Education Press
Available from:
Philanthropic foundations play an increasingly influential role in education research, policy, and practice — yet this sector has been subject to little research-informed analysis. In “The New Education Philanthropy,” Frederick M. Hess and Jeffrey R. Henig convene a diverse group of scholars and analysts to examine the shifting role of education philanthropy over the last decade, giving particular attention to the large national foundations — Gates, Broad, Walton, and Lumina, among others — that are increasingly aggressive and strategic in their use of funds. Drawing on original research, they investigate and assess the impact of new patterns in foundation giving for advocacy and research; the divergence in funding strategies between old and new foundations; the extension of “venture philanthropy” to higher education; and the backlash against “reform” philanthropy as well as the unlikely partnerships it forges.
“The New Education Philanthropy” offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes at major foundations, exploring the goals, values, and strategies that drive the new grantmakers’ work and outlining the lessons they have learned over the past decade. This empirical inquiry into the ideas and activities of this secretive sector promises to provide a valuable resource for researchers and reformers alike.
Praise for “The New Education Philanthropy”
“This remarkable volume provides penetrating analyses of every corner of the changing education landscape, from a range of philosophical perspectives rarely juxtaposed in today’s polarized discourse. The findings are both encouraging and disturbing. ‘The New Education Philanthropy’ is essential reading for all parties in the debate over education.”
—Dale Russakoff, author of “The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?”
“Hess, Henig, and the contributing authors have made a valuable contribution to the dialogue about the appropriate role of wealthy donors in K–12 education. Collectively, ‘The New Education Philanthropy’ gets it right. A couple of billion dollars invested in reform will never ‘leverage’ overnight transformation but it can have a profound impact worth studying.”
—Jim Blew, president, StudentsFirst, and former advisor, The Walton Family Foundation
“Ten years ago, big foundations confronted the fact that philanthropic dollars were mere buckets into a sea of public spending on education, and many shifted their strategies. This exemplary volume gathers together a diverse group of exceptional authors to explore the recent and more muscular philanthropic approach.”
—Rob Reich, professor of political science, Stanford University, and faculty codirector, the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society
“’The New Education Philanthropy’ provides a broad-based and penetrating look at the role of philanthropy in education reform.”
—Adam Gamoran, president, William T. Grant Foundation
Frederick M. Hess is resident scholar and director of Education Policy Studies at AEI.
Jeffrey R. Henig is a professor of political science and education at Teachers College at Columbia University, where he also serves as chair of the Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis.
