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 grant cycles.
Occasionally, we may make larger, multi-year Collaborative Innovation Grants in support of projects that have the potential to influence secondary education more broadly and positively affect our democratic society.
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.
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 November 2023, a total of 60 such awards have been made.
By April, 2024, the Board had awarded nearly 2,600 grants approximating over $127 million to approximately 1,000 different schools and associations since its inception in 1957.
Congratulations to our April 2026 Association, Leadership, and Special Grant Recipients!
Upcoming Agendas
“Agenda” is the term we use for our three annual grant cycles.
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.
For more information on the Framework, please contact Project Director Lee Levison / leelev78@gmail.com
Featured Traditional Grant Projects 2022–2020
Featured Educational Leadership Grant Projects 2023-2009
