What Grantmakers for Education does

Grantmakers for Education (doing business as EdFunders) is a U.S. nonprofit membership network founded in 1995 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The organization serves education grantmakers — foundations, community foundations, and philanthropic entities that devote at least 30% of their budget to grantmaking or award more than $100,000 in grants annually — providing peer connections, learning programs, events, field research, and resources. It claims to be the largest network in education philanthropy with roughly 2,500 grantmakers in its community.

The core offering is an integrated membership network rather than a discrete technology product. Members gain access to a flagship annual conference (October 13-15, 2026 in New York City), cohort-based Impact & Learning Groups across topics such as Arts Education, Equity & Grantmaking, Out-of-School Time, and Postsecondary Access, a New & Emerging EdFunders Fellowship, year-round webinars and field convenings, a curated resources library, quarterly Member Insights articles, the IgnitED Awards, and a jobs and opportunities board. The underlying infrastructure is community- and event-driven — supported by Salesforce administration, email, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram channels — with no proprietary AI, software platform, or API product.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues on a tiered structure based on each member organization's grantmaking budget ($630 for budgets under $500,000 up to $11,750 for budgets over $40 million), supplemented by conference and event registration fees (frozen for 2027), event sponsorships, impact group support, and voluntary additional contributions. The organization is governed by a board comprising senior leaders from member foundations and is led by Executive Director Nicole Rodriguez Leach and a small core staff of roughly 1-10 employees.

Name

Grantmakers for Education

Legal name

Grantmakers for Education

Website

https://edfunders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grantmakers for Education (EdFunders) is a 1995-founded nonprofit membership network serving roughly 2,500 U.S. education grantmakers through annual conferences, impact groups, fellowship programs, field research, and convenings, funded primarily via tiered annual membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Philanthropy Membership Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Education philanthropy
• Membership network
• Grantmaker services
• Nonprofit networking
• Professional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues calculated based on organization's total grantmaking budget and program operation costs. Dues range from $630 for organizations with <$500k budget to $11,750 for organizations with >$40M budget. Membership period runs January through December.
2. Conference and Event Fees: Registration fees for annual conferences and fee-based programs. Conference registration fees are frozen for 2027. Some events are free for members.
3. Contributions and Sponsorships: Members and organizations can make additional contributions beyond their dues level. Conference sponsorships and impact group support are also available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Grantmakers for Education operates a paid membership network that connects U.S. education grantmakers through annual conferences, cohort-based impact and learning groups, webinars and field convenings, a curated resources library, member insights publications, a fellowship for new funders, an annual IgnitED Awards program, and a job board. The core product is the membership itself, sold to foundations and other grantmaking entities via tiered annual dues based on each member's grantmaking budget.

Product overview

Grantmakers for Education (EdFunders) is a membership organization for education philanthropists, not a technology product company. The organization offers a single integrated membership network that provides access to annual conferences, impact and learning groups, events and programs, a resources library, member insights publications, fellowship opportunities, awards programs, and a job board. The portfolio consists of membership services designed to connect, educate, and support education funders rather than distinct software products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grantmakers for Education Membership Network A paid membership network for education philanthropists providing peer connections, shared insights, leadership opportunities, professional learning, and special access to programs and resources. Members are grantmaking organizations that pay tiered annual dues based on their grantmaking budget.
• Annual Conference An annual national conference bringing together education philanthropists to explore emerging trends, share strategies, and engage in dialogue on education philanthropy topics, with paid registration and member discounts.
• Impact & Learning Groups Cohort-based communities of practice for members focused on specific education topics including Arts Education, Equity & Grantmaking, Learning Evaluation and Data, Out-of-School Time, Playful Learning, and Postsecondary Access and Attainment.
• Events & Programs Year-round programming including webinars, field convenings, funder meetups, and special events addressing current issues in education and philanthropy.
• Resources Library A curated collection of reports, research publications, articles, podcasts, and field insights relevant to education grantmaking, covering topics such as early learning, K-12, postsecondary, equity, and education policy.
• Member Insights Quarterly feature articles written by members sharing expertise, experiences, and perspectives on education philanthropy topics.
• New & Emerging EdFunders Fellowship A cohort-based learning experience for education funders in their first one to three years, designed to build strategic clarity, strengthen grantmaking practice, and increase confidence.
• Jobs and Opportunities Board A job and opportunities board that lets members post listings for free and charges non-members $150 per posting, focused on employment and professional development opportunities in education philanthropy.
• IgnitED Awards An annual awards program celebrating outstanding leaders who drive bold ideas and innovative thinking in education and philanthropy.

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Blue Sky Funders ForumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2026Promotional partnership for Blue Sky Funders Forum Annual Convening on nature and community impact.
• Beyond 12minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2026CEO Alexandra Bernadotte speaking at Postsecondary Spotlight on AI event, sharing expertise on AI integration in education.
• Uprooted AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2026Dr. Tiffany Green presenting on AI-driven support for students and trauma-informed approaches during AI & Funder Collaboration event.
• Grantmakers for Education Postsecondary Impact GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2026Core impact group focused on postsecondary pathways and workforce development, driving Postsecondary Spotlight series.
• Children's Funding ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2026Collaboration on Out-of-School Time Field Convening series. Children's Funding Project contributes expertise on children's funding issues during monthly convenings.
• Knowledge to Power CatalystsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2026Partner in Out-of-School Time convenings, contributing senior fellows who lead discussions on youth thriving and systems change.
• Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2026Co-sponsoring event on DACA with ECFC (Early Childhood Funders Collaborative) addressing policy issues affecting immigrant communities.
• Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (ECFC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2026Co-sponsoring immigration policy event with GCIR and partner organizations to address education implications.
• Grantmakers for Education OST Impact GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2026Core member community focused on out-of-school time funding, hosting monthly convenings and peer discussions.
• Annie E. Casey FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2026Katrina Mitchell, Director of Atlanta Civic Site, contributes Member Insights article on youth leadership and voice in philanthropy.
• National Afterschool AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Partner in Out-of-School Time convening on workforce development and youth credentials, providing expertise on afterschool programs.
• Partnership for Children & YouthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Partner in OST convening on workforce and apprenticeship programs for youth development.
• Girls Inc. of Alameda CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Partner organization contributing to conversations on youth development credentials and registered apprenticeships.
• Afterschool AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Partner providing insider briefing on America After 3 survey data during summer programs discussion.
• ECMC FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Program Officer Paula Kashtan presenting on AI impacts on Career and Technical Education during Postsecondary Spotlight series.
• Foundation for California Community CollegesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Dr. Cameron Sublett presenting research on CTE pathways and AI in workforce preparation.
• The Institute for Youth Mental HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2026Partner in OST convening addressing youth mental health and suicide prevention in out-of-school time settings.
• Southern Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 February 2026Hosting partner for event on culturally-based and indigenous child and family programs, co-presenting with Equity Assistance Center-South.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers: A national network of 90+ regional philanthropy associations serving local grantmakers. Comparable as a membership-based funder convening organization with regional/local chapters analogous to GFE's impact group structure.
• Southeastern Council of Foundations: Regional membership association for philanthropic institutions in the U.S. Southeast. Directly comparable membership model for grantmakers (one of GFE's board members previously worked there) with conferences, learning programs, and policy advocacy.
• Center for Effective Philanthropy: Provides research, benchmarking, and tools to help grantmakers improve practice. Comparable audience of education and other grantmakers, with analogous value proposition around field research, benchmarking, and convening.
• Funders for LGBTQ Issues: National grantmaker membership network advancing LGBTQ philanthropy. Comparable cause-focused funder membership model with convening, research, and grantmaking resources analogous to GFE.
• Blue Sky Funders Forum: Funder collaborative focused on nature, environment, and community impact. Comparable as a grantmaker-only convening and learning network with topical focus, and a current GFE promotional partner.
• Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE): A membership network for Black foundation executives and philanthropic leaders advancing racial equity. Comparable peer-led funder membership model with convenings, learning, and field leadership programming.
• Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP): National network supporting emerging philanthropic leaders. Comparable as a peer network offering learning, convening, and leadership development for grantmakers, with overlapping member base in education philanthropy (GFE's Program Director previously chaired EPIP's board).
• National Network of Grantmakers: A membership network of grantmakers organized around shared values and social justice philanthropy. Closely comparable as a peer-led funder network that convenes members for learning and collective action, similar in model to Grantmakers for Education's impact groups.

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foundations: Largest U.S. membership organization for private, family, and community foundations across all cause areas. Directly comparable as a grantmaker membership network, but operates at a broader sector level rather than specializing in education philanthropy.

Emerging players

• Children's Funding Project: Funder initiative supporting equitable child-centered funding. Comparable as a specialized grantmaker support organization with overlapping audience in education/youth philanthropy and an active GFE partnership on Out-of-School Time convenings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOrwOCQzdKeVE2UzjIJWaFw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grantmakers-for-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/edfunders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Grantmakers for Education