The Education Trust is a left-leaning advocacy, research, and grantmaking organization based in Washington, D.C. that advocates for more spending on public school systems among other initiatives. The organization lobbies for left-leaning educational policy at the state and federal level and provides research and resources to activists and school districts. The organization has condemned critics of critical race theory-aligned curriculums, offers “educator equity resources,” and devotes a section of its website to promoting “diversity and equity” among teachers. 1 2
The organization also provides grants to various left-leaning organizations including the New Venture Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA, and Education Resource Strategy. The organization is funded by some of the largest and most notable left-leaning grantmaking organizations in the United States, including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Ford Foundation. 3 4
Background
The Education Trust was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization brings in over $25 million in revenue in the form of grants and donations annually and operates three regional chapters: The Education Trust-West based in California, Education Trust-Midwest, and Education Trust-New York. The organization conducts lobbying and research work to “analyze achievement gaps” in Pre-K through 12th grade education and calls for more funding to schools in majority-minority areas. 5
Activity
The Education Trust’s main programing areas include Pre-K through 12 policy and research work, higher education and college affordability advocacy, and state and federal lobbying. Much of the focus of the organization centers around advocating for more funding for under-achieving school districts, school nutrition programs, and an overhaul of the college financial aid system. The organization often publishes research claiming that states have poorly funded schools, although many such reports do not consider federal dollars sent to local school districts. 6 7
Critical Race Theory
The Education Trust has vocally opposed right-leaning criticisms of critical race theory-inspired teaching at public schools throughout the nation, calling such criticism a “concerted propaganda effort.” 8 The organization has offers several “educator equity resources” and devotes a section of its website to promoting “diversity and equity” among teachers. 9
Funding
The Education Trust is funded by many large left-leaning grant making organizations. According to the organization’s website, funders of the Education Trust include the Amgen Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Arnold Ventures, the Barr Foundation, the Bezos Family Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Meridian Partners, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Walton Family Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 10
Organizations Funded
The Education Trust gives around $2 million in grants annually to left-leaning nonprofit advocacy groups. The organization’s largest gift by a wide margin in 2019 was a $717,000 grant to Education Resource Strategies, a nonprofit organization that provides consulting services to schools. Other organizations funded by the Education Trust Include the Alliance for a Better Community, Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA, the California State Student Association, Californians Together, the Center for Equity for English Learners at Loyola Marymount University, the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, the New Venture Fund, the New York Urban League, and the Public Policy Institute of New York State. 11
References
- “Ed Trusted: The Critical Race Theory Craze That’s Sweeping the Nation.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 17, 2021 https://edtrust.org/edtrusted-2/
- “Educator Equity and Diversity.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/issue/educator-equity-diversity/
- “Supporters.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/who-we-are/supporters/
- “Who We Are.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/who-we-are/
- “P-12 Policy, Research and Practice.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/what-we-do/p-12/
- “P-12 Policy, Research and Practice.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/what-we-do/p-12/
- “Going Beyond ESSA Compliance: A 50-State Scan of School Spending Reports.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/school-spending-beyond-compliance/
- “Ed Trusted: The Critical Race Theory Craze That’s Sweeping the Nation.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 17, 2021 https://edtrust.org/edtrusted-2/
- “Educator Equity and Diversity.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/issue/educator-equity-diversity/
- “Supporters.” The Education Trust. Accessed December 19, 2021. https://edtrust.org/who-we-are/supporters/
- “IRS Form 990.” The Education Trust. 2019. Accessed December 17, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/521982223/04_2021_prefixes_52-54%2F521982223_202006_990_2021042718015611