Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

What Consortium of Florida Education Foundations does

The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit statewide alliance, founded in 1992, that convenes and serves 63 of Florida's 67 county-wide local education foundations—together representing 99% of Florida's approximately 3 million K-12 public school students. Its statutory core function is administering the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, the nation's only legislative dollar-for-dollar match for K-12 education foundation initiatives; since 2001, more than $81.8 million in state appropriations have flowed through this program, with 2025-26 alone deploying $19.13 million ($7M state + $12.13M private). Beyond grant administration, the Consortium runs the annual ConnectED conference, the New Worlds Reading Initiative regional partnership, the Foundations for Excellence Quality Standards framework (30 standards across six areas), the Support Education specialty license plate program (over $14M since 1994), and member-support services including quarterly forums, peer networking, and legislative advocacy via the Advocacy Center.

The organization operates a lean central staff of seven, serving a member network whose 63 foundations collectively raise more than $100 million annually and hold more than $226 million in assets. Revenue mechanics combine managed-services pass-through (state matching grants, $20-per-plate license transactions), subscription-style membership dues from the 63 foundations, and direct corporate and foundation grants (Suncoast Credit Union, FPL, HCA Healthcare Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, Wells Fargo, Amscot, Helios Education Foundation, Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Florida Lottery, The Able Trust, Kids in Need Foundation, Florida Prepaid College Foundation, and the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning). It does not develop proprietary technology; its offerings are programmatic and convening in nature. The Consortium is governed by a Board of Directors up to 17 members, at least three-fourths of whom are CEOs of member foundations, and as of May 2025 is led by President and CEO Amity Schuyler, who succeeded Mary Chance following her 17-year tenure.

Name

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

Legal name

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations

Website

https://educationfoundationsfl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit statewide alliance convening 63 of Florida's 67 local education foundations—covering 99% of the state's 3 million K-12 students—to administer the nation's only $1-for-$1 legislative matching grant program and deliver member capacity-building, workforce pathway, and advocacy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Foundation Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Education foundation services
• Matching grant administration
• K-12 nonprofit alliance
• Education advocacy
• Classroom innovation funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Gainesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program: The Consortium administers Florida's unique dollar-for-dollar matching grant program where private-sector investments into local education foundations are matched by state funding. Since 2001, over $81.8 million has been allocated through this program.
2. Membership Dues: Local education foundations pay membership dues to belong to the Consortium network, which provides access to resources, professional development, and collective advocacy.
3. Specialty License Plate Program: $20 from every Support Education specialty license plate goes directly back to support public education in the county where the tag was purchased. Over $14 million has been raised since 1994.
4. Corporate and Foundation Grants: The Consortium facilitates grants from corporate partners (FPL, HCA Healthcare Foundation, Duke Energy, Suncoast Credit Union, Wells Fargo, etc.) to fund statewide programs and member foundation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations operates as a statewide alliance of 63 local education foundations, administering Florida's unique dollar-for-dollar School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program that leverages private-sector investment with state funding for K-12 initiatives. It convenes members through the annual ConnectED conference and quarterly forums, facilitates corporate and foundation grants (including scholarships and STEM/career pathway programs), provides professional development and capacity-building support, and advocates at the state level on education policy. It also generates recurring funding through the Support Education specialty license plate program.

Product overview

The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations operates as a statewide alliance of 63 local education foundations (representing 99% of Florida's 3 million K-12 students) that provides programs and services rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings include the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program (the nation's only 1:1 legislative match for education initiatives), the annual ConnectED Conference, New Worlds Reading Initiative partnership, Support Education Specialty License Plate Program, Foundations for Excellence Quality Standards, and various workforce development programs including Suncoast Scholars, FPL EmPOWERing STEM Educators, Career Pathways to a Healthier Florida, and Career Catalyst Program. Member support services include professional development, strategic planning assistance, and advocacy resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ConnectED: Annual conference convening all stakeholders and critical conversations in Florida education, bringing together local education foundation leaders and state/national partners.
• Foundations for Excellence Quality Standards
• School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program

Products and services

• School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program (SDEFMG) A dollar-for-dollar matching grant program that pairs state funding with local private investment to strengthen classrooms, support educators, and create student opportunities across Florida's 67 school districts. It is the nation's only legislative match for education foundation initiatives.
• ConnectED Annual Conference An annual statewide conference that convenes education foundation leaders, legislators, and partners for learning, collaboration, and conversations focused on critical education issues.
• New Worlds Reading Initiative Regional Partnership Regional partnership with the University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning to increase enrollment in Florida's free book delivery program for eligible VPK through 5th-grade students not reading on grade level.
• Support Education Specialty License Plate Program Specialty license plate program that generates $20 from every plate purchase directly back to support public education in the county where the tag was purchased, funding classroom innovation, school supplies, enrichment programs, scholarships, and teacher support.
• Foundations for Excellence Quality Standards A voluntary self-assessment and peer review process with 30 quality standards across six key areas designed to support long-term strength and stability for member education foundations.
• Suncoast Scholars Program A scholarship program facilitated through Suncoast Credit Union's 25-county service territory, awarding $1,000-$2,000 annually to high school seniors demonstrating financial need and strong academic performance.
• FPL EmPOWERing STEM Educators Grant A teacher professional development program providing $6,500-$8,000 grants to local education foundations to implement high-impact, teacher-led STEM instruction programs with emphasis on educator-led learning communities.
• Career Pathways to a Healthier Florida A healthcare career pathway program funded by a $1 million HCA Healthcare Foundation grant over three years, supporting 15 local education foundations to foster healthcare career pathways for underserved high school students.
• Career Catalyst Program A grant program in partnership with the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation that invests $100,000 in innovative career academies or CTE programs in rural and underserved communities.
• Resiliency Through the Community A program mobilizing American Rescue Plan funds to build resiliency skills in students through innovative, locally driven programs aligned with Florida's character education standards, engaging 50 local education foundations.
• Member Support Services Professional development including quarterly in-person forums, shared interest groups, online resource center, one-on-one support for strategic planning, program development, marketing and fundraising support, and technical assistance for member education foundations.
• Advocacy Center Resources connecting communities and classrooms including Days at the Capitol advocacy events, bill tracking tools, legislative recaps, and connections to state and federal representatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of Florida's K-12 students served through Matching Grant Program participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Suncoast Credit UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuncoast Credit Union is a presenting sponsor of ConnectED and partner in the Suncoast Scholars Program, providing $1,000-2,000 scholarships to high school seniors in their 25-county service territory through local education foundations.
• Florida Power & Light (FPL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPL has invested over $600,000 since 2018 through the EmPOWERing STEM Educators program, providing grants of $6,500-$8,000 to 19 local education foundations for teacher-led professional development in STEM instruction.
• Duke Energy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke Energy Foundation supports workforce partnership programs, including the Tango Flight aviation careers initiative and other regional workforce development efforts in Florida counties they serve.
• The Able TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Able Trust partners on the Futures in Focus program, helping high school students with disabilities explore career and postsecondary education pathways through real-world learning experiences.
• Wells FargocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWells Fargo partners on the Investing in Florida's Future program to expand hands-on financial education programs through Reality Fairs and Finance Park initiatives across multiple education foundations.
• Florida LotterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida Lottery supports education through the matching grant program and FAFSA workshops, helping students and families understand and access funding for postsecondary education.
• Amscot FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmscot's annual 'Just A Dollar' campaign has generated over $2 million in lifetime support for Florida students, teachers, and schools across their 27 Florida territories since 2008.
• Helios Education FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner helping build the capacity of Consortium members through professional development and resource support.
• Florida Prepaid College FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Jump Start scholarships and Take Stock in Children program, creating pathways for deserving high school seniors to access Florida public colleges and universities.
• Kids in Need FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing resources for free teacher resource stores operated by 24 education foundations, which collectively distribute more than $16 million in school supplies annually.
• University of Florida Lastinger Center for LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium selected as Regional Partner for New Worlds Reading Initiative in 2022, working with 22 member education foundations to increase enrollment in Florida's free book delivery program.
• BiziminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatching Grant partner providing student resiliency programming through local education foundations across Florida.
• WozEDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatching Grant partner providing STEM education programs through local education foundations.
• Fork FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatching Grant partner providing STEM/food forest programs through local education foundations.
• Inchy (Book Vending)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatching Grant partner providing literacy programs through book vending machines at local education foundations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: Nonprofit crowdfunding platform connecting donors directly to K-12 teachers and classrooms. Comparable in mission (channeling private dollars to classroom-level K-12 needs), though uses a digital marketplace model rather than foundation intermediation.
• National Education Foundation: National nonprofit focused on digital literacy, STEM, and workforce development for underserved K-12 students. Comparable in serving education gap-filling and workforce-readiness missions, though operates nationally via technology platforms rather than local-foundation networks.

Others

• Pinellas Education Foundation: One of the Consortium's largest member foundations and a recognized Florida leader in education foundation operations. Comparable as a flagship local education foundation providing scholarships, teacher support, and workforce programs at the district level — illustrating the model the Consortium represents at scale.
• Grantmakers for Education: National membership association of education funders that convenes and advocates for the education philanthropy sector. Comparable as a network/membership organization serving education grantmakers, though it does not itself administer grant programs to schools.

Direct peers

• Helios Education Foundation: A regional education grantmaking foundation operating in Arizona and Florida with a similar mission of increasing postsecondary attainment. Directly comparable in funding scale, programmatic approach (scholarships, college access, career pathways), and Florida footprint — also an active partner of the Consortium.
• Public Education Foundation Network: National network supporting local education foundations across multiple states, providing shared resources and advocacy. Directly comparable as a peer umbrella organization for local education foundations, though smaller and less state-integrated than CFEF.
• Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd): Florida-based K-12 education policy and reform organization that drives state-level education improvement. Comparable as a Florida-focused K-12 intermediary that works with state policymakers, districts, and funders to advance education outcomes.

Regional players

• Foundation for the Carolinas: Large community foundation operating in the Carolinas that administers scholarship and education grant programs. Comparable as a regional intermediary that channels private and corporate education funding to local programs, though it is a single community foundation rather than a consortium.

Broad incumbents

• The Wallace Foundation: Large national foundation focused on K-12 education leadership, school leadership development, and out-of-school learning. Comparable as a major K-12 education grantmaker, though operating nationally with a much larger endowment and broader geographic scope.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (US Education): Largest global education grantmaker with significant K-12 investments. Comparable in scale of education funding, though operates nationally and globally with a different intervention model (systemic reform vs. local foundation intermediation).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FlaEdFoundtns
• Facebookfacebook.com/educationfoundationsfl.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consortium-of-florida-education-foundations/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/educationfoundationsfl
• Xx.com/FlaEduFoundtns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Consortium of Florida Education Foundations