Educational Foundation of America (EFA)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $10,419,000 (2023)
Number of Grants: 215 (2023)
Grant Range: $2,000 - $300,000
Average Grant: $25,000
Application Type: Invitation only / Brief idea submissions (250 words)
Geographic Focus: National, with priority on Appalachia, the South, and Pacific Northwest

Contact Details

Address: 4801 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814-2947

Application Portal: Contact form available at https://www.theefa.org/how-to-apply

Executive Director: David Stocks

Overview

The Educational Foundation of America (EFA) is a family foundation established in 1959 by philanthropists Richard Prentice Ettinger and his wife Elsie P. Ettinger, funded through the success of the Prentice-Hall Publishing Company. Now in its third and fourth generations of family leadership, EFA continues its philanthropic legacy through grant making and impact investing. With assets of approximately $250 million (2020), the foundation awarded $10.4 million in grants in 2023 across four strategic areas: Arts, Environment, Make Democracy Work, and Reproductive Health & Justice. EFA distinguishes itself by providing long-term, capacity-building, and general operating support to nonprofit organizations, particularly focusing on underserved regions including Appalachia and the South. The foundation positions itself not just as a funder but as an active partner in advocacy, policy work, and community engagement for its grantees. In 2015, EFA's investments became 100% fossil-fuel free, and the foundation was an original signatory to the Divest-Invest Movement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

EFA operates four main program areas:

Arts Program

Focus: Creative placemaking and community-led change through arts and culture
Geographic Priority: Central Appalachia and the Black Belt of Alabama
Grant Examples: Appalshop, Black Belt Community Foundation, Coalfield Development Corporation, Gateway Regional Arts Center, Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium, Appalachian Arts Alliance, West Virginia's RiffRaff Arts Collective, Mississippi's Pike School of Art
Supports: Arts-driven community revitalization, cultural heritage preservation, arts-based economic development, creative community centers

Environment Program

Focus: Three strategies for reducing greenhouse gases: increasing clean energy adoption in rural regions, state- and regional-level energy transition efforts, and catalyzing investment in clean energy generation
Grant Examples: Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Rocky Mountain Institute, Clean Energy Works, Southern Environmental Law Center, Environmental Defense Fund, CAN Energy Working Group, Citizens' Climate Education, Clean Energy Buyers Alliance Institute, Environmental Integrity Project, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, Prime Coalition, Public Citizen Texas, Western Resource Advocates, World Resources Institute
Geographic Priority: Appalachia, the South, and Pacific Northwest

Make Democracy Work Program

Focus: Expanding voter access and participation, fair and nonpartisan redistricting, building durable community power, innovative long-term solutions to structural democratic challenges
Geographic Priority: North Carolina and Florida, with emphasis on restoring voting rights for returning citizens
Grant Examples: Progress North Carolina, North Carolina Black Alliance, Democracy North Carolina, State Leadership Project, Common Cause Education Fund North Carolina, North Carolina Asian Americans Together, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Fund, Florida Rising Together
Supports: State-based and select national organizations

Reproductive Health & Justice Program

Focus: Expanding access to abortion and contraception through litigation, direct provider support, abortion funds, and communications work to destigmatize abortion care
Geographic Priority: Appalachian region, Alabama, and Florida
Supports: National litigation organizations, state-based advocacy groups, abortion funds, provider support organizations, communications-focused nonprofits
Special Initiative: Co-founded Rhia Ventures (Reproductive Health Investors Alliance) for impact investing in reproductive rights

Priority Areas

Community-led initiatives in historically underserved regions
Long-term, systemic change rather than short-term projects
Multi-year partnerships with capacity-building support
General operating support for organizational sustainability
Innovative approaches to entrenched challenges
State and regional organizations, particularly smaller local groups
Advocacy and policy work alongside direct service
Collaborative partnerships rather than transactional funding relationships

What They Don't Fund

EFA does not explicitly publish exclusion criteria, but given their focused mission on four program areas, they do not fund:

Projects outside their four strategic areas (Arts, Environment, Democracy, Reproductive Health & Justice)
Organizations not based in or serving their priority geographic regions (though national organizations are occasionally funded)
For-profit organizations (must be 501(c)(3) public charity, academic institution, or government entity)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The Board comprises third and fourth generation members of the Ettinger family:

Heidi Ettinger, President
Wendy Ettinger, Vice President
Bobbi Hapgood, Treasurer
Matthew Hapgood
Matthew Ettinger
Christian Ettinger

Foundation History

First Generation: Richard Prentice Ettinger, JD (co-founder of Prentice-Hall Publishing Company and NYU finance professor) and Elsie P. Ettinger founded EFA in 1959
Second Generation: Richard P. Ettinger Jr. (champion of Native American causes and educational opportunities) and Elaine P. Hapgood (dedicated to reproductive health services and environmental conservation) continued the legacy

Executive Leadership

David Stocks, Executive Director (appointed September 2020)

Joined EFA in 2015
Previously directed the Arts Program
Served as Interim Executive Director from May 2020
Succeeded Melissa Beck as Executive Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

EFA operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. However, they offer two pathways for organizations to connect:

Brief Project Idea Submissions: Organizations can submit new project or program ideas in 250 words or less through the contact form at https://www.theefa.org/how-to-apply. Ideas should align with EFA's grant initiatives in:
- Abortion and contraception access (especially Appalachia)
- Clean-energy economy transitions
- Democracy restoration (North Carolina or Florida; returning citizen voting rights)
- Arts/culture community-building in Central Appalachia and Alabama Black Belt
Requests for Proposals (RFPs): EFA occasionally announces RFPs on their website for specific initiatives

Eligibility Requirements:

501(c)(3) public charity status, OR
Academic institution, OR
Government entity

EFA confirms receipt of all submissions and contacts organizations if their concepts show promise for further discussion.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature and relationship-based approach, timelines likely vary depending on the program area and nature of the proposal.

Success Rates

With 215 grants awarded in 2023 from an invitation-only process, success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation's approach suggests they engage proactively with organizations they wish to support rather than operating on a competitive application model.

Application Success Factors

EFA's funding philosophy emphasizes several key factors that align with successful partnerships:

Geographic Alignment: Organizations working in EFA's priority regions (Central Appalachia, Alabama Black Belt, the South, North Carolina, Florida, Pacific Northwest) are strongly preferred. The foundation explicitly seeks to support areas "historically lacking strong philanthropic support."

Community-Led Approaches: EFA values "strategic partnership with residents to implement community-led change." Projects should demonstrate authentic community engagement and local leadership rather than external intervention.

Innovative and Creative Solutions: The foundation seeks "creative initiatives" and "innovative, long-term solutions to structural challenges." Organizations offering novel approaches to entrenched problems align with their philosophy.

Systems-Change Orientation: EFA supports organizations working on "durable community power" and addressing root causes rather than temporary symptoms. Projects should demonstrate long-term impact potential.

Capacity for Partnership: Beyond funding, EFA positions itself as "a partner in advocacy, policy work, and community engagement." Organizations should be prepared for and interested in deeper collaborative relationships.

Flexibility Needs: EFA's emphasis on general operating support and capacity-building suggests they value organizations needing flexible, sustainable funding rather than just project-specific grants.

Values Alignment: The foundation's 100% fossil-fuel-free endowment and participation in the Divest-Invest Movement indicate strong values. Organizations should demonstrate alignment with social justice, equity, sustainability, and inclusive democracy principles.

Strategic Focus: The most successful pathway is submitting concise (250-word) ideas that directly address EFA's specific current priorities: abortion/contraception access in Appalachia, clean energy transitions, democracy work in NC/FL, or arts-based community building in Central Appalachia/Alabama Black Belt.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Target the 250-word idea submission: Since EFA doesn't accept full unsolicited proposals, your best entry point is a compelling, concise project idea submitted through their contact form that directly addresses one of their four current strategic priorities.
Emphasize geographic fit: If your organization works in Central Appalachia, the Alabama Black Belt, North Carolina, Florida, or other underserved Southern regions, prominently feature this alignment with EFA's priority areas.
Think long-term and systemic: EFA funds "innovative, long-term solutions to structural challenges" rather than short-term programs. Frame your work as building durable change and addressing root causes.
Highlight community leadership: EFA values "community-led change" and partnerships with residents. Demonstrate how your organization is rooted in and led by the communities you serve.
Request general operating or capacity-building support: EFA explicitly provides "long-term, capacity-building and general operating support," which distinguishes them from project-only funders. Don't be afraid to request flexible funding.
Position as a partnership: EFA sees itself as "a partner in advocacy, policy work, and community engagement." Express interest in collaborative relationships beyond transactional funding.
Small organizations welcome: With an average grant of $25,000 and explicit support for "local and regional organizations, including many small ones," smaller grassroots groups should feel encouraged to apply—you don't need to be a large established organization.

References

All references accessed December 2025.