EE Ford Executive Director on Sabbatical from July 1- December 31, 2024.

(See letters regarding Sabbatical here)

The Edward E. Ford Foundation seeks to improve secondary education by supporting U.S. independent schools and encouraging promising practices.

We make Traditional Grants to eligible schools and associations to help them grow and develop in pursuit of their own missions.

We make Educational Leadership Grants to eligible schools or groups of schools that consist of larger dollar awards to fewer recipients.

We encourage collaboration with others in both Traditional and Educational Leadership grant cycles.

Occasionally, we may make larger, multi-year Collaborative Innovation Grants in support of projects that have the potential to influence secondary education...

Beyond grant-making, we share what we learn, sponsor strategic meetings, and work with others to identify and respond to the most pressing challenges facing the field of secondary education.

By January 2022, the Board had awarded more than 2,800 grants approximating $132,000,000 to over 900 different schools and associations since its inception in 1957.

In 2008, the Board first awarded five matching grants of $250,000 to schools invited to compete for the EE Ford Educational Leadership initiative. By April 2018, a total of 38 such awards had been made.

Educational Leadership Grant proposals must be generative, transformational and will frequently address the question, “What is the public purpose of private education?”

Open Agendas

“Agenda” is the term we use for our annual grant cycles.

June 2024 Agenda
Traditional Grant

Final Proposal: April 1, 2024

CLOSED

April 2025 Agenda
Leadership Grant

Final Proposal: January 24, 2025

CLOSED

June 2025 Agenda
Traditional Grant

Final Proposal: April 1, 2025

Learn More About Eligibility
or
Request Agenda Placement

Featured Special Grant Project 2024

A Framework for Schools

More than a year ago, the E.E. Ford Foundation approved a proposal submitted by Deerfield Academy Head of School John Austin to develop a “framework” that could serve as a guide for schools eager to have discussions around addressing the increased polarization and politicization in independent schools. The result: Thriving in a World of Pluralistic Contention: A Framework for Schools, offers three pillars for schools to consider: Expressive Freedom, Disciplined Nonpartisanship, and Intellectual Diversity.

Featured Traditional Grant Projects 2020–2022

Featured Projects

Digital Landscape Lab

Augusta Preparatory Day School

Augusta Preparatory Day School, an independent college preparatory school in Augusta, Georgia, is creating a space which will provide an immersive, interactive, and engaging learning experience for students through the use of augmented, virtual and extended reality or “XR”. The Digital Landscape Lab is located in the W. Rodger Giles Institute for Inquiry, which will open for classes in January 2024.

Faculty Fellowship Program

Savannah Country Day School

The purpose of the Grant is to create an ongoing Faculty Fellowship Program that will provide recent college graduates with an opportunity to launch their careers in education by gaining one to two years of valuable teaching experience at an independent school.

Actions Beyond Words

Lycée Français de San Francisco

The LFSF, with the funding awarded through the Edward E. Ford Foundation and match, is set to implement a comprehensive three-year program encompassing creative art collaborations, training sessions, and workshops. This transformative journey, named ‘Actions Beyond Words’, commences in Spring 2023.

Comprehensive Climate Change Curriculum

Harley School

To create, develop, and disseminate a comprehensive climate change curriculum for the Upper School. Simultaneously, work to align Harley’s institutional practices with the spirit of the curriculum is being developed through the writing and implementing of a school-wide sustainability plan; including a goal related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Immersives

Bosque School

At Bosque School, we are preparing today’s students to thrive in tomorrow’s world through dynamic, engaging, and impactful educational opportunities. This commitment is exemplified by the addition of a three-week immersive program—first launched in the spring of 2022.

Dartmouth MALS Fellowship for Aspiring Educators

Dublin School

A groundbreaking program that serves to support and mentor prospective teachers and administrators from underrepresented populations interested in starting their careers in independent schools.

Horizons

Westminster School

Our six-week summer program delivers a comprehensive curriculum—focused on literacy and STEAM education and enriched with experiential learning, field trips and swim lessons.

Building Bridges, Changing the Narrative

Branson School

Branson’s mission is “to develop students who make a positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy.” We take seriously the charge to “grow good humans” with a broad worldview and deep understanding of their own humanity.

Featured Educational Leadership Grant Projects 2021-2009

Past EDL Grants

November 2022

Featured Image: Mid-Pacific Institute— GlobalX in Honolulu, HI. Click Here to visit their website for more information.

Photo courtesy of Mid-Pacific Institute.

November 2021

Featured Image: Governor’s Academy— The Bass Institute— a new coastal studies center in Byfield, MA. Click Here to visit their website for more information.

Photo courtesy of The Governor’s Academy website.

November 2020

Featured Image: Friends’ Central School — Teacher Al Vernacchio leading the national conversation on Healthy Relationships and Consent Education. Click Here for the full article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Photo courtesy of Jose F. Moreno, staff photographer of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

November 2019

Featured Image: St. Andrew's Episcopal School— Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL).

March 2019

Featured Image: Ethel Walker School— The Capabilities Approach.

April 2018

Featured Image: The Roeper School— In partnership with The Roeper Institute and Detroit Public Schools.

April 2016

Featured Image: Cate School— Cate Inquiry Collaborative, the school's pedagogical think-tank and practicum.

April 2015

Featured Image: Emma Willard School— Talent Management Program.

April 2014

Featured Image: Lovett School— The City as Laboratory.

April 2013

Featured Image: Castilleja School— 21st Century Assessment Partnership.

April 2012

Featured Image: Flintridge Preparatory School— The Idea Lab.

April 2011

Featured Image: The Cambridge School of Weston— A visionary teacher education program that places prospective teachers at the heart of their practice.

April 2010

Featured Image: The Prairie School— The Center for Developing Excellence.