3 Ways We Support Local Leaders

Our role is to support local leaders by equipping them with the resources, expertise, and networks to scale high-performing schools in their cities.

Invest in Local Leaders

By providing sustainable funding over extended periods, we enable visionary leaders to scale what’s working for students in their communities. These local leaders help incubate and grow great public charter schools while creating systemic improvements to reach students citywide.

Advise from Experience

Our team of education veterans serves as trusted advisors to visionary city leaders trying to navigate complex challenges and create better schools for every child in their community.

Scale Bold Ideas

We bring people together to create powerful connections that spark breakthroughs, share vital knowledge, and amplify the collective impact of leaders working to revolutionize education in their cities.

Invest in Local Leaders

Our investments empower city leaders and non-profits to build collaborative, innovative education systems tailored to their cities.

We invest in the local vision through three key areas:

  • City grants are sustained commitments to support local education champions and advocacy organizations in cities on the path to citywide transformation.
  • State grants support our partners and goals in cities by ensuring that state policies enable the growth of high-quality public schools.
  • Opportunity grants provide a meaningful, targeted investment in promising cities and states that may not yet meet the criteria for our sustained investment but align with our long-term vision.

Advise From Experience

Our role is to equip city leaders with the knowledge and resources they need to tackle complex educational challenges. By sharing our expertise across a range of educational issues, we empower city leaders to develop innovative solutions tailored to their unique communities.

  • Our Partner Team includes former education leaders who led transformation work in their city before joining City Fund. Each leads our efforts in 2-3 cities, working closely with local partners to develop a strategy for sustainable city progress.
  • Our Impact Team works with the Partner team to evaluate progress, identify needed support and resources for local partners, and disseminate best practices to the field.

Scale Bold Ideas

We’ve developed a vibrant network and programs designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and shared learning. Through these interconnected initiatives, we create a multiplier effect, energizing leaders with new tools and allies to revolutionize urban education in their cities.

  • Our communities of practice facilitate peer-to-peer learning and provide professional development opportunities to senior leaders in our network
  • Our City Leadership Fellowship empowers senior education leaders to refine and amplify their transformative ideas.
  • Our convenings serve as space for collaboration, featuring workshops and problem-solving sessions.

Stay Connected

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